Expanding after a Brood Swarm Christmas?

[Dracos]

I've picked up one of the Battleforce box sets to start my Xenos army and might have a line on a second.

My question is what is the optimal method for expanding on one of the Christmas Brood Swarms and what fleet would work best with that start?


Thank you for you thoughts

Edit: My initial idea if I can get the second Battleforce box is to attempt to get  Start Collecting box set and try the following.
 

 

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [101 PL, 12CP, 1,999pts] ++


+ HQ +

Broodlord

Hive Tyrant
Hive Tyrant


+ Troops +

20 Genestealers
20 Genestealers

3 Ripper Swarms
3 Ripper Swarms
3 Ripper Swarms
3 Ripper Swarms 


+ Elites +

3 Hive Guard
3 Hive Guard


+ Fast Attack +

20 Gargoyles


+ Heavy Support +

Exocrine
Exocrine


++ Total: [101 PL, 12CP, 1,999pts] ++

 
I really would like to have room for Warriors just because I like the models but the only thing I want to give up for them would be the Gargoyles (which I don't like) and Ripper Swarms (which I also like) ... to be clear, by like I mean I like the models.

Edited December 10, 2020 by WarriorFish
Format fixed

[WarriorFish]

I think that two of the boxes might make for a limiting force at 2,000pts. The Rippers should be good for nabbing objectives, as your opponent's AP will be focusing on the stealers. Unfortunately this means a bit of trouble for the stealers. I might also be a bit top heavy with the HQs but as far as starting out likes go it is more what you can do :P

 

I'd look at it from a different angle, and start at lower points. Then you can look at alternate builds such as the second Hive Tyrant having wings and maybe the Haruspex. It'd also allow you to flesh out your collection a bit as well as get a feel for how things play before jumping into big points.

[Xenith]

I'd agree with finding your feet at 500/1000pts first. Having the 2k list in the back of the mind is a good idea, though, but leave yourself room to flex as you learn how your nids like to play.

 

Model acquisition to make your list might be tricky. I think you get one ripper swarm with a box of termagants, so you'd need 144 Termagants to get that many rippers. FW i believe do an alternative, you could also possibly do something I've been thinking of and make a press mould of hormagaunt head sides, then just stick the copied heads onto a 40mm base and bury them in rubble as if they're burrowing. 

 

If you get the SC! box, the mawloc is a fun option to kick the opponent off objectives. 

 

So 2 battleforces and a SC would get you:

2 tyrants

Broodlord

40 Stealers

20 Gargoyles

2 Haruspex/Exocrines

6 Hive Guard

Trygon (prime)/Mawloc

 

List optimisation:

With the repetition are you taking a more competitive angle? If you want to be more competitive, take a neurothrope, then split that, the hive guard and the exocrines into a Kronos detachment for reroll 1's to hit and the symbiostorm power (6's to hit is an extra hit). Might work in your meta, but I'd feel like a douche if I did that in mine (mostly new players). 

 

Consider upgrading one Tyrant to a Swarmlord to get Hive Commander to slingshot those stealers further, or give one wings and 2xdevourers, maybe even 4x. The army is lacking chaff-clearing shooting, but your stealers can probably handle some of that. 

 

Rippers, while good at objectives from T2 onwards, dont help with you needing to be on things t1. 3 rippers are 33, 10 gants are 50, not too much more of an investment, and can be used as a roadblock. 

[Dracos]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the ideas.

 

A) I like the Forge World Rippers. It’s pricey for a US player but I also have a Xiphon I like must because. At least these will make it in my standard list lol

 

B) I am a competitive player who plays with generally a competitive group of players. Most of us like tournament play. That said this is my more fun army. If I want to really put the hammer down it’s going to be with my Raven Guard. I want this army to lean heavy into melee and shoot for support, as opposed to RG who flip that script usually.

 

I also like playing a particular style and then crafting the list to do it’s best to work that way. For this army I want mobility (always and in every army a must for me) and melee. Also while it’s an older model I just like genestealers from the Marine fiction Ive read and I also have a suspicion they are going to get a bump back to respectability in the new codex maybe roles but definitely via stratagems. I think GW is really steering the ship for armies to have a particular style/signature and I can’t imagine genestealers languishing long.

 

I might be wrong but what they’ve done making Firstborn very playable again and the Necrons regen/protocols indicates to me good things for Tyranids regaining a flavorful play style that will also be competitive. M

 

I hope. Lol.

[Xenith]

You've already kind of homed in on the units which most commonly feature in competitive lists, really, not sure what more I can offer! As it's a new army, have a play around and see what they're capable of. Nid melee actually isnt the strongest, compared to things like smash captains, but some of the shooting is lethal and the psy powers are great.  

 

To tune that list then you might be able to drop either 6 stealers or 4+1 unit of rippers to get a Neurothrope to babysit the HG and Exocrines. If you can squeeze another 40pts from somewhere, wings on the HT or a Swarmlord supports the forward push and makes you more mobile. You need something to keep those stealers in synapse range to keep them in place. If you get lucky you can pin down the entire opposing front line. If you box them into their DZ turn 1, then you might build up a 15-30pts lead by T3, which will be near impossible for them to come back from. 

[WarriorFish]

Yes, when stealers are often talked about as a better choice "better" is a relative term... Hopefully they can get a bit of a boost along with other things whenever the new codex comes out. The FW Rippers are great albeit not cheap as you noted! I'd say something about the relative use of the unit but I have Necromunda models for Chaos Culists :lol:

[Dracos]

Lol oh yeah nothing FW is cheap, especially with the conversion rate and shipping to the USA. Can’t imagine how our Aussie friends manage.

 

Yeah the HQs are probably off. I admit even in Marines, I usually just build without depending on HQ buffs. I don’t think I’ll be able to ignore that with this army. I’ve just started digging into the mechanics here. Synapse is one of those I know about but know nothing on how to use well. It is a concern I’ll need to learn how to address for the GS units. I was watching TTT and they mentioned the Neurothrope.

 

I’ll definitely start painting the box sets with an eye as an Escalation build. Play with 500 add another 250 etc. I’ve convinced myself it’s a good reason to treat myself the Rippers as a post Christmas present lol. Easy to paint and allows point flexibility as army grows.

 

 

Side note: anyone have a link to some galleries of DIY paint schemes? At the moment I’m thinking Army Painter’s Desert Yellow epidermis and Dragon Red for the carapace (I’m not sure but I know it’s close to an official Fleet color?) It also would look good fighting my Marine color scheme. I’m a snowflake though and love coming up with unique colors and schemes for my armies. Too bad GW doesn’t make a rattle can of dark blue.

[WarriorFish]

Synapes isn't too hard to get coverage on, it depends on your army build mostly. For example I like Warriors so along with the HQs etc you can cover your units easily, it tends to only start becoming a question once the game has gone on a few turns as you lose units and have others out of position etc.

 

I'm not aware of there being a gallery of schemes, but there are quite a few WIP topics here you can dip in to for ideas :tu: Broadly speaking nid schemes mostly boil down into carapace and flesh. These are your two main colours so if you have them the rest tends to come together easily. That doesn't include specifics of course, as the carapace is a great place for some fancy patterns and the like.

 

Yellow and red is one of the main Hive Fleets yes - Kraken. So if you want to be a DIYer you'll want consider how you apply the colours or change them. As nature creatures this have a large influence on how they can work and look best, I did some research on various critters to help me decide on my scheme so this isn't a bad way to spend half an hour if you have some colour ideas :)

[Dracos]

I should start a plog. I looked but I haven't scene an official green purple color scheme.  My snowflake self has been inspired by this . . . 

 

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I use Army Painter Colored Primer paints and I'm thinking Army Green skin and Chaotic Red for the carapace with swords and talons using Necrotic Flesh. AP has an "Alien Purple" colored primer but I'm thinking that's too much contrast (?). Undecided, I just wish the rattle can was slightly darker looking.

Edited December 11, 2020 by Dracos

[WarriorFish]

There is no green and purple GW Fleet, so fear not your snowflake self won't be melting :P It'll work well on nids, both for some bright colours as well as people surely seeing the inspiration :tu: For the purple, what about the inner muscle bits? They're generally small so won't be more than an accent to the scheme.