And this is balanced?
No, it is NOT. This is why I call Tyranids “overpoveredâ€
At all I'm very surprised why in this Forum there is no complain about them. I guess it's because no one here has really experience against a “nasty†tyra-player.
Honestly, in the hands of a true Powergamer they simply eat up (
) any enemy, only Eldar can avoid destruction if the terrain is right (the usually problem...).
The reason for this is, that their disadvantages don't really matter:
* yes their cruisers are just medicore – but you can simply ignore them. You don't have to use crusiers.
* yes they are somewhat slow (15cm) – but is doesn't matter if your main weapons (feeder tenteacles, massive claws) can be used at full effency while on AAF. 4D6+15cm is not slow at all
* yes their flyers are slow – but who cares if you only need them to defend your escorts: send them on CAP and forget the speed
Some examples of nasty Nid ships.
Hives:
- the “S14 Bioplasma†mentioned above – without refits/mutations not so scary as before, but for 300P with 4 Shields an 10 hits still a good deal
- the carrier hive: 10 hits, 4 shields/turrets, 8 flyers and 6 boarding torpedos for 305P. Yes the Tyra ordnance is inferior but with doubled launch limit 1 or 2 of these is all you need to cover your fleet with fighters. All in all one of the most cost-efficent carriers in the game, second only to the Emperor.
- if you want a “ship of the Lineâ€: just ignore the port/starboard weapons (you don't have to buy them) and have an S16 Pyroacid battery @45 cm with F/L/R for 260 Points. Sure, 15cm and no CTNH is a disadvantage, but 4 shields and 10 hits even that more than out.
Cruisers:
just buy 2 sets of massive claws. Thats it. 90 Points.
2 Shields/turrets, six hits. Just AAF all the time (an average speed of 34cm). And kill everything you come in contact with.
* 4D6 in shooting phase. each 4+ is a lost hit point.
* if 2 hit (not uncommon...) you “catch†the ship an can get 1 or 2 additional hits in every End + phase if you hit with 2 (one hit) or all 4 (two hits) dices.
* and you can perform the regular boarding action: given the tyras special rules (double boarding value +2D6 (pick the highest)) and the fact that you'll have inflicted 1-2 hits already you'll win this in most cases. If you manage to concentrate 2-3 of these on a single enemy you'll usually kill every cruiser sized ship in one turn. Not bad for a 90 points ship.
And now for the real nasty things:
- Feeder tentacle Vanguard: 25Points. 90° turns and an average speed of 39cm on AAF. If they fly over something it either gets 1-3 hit& run crits or loses an hit point and gets one hit & run crit. So a squadron of six for 150 points makes ~ 3 hit points damage and 9 criticals. You don't even have to “hitâ€- just fly over your opponent. And don't be afraid to go on BFI if the enemy shoots back: the tentacles are unaffected by it. Only donwside is, that you only have 25cm “range†instead of 39.
- the newes thing: Bioplasma kraken: 35 Points 6+ armour permant 4+ save 25cm speed and a S2@15cm shield-ignoring lance. It it not as hard as other options, but it it is surly one of the better escorts in the game.
- the mentioned Pyroacid escort Drone.
One word: dirt cheap. Yes they are slow (15cm) but who cares with S4 Pyroacid@30cm for 20 points. With AAF you get them in range fast enough. For the price of a Lunar cruiser you get 9 of these Babys for a Firepower of 36 – I repeat 36 - and every crit causes an additional fire crit.
Just protect them with some CAP so that Assault boats don't get them before they are in range and watch your opponent cry. And if you disenage just the last living escort the enemy only gets 25% victory points (in this case :45).
→ Seriously, Nids need a rebalance...
