The Biovore

[SuperADJ]

I've picked up a Biovore for my army, and was wondering what the general concensus on them is? I was pleasantly surprised to see they come in at 45pts (been used to the 200+ pts on Carnifexes etc after upgrades!) and the description makes them sound quite useful. Currently my only other HS units are a pait of Carnifexes (different options, so 1 slot each) so I can afford to have it according to the FOC, at least until I buy something else!

One question I had was regarding the Spore Mines. I have 6 altogether and like the sound of deploying them via Orbital Deployment. Think it might play some mind games with my opponent as I can affect his deployment right from the start. But, what happens if I 'miss' a shot with the Biovore and have no Spore Mine models left to place? Is the shot resolved as if it simply missed? Or do you have to have a Spore Mine spare in order to shoot the Spore Mine Launcher?

I'm thinking of putting him behind some tall, wide cover then letting rip at the largest group of infantry each shooting phase. Haven't used a unit with Barrage before but it seems like a nice idea - shoot from a position that doesn't allow your enemy a chance to shoot back! I guess I'll need to be aware of fast units and being flanked etc, but is that the normal way to play with a Biovore?

[Forest]

Primarily their Anti infantry. They devastate IG, ork and other horde like armies(Nids included). For they're points they are more then worth it, especially since you never waste a shot. If they miss they create more units. If they hit it's a S4AP4 blast, nothing greate but if you dint have good armor on it will kill. As a bonus of you miss the spore mines also flood the feild so it becomes difficult to DS for you and your opponents.(mycetic spores are best incombo). Close combat I can't say biovores areuch help but their fairly tough. Better to just bombard from the 48".

[ein]

The Biovore includes an unlimited supply of Spore Mines. If your shot misses you place a Spore Mine at that spot; assuming you haven't run out of models. Every weapon in the Tyranid arsenal is Assault; so the Biovore can move around if necessary.

IMO it is a bargain, and makes you harder to out-horde. Any units you pin (or go to ground) can be assaulted without any Initiative penalties for charging into cover: not really a tactic to rely on but a bonus in an army where assault grenade equivalents are uncommon.

There is a Forces through the Editions article for them in the Blog section.

[Sybrite]

I like the biovore(s), they are decent long-range anti-infantry. though You do have to babysit them with synapse if you're going to capitalize on keeping them out of sight (since they're a barrage weapon)
they work well in tandem with Hive guard (another unit that doesn't need LOS to shoot); hive guard pop transports, biovores add insult to injury to the units which were forced out of their destroyed transport
-otherwise biovores work great at harassing opposing heavy weapon teams like devastators/longfangs.

some do not like the biovore because the nid army is full of close combat anti-infanty units and they feel that the heavy support slots should be used for anti-tank monsters

to be correct, you don't always place a spore mine when you miss a shot. as you have to miss by alot & not be near any other enemy unit. (center hole needs to be at least 6 inches away from any enemy model after scattering, so more often than not when you miss you don't miss by enough to place a spore mine)

and if you don't have a spore mine to place when the biovores miss a shot, then you just don't place. you miss out on the extra spore mine but it doesn't affect your army as the spore mines are ignored for all mission purposes (like kill points or even contesting objectives)

[c1940n]

I've always wanted to play with Biovores, but I've never felt comfortable about giving up anything else in my army for the points. For their points, I'd say they're usually worth it, but not taking Spore Mines as a FA choice. Spore Mines run 10/pop for a unit that you can't control, and doesn't even go FAST!

If you're out of Spore Mine models, then those models aren't placed if the Biovore misses by 6" or more.

[Angelofblades]

The Biovore

[sarcasm]The wha?[/sarcasm]

[The Imperial Fist]

Biovore are scary if you ask me. they can advance with the swarm, and really should anyway to take advantage of synapse, and all the while they drop barrage style big blasts. S4 or not, on 2 D6 you have a good chance to take out a Rhino/Trukk, and as previously posted they clean up really well after you crack a few eggs.

[Sybrite]

S4 or not, on 2 D6 you have a good chance to take out a Rhino/Trukk

think you're confusing barrage with ordnance... also, with ordnance you don't keep both dice, just the highest one for the armor penetration attempt
plus it'd be a rare day to knock on a rhino with a biovore, AV11* laughs at S4...
*Barrage always hit vehicles on side armor (BRB pg60)

[The Imperial Fist]

think you're confusing barrage with ordnance... also, with ordnance you don't keep both dice, just the highest one for the armor penetration attempt
plus it'd be a rare day to knock on a rhino with a biovore, AV11* laughs at S4...
*Barrage always hit vehicles on side armor (BRB pg60)

They are ordinance and barrage.

As for the barrage rule thats a good one.

I thought Ordinance weapons were the same as Monsterous Creatures, Chain Fists, Etc. and you add 2 d6 to the strength of the weapon for pen.

[SuperADJ]

Thanks for the replies and advice. I'm looking forward to trying this beasty out, seems like quite a fun model and the first one I've played with that has a weapon that uses the Barrage rule. Plus I get to use my large blast template for the first time! I was actually planning on using the Spore Mines in my list because currently I only have one other FA slot filled (3x Raveners). I thought the cost of 10pts each might be worth it just for the distraction they'd provide early on, but perhaps I'll only pop 3 down and save the remaining ones for missed shots from the Biovore. Hadn't considered the implications for me if I DS onto one, though...may need to think carefully on that! Losing a Carnifex because the Mycetic Spore landed on a Spore Mine would just be unbearable.

I've been reading the rulebook and codex, and from what I gather the Spore Mine Launcher is not an Ordnance weapon, and as such just rolls the normal one dice on penetration. Which makes it more or less infantry only, at least against the Blood Angels (which my Tyranids will be battling). Even against a Land Speeder I'd have to get the shot bang on (unlikely if I'm not in LOS as it scatters the full 2D6") and then roll a 6. Even then it's only a glancing hit, and that's against the lightest armour I can target! But I like the idea of a large blast marker, even at S4 I may get lucky with the dice, and every wound I take is important as they'll have far fewer models than me.

In terms of Instinctive Behaviour, what would happen if I am already in cover when the HT etc moves too far forward to give the Biovore synapse? Would the Biovore remain in cover? And if so, could I fire? The Codex states I have to fire at the nearest enemy, and that if no enemy is in LOS or within range then I can't fire. Chances are they won't be in LOS (if I'm in cover correctly) but will be within range. Does that mean I can fire? If so, provided I can get him to position before the synapse creature moves away the Biovore's Instinctive Behaviour won't really be detrimental.

I'm going to try him for a few games and see how I get on. I think he'll make his points back no problem and adds a little psychological element to the force. If he works well I may get another couple to really make those barrages deadly. On that note, the Codex refers to the 'final position of the first template in the barrage' - I take it there is only ever one template unless you have multiple Biovores?

The other option is a Trygon. I love the model, and the idea of popping up behind the enemy. But he's expensive and seems to draw the fire from just about every unit the enemy has when he pops his head up!

[Forest]

If the biovore goes feral and already in cover. It diepends on the exact terrain but say a forest with a base he just sits their and shoots the nearest enemy(tanks or flesh). If he's near a building he enters it, again if able to shoot he shoots the closest. If he's behind a mountain and theirs a nothing near by same thing. How ever if he's behind a mountain/rock and theirs a based forest. He leaves his cover and advances toward the trees but still shoots what's near. Most the time. His IB is to your benefit except when your trying to pick off certain units. If you need to shoot a few marines and they park a rhino infont of your biovore, unfortunately you are Likley to blast yourself and you won't have a choice.

[Sybrite]

@The Imperial Fist : no ordnance in the biovore's weapon description just "Assault 1, Barrage, Large Blast*"
'Ordnance' and 'Ordnance Barrage' weapons types are only found on vehicle units. There some exceptions to the vehicle only but Tyranids didn't get them (Imperial Guard/Space Marines/Grey Knights IIRC)

@SuperADJ : If you fail instinctive behavior and have no line of sight to any enemy model then unfortunately the biovore isn't going to shoot. a similar question to this was asked in the FAQ, but it was for the Hive Guard. still same effect taked directly of rules as written from the Lurk effects
-Yes, you get one large blast marker in your barrage per biovore in the brood. So only one for you at the moment, but if you get two more biovores your brood will fire and hit with 3 large blast markers using the multiple barrage rules in the main rule book (pg32). also the FAQ says you determine if you place spore mines only from the final postion of the first large blast if you have mulitiple
-that's the big risk with large models, they draw lots of attention. sometimes that's good because it takes the fire off of your other smaller bugs, but other times you don't want big expensive creatures dying before they kill anything. Usually if you take a trygon it's best to take more than one, splits up the target priority.

[SuperADJ]

Thanks again. So, just to clarify, if I have no LOS and no synapse then the Biovore cannot shoot? If so I'll need to re-think my strategy a little.

I need to re-read the rules again concerning cover and terrain, I often think of the two as inter-changeable (for example, if the Biovore is behind a rock - cover - he won't move again when Lurking, but I think I've mistaken cover for terrain as illustrated in Forest's example of him moving from a rock to a forest area.

My army at present contains a few big 'uns (a pair of Hive Tyrants and a pair of Carnifexes), so I was hoping that a Trygon might survive long enough to do damage! I suppose Deep Striking it would help too.

[Forest]

Trygon is awsome but unrealiable in my opinion. Better off running him across the feild like a fex. Trying to DS/SA him just gets him killed. I've had a few oppertunitys that he popped up and survived but only after the game was more or less won or he had a terrain big enough to hide behind.

[Beeva]

I like Biovores, but I play Eldar and Orks alot. They're pretty inexpensive as Nid HS goes so they don't need to do an awful lot to earn their points back. Like anythign with Nids though, if you're going to take 'em, take three!

[Sybrite]

Thanks again. So, just to clarify, if I have no LOS and no synapse then the Biovore cannot shoot? If so I'll need to re-think my strategy a little.

you could still shoot if you pass th Ld test for instinctive behavior. but if you fail it, you have to follow the lurk rules

I need to re-read the rules again concerning cover and terrain, I often think of the two as inter-changeable (for example, if the Biovore is behind a rock - cover - he won't move again when Lurking, but I think I've mistaken cover for terrain as illustrated in Forest's example of him moving from a rock to a forest area.

getting cover isn't the same as being inside area terrain but yea a few more re-reads definately help with understanding

[The Imperial Fist]

@The Imperial Fist : no ordnance in the biovore's weapon description just "Assault 1, Barrage, Large Blast*"
'Ordnance' and 'Ordnance Barrage' weapons types are only found on vehicle units. There some exceptions to the vehicle only but Tyranids didn't get them (Imperial Guard/Space Marines/Grey Knights IIRC)

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Pwned. Good one.