Tyranid Warriors

[Simon]

Ok, now when reading the Codex more recently, I noticed that they auto come with 2 boneswords. In a discussion with Mike at some point in the distant and hazy past, I recall him saying that because the models don't have them now, they can't use them. Never gave it much thought until I recently realised that it cripples their effectiveness for the points cost. They lose a strength point and an extra attack as a result (not that I'm too bothered really, they still do ok in my force), plus they miss out on parry. I'm tempted to go with Mike on this one but I think that they should get a points reduction or something to compensate. What do you guys think?

[tturen]

I agree with you. Anytime you alter the werapons a unit has you need to alter the points cost.

Now do you mean they can't take tham at all or they can't take them unless modeled with them?

They certainly should have the option for them. Opting not to have them should make them cheaper.

[James 40K Champ ***]

yeah suppose they should cost bit less if your losing weapons.

[Simon]

The problem is that the new models cannot carry them, so it's whether or not those claws would count as the boneswords. As I said, I'm not too bothered with them being downgraded on the list but I could do with a couple more points to spend here and there.

Just imagine me effectively booby trapping one flank with spore mines floating around at the start of the game...

(Then imagine one shot causing a chain reaction of mega death... Hmm, maybe not the best idea)

[tturen]

I've always considered big nasty claws on nids to be bone swords anyway. Could just be a matter of painting them in bone eh?

[bot]

i see two solutions: either reduce the point cost of tyranid by roughly 12 points (that's 36 points less for entire squad) or as tturen mentioned treat them claws as swords. i use that second option but first one doesn't sound bad at all.

[El Capitan]

hmmm, i imagine they were designed to have bone swords as a minimum,
Just use a realisitc counts as and get them claws in bone!

[Adoni-Zedek]

I agree with Mike. Let the Tyranid Warrior's natural claws count as two boneswords. Heck, you can even say they've been grown as part of the warrior, rather than as separate weapons.

That brings up an interesting point: Heavy weapons cost more for tyranid warriors than they do for the Hive tyrant, when you take into account the 12 points of bonesword you're trading for the deathspitter/devourer/barbed strangler/venom cannon. As the hive tyrant has a much better ballistic skill, I'd suggest a discount for the warriors so their weapons cost the same or less than the tyrant's options.

[tturen]

The weapons may be cheaper simply because you pay so much for the tyrant in the first place.

[Simon]

Or maybe they're cheaper because the Hive Tyrant's equipment will shape the whole of your forces fighting style. Unless the points cost is reflecting losing claws, jaws or a bad attitude as all of these sound so cool (what were GW thinking)