As noted Blasphemous societes thread that I've thrown a world with domesticated Tyraninoid at my players. After returning home from lastnights badysitting "duty", I thought to revisit the idea of domesticated tyranids (why, because I spent some time reading Dinotopia to kids last night. Make connection yourself ).

To make these critters bit more different and distinct from Tyranids, I thought call them Protonids (because they are to be part of IMRTU mystery of Tyranid origins [totally, absolutety not even farting toward canon].)

Appereance wise: I think to ditch the gigeresque-tubing and already flayed looks, Instead giving them thick skin and some chitin/bone armor.

"Socially": These are just smart animals(with slight instinctive psionic powers), a protonid equivalent of hormagaunt (tentatively, hound) is about as smart as large dog, with omnivorous teeth and and claws suitable for self-defense and digging stuff up. There is no hive mind (that was added by something that geneered Tyranids from protionids). Still protonids communicate half psychicly and half with sounds and pheromones, this has lead sort of a inter-pack symbiosis. For example bunch hounds (horms) have finished eating large prey animal(with plenty of scraps left) send psychic "carcass here" message around, drawing the Serpents(proto rippers) in.

How human fit in? A Beastmaster is human psychic that has bonded with a pack of protonids, and thus is accepted by the pack to be the most suitable to guide them (again symbiosis). I think something like: pack of normal critters (~10) like hounds, a horde of small critters like serpents per point of WP bonus. Or one huge critter for two points of WP. Would be the maximum. As human has bonded with pack his own warp signature diffuses into that of the pack working pretty much like soulbonding.

Few quick and dirty Protonid ideas:

Hound (Hormagaunt): As said digging claws an omnivorous teeh, no venom sacs or adrenalin glands. But still tough critters.

Spitter (termagaunts) As with hound but can spit poison (no biogun), quite fragile.

Serpent(Ripper): A scavenger, even as small packs runs away from bigger things.

HippoCampus/Seahorse/Clione(Zoanthrope): Looks like floating seahorse, potent psychic abilities to hide itself, move and fish. But still a far cry from Tyranid Zoanthrope in terms of power.

"Behemoth"(Carnifex): Due it mass and bulk these things prefer marshes, Upper pair of arms are crab like claws for self-defense and hunting. lower pair of arms are feeding trunks/tentacles.

Any other useful ideas regarding this Protonid Biome. Comments are welcome as ideas how to expand this.

./At0miclich

How do the protonids breed? Aren't all tyranids sexless drones (with the exception of genestealers) which must be specifically created by the Norn Queen and her attendant biological apparatus?

Are they all clones created by the settlers that have evolved/degraded/changed over time due to errors in the cloning process?

How do the protonids breed? Aren't all tyranids sexless drones (with the exception of genestealers) which must be specifically created by the Norn Queen and her attendant biological apparatus?

Are they all clones created by the settlers that have evolved/degraded/changed over time due to errors in the cloning process?

Well as these (IMRTU) are the species that were used as a base template for tyranids. I'd go for hermaphroditic(is that really the word) with egglaying reproduction as per some realworld lizards and fishes & octopi. Althought the pseudo-evolution by cloning errors might contribute something into genepool aswell.

Thought I dont think anyone wants to disturb carnifex-like mommy protecting her nest...

But weren't the creatures used for the template of Zoanthrope the Eldar?

But weren't the creatures used for the template of Zoanthrope the Eldar?

IIRC eldar genetics were only used to enhance existing bioform. But thats propably just "handwavium"

IMRTU: Tyranids are a bioweapon designed to destroy all life, in order to prevent necrons ever coming back to life. Sort of reset button set by the Old Ones, "this creation failed, we failed, even the Necrontyr failed their appointed task... Brethren let us wipe this table of galaxy clean, of all life to begin anew." (My anecdote never leave a lizard to uplift other species unless its "Thennanin".)