Well, while TacComms was down I was able to get in another "Rage of Raveners" Tyranid playtest game in and I posted it to Warseer, reposting it here for more comments... and hoping the pictures work!

My opponent kept the "core" of his army the same, but swapped out all his Genestealers and Lictors for four Harridans... very flappy death!

I drew a Biel-Tan Eldar army from the pool and we set about a battle to the death!

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Rules Used

Epic Update 2008
NetEA Recommendations
Tyranids v9.2.2 (Experimental)

Changes

Assault Group – 3 Tyranid Warriors – 100 points

Raveners – CC4+. +1EA

BTS – More Synapse killed than remaining

Scenario

Tournament Scenario

Armies Used

Biel-Tan Cleansing Flame - 3000 Points

Avatar

Wraithgate

Aspect Warrior Warhost 1
2 Swooping Hawks
6 Warp Spiders
1 Exarch
1 Autarch

Aspect Warrior Warhost 2
4 Dire Avengers
2 Striking Scorpions
1 Fire Dragon
1 Exarch
1 Dark Reaper
1 Exarch

Guardian Warhost 1 – (BTS Target)
1 Farseer
3 Heavy Weapons Platforms
4 Guardians
3 Support Weapons
3 Wraithlords
3 Wraithguard

Guardian Warhost 2
1 Farseer
3 Heavy Weapons Platforms
4 Guardians

Falcon Troupe Green
4 Falcons
1 Firestorm

Falcon Troupe Yellow
4 Falcons
1 Firestorm

Falcon Troupe Red
4 Falcons
1 Firestorm

Windrider Troupe 1
2 Vypers
4 Jetbikes

Windrider Troupe 2
2 Vypers
4 Jetbikes

Ranger Troupe
7 Rangers

Vampire Raider
1 Vampire Raider


A Rage of Raveners – Harridan Edition - 2950 Points

(BTS Target – 16 Synapse creatures)

Assault Swarm 1
3 Tyranid Warriors
4 Raveners

Assault Swarm 2
3 Tyranid Warriors
4 Raveners

Assault Swarm 3
3 Tyranid Warriors
4 Raveners

Assault Swarm 4
3 Tyranid Warriors
4 Raveners

Assault Swarm 5
3 Tyranid Warriors
4 Raveners

Assault Swarm 6
3 Tyranid Warriors
4 Raveners

Assault Swarm 7
3 Tyranid Warriors
4 Raveners

Assault Swarm 8
3 Tyranid Warriors
4 Raveners

Assault Swarm 9
3 Tyranid Warriors
4 Raveners

Assault Swarm 10
3 Tyranid Warriors
4 Raveners

Harridan A
1 Harridan

Harridan B
1 Harridan

Harridan C
1 Harridan

Harridan D
1 Harridan

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Battlefield:

4x6

Biel-Tan chose long table edge.


Deployment:

Biel-Tan kept Guardian Warhost 2 in reserve in the Webway while Aspect Warhost 2 was being transported by the Vampire.

Biel-Tan garrisoned the Ranger Troupe on overwatch.

Remaining deployment as shown:

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Turn 1

No teleports.

Strategy Roll: Biel-Tan… who let the Tyranids go first.

Swarm 10 marches along the Tyranid left flank, heading directly towards Tyranid Objective 2.

The Wraithgate then shimmers open, but Guardian Warhost 2 seems hesitant about what to do and only makes a single move into cover. (What a way to start my turn!)

Swarm 7 marches directly onto Bunker Hill, taking cover in the Bunkers and Defence Lines.

Falcon Troupe Green requires confirmation from the Autarch before popping up and advancing, peppering Swarm 7 with fire… which kills a single Ravener!

Swarm 8 doubles forward, getting a single Ranger in range… and reduces them to soup.

Falcon Troupe Red then pops up and advances, firing on Swarm 7… killing another Ravener.

Swarm 3 marches forward into cover.

Windriders 2 pop up, advance, and fire on Swarm 7… and manage to take out two Tyranid Warriors!

Swarm 4 can’t get itself going this evening so it makes a single move forward instead of a march.

The Ranger Troupe hopes to double out of trouble, but fails, holding and regrouping, clearing all Blast markers.

Swarm 1 marches straight forward, barrelling towards the Eldar lines.

Falcon Yellow pops up, doubles and swats the remains of Swarm 7 into paste.  (Yes, almost 1000 points of Eldar only manage to wipe out 225 points of Tyranid… it’s gonna be a long game…)

Swarm 9 marches onto the recently cleaned Bunker Hill.

Guardian Warhost 1 doubles towards Bunker Hill to put a Blast marker on Swarm 9.

Harridan D attempts to advance on some Falcons, but has some wing trouble and only moves closer.

The loaded Vampire dives down to land near Swarm 10; the Aspect Warrior disembark and let loose with everything they’ve got on the nearby Bugs… and kill a single Ravener.



Harridan A attempts to double to help… but is also having some trouble and only moves forward.

Aspect Warhost 1 marches to a better position on Bunker Hill.

Swarms 6 and 5 both march towards the Eldar lines, Swarm 5 using the road to hurry along.

Harridan B doubles and fires on Falcons Yellow for a single Blast marker.

Harridan C doubles and puts a Blast marker on the Rangers…


End of Turn

All formations rally!

Swarms 1, 3, 4, and 9 spawn a Ravener each, draining the Spawning Pool.

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Turn 2

Guardian Warhost 1 summons the Avatar.



Strategy Roll: TYRANIDS!!!

Swarm 9 powers over Bunker Hill to engage Aspect Warhost 1!  Caught off guard, the Eldar only manage to take out a single Ravener while two Warp Spiders are scythed down.  



It’s still close, but the Bugs win by “1â€Â

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[Turn 2 continued]

Swarm 6 then charges the harassing Rangers.  



The Eldar scouts acquit themselves admirably, taking out three Raveners while losing three Rangers.  The Nids win by “2â€Â

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Turn 3

No teleports.

Strategy Roll: Biel-Tan

Guardian Warhost 1 goes on the offensive and engages Swarm 4.  They lose 2 Guardians, 1 Wraithguard and 1 Wraithlord, but manage to completely wipe out the Tyranid infestation.  The Eldar reposition…



…and Aspect Warhost 1 then engages Swarm 2, with Windrider and Guardian Support.  The Aspects lose a Swooping Hawk and a Warp Spider, but the massed Eldar fire completely wipes out this swarm as well, despite the Aspects breaking.



Falcon Green then sustains fire on Swarm 8… but only manages to take out 2 Raveners.

Swarm 3 advances on Windriders 2 and puts a Blast marker on them.

Harridan B then engages them… and neither side scores any kills!  The Tyranids wind up winning by “1â€Â

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[Turn 3 continued]

Hissing in with barely controlled rage, Swarm 9 then engages the large Guardian Warhost…



and doesn’t take out a single Eldar unit in a stunning display of bad rolls (My opponent scored only 3 hits using around fourteen attacks… and then I made all my saves/).  The Eldar manage not to laugh as their counter-attack wipes out the entire swarm and they reposition to secure objectives.



Swarm 6 tries to bulk up with a marshal, fails, regroups… and doesn’t spawn anything!

Falcon Red doubles on Swarm 6… and kills a Ravener.

Swarm 8 then engages Falcon Green, losing 2 Raveners, but wiping out the Eldar when they “snake-eyesâ€Â

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as usual nice report.... and great to see the bunkers finally making an appearance.

Nice battle report, good read.