New 'Nid Army Build?

Thinking of doing a slightly different 'nid army for the 'Ard Boyz tounament.  I'm going to have to get a couple boxes of guants though and make another spore pod.

2500 Pts - Tyranids Roster

HQ: Hive Tyrant (1#, 210 pts)
1 Hive Tyrant @ 210 pts (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Bonded Exoskeleton; Scything Talons x1; Synapse Creature; Psyker; Shadow in the Warp; Hive Commander; TL Devourer w/Brainleech Worms x1; Leech Essence; Psychic Scream)

: Tyrant Guard Brood (2#, 120 pts)
2 Tyrant Guard Brood @ 120 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Bonded Exoskeleton; Rending Claws; Scything Talons; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Blind Rampage; Shieldwall)

HQ: Tyranid Prime (1#, 100 pts)
1 Tyranid Prime @ 100 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Bonded Exoskeleton; Scything Talons; Synapse Creature; Alpha Warrior; Independent Character; Shadow in the Warp; Scything Talons; Adrenal Glands; Toxin Sacs)

Troops: Tyranid Warrior Brood (5#, 200 pts)
5 Tyranid Warrior Brood @ 200 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Hardened Carapace; Scything Talons; Synapse Creature; Shadow in the Warp; Scything Talons; Adrenal Glands; Toxin Sacs)

Troops: Tyranid Warrior Brood (5#, 160 pts)
4 Tyranid Warrior Brood @ 160 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Devourer; Hardened Carapace; Scything Talons; Synapse Creature; Shadow in the Warp)
1 Tyranid Warrior (Barbed Strangler; Scything Talons)

Troops: Tyranid Warrior Brood (5#, 165 pts)
4 Tyranid Warrior Brood @ 165 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Devourer; Hardened Carapace; Scything Talons; Synapse Creature; Shadow in the Warp)
1 Tyranid Warrior (Scything Talons; Venom Cannon)

Troops: Hormagaunt Brood (21#, 175 pts)
20 Hormagaunt Brood @ 175 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Chitin; Scything Talons; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Bounding Leap; Fleet; Move Through Cover; Mycetic Spore)
1 Mycetic Spore (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Hardened Carapace; Lash Whip; Ripper Tentacles; Deep Strike; Fearless; Immobile Pod; Limited Sentience; Transport Spore; Barbed Strangler)

Troops: Hormagaunt Brood (21#, 175 pts)
20 Hormagaunt Brood @ 175 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Chitin; Scything Talons; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Bounding Leap; Fleet; Move Through Cover; Mycetic Spore)
1 Mycetic Spore (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Hardened Carapace; Lash Whip; Ripper Tentacles; Deep Strike; Fearless; Immobile Pod; Limited Sentience; Transport Spore; Barbed Strangler)

Troops: Termagant Brood (30#, 315 pts)
27 Termagant Brood @ 315 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Chitin; Claws & Teeth; Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk; Move Through Cover; Devourer)
3 Termagant (Strangleweb)

Elite: Zoanthrope Brood (3#, 180 pts)
3 Zoanthrope Brood @ 180 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Claws & Teeth; Reinforced Chitin; Synapse Creature; Psyker; Shadow in the Warp; Warp Field; Warp Blast; Warp Lance)

Elite: Hive Guard Brood (3#, 150 pts)
3 Hive Guard Brood @ 150 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Claws & Teeth; Hardened Carapace; Impaler Cannon; Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk)

Heavy Support: Trygon Prime (1#, 240 pts)
1 Trygon Prime @ 240 pts (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Bonded Exoskeleton; Scything Talons x2; Bio-electric Pulse w/Containment Spines; Deep Strike; Fearless; Fleet; Subterranean Assault; Synapse Creature; Shadow in the Warp)

Heavy Support: Mawloc (1#, 170 pts)
1 Mawloc @ 170 pts (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Bonded Exoskeleton; Claws & Teeth; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Burrow; Deep Strike; Fearless; Hit & Run; Terror from the Deep)

Heavy Support: Biovore Brood (3#, 135 pts)
3 Biovore Brood @ 135 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Claws & Teeth; Hardened Carapace; Spore Mine Launcher; Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk)
0 Spore Mine Cluster (Unit Type: Infantry; Spore Mine; Living Bomb)

Validation Report:
d-1. Formatting: for AB 3.2; c-1. File Version: 1.07b For Bug Reports/www.ab40k.org; b-1. Roster Options: Special Characters; a-1. Scenario: Normal Mission
Roster satisfies all enforced validation rules

Total Roster Cost: 2495

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Icon Revision Revised!

I swear this is the last time I'm going to do this.  I'm pretty much set on this being the final version of the icon.  I'm very pleased with how it turned out.  I've stated to test print different sizes so I know how I want to print them on my decal paper.  The test sheets look really cool!

For numbers and lettering I've decided to go with the OCR-A font (the font used for the numbers on the bottom of your checks).  It was either that or COPPERPLATE.  I think the OCR font will look more techy.

I've also started working on a joint icon for the team tournament at BoLS Con.  We're doing Space Marine / Tau.  They're big on story at that and I want to do something a little extra.  I'm thinking doing T-Shirts too!

Recosidering the List

I was talking with my cousin Marc earlier this week and we were discussing the hidden power of scouts.  This got me thinking about my army list.  My build for the Iron Dragons list has been very redundant under the guise that I was taking advantage of the abilities Vulcan gave.  To be fair though there are only so many options you have for troop choices especially if you were trying to avoid using scounts as I was.

But after our discussion I started to think about scouts.  I could take a unit of 10 scouts with a heavy bolter, 4 sniper rifles, 4 with bolters, and a combi-melta on the sergent for 160 points.  For 5 points less than I was spending for a land speeder I could take a land speeder storm and use it as a transport for half the scouts.  All I'd be giving up for to have the lan speeder storm would be the flamers and I would be gaining the storm's other abilities.

This didn't seem like such a bad idea.  It gives me a very fast troop unit that can deep strike, outflank, or scout, and a mini devistator squad with scout.  Plus the point savings would allow me to bring in at least one more drop pod and add missle launchers to the drop pods (which is so much more annoying compared to the standard weapons).

So here is the working draft for the IRON DRAGONS.

2000 Pts - Space Marines Roster


HQ: Forgefather Vulkan He'stan (1#, 190 pts)
1 Forgefather Vulkan He'stan @ 190 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Krak Grenades; Artificer Armour; Digital Weapons; Kesare's Mantle; Bolt Pistol; Gauntlet of the Forge; Spear of Vulkan; And They Shall Know No Fear; Chapter Tactics; Combat Tactics; Independent Character)
     1 Kesare's Mantle

HQ: Master of the Forge (1#, 125 pts)
1 Master of the Forge @ 125 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Krak Grenades; Artificer Armour; Servo Harness; Digital Weapons; Bolt Pistol; Power Sword; And They Shall Know No Fear; Blessing of the Omnissiah; Bolster Defenses; Combat Tactics; Independent Character)
     1 Servo Harness

Elite: Ironclad Dreadnought (2#, 200 pts)
1 Ironclad Dreadnought @ 200 pts (Unit Type: Vehicle (Walker); Extra Armor; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Dreadnought CCW; Meltagun; Seismic Hammer; Heavy Flamer; Move Through Cover; Drop Pod)

1 Drop Pod (Deathwind Missile Launcher)

Elite: Terminator Assault Squad (11#, 650 pts)
9 Terminator Assault Squad @ 650 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Lightning Claws (pair) x1; Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield x8; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; Combat Tactics; Land Raider Redeemer)

1 Sergeant (Unit Type: Infantry; Lightning Claws (pair) x1; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; Combat Tactics)

1 Land Raider Redeemer (Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Transport Capacity: 12 models; Access Points: 3; Frag Assault Launchers; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Multi-Melta; 2x Flamestorm Cannons; Twin Linked Assault Cannon; Assault Vehicle; Power of the Machine Spirit)

Troops: Tactical Squad (11#, 235 pts)
9 Tactical Squad @ 235 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol x9; Bolter x7; Meltagun; Multi-Melta; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; Combat Tactics; Rhino)

1 Sergeant (Unit Type: Infantry; Krak Grenades; Bolt Pistol; Power Fist; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; Combat Tactics)

1 Rhino (Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Transport Capacity: 10 models; Access Points: 3; Fire Points: 1; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Storm Bolter; Repair)

Troops: Scout Squad (10#, 160 pts)
9 Scout Squad @ 160 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Krak Grenades; Scout Armour; Bolt Pistol x9; Bolter x4; Sniper Rifle x4; Heavy Bolter w/Hellfire Shells; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; Combat Tactics; Infiltrate; Move Through Cover; Scouts)

1 Sergeant (Unit Type: Infantry; Krak Grenades; Scout Armour; Bolt Pistol; Combi-Meltagun; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; Combat Tactics; Infiltrate; Move Through Cover; Scouts)

Fast Attack: Land Speeder Squadron (1#, 70 pts)
1 Land Speeder Squadron @ 70 pts (Unit Type: Vehicle (Skimmer, Fast); Heavy Flamer x1; Multi-Melta x1; Deep Strike)

Fast Attack: Land Speeder Storm (1#, 65 pts)
1 Land Speeder Storm @ 65 pts (Unit Type: Vehicle (Open-topped); Unit Type: Vehicle (Skimmer, Fast); Transport Capacity: 5 models; Cerberus Launcher; Jamming Beacon; Multi-Melta; Deep Strike; Scouts)

Heavy Support: Devastator Squad (5#, 150 pts)
4 Devastator Squad @ 150 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol x4; Multi-Melta x4; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; Combat Tactics)

1 Sergeant (Unit Type: Infantry; Krak Grenades; Signum; Bolt Pistol; Bolter; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; Combat Tactics)

Heavy Support: Thunderfire Cannon (2#, 155 pts)
1 Thunderfire Cannon @ 155 pts (Unit Type: Artillery; Thunderfire Cannon; Drop Pod)

1 Techmarine Gunner (Unit Type: Infantry; Krak Grenades; Artificer Armour; Servo Harness; Bolt Pistol; Thunderfire Cannon; And They Shall Know No Fear; Blessing of the Omnissiah; Bolster Defenses; Combat Tactics; Independent Character)
     1 Servo Harness

1 Drop Pod (Deathwind Missile Launcher)

Validation Report:
d-1. Formatting: for AB 3.2; c-1. File Version: 1.06c For Bug Reports/www.ab40k.org; b-1. Roster Options: Special Characters; a-1. Scenario: Normal Mission; 1. Chapter: Codex Chapter

Roster satisfies all enforced validation rules

Total Roster Cost: 2000

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Iron Dragons Icon Revised!

Not much time has passed and I've already revised the icon I did.  I like the revised version better.  The first version didn't seem as fluid as I had hoped.  I wanted it to look like the gear was changed into the dragon.

Also when I sized down the icon it was very hard to distinguish much.  It is still not the most clear icon at small sizes, but it's much better with this design. 

It still doesn't feel like my final design, but it feels closer.

Iron Dragons Icon

I think I've finally got my Iron Dragons icon figured out.  I've ordered my decal paper (I'm so not painting that by hand).  I'm anxious to see how small I'll have to print it and how well it looks that small.  I think it will look awesome on vehicles though.

For the team tournament at BoLS Con I'm going to insert the symbol for the other army I'm playing with in the center and make a couple T-shirts for us to intimitate our opponents with. :)

Iron Dragons

That's my new Space Marine chapter that I will be assembling for BoLSCon in August. I'd call it a hybrid Salamanders/Iron Hands list. Here's its last incarnation (some additional notes below).

HQ: Forgefather Vulkan He'stan (1, 190 pts.)

HQ: Master of the Forge (1, 125 pts.)

Power Sword, Digital Weapons

Troops: Tactical Squad (11, 220 pts.)

Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Meltagun (replaces bolter), Rhino

Troops: Tactical Squad (11, 220 pts.)

Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Meltagun (replaces bolter), Rhino

Elite: Terminator Assault Squad (11, 660 pts.)

8x Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield, 2x Lightning Claw Pairs, Land Raider Crusader (Multi-Melta)

Elite: Ironclad Dreadnought (2, 195 pts.)

Heavy Flamer, Drop Pod

Fast: Land Speeder Squadron (1, 70 pts.)

Heavy Flamer, Multi-Melta

Fast: Land Speeder Squadron (1, 70 pts.)

Heavy Flamer, Multi-Melta

Heavy: Devastator Squad (5, 150 pts.)

4x Multi-Melta

Heavy: Thunderfire Cannon (2, 100 pts.)

I'm considering dropping the Drop Pod and instead taking 2 hunter-killers and adding a power sword in one of the units, or taking one hunter-killer and adding a power fist.

I have another version that takes a second Ironclad, and a third that takes a regular dreadnought (with multi-melta of course). In those versions the big change is dropping the Thunderfire Cannon. I like the idea of either being dread heavy or techmarine heavy.

This is basically me going back to my first army in first edition, but not doing it so hand-to-hand heavy. My first army was a major diversion chapter (back when we could make our own chapters) and consisted of primarily hand-to-hand guys. That's part of why I went to 'Nid in 5th edition. I wanted to have a hand-to-hand army. Even my 'Nids though have become shooty because I've grown to like that.

Now this army is part hand-to-hand and part shooty. I get the dreads and techmarines that I really like and all my meltas are twin-linked. And since meltas are up close weapons It's that much better in my opinion.

New Codex, New List

I'm still making my adjustments to my list after the new Tyranid codex released last month. We've got a 'ard Boyz tournament later this month that we're preparing for and I'm having to get my list up to snuff while at the same time make sure that I have the models to do it.

I like some of the changes, but I don't like others. To me carnifex's have been downplayed in the new codex. They are higher point cost. Yes you can take them in "squadrons", but in reality that' going to present a whole slew of issues to deal with and that's a very expensive unit to field (both in points and $).

I like the new models, but I really wish there was some direction for things like the Parasite, Tervagon, and Spore Pod. I don't like having to guess at the size of the base.

We're also talking about going to BoLS Con, and if we do that I'm going to take a Space Marine army instead of my Nids. I love my Nids, but I finally figured out how to do my techy SM army (like I had under 4th Edition). I can actually get that army painted by the con too (which pretty much is a must).

Here's my 2500 point Tyranid List for the 'ard Boyz tournament...

HQ: Hive Tyrant (1, 260 pts)
Scything Talons, TL Devourer W/ Brainleech, Thorax Swarm (beetles), Hive Commander, Old Adversary, Leech Essence, Psychic Scream

Tyrant Guard Brood (2, 120 pts)

HQ: The Parasite of Mortex (1, 160 pts)

Fast: Gargoyle Brood (10, 60 pts)

Troops: Hormaguant Brood (30, 180)

Troops: Termaguant Brood (30, 180)
Spinefists

Troops: Tyranid Warrior Brood (5, 160 pts)
4 W/Scything Talons and Devourer
1 W/Scything Talons and Barbed Strangler

Troops: Tyranid Warrior Brood (5, 160 pts)
4 W/Scything Talons and Devourer
1 W/Scything Talons and Barbed Strangler

Troops: Tyranid Warrior Brood (5, 160 pts)
4 W/Scything Talons and Devourer
1 W/Scything Talons and Barbed Strangler

Elite: Hive Guard Brood (3, 150 pts)

Elite: Venomthrope Brood (3, 165 pts)

Elite: Zoanthrope Brood (3, 180 pts)

Heavy: Biovore Brood (3, 135 pts)

Heavy: Carnifex (1, 190 pts)
2x Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands, Bio-plasma

Heavy: Trygon Prime (1, 240 pts)
Prime

I'm thinking about dropping the Gargoyles in favor of flying or tunneling rippers that can deep strike with the Parasite. I'm also considering dropping Old Adversary and the Thorax weapon to add more of the rippers.