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The Armies of 40k => Tyranids => Topic started by: Travellar on January 19, 2014, 11:12:25 PM

Title: Return of the Ramp? (tactic)
Post by: Travellar on January 19, 2014, 11:12:25 PM
Once upon a time, Tyranids were (in)famous for building a ramp with their army; Termagants giving cover to Hormagaunts, giving cover to Warriors, giving cover to The Hive Tyrant.  I think with one, sublte change, that might be our best tactic right now. (until we get errattas, or an expansion book or something)

Gaunts in a T-formation up front, with the leg stretching back to the Venomthropes.
Warriors behind the Guants, to provide larger models which can actualy cover 25% of a Hive Tyrant.
Tyrant, Carnies, whatever coming up as the real punch of the army.
Venomthropes hidden as well as possible in the back.

Every unit gets shrouded, which is a 5+ save on the Guants in front, and a 3+ cover save for the rest of the army.

Come to think of it, Gargoyles might be really good, (taken in large numbers) for that front rank, as they wouldn't need warriors to start giving solid cover saves to monsterous creatures.
Title: Re: Return of the Ramp? (tactic)
Post by: Dangerousdave0042 on January 20, 2014, 08:03:27 AM
Yup, we're on the same page on this one.

However, the shrouded bubble from the Venomthrope is quite small - and remember it's only models inisde the bubble that are in cover. You can't get shrouded on 30 termagants just because 1 is within the bubble. Hence your opponent can opt to shoot at models in the unit that don't get the cover save. That being said stick the venomthrope close to the MCs so thay get cover saves from the Lascannons etc, with a normal cover save for intervening models plus shrouded should mean a 3+ cover save.

So I would stick the Venomthropes behind the MCs and let the gaunts get shot as you won't be able to provide a cover save for all the gaunts without exposing the Venomthropes - and if you have your models that close watch out for blast weapons!!
Title: Re: Return of the Ramp? (tactic)
Post by: Killing Time on January 20, 2014, 08:52:33 AM

However, the shrouded bubble from the Venomthrope is quite small - and remember it's only models inisde the bubble that are in cover. You can't get shrouded on 30 termagants just because 1 is within the bubble. Hence your opponent can opt to shoot at models in the unit that don't get the cover save.

Shrouded. p41
"A unit that contains at least 1 model with the special rule..."
So if 1 of your models is in the bubble, the whole unit gets the benefit.
Title: Re: Return of the Ramp? (tactic)
Post by: Dangerousdave0042 on January 20, 2014, 11:40:24 AM
Awesome.  ;D

I wonder if that will get FAQ'd or errata'd out? I hope not.

Venomthropes are now my best mate.
Title: Re: Return of the Ramp? (tactic)
Post by: GaleRazorwind on January 20, 2014, 02:55:57 PM
I wasn't aware the Tyranid Cover Phalanx ever went away? All the Tyranid players who knew what they were doing that I've seen were still using it, although perhaps not as effectively since some of our key units became worthless/underpowered/hard to fit in. I have been using it since I got the 4th ed codex and I use the tactic even when I'm facing IG with ordinance batteries. It is one of the few things that kept me alive.

The Venomthrope definitely makes it better, since it bumps the cover save up to a 3+ in most cases.
Title: Re: Return of the Ramp? (tactic)
Post by: Travellar on January 22, 2014, 01:04:44 PM
The ramp declined in popularity in groups I was playing in, in part because spores and outflank gave us some other options, and in part because folks get tired of using their army as a Hive Tyrant delivery system.

If anyone can suggest something other than just ramp under our current codex, I'm all ears.