First game vs Tyrannocytes

Sybarite Posts : 267 Join date : 2013-08-27

Played a game last night against a local nid player trying an experimental list. He had 8 Tyrannocytes (new pods) and attempted a min-deployment with only Deathleaper on the field. Here's what he had in each pod
- 2x3 Warrior Broods
- 2x3 Pyrovore Broods
- 2x1 Carnifexes
- 2x1 Dimachaeron (Forgeworld blenders from hell)

While it was a close game overall... the main thing I wanted to bring up was my experience with the Tyrannocytes themselves.

Each pod will fire 15 shots at the closest, unengaged enemy unit and is BS2. If the person upgrades the weapon the number and type of shots will vary but base, it's 15 S5 shots. In all attempts, my opponent hit ~5 shots (average). The shots weren't bad overall and reminded me of our own volleys of fire from Venoms. The issue was S5 vs our T3 but my grotesques unit didn't care too much about it being T5.

While they cannot charge, they are still MC's and can fire all 15 shots at you during overwatch (I think...i need to relook at this now that I think of it). In Combat, they are WS2, I3, and only have 3 attacks. While they are AP2 (due to Smash USR), they are still hitting on 4's or 5's with for the most part. Grotesques, Lelith, and my Archon (agonizer) didn't have many issues addressing them.

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After relooking up the rules for them (the guy conveniently forgot the whitedwarf at home and I only pulled up the Tyranocyte's dataslate on my phone), I see that we played a few things wrong. The big one being they cannot overwatch. They can fire all 5 guns at different targets (if equidistant) but it's like a VWB and fire at the very end of the shooting phase.

So for me, these aren't a huge threat. They are deadly when they first come in (especially with the Deathleaper's pheromone trails preventing scatter); however, afterwards, they are just another slow MC - but extremely weak in melee.

Has any one else had some experiences playing against such? I'm curious to hear what others have thought with them.

Subject: Re: First game vs Tyrannocytes Wed Dec 03 2014, 18:47

I haven't used the new ones yet, but regularly did before. I consider them a distraction, and if they kill something it's a nice bonus. They are primarily a delivery system to prevent Pyrovores, Dimachaerons, etc., from getting blown away before they get into position, or for getting a big shooty blob in position for a broadside. After which, the pod can drift around and make a nuisance of itself - hem in units, block LoS, and occasionally shoot something. They are not insignificant, but no, I wouldn't call them a huge threat.

As for the 15 shots (5x3) vs. their being MC's, I think an FAQ might be in line for sorting that.

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Subject: Re: First game vs Tyrannocytes Wed Dec 03 2014, 22:03

Gobsmakked wrote:: As for the 15 shots (5x3) vs. their being MC's, I think an FAQ might be in line for sorting that.

I think their special rule allowing them to fire is pretty specific in allowing all 5 weapons to be used in one shooting phase.
During overwatch though there is nothing preventing them from firing 2 of their weapons just like any other MC.

Thanks for the info on the playtest llama, wicked to hear they weren't too scary!

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Sybarite Posts : 267 Join date : 2013-08-27

Laughingcarp wrote:

Gobsmakked wrote:: As for the 15 shots (5x3) vs. their being MC's, I think an FAQ might be in line for sorting that.

I think their special rule allowing them to fire is pretty specific in allowing all 5 weapons to be used in one shooting phase.
During overwatch though there is nothing preventing them from firing 2 of their weapons just like any other MC.

Thanks for the info on the playtest llama, wicked to hear they weren't too scary!

You are correct the rules state that they can fire all 5 shots but it says they can only be fired at the very end of the shooting phase and "no other time". So I interpret that as no overwatch.

Subject: Re: First game vs Tyrannocytes Thu Dec 04 2014, 02:42

Even for Monstrous Creatures, I thought the rule specified that they may only fire two weapons in the shooting phase. We've been playing that in my club as only one gun for overwatch. Same with Tau overwatch from suits. Is that not how you guys run overwatch?

Sybarite Posts : 267 Join date : 2013-08-27

Specific to Monstrous Creatures (not the new Nid pods)....

The BRB states that the Monstrous Creature unit type can fire up to 2 of their weapons each shooting phase; however, it must fire at the same target (Splitfire overrides this of course).

Overwatch rules state that it is resolved as a normal shooting attack but in the enemy's Assault phase.

Based on those - RAW would be that MC's can fire 2 in the shooting phase (at the same target) but only 1 during overwatch (since it's not the shooting phase).

That's how i've played it myself but this post made me double check - which isn't a bad thing.