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Hello!
I'm a new player with little to no experience on the "field", due to the lack of a community/time/money/painting skill/etc...
But I still want to pull off a nice Tau army, to use in the future, and for the "OMG SUPER COOL ROBOTS THAT GO PEW PEW" factor
I'll write a list of the units on wich I want some enlightment, in case of response I'll edit this post, so that everyone can have the answer without searcing for it... Hope it helps not only me :3
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PATHFINDERS:
I know that they are used as a source of markerlights, but they are not troops, are deployed deep in the battlefield and have the possibility to have special models with bigger weapons...
R- They are heavily outclassed by the Marker Drones Squads, due to te increased durability and mobility... Viable in a Ranger Support Cadre, wich makes them Infiltrators and Shrouded
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BREACHERS:
Every tip on these unit is welcome... I don't get how to use them... I know that they are pretty good... Short range Tau... Halp D:
R- Good units, better if supported... works in close range so having something to bring theme there is crucial... A Devilfish seems mandatory, and they can be deployed in a Counterstrike Cadre (wich buffs the Devilfish) or with a Gostskeel Wing to have them covered
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STEALTH SUITES:
So they appear murder everyone and disappear again, right?
-Are they useful in smaller lists? (500-800pts)
-Do they have a preferrable playstile/configuration
R- Basically lame, but they are good in a OSC or in very small lists (not so big fields and scarce enemy firepower)... They aren't good because they are neither durable nor mobile... So a pretty ankward situation IMO
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GHOSTSKEEL:
I heard that they are super good, but I would like some more specific informations... To me it looked like a short range Riptide, am I wrong?
R- Nice durable unit, it is at its best when used alongside an OSC (good offence possibilities) or as a buffer in a defensive formation. As a single unit they are not great, you would be better off with a Riptide
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RASORSHARKS:
Help, big veicles confuse me :(
R- NOPE
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SUNSHARK:
Help, big veicles confuse me V.2
R- NOPE v.2
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HAMMERHEAD:
Big tanks with a bigger gun, I get it... But tips will be appreciated :3
-Wich are the most effective configurations?
R- Meh... It's surpassed by the Tidewall fortification... wich is indistructible, and cheaper
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SNIPER TEAMS:
Ehm... I know they are not the best... But I love the concept...
-Are they viable?
-A list based on them could work? (A small list of there is the possibility)
R- Not a totally bad unit, good with an Ethereal near them... Big cons are the low mobility and the fragility of the marksman... Not optimal against veicles but shines at montrus Creature killer
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CADRES:
...
-If I Just happen to make a list that fits the requirements can I claim "This is a Hunter Cadre so i get the bonus" without any extra pts prices or restrictions, right?
R- Works as stated above, but pushing too hard to have a specific Cadre is not worth if not in a competitive enviorment... OSC is good, HC is suited for larger games and I want to try out the Ranged Support Cadre
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Sorry for the disgustingly long and noob post, but I thought that it was a good idea -.-"
Btw thanks in advance for any reply
See ya!

So, a dressing your points:
Pathfinder are fine in small games but short range no mobility and weak saves make them a fat worse markerlight platform to drones. Running a drone net of marker drones gives you 16 BS3 markerlight hits with jink, 4 up armor, and the ability to jump back in the assault move.
Breachers loaded in a devilfish are passable, but I honestly prefer regular strike teams (used to be called fire warriors) for generic stand offs. These are what I'd load up on in a small points game with some crisis suit support to hold plasma/fusion and maybe a ghostkeel as a distraction and can opener.
Stealth suits are really only worthwhile with a ghostkeel and the optimised stealth cadre. Too many points for too fragile (short range T3) a unit. In the OSC they shine however being able to throw 12 S5 shots at rear armor makes them very economical choices for busting open transports.
Don't bother with flyers or tanks, our suits do their job better,more durably due to saves and more mobily.
Formations like the various cadres are great if you can use every unit effectively and aren't just wasting points for special rules.
My favorite formations are:
Optimised stealth cadre
Riptide wing
Drone net
And Hunter cadre for big games 1850+

so basically... pathfinder are overall bad but playable in small skirmishes, breachers are more confortable in a big list and Stealt suits are passable only in a OSC or in a very small list, right?
Btw thanks

Pretty much. I still prefer strike teams to breachers for troops though.

There is always the Ranged Support Cadre to make path finders pretty good . You need 3 broadsides 3 pathfinders then the path finders get Infiltrate and Shrouded so you can deploy them where there needed in ruins for a 2+ cover save and as an added bonus the broadsides get double marker lights

ian wrote:
There is always the Ranged Support Cadre to make path finders pretty good . You need 3 broadsides 3 pathfinders then the path finders get Infiltrate and Shrouded so you can deploy them where there needed in ruins for a 2+ cover save and as an added bonus the broadsides get double marker lights

Oh... That's intresting... And super useful in a big list, add a Ghostskeel and something else and I should have a pretty scary list, IMO
Thanks for the tip really appreciated :3