Drop Pod Space Marines vs. Tyranids

I had my first game (2k, double FOC and allies) this afternoon with my drop pod Space Marines versus Tyranids.

Here is my army list:

Primary Detachment: Ultramarines

Marneus Calgar /Warlord
• Terminator Armor

Chief Librarian Tigurius (Prescience, Precognition, Scryer's Gaze)

4x Honour Guard:
4x Power Axe, Bolter, Bolt Pistol
Chapter Champion:
• Thunder Hammer, Bolter, Bolt Pistol
Drop Pod (#1)

4x Sternguard Veteran:
3x Combi-Grav Gun, Bolt Pistol
Heavy Flamer, Bolt Pistol
Veteran Sergeant:
• Melta Bombs, Grav Pistol, Grav Pistol
Drop Pod (#2)

4x Sternguard Veteran:
3x Combi-Meltagun, Bolt Pistol
Heavy Flamer, Bolt Pistol
Veteran Sergeant:
• Melta Bombs, Combi-Meltagun, Bolt Pistol
Drop Pod (#3)

Techmarine:
• Servo-Harness, Combi-Plasma Gun

5x Tactical Marine:
4x Bolter, Bolt Pistol
Plasma Gun
Sergeant:
• Melta Bombs, Combi-Plasma Gun, Bolt Pistol
Drop Pod (#4)

Techmarine:
• Combi-Plasmagun, Servo Arm, Melta Bombs

5x Tactical Marine:
4x Bolter, Bolt Pistol
Plasma Gun, Bolt Pistol
Sergeant:
• Melta Bombs, Combi-Plasma Gun, Bolt Pistol
Drop Pod (#5)

4x [b]Devastator:
4x Missile Launcher + Flakk Missiles, Bolter, Bolt Pistol
Sergeant:
• Bolter, Bolt Pistol, Signum
Drop Pod (#6)

Allied Detachment: Space Wolves

Rune Priest

7x Grey Hunter:
Wolf Standard, Bolter, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword
Plasma Gun, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword
Plasma Pistol, Bolter, Chainsword
Power Axe, Bolter, Bolt Pistol
3x Bolter, Bolt, Pistol, Chainsword
Drop Pod (#7)


The Tyranid army had the following units:

3x Flyrant:
3x twin linked Devourers w. Brain Leech ammo
Hive Commander

2x Venomthrope

Zoanthrope

Tervigon (outflanking)
30x termagant
? x termagant
? x termagant
? x termagant

Exocrine

2x Tyrannofex:
Torrent Flamer

3x Biovore

Bastion


NOTE:
This is not a full batrep (sorry no pictures) - it's simply some of the game highlights and thoughts on the two armies.

Mission: Crusade (3 objectives)
Deployment: Hammer and Anvil

No Night Fight

I had two objective markers in my deployment zone, Tyranids had one in theirs. Space Marines got the first turn. So I had a big advantage since I had two objective markers in my deployment zone plus I got to go first.

I played aggressively with my army in the beginning then began to drop back to my deployment zone to hold objectives. Here is my kill tally:

3x Flyrant
2x Tyrannofex
Tervigon
Majority of the termagants


Tyranids
I wasn't very impressed with the Bastion... It creates a very static army and it has lots of problems taking objectives outside its deployment zone. You have an extended cover save bubble where lots of your army goes and it does not encourage aggressive play... Eldar and Tau will have a field day and you can only hide so much.

I don't think the Flyrant is good enough to warrant more than one—it's quite fragile now without Biomancy. Each Flyrant is a huge chunk of points that could go towards more broods. The Tervigon I'm not really liking all that much either anymore... It just can't do what it did with all the nerfs now—very expensive for scoring unit.

I was very impressed with the Exocrine though... I could easily see taking two. The Biovores are really good too with their long reach. Tyrannofexen were okay but there's a lot of low AP weapons in the game... I would play them very defensively.

Space Marines
I think the list is good but needs more scoring units. I'll probably drop one squad of Sternguard and a Techmarine for another squad of tactical Marines or Grey Hunters and five scouts with camo cloaks (small foot print). Ultramarines are really good for drop podding with their doctrines, plus the buffs from Marneus and Tigurius. The Devastators did great. Marneus with the Honor Guard were awesome in melee... Nothing could stop them. My favorite part of the game was a tactical squad coming in the second turn and blowing a Flyrant out of the air.


Conclusion
It turned out to be a narrow win for the Hive Mind but the Marines were in it right down to the very end (6 turns)... So and all a very good showing considering this was my first game (obviously I made a few mistakes and that's part of learning how to play a new army) with them versus a very good opponent. I think with the changes listed above will help make the army more competitive.