Hope I'm not dredging this too far out of the graveyard, but Lictors have long been a pet of mine that I (sadly) have not seen in the limelight for some time.
I would love to see them return (or, perhaps, come for the first time) to a proper place within our ranks. A few thoughts on the matter...
-Giving all Lictors the Deathleapers enhanced Rending would set them apart within the army, and IIRC, mathwise would be very similar to the original rending that Tyranids had.
-Make Feeder Tendrils do something! I get that people complained about 1 point preferred enemy for our Stealers, but did anyone actually look at what it meant?? We were (with that upgrade) still paying more for a lower performance unit (than the previous incarnation). It looked great, but it wasn't. Feeder Tendrils could easily do something useful without breaking the bank in terms of power level.
I like genofixed, because it always has been. I also have to say that I'm not a fan of Adrenal Glands on this guy, because he's already got some of the highest (non-MC) S/I in the codex, and I don't think it needs to become our newest anti-tank Chuck Norris.
So what do I think it should actually look like, instead of just a random list of thoughts and ideas? How about something like this...
Stats - per Codex
Elite choice, 1 per brood, 1-3 individual Broods per slot (ah, the good 'ole days)
Special Rules
-Chameleonic Scales - Deployment as current, with stipulation allowing to Assault. If a Lictor assaults in the Assault Phase directly after being deployed, it counts as having Defensive Grenades
-Killing Strike (Rends on a 5+, a la Death Leaper)
-Lone Hunter - not subject to Instinctive Behavior
-Assassin's Intellect - If a Lictor assaults on the same turn as it is deployed, it may Challenge as if it were a Character. If it does so, the challenge must be accepted.
-Where'd It Go? - If a Lictor ends its turn not locked in combat, it may withdraw into Ongoing Reserves. It may only redeploy via the Chameleonic Scales rule above.
-Pheremone Trail - As current, but the +1 bonus is in effect regardless of whether or not the Lictor is currently on the board. It does not take effect if the Lictor has been removed as a casualty. Yes, the +1 is cumulative.
Fleet, Move Through Cover, Shrouded, Hit and Run
I'm thinking something along the 100 point line or so. Feel free to submit your own cost for this bugger, however.
So what's it good at? Causing a ruckus, mainly. It turns the Lictor into the lone stalker that it used to be, and has been for so long. Sure you can Raptor-pack against something nasty if you need to, but these guys operate on the outskirts - they're our Marbo.
It's very offensive, especially popping out of reserves. The bonuses are strictly thus because late game you can use him to contest and objective or get linebreaker, but kill-wise he's best as a hit-and-run figure using guerrilla tactics.
In terms of actual capabilities, he's great at sniping squad leaders and other slightly-above-joe-schmoe's. This will cause discord among the ranks (killing Ld buffs), but if you pit him against an HQ type, his fairly fragile nature will start to show. Hit hard, hit fast, and don't get hit back. Also why the Def Grenades got thrown in - that first (or subsequent) pop from nowhere is extra disconcerting and confusing, giving him a better stealth effect temporarily.
Thoughts?
Khira'lyth