Re: [Epic] [E40k] Tyranid strategy rating

From: <oki_at_...>
Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 13:15:25 +0800

At 10:13 PM 5/9/97 -0500, you wrote:
>>In a message dated 08/05/97 17:29:51, jschmidt_at_... (Jeff Schmidt)
>>writes:
>>
>><< What exactly is the rationale for a '1' strategy rating for 'nids? I
>> always had the impression that Tyranids were not a blind juggernaught that
>> could easily be outmaneuvered or outsmarted (perhaps I'm wrong). To me,
>> Tyranids are damned _alien_, a very inscrutable foe to most other races.
>> Greg Klett and I were hashing over the idea of trying a house rule where
>> the Tyranids have a random strategy rating (d6) from turn to turn,
>> representing their unpredicable, alien nature. Since I don't have nearly
>> the time to try this out anytime soon, if anyone does want to try it out,
>> please let me know what your impressions were! >>
>>
>
> But, what about in the usual table top game where the Bugs will not
>have overwhelming numbers, will have inferior firepower and will
>probably have superior close combat (at least until you consider the
>likely disadvantage from the imbalance in blast markers.
> If the Bugs are such an unstopable juggernaught why do they only act
>in response to their opponent, via the strategy rating and initiative
>chits?
>
> Greg Klett
>

Well, I could just say it is just for :
i. game balance
ii. a game, don't bother to go into it too much :P
but I don't think you'll buy it. So read on !

I think in the fluff it was mentioned that the Tyranids do not have a
consciousness and individuality as is common with most of 40k races. While
some individual Tyranids have the ability to function independently (fairly)
of Hive Minds, most of the Tyranids behaves on instincts (remember the Epic
2nd edition, Rampage, Nest, Assault (? IIRC).

Instead of individual consciousness, Tyranids has a form of collective
consciousness (whatever that is supposed to mean :P). As such individuality
is a not just a foreign concept to these guys, it does not exist to them !

One analogy I can think of is that our body is made up of trillions of
cells. Now, let's say I have just eaten a rather unsavory piece of meat -
filled with bacterium, viruses etc. Now my stomach and intestine will try to
digest it. Using acid (blah, blah, blah). Now it encounters these bacterium
(let's call them bugs for now), most of the time these bugs are digested
with no significant ill effect. All this happen without me ever knowing that
an epic struggle of new microscopic scale (ahem) has taken place in me body.
Likewise for the Tyranid Hive Mind, it has got other things to worry about.

However if these bugs are present in significant numbers, chances are some
will be able to survive and cause a reaction in myr stomach and intestines.
I will then experience stomach upset, diarrhea. Now if it is not too severe,
I probably wait for it to clear up by itself. And most of the time, it will.
Otherwise, I will probably take some medicine already at home - this whole
episode is just mere inconvenience so far, I am not gonna go for intensive
care at this time. I have got better things to do: date women, go to work,
read E40K list, play my Playstation etc. Ditto for the Hive mind; it
probably is busy arguing theology with Emperor, arm wrestling with Khorne,
engaging in playing patty-cake with Slaanesh, discussing the merits of
collective consciousness with Tzeentch etc.

However, if my antibodies are not able to take it, it will then scream uncle
and I will feel really shitty. When that happens, I will then go to a
doctor, then specialist, get hospitalised, get my stomach flushed, get
pumped up with antibiotics etc. Sure I am now giving my undivided attention
to combating the bugs in my system - but I cannot do anything else.
Similarly for Tyranids, when it concentrates its attention on a battlefield,
I do not want to be there ! Emperor's wrath be damned.

But this is damned unlikely though, because then other Tyranids - those not
involved in the battlefield - will suffer significantly as the Hive Mind
moves a significant portion of its consciousness, attention and power into
just a particular battlefield.

It was mentioned in the fluff that the Hive Mind did allocate a little bit
more attention to larger battlefields, giving more power - more Hive Mind
cards in the Epic2nd edition. But even so, its' strategy rating is still
pretty pathetic. This is also analogous to me, in intensive care - the
doctor pumped me up with drugs etc - more antibodies now get allies
(antibiotics etc) but my antibodies still fight the bugs with the same stats
and initiative :)

Phew, I hope rant is not off the mark entirely. As for the digestive and the
antibodies operation, it was what I could recall from my Bio class in grade
10 and I was no A student for that subject :( So be kind !

Regards
Oki

p.s. If all else fails, remember the words of Magus Booo Shit when he was
asked why the Genestealers also get consumed alongside hoomies, pansies and
orks when the Tyranids invaded. This despite the fact that Genestealers are
Tyranids scouts. He replied "The Hive Mind works in a mysterious way...Ours
is not to question the why and the wherefores; ours is to do and to die...:P"
Received on Sat May 10 1997 - 05:15:25 UTC