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I am new to tau and am unsure about the way marker lights work......so it would be great if someone could explain.
Do the marker lights cout as a shooting attack ex pathfinders all have markelights so do they not get to shoot if they fire off just markelights or do they get both. Same as the stealth suits the new codex is vague about it or I am just over looking it which could be the case.

Markerlights are normal shooting weapons with heavy 1, that do not roll to wound but apply an effect instead. So yes normally Pathfinders shoot their carbines only on overwatch.

well... Assuming you use the Pathfinders for Markerlights of course. That may no longer be necessary.

Why is that? Are markelights no good any more? So you basically have to choose shoot the pulse carbine or the marker light not both

Pathfinders are no longer Markerlight caddies. they are a special weapons squad. change your thinking on them and treat them more like IG vets.

Markerlights are good. take them. Just dont think of your Pathfinders AS Markerlights with legs. Break fre of that image and sort of accept that the Markerlights on them are bonuses, not shackles.

The Pathfinders can effectively be used to FoF now, since their Carbines can Assault 2 out to 24" with a dron, they can be given haywire grenades, and they can be given railrifles to rapidfire after hopping out of a Fish. For a unit capable of outflanking, they have a new tactical versatility that means they don't have to just markerlight targets.

Ok that's good to know. But tell me what is the deal with the kroot and every one saying they are no good? Are they bad? Idk I just hear they are worthless and just ally ork instead of useing the kroot

Kroot used to be the melee strength (such as it was) of the Tau armies, but the new Codex has not permitted them to maintain that role. Orks, being all about the choppy, are a superior melee force, but, then again, Orks always were better at it than Kroot.

So there is no point in running a unit of kroot?

If you want an outflanking, stealthy, move through cover, WS4 guardsman with a bolter and AP5 in CC for 6 points, run kroot.

I guess I'll just keep one unit in my list for now until I can raise some more fire warriors

Yeah, essentially what chrisrawr said, Kroot are IG without orders but on stat steroids, I imagine they are far more point efficient than IG troops. Their guns can actually kill things, they can infiltrate or outflank and challenge the enemy quite early. If you're not playing with a gunline, you should seriously consider using Kroot as your primary troop choice. Also, outflanking Kroot have a good chance at redirecting the enemy focus away from your firebase.

If you plan to play aggressively, use Kroot somewhere. If you're defensive... well. Kroot still make good bubblewrap and can tie down enemy assault units if you desperately need to.

hiveking wrote:
So there is no point in running a unit of kroot?

No, they do have a purpose. An overwatch conga line and bubblewrap is still useful.

My krootox have been doing some lifting which is nice. i am finding that the Kroots best suit is sometimes quickly overcome by the superiority in melee that other units posess against Kroot. It's rare when a couple Marines can't just come and beat me into the ground.

BUT...as a firing platform, they are pretty decent. In fact for the price, its pretty difficult to imagine much wrong with a big fat group of Kroot with Krootox and one hound in the back. They shjoot very well and are a good threat, especially while in woods.

I dunno. I like their ability to kind of pop up where I need them BUT they often get hammered really hard in melee and their response is less than awe inspiring so do not use them for melee. Not ever.

 Jancoran wrote:
Pathfinders are no longer Markerlight caddies. they are a special weapons squad. change your thinking on them and treat them more like IG vets.

Ignore this "advice". Compared to crisis suits rail/ion rifle Pathfinders are fragile, limited in mobility, and not very efficient in points. Why would you want to replace your easiest source of mass markerlights with a unit that is just a bad crisis suit?.

Well you could have 14 BS5 markerlights with a Drone squad and a drone controller commander.

Dracoknight wrote:
Well you could have 14 BS5 markerlights with a Drone squad and a drone controller commander.

It's an option, but it isn't any more point-efficient than Pathfinders (especially if the commander has more than just a drone controller) and with that many BS 5 markerlights you're probably getting overkill (and a smaller squad is much less point-efficient). Meanwhile you're spending a fast attack slot AND an HQ, in a codex where we have dirt cheap support HQs that are auto-includes if you have a free HQ slot.

This all great stuff and I plan to keep the 10 man squad of kroot in my 2000 list and see how they are also I will have a 10 man squad of pathfinders on foot with two ion cannons accompanied by dark stride (if that's his name).
If I scout the finders and keep them in cover I can use the marker lights to spot the enemy for my fire base. Just a thought

2k list? Try a maxed out kroot conga line to maximise the effect of supporting fire.

All those 6+ sv na one group for now I'll keep them or try to keep them within the 6inc

So far people havent really seemed to like the Kroot sniper units but im planning to give a squad of 10 a go.

10 snipers sitting on my gunline behind the ADL with my fire warriors.They will bubble wrap my ethereal and broadsides and a 7 point sniper rifle is never bad especially when it seems that every army seems to be getting a large MC, A squad of Kroot on the gunline with sniper ammo can really help to drop that Dreadknight heading right for you or the Trygon that just popped out behind you.

theyre fine as SHOOTING units. You just have to have realistic expectations when deploying them.

I know kroot let alone tau are no good in cc so it's either a fun line or guerrilla warfare for me

hiveking wrote:
I know kroot let alone tau are no good in cc so it's either a fun line or guerrilla warfare for me

Get kroot. Get sniper ammo. Infiltrate them all. Unload into your opponents deployment with more sniper shots than they can shake a stick at.

One big thing about sniper rounds: they wound ANYTHING on a 4+ (well, non vehicle obviously) and ignore armor on a 6 to wound and even precision shot on a 6 to hit. A random 20man Kroot sniper group could put a LOT of heat on an enemy HQ or big upgrade character if you get lucky enough.

Its all a gamble, as they do seem even weaker in the melee than before. One thing im noticing is their kroot rifles do not count as two melee weapons anymore. Im at work (no dex handy) so i cant recall if they buffed their total attacks to compensate though.
Another gamble is whether or not theres any woods around. In my local meta, woods are rare and if they appear at all its usually a small 8-10inch blob in the middle-ish of the table. Not ideal for kroot at all lol.

Tau forces play the razors edge, but it makes them a lot of fun.

I will use all this info and I will keep my kroot in my list. I will most Likely run them in two squads if 12 with a kroot ox in both units and use the out flank rule and see how that works for me just hope they come in on the side I need them lol

If you are going to outflank them then make sure you've got a hound in there to help make sure they come in on the side that you want them on

Jancoran likes to use Pathfinders in a very eclectic manner. IMO, they are best used as Markerlight "caddies" who can contribute to shooting in a pinch, if need be (which shouldn't be the case generally).

 LValx wrote:
Jancoran likes to use Pathfinders in a very eclectic manner. IMO, they are best used as Markerlight "caddies" who can contribute to shooting in a pinch, if need be (which shouldn't be the case generally).

I do agree about the use of pathfinders as markerlights. I never had good luck using the special weapons with them, not to mention, markerlights REALLY multiply your force! Are they necessary? Not if you wanna shoot like guardmen or nids. Do markerlights make it so you can truly bring Tau fire power to the enemy?!? Absolutely, they make every shooting attack that they buff just that much more potent!


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Though now i opt out of pathfinders all together for markerdrones with a commander because they are extremely reliable