6th Ed Tyranid FAQ

Interesting to note that all tyranid psykers are mastery level 1 except the swarmlord.  Each psyker may exchange powers they come or purchase with discipline powers. 

A tervigon (with dominion) can but catalyst and onslaught and exchange dominion and onslaught for biomancy, telepathy, or telekenesis.  Mastery level 1, but up to 3 powers.

Zoanthropes can give up lance and blast for 2 others.

Broodlords can give up aura and gaze for 2.

Tyrants must take 2 from the normal list and then can swap them for 2 others.

DoM can give up cataclysm for 1 discipline power.

Swarmlord gets all 4 tyranid powers and can swap up to 4.  Looks like I'm getting the new kit lol.  Paroxysm + 3 biomancy powers anyone? 

Not much else has changed.  Deathleaper has 2+ cover now, but most cover has moved to 5+.  Broodlords can chellenge sarges and then hypnotize them.   Tyrants with guard are now treated "exactly as if they had the IC rule", but the guards can take the "look out sir" rolls. It still appears outflanking genestealers cannot assault when they arrive.

Playtesting the bugs today.  More feedback to come post games.

6th Ed Test Lists

Millennium Games is running a 6th ed bring-and-brawl event tomorrow to celebrate the release and let us start grinding out the new rules.  My buddy Kevin is also hosting a 6th ed bbq party in the afternoon so I put together a couple lists to play around with.

The first is a tyranid list with a couple things in mind.

First Reactions to Rumors

I haven't been addressing the 6th ed stuff much but now that there's some confirmation behind a lot of them I figured I would add some thoughts.  Keep in mind some of this may still be inaccurate.

Last Man Standing 2012 - Game #2

This event was a lock-in at Millennium Games and was the second time they ran this format.  Last year I took tyranids (1, 2, 3) and went undefeated throughout the event but do to the scoring system (loopholes), I didn't place.  This year I had planned to take my Mordrak Shock list, but do to local complaints about GK and powerlists, I decided to bring my WWP dark eldar.

The format was 4 players per table (1250pts each) playing for a central objective (any non-tansport can score) and kill points.  Each table had 4 cards which were randomly chosen to determine deployment order as well as the order of play for each turn.  As such, it was possible to go last then first (2 consecutive turns) or first then last (6 player turns in between).  Games automatically end at the end of the 5th turn (due to time with 4 players per table).

Since there's so much chaos between 4 players and the changing turn sequence, these reports will be fairly loose since I didn't take notes.

My list:
Archon + blaster, agonizer, shadow field, haywire grenades, phantasm launcher
Haemonculi x2 + portals
Grotesques x10 + aberration, flesh gauntlet, liquifier
Trueborn x3 + blasters x3
Warriors x5 + blaster
Warriors x5 + blaster
Beastmasters x3 + khymera x5, razorwings x2, clawed fiend x1
Talos + chain flails, heat lances

New Table: The Crystal Desert

I took a break from painting last week to build a new terrain set. You got a sneak peak of it if you read this report. 

I have a bunch of the tie-dyed fleece cloths from JoAnn's Fabrics and I've been wanting to get complete terrain sets for each one.  It's been a project I've put off for months and this new foam cutter the NOVA guys are using has me inspired.

Last Man Standing 2012 - Game #1

This event was a lock-in at Millennium Games and was the second time they ran this format.  Last year I took tyranids (1, 2, 3) and went undefeated throughout the event but do to the scoring system (loopholes), I didn't place.  This year I had planned to take my Mordrak Shock list, but do to local complaints about GK and powerlists, I decided to bring my WWP dark eldar.

The format was 4 players per table (1250pts each) playing for a central objective (any non-tansport can score) and kill points.  Each table had 4 cards which were randomly chosen to determine deployment order as well as the order of play for each turn.  As such, it was possible to go last then first (2 consecutive turns) or first then last (6 player turns in between).  Games automatically end at the end of the 5th turn (due to time with 4 players per table).

Since there's so much chaos between 4 players and the changing turn sequence, these reports will be fairly loose since I didn't take notes.

My list:
Archon + blaster, agonizer, shadow field, haywire grenades, phantasm launcher
Haemonculi x2 + portals
Grotesques x10 + aberration, flesh gauntlet, liquifier
Trueborn x3 + blasters x3
Warriors x5 + blaster
Warriors x5 + blaster
Beastmasters x3 + khymera x5, razorwings x2, clawed fiend x1
Talos + chain flails, heat lances

Batrep: Darl Eldar vs Eldar 1850pts - "Parkhammer"

Here's a special report I'm happy to be able to share with all of you.  As many are finishing out the last legs of 5th edition with one last super competitive tournament or with apathy towards the dying rule set, I had the fortune of playing a truly enjoyable game in a unique setting.  ChrisP put together a day of wargaming, food, and fun for gamers and their families in Watkin's Glen state park.  You'll notice the lighting changes on the table throughout the game.  That's because we were playing outdoors and the passing clouds and sun shining through the foliage created some dramatic effects.  The terrain is a new set I built last week just for this event with the help of my new foam cutter (thanks again MVB) and airbrush.  It's not quite finished, but I was really happy with the way it turned out.  I hope y'all enjoy reading about this game as much as I enjoyed playing it.

I decided to take my Dark Eldar as I haven't played the full army since March.  My friend Kevin stepped up to the challenge with his Eldar for a fluffy good vs evil grudge match.

June Tournament Game #3: Grey Knights vs Tyranids 1500pts

The June tournament at Millennium Games was a 1500pt event with comp penalties for duplicated units, transports, and special characters.  I had decided to build my Mordrak Shock list before the comp penalties were announced so I decided to stick with it.  Each mission allowed players to choose their primary and secondary scoring conditions from kill points, table quarters (vp's), and 5 objectives.  Primaries could only be chosen once, secondaries could be used twice.

My third and final opponent was Chrispy himself and his infamous tyranids.  He's been playing tyranids almost exclusively for 2 years now and has also won our local invitational both years in a row with them.  There are many out there that would say GK auto-win vs nids but I know better...

Chris's List (approx):
Tyrant + HVC, whip/sword
Tyrant Guard x2
Tyranid Prime + whip/sword
Hive Guard x3 (prime goes here)

Ymgarls x8
Genestealers x12 + broodlord w/ scytals
Termagants x10
Tervigon + toxins, adrenals, catalyst, cluster spines
Shrikes x5 + whips/swords, toxins

June Tournament Game #2: Grey Knights vs Blood Angels 1500pts

 The June tournament at Millennium Games was a 1500pt event with comp penalties for duplicated units, transports, and special characters.  I had decided to build my Mordrak Shock list before the comp penalties were announced so I decided to stick with it.  Each mission allowed players to choose their primary and secondary scoring conditions from kill points, table quarters (vp's), and 5 objectives.  Primaries could only be chosen once, secondaries could be used twice.

My second opponent was Buffalo Bill himself from the Buffalo based Beef and Wing gaming club.  I've only played Bill once before, last year at DaBoyz GT primer but his BA and my GK were much different back then as it was a heavy comp event.

Bill's List (approx):
Astorath
Death Company x5 + thunder hammer x1
Tactical Squad x10 + melta, infernus pistol, lascannon, drop pod
Assault Squad x10 + flamers x2, thunder hammer
Death Company Dreadnought + blood talons
Stomraven + multi-melta, assault cannons (death company, Astorath, and dread in here)
Land Raider Crusader (assault squad in here)

June Tournament Game #1: Grey Knights vs Necrons 1500pts

 The June tournament at Millennium Games was a 1500pt event with comp penalties for duplicated units, transports, and special characters.  I had decided to build my Mordrak Shock list before the comp penalties were announced so I decided to stick with it.  Each mission allowed players to choose their primary and secondary scoring conditions from kill points, table quarters (vp's), and 5 objectives.  Primaries could only be chosen once, secondaries could be used twice.

My first pairing was against Dean's necrons.  When they announced the pairings, I let out an audible sigh and the guys laughed.  It wasn't because I don't like playing Dean, he's a great opponent.  It's because wraiths and mindshackle scarabs can be so annoying.  Sorry Dean!

Dean's List (approx):
Overlord + scythe, mindshackle scarabs, command barge
Royal Court - 2 lance-teks w/1 solar pulse, 1 veil-tek, 1 lord + orb, scythe, mindshackle scarabs
Triarch Stalker + heat ray
Deathmarks x5 (veil-tek here)
Warriors x5 (lance-tek here) + ghost ark
Warriors x5 (lance-tek here) + ghost ark
Immortals x10 (orb lord here) + tesla
Wraiths x5 + whips x2, pistol x1
Annihilation Barge