Post by Joelercoaster on Mar 26, 2014 7:21:19 GMT -6
The question posed in this thread is a simple one - what type of gaunts do I really, really want in my list?
My Tyranid testing thus far has led me to this general conclusion - Guns > Not Guns.
Hormagaunts, for me, have very rarely done much other than die. They do have decent speed, but IMHO just not enough to choke fire lanes like they need to in order to be viable as a unit designed to choke fire lanes early in the game.
They're not in the least an expensive unit, so why not just take them to soak fire? Answer, to me, is that termagants are cheaper still. So if you want something to stand in front and die, then you pick the cheapest thing possible.
The utility of Fleet is not lost on me. If a unit *needs* to be in combat to be effective, then Fleet is basically a must. Rolling snake-eyes, or even coming up 1" short on a charge, is the bane of the assault phase. Sometimes being able to re-roll that 1 into *any* other result and make the charge is game-changing.
Add to this that unless you get a bunch into combat, they just don't do much (hint, it's a swarm unit.... having 5 left is meaningless). And again, 9/10 (or more) I either don't get to charge at all, or end up in combat with 3-6 models. And then they die.
Maybe it's just my usage, bad luck, or other factors. But I'm burnt out on what seems to be an overly ineffective unit, when I have the following option.
Devilgaunts. Some, at least. A brood of 30 Termagants, with 15 Devourers, clocks in at 180, and has become one of my favorite troop choices. 30 bodies to cram onto an objective, spread out to deny deep strike, or provide cover to important units. And at 18" you're putting out 45 S4 shots. And the cheap guys go in front and die first.
Need to get into combat? You still have a ton of bodies (at least to start) to choke things and tie whatever up. It's extremely versatile, and an overall solid unit. Me likey.
So I'm definitely running the above Devilgaunt mixed brood. Or two. The question is, do I want 3? Because I have two options, when it comes to physical models.
I own 65 termagants, and 48 Hormagaunts.
Option 1 - Keep the Hormagaunts, use them for funsies/wait til they (maybe) become decent. Turn 30 termies into devils, and have 2 broods of 30 + 5 spare bodies (and then casualties) for spawning (only one Tervigon, so that's doable I think).
Option 2 - Convert all hormagaunts to Devilgaunts, and have enough bodies to run 3 broods of 30, plus have 20 bodies for spawning. So. Many. Bodies.
Thoughts?
My Tyranid testing thus far has led me to this general conclusion - Guns > Not Guns.
Hormagaunts, for me, have very rarely done much other than die. They do have decent speed, but IMHO just not enough to choke fire lanes like they need to in order to be viable as a unit designed to choke fire lanes early in the game.
They're not in the least an expensive unit, so why not just take them to soak fire? Answer, to me, is that termagants are cheaper still. So if you want something to stand in front and die, then you pick the cheapest thing possible.
The utility of Fleet is not lost on me. If a unit *needs* to be in combat to be effective, then Fleet is basically a must. Rolling snake-eyes, or even coming up 1" short on a charge, is the bane of the assault phase. Sometimes being able to re-roll that 1 into *any* other result and make the charge is game-changing.
Add to this that unless you get a bunch into combat, they just don't do much (hint, it's a swarm unit.... having 5 left is meaningless). And again, 9/10 (or more) I either don't get to charge at all, or end up in combat with 3-6 models. And then they die.
Maybe it's just my usage, bad luck, or other factors. But I'm burnt out on what seems to be an overly ineffective unit, when I have the following option.
Devilgaunts. Some, at least. A brood of 30 Termagants, with 15 Devourers, clocks in at 180, and has become one of my favorite troop choices. 30 bodies to cram onto an objective, spread out to deny deep strike, or provide cover to important units. And at 18" you're putting out 45 S4 shots. And the cheap guys go in front and die first.
Need to get into combat? You still have a ton of bodies (at least to start) to choke things and tie whatever up. It's extremely versatile, and an overall solid unit. Me likey.
So I'm definitely running the above Devilgaunt mixed brood. Or two. The question is, do I want 3? Because I have two options, when it comes to physical models.
I own 65 termagants, and 48 Hormagaunts.
Option 1 - Keep the Hormagaunts, use them for funsies/wait til they (maybe) become decent. Turn 30 termies into devils, and have 2 broods of 30 + 5 spare bodies (and then casualties) for spawning (only one Tervigon, so that's doable I think).
Option 2 - Convert all hormagaunts to Devilgaunts, and have enough bodies to run 3 broods of 30, plus have 20 bodies for spawning. So. Many. Bodies.
Thoughts?
