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Ok after talking to some of my fellow 40kers here, and a bit of mental oil burning, I have worked up some experimental rules for a long missing element in the Tau military namely...ARTILLERY!

My main hurdle was to make it differ from IG/SM artillery such as the whirlwind and basilisk, and to make it feel like a tau-ish interpertation of this tool of the battlefield and to that end I came up with the following provisos

1: it had to be versitile, and overcome alot of the problems that plauges In-direct Artillery.

2: long range, and decent strength and ap for its various load-outs.

3: it had to function along with the other Tau battlefield systems, namely markerlights.

4: it had to be tau-ish in flavor

With those things in mind I have developed this.
the LDMS (launched Drone Munitions System)

The LDMS is the Tau Empire's response to the overwhelming superiority of it's Imperial opponents indirect fire assets, but wish to avoid collateral damage and friendly fire incidents have approched the challenge with a high technology approach.
Using established Drone systems, and a Variable loadout programable payload subsyems, the Tau earth caste have developed an accurate, adaptable war fighting system, that is designed to complement the other units fighting for the greater good.

Weapon : LDMS Range: 12"-96" Str: varies AP: varies Special: based on payload.

Explosive/Thermic charge Str:8/6 AP: 4/2 (Thermic charge) Special rule: Explosive : Ordnance 1 large blast Thermic charge: hev 1 Melta small blast( 2d6 pen if center of blast template is on vehicle.

Multi-Drone Munition (MDM) see special rules.

special rules: self-guidance systems, after scatter and distance dice have been rolled the controling player then may roll 1d6+3 for the self guidance systems of the drone munitions, this correction may be made in any direction the player wishes, to reflect the drone choosing its most effective target.
Once a target is determined the owning player decides which form of explosive to deploy either the Explosive or Thermic charge, effects are then determined on target.

Variable loadout: before firing the player may determine if an Explosive/Thermic charge, or Multi-Drone Munition will be deployed, both benifit from the self guidance special rule.

Multi-drone Munition: MDM is a cluster of limited life span interdiction drones, that are programed for fire support or close quarters assault, the MDM is represented by a 60mm base with 3 drone models affixed with the following profile ws:2 bs:2 s:3 t:3 w:3 i:4 a:3 ld:7 sv:4+ twin linked pulse carbines (Assault 3)
The MDM cluster once placed does not move from its position and if not destroyed by enemy fire or assault will self-terminate after 3 game turns, while deployed it may fire as normal and defend itself in CC, and counts as fearless for purposes of LD checks.
If the MDM Cluster is placed upon a enemy troops it will count as deploying flechette launchers for the first round of combat effecting all models in base to base contact or within 2" , also the cluster is treated as charging, difficult/ dangerous terrain will remove the MDM cluster on 1 on a d6 ( rolled before combat )

Friend from foe: if when using either Explosive or Thermic-charge loadouts and the blast templates cause friendly (Tau only not allied units such as kroot) to be effected, then the drone will self terminate prior to detonation and no template will be placed ( The Tau do not tolerate friendly causulties, and have programed even their artillery to discriminate friend from foe.)

ok its a bit lengthy but there are a few new rules, we plan to try it out this weekend so as to get past the think tank stage, also it would likely be mounted on a Devilfish chasis in a turret config.

Markerlights: for each markerlight placed on target 1" is added or subtracted from the self guidance roll, this is the only use of markerlights with the LDMS.

But at any rate feedback is welcome.

Very interesting, though with all the rules it feels tau-ish, however too much arty feels too guard-ish.

An interesting idea, however perhaps just different missile types would solve the issue and feel more tau in idea. Or instead make the entire unit a flyer with the missile racks or even drone racks.

Hell, why don't the tau have a drone deployment vehicle? Think that one thing in the nid codex that spawns gaunts all the time.

Hmmm, not sure how I feel about this. The problem is Tau don't seem to be too big on artillery. Their weaponry is either direct fire, or they use (smart) missile tech for indirect fire needs. If you sell this as an MLRS type system rather than a cannon, i think you'd be pretty spot on.... but then that gives us what basically amounts to a sky ray with better rules...

juraigamer : the main reasons I steered away from just another missle system, or yet another flyer is I personaly prefer a artillery delivery system, and it does sort of deploy drones they just don't move. And the Tau already have a host of flyers.

chaos0xomega : well it seems that would learn from thier enemies ( at least in my opinion) and Artillery is a potent force multiplier, and aslong as it does not slow or hinder the Tau's pace of combat it could be a asset, and as to MLRS that is actually what this system mimics ( minus its ability to friend from foe and self correction, something I wish we had on the RL MLRS ), and its not a Cannon, more of a launcher, kinda like a big disc gun and then the discs do thier thing.

But thanks for the feedback as always.

Tau Artillery in my opinion would be some sort of an Ion Cannon shot, that imploded when it hit its target and spread out across the area.

Str 7 Ap 3 Large Blast. Make it look like a Mix of the Ion Cannon and Rail Gun, stick it on a Hammerhead and have it aiming upwards.

I thought about a Ion cannon/energy weapon angle but got caught on the idea of a energy weapon arching for indirect fire, it did not quite klick for me.

Honestly, the Sky Ray IS the Tau indirect fire platform. What is a smart missile other than an explosive with an AI (Drone) guiding it. The only difference is that a missile is self propelled were artillery is fired. The tau do not seem to have any weapons that are fired, except for the railguns. They seem to like Missiles and energy weapons more.


Here is what I would do

1) Start with a Sky ray. It is mobile, and it already has a place in Tau fluff.
2) It can shoot on its own, instead of relying on Markerlights to shoot
3) weapon profile

R 72" S 6 AP 4 Special: H2 Ordinance Barrage, Drone Guidance
Drone Guidance: You may re-roll the scatter die, After the re-roll if the template covers any friendly models the drone detonates before reaching the target and that shot is ignored.

Then all you need to do is make up some more missile types. AP2 small blast and melta, AP5 and ignores cover, maybe some kind of Stun/Blind weapon.
Then decide on some points costs and there you go.

It seems that there are several units now that have single use missiles. Valk, Stormraven, Razorwing, Voidraven.
I would not be surprised if in the next Tau codex the Skyray was similar to this

Well I guess I see the Sky ray as its own having its own distinct role, and did not want to re-write or change a established tau unit, but to develop a new weapon system that fills a niche that has gone unfilled.
Currently a Skyray is mobile but its primary payload is seeker missles, which are more of a anti-tank/armor system ( kind of like a hellfire), it may only fire said missles in conjuction with a confirmed markerlight hit, either its own or someone else's, so that makes it a support unit rather than a complete weapon system.
I played around with the idea of different seeker missle warheads but I have seen that done and suggested to death, and what would keep these new warheads from being mounted on anything capable of carrying a seeker, I did not want to open that can of worms and tinker with its already set specs.

So a new system was in order but still in the flavor and theme of the tau using a Drone guided payload, that is not markerlight dependant, and could fufill several battlefield needs.

But that is what play testing will test out, I appreciate the input, but I still see the validity and rational behind this system theory, mainly I want to see if its any fun to use and have it be used against.

It seems alot of people are very afraid of any inovation or change, and both of these are hallmarks of Tau society and traditions, at least in my view

The Skyray has its own Marker Drones, so it can designate its own targets.

Basically: your idea is completely invalidated by Seeker Missiles. It's the "indirect artillery" of the Tau Empire.

Anything else is provided by the Ion Cannon/Railgun and its submunition payload on the Hammerhead.

Kanluwen wrote:The Skyray has its own Marker Drones, so it can designate its own targets.

Basically: your idea is completely invalidated by Seeker Missiles. It's the "indirect artillery" of the Tau Empire.

Anything else is provided by the Ion Cannon/Railgun and its submunition payload on the Hammerhead.

ah but seeker missiles can still grant cover saves by firing through terrain, and thats the niche this fills (and it's AP 4 large blast, or melta AP2 small blast)

I think the Melta though should be AP1 (as all melta weapons are)

hmmm I don't know if a remote markerlight dependant missle system or one that has a 36" direct fire range on its own could be called any form of Indirect artillery.
But I understand your point, and I am not proposing something that replaces the seekers in their role, merely a system that has uses of its own and a unique battlefield footprint.

But since my idea is made "Invalid" I will not belabor the point here merely respond to input as to refinement and clarification of its rules system, since after all this is all for fun.

now the next step is to build the model prototype, thats actually the whole reason for this exercise is the excuse to build something cool and new

Wolfblade: yeah I thought about making it ap:1 but for now I try and er on the side of caution I prefer to scale up and not down...maybe sideways sometimes, several of my battle buddies suggested that too, so we will test it and see, and thanks for the input.

Now back to the CAD table

Is this a vehicle based off of the Devilfish/Hamerhead/Skyray Chassis?

Awesome Idea

Soo'Vah'Cha wrote: I thought about a Ion cannon/energy weapon angle but got caught on the idea of a energy weapon arching for indirect fire, it did not quite klick for me.

The way I always though of it was a ball of energy being shot into the sky and it slowly fell. Kind of like a gigantic grenade launcher.

Ok first prototype pics are ready:



and the business end:


now on to priming and painting....

note the devilfish shown will not be the chassis config used in the final version ( still musing on that one)

Damn, that's awesome.

Looks like those shooting guns that launch clay pidgeons looks cool though it's very similar to a Railgun in design, is that a gauss wrap on the back


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Oh and personally I think it's fine on a Devilfish, the Tau are all about adaptaing and advancing their technology so it makes sens that they would mount a new weapon on a proven vehicle. The idea behind it kind of reminds me of a larger ABFP, have you thought of a name?

well actually it does use rail technology to launch a drone style munition pack, the idea is once it reaches a certain distance the drone will begin self-guidance to its target, thus allowing for very accurate indirect fire.

and yes it will be mounted on a devilfish chassis, although I am debating on what its options maybe and if they will differ from norm, mainly as to drone loadout and such, I have been knocking around the idea that it would carry its own pair of marker drones, to detach and set up as a FO element, but the LDMS does not realy benifit from markerlights as much as most tau units.

and not Gauze..pill bottle tops for the rotary ammo canisters on the rear of the vehicle, I reasoned that it would make for rapid ammo replenishment that way.

and the name so far we have knocked around is the Narwhal, thought it kinda fit .

Thanks for the feedback, it always appreciated

I don't know what else to say, other than I love the idea of this. I've been playing Tau since I was 15 (so about five years now) and I have seen Space Marines and Imperial Guard turned into armies that can easily out shoot the Tau empire, this has saddened me deeply.

This is a good idea to me, the Tau finally having a good (or at least decent) artillery system. This system shows the tau in a way they were always meant to be, a one vehicle system that is always multi-role.

Avrik_Shasla@ well thanks for the positive input and feel free to playtest it yourself, please post any findings you have here and we can discuss any tweaks the LDMS could use.
and I will be sure to relay the data to my earth caste fabricators

Maybe a good name for it would be Goblinshark. That is, if you're going for something with a pointy bit on the end. Or Marlin. Since a Narwhal, (though awesome) is a mammal, not a fish.

ok some painted pics of the Narwhal Artillery system





now to the field testing

Well after it's first test game ( 3000pts of Guard/tau vs. Blood angels )
The LDMS scored a first round kill on a landraider using its thermic charge (str 8 +2d6 pen if center hole is over target)
Since this game was a friendly one and I wanted to test it fully I told the Blood angel player to bring the LR back as a reserve ( I hate first round lucky hits )

The remainder of the game it succesfully hit various other vehicles causing a immobilization and several other results

The main findings were : with its adjustment guidance roll it is a highly accurate artillery system, able to place hits on targets very reliably.

But I found the thermic charge a bit to powerful so I decided to reduce it from a str:8 ap:2 to a str:6 ap:2 but retain its melta characteristics

Due to not having any drone templates ready for this test I did not utilize its area denial drones, but will test it in the next game.

and as a base point cost I am thinking it will be a option for the Hammerhead chassis at +75 pts

All in all a very enjoyable game a test of its capabilities.

I love it, and I'm glad it payed off in it's test game. I'm guessing nothing came off as glaringly OP when you tested it aside from the S:8 on the thermal charge?

Oh, if you're downtuning it to S:6, then make it AP:1, it is melta after all

S_P

Whilst I love how the vehicle looks, being able to select the munitions used after you have scattered and then corrected 1d6+3 seems a bit OP to me.

It would be better to select the type of shot you are firing prior to rolling for scatter etc.

Though I don't know how this compares to other Tau weapon systems as I don't play Tau and have never played against them.

Actually the ability to choose the final weapon effect on the explosive charge really did not even come into much use, since the LDMS's accuracy pretty much put it on the target I wanted, I only changed it on the fly once when its primary target was a Dreadnought and it scattered to far ( after correction ) to be effected by the Thermic charge, but it still was ineffective.
But what I think we will test next will be the charge choice is made AFTER scatter but BEFORE Self guidance, and see if that makes a difference.

But the LDMS does choose between its Explosive attack and its Area Denial drones, Before the attack is executed.

As to changing its Thermic charge to a AP1 I have been reluctant to do that now since it would just effectively raise its str for purposes of armor pen, and that is pretty much why we downgraded it to a 6 ( it may not sound like much but we will test to see ), if it works ok we may lower it to AP:1

The main point to this weapon system is to make a very flexible unit,not just another artillery piece that tosses Str:9 AP:3 pie plates, and just mimics the IG artillery.
But we have more field testing to do, next time against a non-marine force, so it will be Orks used as a target practice ( they are such good sports )

And thanks for the feedback...my little Earthcaste guys appreciate it muchly

What did you use to make the turret?

AP1 works on the vehicle damage table, not on the armour penetration table, just a heads up.

May i just be the first one to say the paint job you did on it is fantastic