Von Ryan's Leaper - Full Breakdown & History

[@BlitzMekanika]

I like how they’re doing the scientific trope of naming the Tyranid after the person who first discovered it. Or more likely the first victim.

[@ModernSynthesist]

I'm assuming it's naming it after the first person who discovered how deadly it is :P

[@YanniCooper]

First survivor.

[@cosmos7819]

Maybe gw came up with the name from a 1965 WW2 movie called Von Ryan's Express. The story is aboud a group of ally priosners dress up as german soilders, travel throuth enemy territory via a train and finally get free. Thus the name may implys the leapers can easily infiltrate and operate behind the enemy line.

[@ModernSynthesist]

I looked up this movie when I was making this video, but I didn't find as strong a connection as you did. I like it!

[@flynnhammer5311]

Nidvember predicting the new Tyranids!!!!

[@ModernSynthesist]

Convenient how basing it on existing Tyranid IP creates a self-fulfilling prophecy!

[@blallocompany]

they will be dual kit with lictors for sure, it is just that in the starting box there will be just be the stuff to build the leapers. Same thing for hormagaunts, that is why they are not showing them but are just referring to them sometimes. They will most likely be released some months afterward along the codex i guess. At this point is pretty clear that all remade models will just be a higherez version of the original, and anything that looks like a old model but is not identical will get a new name.

[@ModernSynthesist]

I still hope that GW has moved away from needlessly producing two versions of the same kit: one in the starter, one in its own box later.

[@Skinofgod]

Loved this video, a shorter format works for me and it wasn't click bait like so many others.

[@ModernSynthesist]

Thanks dude. Though the algorithm may force me into click baity titles, I strive to fill my vids with meaty content.

[@Skinofgod]

@@ModernSynthesist I didn't actually mean you had click bait titles, that was badly worded on my part. I mean other channels.

[@ModernSynthesist]

@@Skinofgod No worries. That was clear. I was just preemptively apologizing for whn I do!

[@Swarbie8D]

I love these! Their pose and silhouette are reminiscent of the original Hormagaunts, but achieved via Lictor details. I also love using the old name! Super excited to see both Hormagaunts and Lictors bow

[@ModernSynthesist]

Yeah, the more I look at them and think about them, the more the classic pewter Hormagaunts come to mind, and I am not mad about that 😍

[@marcoschulze-ps3xk]

And I`d like to add that we got Leaping Warriors back here, but in the best way possible - crossed with a Hormagaunt .

[@ModernSynthesist]

It took me longer than I'd like to admit to realize this is a return of leaping warriors!

[@eastoforion]

i love these! the compound eyes are a really cool touch

[@ModernSynthesist]

Agreed. A simple, elegant way to switch up their looks and make them unique

[@nuazak]

there's a lot of design here that seems informed by the parasite of mortrex- the name similarly. thinking of the strange back plates where there's a bit of a break half way down (partially covered up in the leaper), and the very busy face/head which incorporates a lot of different elements. I originally thought the parasite was a bit much but here it seems like they are trying to convey the chimeric tyranid nature in a single element, so teeth and mandibles and tendrils as well. I agree it's a busy design but i respect it!

[@ModernSynthesist]

Woah! Great observations--particularly the chimeric part. That actually sells me on the teeth far more.

[@ArynCrinn]

I had assumed that the changes in the trailer were just GW making changes to the Lictor, so when they announced that they were going to reveal a "brand new Tyranid unit" I never even considered these a possibility... Pretty sure these are going to be pushfit models in the starter set. They may even end up repackaging the sprues and selling them as their own box, exactly as they are. One thing GW has done with their last 2 editions of 40k and AOS, is release some additional, pushfit kits as a kind of expansion to the starter set. They could certainly do that with a new, larger Lictor, in a similar way to how they released the larger Necron Doomstalker, not long after the Indomitus box, which included a Necron Reanimator. They can do pretty good stuff with pushfit models these days, so I wouldn't have an issue with a Lictor being pushfit, especially with them intended to be solo hunters and all.

[@ModernSynthesist]

Yeah, I don't see push fit as a dirty word, particularly with how amazing the push fit models in recent boxes have been. Folks have actually complained that the push fit poses were SUPERIOR to what could be achieved with the non-push fit boxes!

[@Stormeris]

I have a theory that they might have parts to make a single Lictor character as an alternative, like how the 3man squads of Crypt Horrors work, where you can build one as a Courtier character and then you're left with a 2/3rds of a unit needing you to buy more to fill it out. Seems like a very GW move to me

[@ModernSynthesist]

Ooooh. That is devious. Feels weird that they would do that, but not highlight the dual build nature. Still, they could be hanging on to that for later.🤔

[@Hannibal_Lictor]

Definitely an interesting base. I can't wait to see how you'll redesign it !

[@ModernSynthesist]

Already giving thought to that... 🤔

[@gabecollins1641]

So excited for the future of nids. I’m so glad I just got into them so my army will start with some straight baddies

[@ModernSynthesist]

Nice! Glad to have you as part of the hive!

[@PelinalDidNothingWrong]

I really like the look of these models! As soon as they were described as ambush units,it made me imagine an Alien's style scene where a group of Leaper's pick off a squad of Tempestus Scion's one by one. If I wasn't already sold on making a Tyranid Army,in 10th Edition I am now!

[@ModernSynthesist]

Dang! I love that! Now I need that to be a Killteam scenario!

[@tylerblevins4083]

The lower arms aren't my favorite. Told my friend I'd probably put warrior rending claws on these as well. Mouths are VERY busy.

[@ModernSynthesist]

Yeah, I'm right there with you!

[@Titotacoman]

Thanks for the info mark wahlburg! I had no clue what the difference between the lictors were as a space marine player lmao

[@felis1977]

New models are gorgeous. RIP my june paycheck ;) I agree that Warrior 's rending claws will be perfect for them. Not that I dislike the lower talons. When I saw the talons on horma/paragaunts and Screamer Killer in the cinematic I wasn't sold on the new style. They looked too short and stubby. Now seeing the new style on a mini I'm a bit relieved. They don't look that bad. One frustrating part of this reveal is that it doesn't match exactly any part of April Fool's Rumor so it's impossible to either confirm or debunk it.

[@ModernSynthesist]

Well at least you've got half of April, all of May, and most of June to eat instant ramen to save up for release!

[@itcamefromthedeep]

I would have liked to see more punching-dagger talons on the lower arms. Those were cool on the 2e Hormagaunt. It would be a bit harder to do on a sprue, but I prefer that idea to the stubby-talon-thumb style.

[@ModernSynthesist]

Well, Colin, we can make it happen! That would be an excellent first conversion for them!

[@kheath8504]

The April Fools Viragon could actually be the Viciator in the tcg? The rumor talks about the fly keyword and if I remember the Viciator was a winged big bug. Just a food for thought considering that the gaunt glow-up became the leapers instead.

[@ModernSynthesist]

Oh man. You're not the only one getting tied up over viragon vs viciator! The card art makes the viciator look like it's walking, but it does also look like it's got some kind of wing casing on its back.

[@RuneChaosMarine]

i would say having collected only 2nd ed, modles. i enjoy this sulpt. though i understant the need for vairation. i think the heads would be interesting to modify to they old phycr xoanthrope style wide plate. trisarotops style.

[@dakkaflakkaflame]

These look pretty rad

[@ModernSynthesist]

They definitely do! Very happy to see that.

[@acutler4745]

As I'm sitting here working on a homemade deathleaper head because I bought a preowned lictor... 😂 my design isnt too far off at least, lol.

[@ModernSynthesist]

It happens to all of us. Don't be sad about yours. It still is unique to you!

[@T_3rR4h]

Hoping these are our new Hormagant leader-beasts. I think the new claw hands don't make any sense otherwise.

[@ModernSynthesist]

I agree. It's only the link to hormagaunts that sells me on the second set of talons

[@popamonkey190]

Praying mantis style arms are really cool.

[@ModernSynthesist]

HECK YEAH! I'm so glad this kit is going to supply us with 3 plastic sets of them 😍

[@marcoschulze-ps3xk]

Great great video, Nick. Thanks ! And agreed on all points. Really happy about these and hoping this is a good taster for everything that will follow

[@ModernSynthesist]

Yeah dude! If this is a hint for their direction for th whole line, it's looking very good!

[@thekraden04]

I really hate the faces. I desire more posability, but these look nice. Lictors are my favorite and the 4th edition lictor is my favorite sculpt of it (from gw). It just looks menacing. While I can see them using these as a dual kit with lictors, I really hope that lictors at least get rending claws and a better face. I'd prefer a separate, larger kit, but I doubt that'll happen.

[@ModernSynthesist]

Yes, that 4th Edition Lictor didn't wow me at first, but I've since bought 2-3 pewter ones on the second hand market because it grew on me 😍

[@JessBuntyn]

What do you think of the Hive Abductors made by Wildmesh for 3D print models?

[@ModernSynthesist]

Wildmesh asked Moloch and me to review their models, but we declined. They're just Zerg masquerading as Tyranids.

[@gregorygreenwood-nimmo4954]

I think the extra pair of scything talons on the Von Ryan's Leaper models may have been a carefully considered choice, beyolnd being a fun call back to the early versions of the Hormagaunt. All indications are that the Lictor still exists as a model in the Tyranid range, and appears to be a higher form of more capable, 'lone wolf' Tyranid scout, assassination and psychological warfare bioform, something with a far greater capacity for autonomy of action and advanced cognition than the Leapers. The Leapers probably are more bestial when compared to the Lictor, that doubtless will keep its more hand like rending claw secondary limbs to give that greater impression of intelligence. Deadly as I think the Leapers will be, I suspect they will be more akin to a bestial predator, a creature that uses stealth ambush tactics as a matter of how it was engineered, in the same way a spider or a snake stealthily hunts in accordance with its evolutionary development as a form of honed instinct without relying on advanced intelligence. If the Leapers are more intelligent than most other bioforms of comparable size, I think it will manifest as the Jurassic Park Velociraptor 'clever girl' type of bestial intelligence that can take one by surprise but is ultimately less about advanced cognition and more about an innate mastery of the hunt. Conversely, the Lictor will be more akin to a hybrid of animalistic predator and genuinely intelligent hunter, with the capacity for savagery and instinctual lethality of a predator paired with the intellect and planning ability of a fully sapient, more human-like hunter. I think that will be one of the big things that distinguishes the different roles the two bioforms will fulfil.

[@ModernSynthesist]

I love all of this. Thanks for taking the time to lay it all out. I fully agree with this line of thinking on what distinguishes the two bioforms.

[@gregorygreenwood-nimmo4954]

@@ModernSynthesist We will just have to wait and see if there is any accuracy to my prediction, but as a big fan of Tyranids in general and stealthy murder-bug themed armies in particular, I very much hope it will be the case.

[@itcamefromthedeep]

Having reposed a Lictor to make it running I gotta disagree about the pose. I have pipe dreams of a Lictor video game where you run and jump and parkour and flesh-hook up walls. The active pose really does it for me. Thankfully there seems to be a pose for both our tastes!

[@ModernSynthesist]

Good! Glad it's working for you! And I'd play that video game 😍 Have you played the game Carrion? Not quite a Lictor, but you do play as an alien mass of spikes and tentacles trying to escape the lab you're trapped in. Slightly similar vbes!

[@itcamefromthedeep]

@@ModernSynthesist I have not played Carrion, though I love the idea. It's on my list of games that I will probably not play because I'd rather spend time on this hobby.

[@StCuthbertsHands]

Over all a nice looking new model! Strange mouth aside. Personally I'm more a fan of the latinesqe name system, I feel this naming should be reserved for the more character types available to us.

[@ModernSynthesist]

Also a good point. I like your distinction thst it be applied to characters. If other rumours are anything to go by, I don't thunk they've fully moved away from the latinate naming or anything.

[@stephenmcginley1961]

The music is a little bit too loud in the background, throws me off from your voice a little bit. Otherwise great breakdown 👍

[@ModernSynthesist]

Sorry about that. I actually decreased the volume from last video, but apparently not enough!

[@symbiojoe6857]

8 of 10 would spawn again.

[@ModernSynthesist]

What would make it a 10 for you?

[@techniciansourwell1412]

Comment for the Comment Gods.

[@ModernSynthesist]

The Skymother appreciates your offering 🐙 ❤

[@jorkbartoschkozlowski9097]

Everything is better than the crapcast model.

[@ModernSynthesist]

LOL! Indeed! Wouldn't be hard!

[@casualtr4sh]

They finally ran out of demeaning words for old women

[@ModernSynthesist]

There's a whole new line still to be seen, so don't bet on it yet!

[@merrickmiller1224]

This looks like a lazy warrior, genestealer, lector kit bash.

[@ModernSynthesist]

Well there's nothing lazy about those overhead grasping talons. Having those in plastic is fantastic 😍

[@DocJet-y3i]

the bright colours and the daytime TV muzaq are spoiling my grim-dark ... unsubbed .. sorry.

[@ModernSynthesist]

LOL! Well this is my vibe, so see ya later!

[@ryleyr9305]

Is this a trans safe place ?

[@ModernSynthesist]

You trollin, B?

[@ryleyr9305]

@@ModernSynthesist just wanted to know. Your Instagram is political, waiting for the KZbin announcement