Hive Fleet Umbra by Michael Anderson
In describing this Themed Army Idea to me, creator Michael Anderson wrote, "I actually sort of did this backwards. I picked a list that I thought would be fun to use and designed the theme around it. 

"I originally was looking at the idea of cave dwelling creatures with dark colors, no ranged weapons etc. But I liked the Biovore too much not to include it; [problem was,] it made no sense at all why one would be underground." So Michael threw out the idea of underground Tyranids and came up with another reason why his Bugs would be dark colored and not carry guns. I'll let Michael take it from here....

Background
Umbra is a dark system located in the along the Eastern Edge of the galaxy, in the Ultima Segmentum. Similarly to how Tyranids were named after Tyran, the first planet they attacked, Hive Fleet Umbra takes its name from the first system it ravaged.

The dozen planets of the Umbra system were all small and very similar, except for the one closest to the star they orbited. Due to the large size and close proximity of the first planet, eclipses were common, and the others were often thrown into lengthy periods of darkness. This resulted in little large foliage and few creatures inhabiting the smaller worlds. When the Tyranids arrived at the outermost planets, lichens, mosses. and tough grass were all they found.

The large Imperial facilities on the second, third, and fourth innermost planets, however, showed the most promise for food and genetic material.

Because they had not needed them before, and because the darkness of the outer worlds had prohibited distance attacks, the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Umbra had not developed long-ranged weaponry. When the aliens initially attacked the human outposts, the Tyranids suffered huge losses, as they had few "guns" and little cover to shield themselves.

Hive Fleet Umbra quickly adapted.

By holding their attacks until the lengthy darkness of the periodic eclipses began, the broods of Hive Fleet Umbra could get much closer to the hapless defenders before they had any indications that the Tyranids were coming. This also had the effect of rendering what little ranged bio-weapons the Fleet had less effective. As a result, the Norn Queens started to maximize the number of talons and claws carried, and eventually eliminated ranged bio-weaponry entirely.

Because of the darkness, and to help surround foes, the smaller broods tended to act more independently of Tyrants and Warriors. Hormagaunt broods developed a greater reception to the control of the Hive Mind without the intervention of synapse creatures.

Eventually, every non-Tyranid life form in the system was assimilated and Hive Fleet Umbra moved on. 

Philosophy
The Norn Queens of Hive Fleet Umbra have adapted quickly to fighting on dark and barren worlds.  Using the cover of night to their advantage, the swarms are typically on top of their enemies before they are detected. As a result, the Fleet has little use for ranged bio-weapons in its broods.

No Tyranid army is static, of course. Since leaving the Umbra system, these creatures--while still relying heavily on surprise assaults--have found it advantageous to make extensive use of Biovores. Just as the bulk of the swarm contacts enemy positions, numerous Spore Mines fall onto the defenders to sow confusion and death.

Generally, however, no ranged bio-weapons can be chosen and any creatures that cannot be modified to use only close combat symbiotes (see page 8 of Codex: Tyranids) cannot be chosen at all. As noted above, Biovores are an exception, as are Zoanthropes (because hive mind powers are not bio-weapons). 

Specifically, creatures of Hive Fleet Umbra may only use scything talons, rending claws, lash whips, any biomorph enhancements, and any hive mind powers.

HQ
Hive Tyrants or Tyranid Warriors are allowed, but only with close combat bio-weapons. No Tyrant Guard broods are allowed, as they have spineshields.

Elites
Lictors and Tyranid Warriors with close combat bio-weapons are allowed.

Troops
Genestealers, Ripper swarms, and Hormagaunts (with a Hive Node in each brood) are permitted. Termagants do not appear in Hive Fleet Umbra, as they have fleshborers.

Fast Attack
Raveners with close combat bio-weapons are allowed. Gargoyles are not, as they have fleshborers.

Heavy Support 
Carnifexes (with only close combat symbiotes) are legal, as are Zoanthropes. You MUST include at least one Biovore in the army!

Modeling and Painting
Use only dark colors, grays and earth tones. Due to the lack of available cover on the worlds of initial contact, the broods have taken to fighting at night and have a darkened carapace to help gain the element of surprise. 

Because you will not have any ranged weapons to paint, your symbiotes will be easy to deal with. Paint claws and talons to match the chitin on your bugs.

Basing should be simple and coordinate, to some degree, with the chitin on the broods. For dark brown chitin (as an example), paint the base in a sandy or fresh earth style. For green chitin, use patchy grass. Essentially, think of the chitin as the color your basing would be in the middle of the night. Alternatively, you could use a very similar shade for the chitin and base to help balance the lights and darks.

Because the bugs are going to be so dark, it will be hard to notice much in the way of detail when it comes to shading. This is a bonus for two reasons. First, it makes your rank and file Nids a little faster to paint. Second, and more important, this will make your big creatures stick out and look more impressive due to the larger surface area and detailed shading.

Each Hormagaunt brood will have a Hive Node mutation in it. The easiest way to show this is to put a Warrior head on one of the Gaunts to denote that it is more receptive to the instructions of the hive
mind. There are, of course, limitless ways to indicate this. Just be sure that it clearly stands out from the other members of the brood for WYSIWYG purposes.

General Tactics
Run like mad at your opponent using whatever cover you can find. Use Fleet of Claw as best you can.  Infiltrate if allowed to and hit them early. Drop Spore Mines on nasty shooty units as much as possible to help your troops make it to combat. 

Use your Biovores and Zoanthropes to target skimmers early! You will need 6's to hit any skimmer in close combat, so get them before they get you. A full complement (three each) of Biovores and Zoanthropes is probably best. 

If you play a Carnifex, expect him to get shot to pieces. His good save should keep him alive for a turn or two, and that can buy valuable time for your Hormagaunts to tear into your enemy's line. If the Carnifex does survive to reach close combat, have fun destroying everything you hit.

Your Tyrant too will get shot quite a bit, so if you can afford it, buy the Warp Field to stave off missiles. With the Ld 10 of all your broods, he is not as necessary as this army as he is in regular Tyranid hoards, but he will make a mess if he gets into close combat as well!
 

Related Pages
Other Tyranid Themed Army Ideas
Hive Fleet Umbra Suggested Army Lists--by Michael Lietzke
 

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© Copyright Michael Anderson, June 2002. Used with permission.
 

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