TYRANIDS DESIGNERS' NOTES
From the cold void of space, Mankind's doom approaches. The Tyranids - an utterly alien race intent on nothing less than the consumption of every living thing in the galaxy - are back. Andy Hoare talks to Phil Kelly, the author of the new Codex: Tyranids, Jes Goodwin, leading miniatures designer, and Roberto Cirrilo, Games Workshop's newest concept artist extraordinaire.
Tyranids have been with Warhammer 40,000 for quite a while now. They have existed, in one form or another, since the First Edition of the game. Now we have the brand new Codex: Tyranids, and Phil has taken the opportunity to bring the army right up to date for the latest revision of Warhammer 40,000.
Phil took over the reins of the Tyranids project from Andy Chambers, once the Warhammer 40,000 Overfiend and broodfather of the Tyranids as we know them today. It was a golden opportunity for Phil to stretch his muscles as a Warhammer 40,000 Games Developer. The obvious question to ask Phil, is "Why 'nids now?"
"Tyranids are the ultimate bad guys," says Phil, explaining why they were chosen for their appearance in the Battle for Macragge boxed game. "You don't need to explain who or what they are, which makes them the ideal adversary," the exact opposite of the noble Space Marines against whom the Tyranids are pitched in the Macragge set.
It makes perfect sense to produce a new version of the Tyranid Codex, following on, as it does, from the Battle For Macragge set and last year's spangly new Codex: Space Marines. "That's another important point," explains Phil. "We wanted a bit of a change of pace, as the Space Marines had just had their big release. It was definitely time to switch the limelight to the gribbly side of things." And gribbly the new Codex most certainly is. "Tyranids have been beaten on for too long - now it’s time they beat back!"
That being the case, many players will want to know just what's changed between this and the last iteration of Codex: Tyranids. The more curious may even want to know why. "Andy Chambers did such a good job last time around with the biomorph system that it didn't need rewriting from scratch - so most of the changes are cosmetic," says Phil. He's a Tyranid player himself and has had many long conversations with other Hive Minds to build up a picture of just what players felt needed working on.
A monstrous, tusked Carnifex roars in triumph on the devastated world of Jangrille Prime. |
