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LVO boasted some interesting Tau lists. Looks like we were kind of in the middle of the pack, which is unsurprising. Most lists primarily commander, drone, and/or Y'Vahra spam, as expected, but there were some catchy differences between them. I'm hopeful our codex shakes things up some for us!

So.. from Advanced Tau Tactica, someone who has supposedly gotten a preview of the new tau codex said

"I bet once the codex drops people will stop calling it the RIPtide and go for REAPtide instead"

Do you, dakka tau players, really want the riptide to be THAT good again? 100% i want it to be "good-enough" or slightly better, I have 3 that was not inconsequential money and time, but I don't want 7th ed OP again.


Source: http://www.advancedtautactica.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=25954&start=1818#p345428

I honestly don't think Riptides were overpowered last edition. They were very good, sure, but it was the Riptide Wing that broke them. In any event, I'm looking for a usable unit. I'd prefer a good unit since we're supposed to be the crazy shooting army and whatnot, but I'll settle for useful. A massive points reduction and some extra power would be nice. As long as it's costed comparably with things of similar firepower and durability, I'll be happy.

MilkmanAl wrote:
I honestly don't think Riptides were overpowered last edition. They were very good, sure, but it was the Riptide Wing that broke them. In any event, I'm looking for a usable unit. I'd prefer a good unit since we're supposed to be the crazy shooting army and whatnot, but I'll settle for useful. A massive points reduction and some extra power would be nice. As long as it's costed comparably with things of similar firepower and durability, I'll be happy.

For the grand ol price of 210 points last edition, its effective firepower to durability was pretty profound. Especially with ecpa, and EWO, you could nova charge with almost impunity, and nuke the living heck out of natural counters. I am not suggesting it should have been 300 in 7th. but it was under-costed, therefore overpowered in 7th. Just decidedly more-so with riptide wings, but that was a symptom of formations and 7th.

I would say its current iteration, not being innately immune to move and fire heavy penalty, that even 210 points would be over-costed for the IA version in particular. But if they doubled its firepower would that be enough?

An easy comparison for them is a lascannon Predator, which is 190 pts. Firepower-wise, you're trading a lascannon hit for 2 SMS, which is fine, but you're paying another 160pts for the privilege. In other words, double power or half price is what they need, more or less. It's a shame.

 pumaman1 wrote:
So.. from Advanced Tau Tactica, someone who has supposedly gotten a preview of the new tau codex said

"I bet once the codex drops people will stop calling it the RIPtide and go for REAPtide instead"

Do you, dakka tau players, really want the riptide to be THAT good again? 100% i want it to be "good-enough" or slightly better, I have 3 that was not inconsequential money and time, but I don't want 7th ed OP again.


Source: http://www.advancedtautactica.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=25954&start=1818#p345428

Honestly, I just want more viable options for running my army. Drone spam and fusion commanders out the wazoo just doesn't seem fun for me. I would also like to try and get my broadsides to be cheaper for what they provide. I love the models and desperately wish I could run them without feeling like I am cutting fingers off to bring them.

Did the person hear anything else about the codex?

Broadsides have always been a favorite of mine, and railsides are one of the most crazy awesome models in 40k, in my humble opinion. I really hope they become useful.

 pumaman1 wrote:
So.. from Advanced Tau Tactica, someone who has supposedly gotten a preview of the new tau codex said

"I bet once the codex drops people will stop calling it the RIPtide and go for REAPtide instead"

Do you, dakka tau players, really want the riptide to be THAT good again? 100% i want it to be "good-enough" or slightly better, I have 3 that was not inconsequential money and time, but I don't want 7th ed OP again.


Source: http://www.advancedtautactica.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=25954&start=1818#p345428

I only ever played Triple Tide one time. Jut to say I did, in my last 7th Edition tournament. Out of guilt. You get to a certain point skill wise, where you just feel like it minimizes what you can do if you use such things.

They were extremely powerful in their formation, and so oppressive that although they can and were defeated many times, it was probably and literally never fun. Just a guess on my part but...

Let's hope they don't return to the power they had in that formation.

I won the best sportsman prize at the 2016 UKGT finals using a riptide wing and a wraithknight in 7th. Finished in 8th place overall.

Ultimately whether people have fun is far more about the attitude you bring to the table than the models you bring. It’s possible to be a good player (by whatever definition you want to use) without being a bad human being.

I’m looking forward to the codex. My riptides are getting dusty, and their ghostkeel little brothers are still mostly on their sprues. If we get balanced rules for them (for once!) I'll be very happy.

<Edit> 2016 actually. Doesn’t time fly!

Mandragola wrote:
I won the best sportsman prize at the 2017 UKGT finals using a riptide wing and a wraithknight in 7th. Finished in 8th place overall.

Ultimately whether people have fun is far more about the attitude you bring to the table than the models you bring. It’s possible to be a good player (by whatever definition you want to use) without being a bad human being.

Well said.

I'd like to get a third Riptide just to have a cool trio of big mechas, but I'll be happy if I can play two without shooting myself in the leg.

Mandragola wrote:
I won the best sportsman prize at the 2016 UKGT finals using a riptide wing and a wraithknight in 7th. Finished in 8th place overall.

Ultimately whether people have fun is far more about the attitude you bring to the table than the models you bring. It’s possible to be a good player (by whatever definition you want to use) without being a bad human being.

I’m looking forward to the codex. My riptides are getting dusty, and their ghostkeel little brothers are still mostly on their sprues. If we get balanced rules for them (for once!) I'll be very happy.

<Edit> 2016 actually. Doesn’t time fly!

Having no fun is easy against the old Tripletide list. Why put myself 8n rhat position. Nah. I used it once to say I did but I definitely didnt like it as a mainstay

SO since new codex is "coming soon" I would enjoy seeing lists that you've had the most fun with in 8th ed. Good, bad, silly, ugly, trolling, whatever, what are some of your favorite lists?
3 outrider detachments 1500pts (1449)
3x3 piranha burst cannon 2 seeker missile (729 pts)
3x2 piranha fusion blaster 2 seeker missile (492 pts)
2x6 and 1x7 marker drone (gotta use those seeker missles) (152)
3x fireblade (126)

not competitive, but so fast and so fun

1 Vanguard and 2 Outrider Detachment
3 Ghostkeel 2 Commander and lots of Shield and Gundrones
and a few Pathfinder and a Fireblade

makes a big Deathstar. Was before any Codex was out

So I took a really harsh beating (and tabling) by Tau this weekend, which isnt necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, BUT i see alot of rules discrepancies after the fact that I'd just like to inquire here, with more experienced (readers).

My opponent kept hitting on 3+ with MOST of his units, like: battlesuits, the Riptide, Pirhannas, and his drones were hitting on 4+. When I asked, he said he had a Drone that helped increase BS. I cannot find this anywhere. Now, as far as I can tell, the only way to increase BS is with 5+ Markerlights, when all he had ever used was 1 to 2. Also, I need to remind him Markerlights are now Heavy.

His Missile Pod turret climbed up a hill. I had been pretty sure they were immobile. I was correct.

Lastly, he had shot Supporting fire overwatch at me, which is fine, But then AGAIN fired overwatch when I then charged them with a second unit. I even asked him to check his index which he did, and still said he was allowed to fire overwatch again. Turns out, not the case.

So what is this Drone that helps his units BS? He did have some FW units on the board (i think..), but I still cannot find out what he is talking about?

 Nightlord1987 wrote:
So I took a really harsh beating (and tabling) by Tau this weekend, which isnt necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, BUT i see alot of rules discrepancies after the fact that I'd just like to inquire here, with more experienced (readers).

My opponent kept hitting on 3+ with MOST of his units, like: battlesuits, the Riptide, Pirhannas, and his drones were hitting on 4+. When I asked, he said he had a Drone that helped increase BS. I cannot find this anywhere. Now, as far as I can tell, the only way to increase BS is with 5+ Markerlights, when all he had ever used was 1 to 2. Also, I need to remind him Markerlights are now Heavy.

His Missile Pod turret climbed up a hill. I had been pretty sure they were immobile. I was correct.

Lastly, he had shot Supporting fire overwatch at me, which is fine, But then AGAIN fired overwatch when I then charged them with a second unit. I even asked him to check his index which he did, and still said he was allowed to fire overwatch again. Turns out, not the case.

So what is this Drone that helps his units BS? He did have some FW units on the board (i think..), but I still cannot find out what he is talking about?

Drone controllers on suits can buff drones by +1 to hit, but they do not buff suits. Multiple units can shoot overwatch more than once IF you declare a multicharge at them. I think the only way to get positive hit modifiers is through longstrike or markerlights. Longstrike only buffs friendly nearby Hammerheads though. He could easily hit 5 Markerlights if he used the new Strategem, but that is still only 1 target a turn. Sounds like you faced a homebrew index instead of the real Tau Index.

Marker Drones don`t Suffer the Penalty for moving and firing heavy Weapons. All other Platforms (i remind of) do suffer the penalty unless the Target already has 3 Markers on.

It really sounds like your opponent cheated heavy.
You shouldn`t play against him anymore and it is always better to say show me the rule instead of check it again.

DominayTrix wrote:

 Nightlord1987 wrote:
So I took a really harsh beating (and tabling) by Tau this weekend, which isnt necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, BUT i see alot of rules discrepancies after the fact that I'd just like to inquire here, with more experienced (readers).

My opponent kept hitting on 3+ with MOST of his units, like: battlesuits, the Riptide, Pirhannas, and his drones were hitting on 4+. When I asked, he said he had a Drone that helped increase BS. I cannot find this anywhere. Now, as far as I can tell, the only way to increase BS is with 5+ Markerlights, when all he had ever used was 1 to 2. Also, I need to remind him Markerlights are now Heavy.

His Missile Pod turret climbed up a hill. I had been pretty sure they were immobile. I was correct.

Lastly, he had shot Supporting fire overwatch at me, which is fine, But then AGAIN fired overwatch when I then charged them with a second unit. I even asked him to check his index which he did, and still said he was allowed to fire overwatch again. Turns out, not the case.

So what is this Drone that helps his units BS? He did have some FW units on the board (i think..), but I still cannot find out what he is talking about?

Drone controllers on suits can buff drones by +1 to hit, but they do not buff suits. Multiple units can shoot overwatch more than once IF you declare a multicharge at them. I think the only way to get positive hit modifiers is through longstrike or markerlights. Longstrike only buffs friendly nearby Hammerheads though. He could easily hit 5 Markerlights if he used the new Strategem, but that is still only 1 target a turn. Sounds like you faced a homebrew index instead of the real Tau Index.

Only once though using their 6" bubble. The unit BEING charged can do it more than once but not the units within 6

Hoo boy, major changes coming in with the Tau Codex.


If you guys had tanks collecting dust the good news is you'll be using them soon.

On the backside, drones aren't auto wound soakers anymore and you cannot spam commanders anymore (only 1 per detachment).


GW noticed that Tau vehicles weren't selling so they are getting a major buff. Points decreases across the board and tank version of all the guns are getting big upgrades.


No markerlight love over index chart, however we might see a stratagem dedicated to making use of them.

 Eihnlazer wrote:
Hoo boy, major changes coming in with the Tau Codex.


If you guys had tanks collecting dust the good news is you'll be using them soon.

On the backside, drones aren't auto wound soakers anymore and you cannot spam commanders anymore (only 1 per detachment).


GW noticed that Tau vehicles weren't selling so they are getting a major buff. Points decreases across the board and tank version of all the guns are getting big upgrades.


No markerlight love over index chart, however we might see a stratagem dedicated to making use of them.

Sounds solid. Source?

no 100% yet but, http://natfka.blogspot.com/2018/02/tau-rumors.html

According to that, Railguns are the same and the markerlight table still sucks.

So Railgun Hammerheads will still be meh.

Also, they make it sound like the Riptide will become a cheeselord again. Yay /sarcasm

1 commander per detachment seems a little weird. I knew they'd clamp down on them somehow, but now we're the only army without the potential for multiple HQs? Haechi has historically been a good info source, but I hope he's wrong about that and the marker lights.

They most likely don't want to nerf the commander, so they have to limit him otherwise people would never use the other HQ's.

Thematically it makes sense anyway. Tau are all about the greater good. All tau from different septs working together to cover and advance each other. If your only using commanders your not doing that.

Perhaps that's true. Commanders are strong, but I don't feel like they're overpowered given how squishy they are. A nerf could easily make them unusable in context of what other armies can bring for similar points. I think the best option would be to make everything else in the list similarly useful so Tau players have a choice to make instead of automatically spamming Commanders and Drones, but I can see just plain limiting them, too.

In any event, I'm really looking forward to this release. I'm hoping for usable units and some cool strats that keep us useful. Markers need a retooling, but it doesn't sound like that's going to happen. Oh well.

Hopefully the other HQ options are actually worth taking, otherwise the tax for building a CP pool starts to look steep..

Ignore that rumour.

 Eihnlazer wrote:
They most likely don't want to nerf the commander, so they have to limit him otherwise people would never use the other HQ's.

Thematically it makes sense anyway. Tau are all about the greater good. All tau from different septs working together to cover and advance each other. If your only using commanders your not doing that.

Unless you are recreating The Eight of the Farsight Enclaves, in which case you need 6 commanders, a Riptide and a Broadside.

 Eihnlazer wrote:
no 100% yet but, http://natfka.blogspot.com/2018/02/tau-rumors.html

A lot of that sounds too good to be true. Commanders would be literally the only non-unique unit in the game to have a limit like that (I'm pretty sure anyways), and a Heavy 18 S6 AP-1 D2 gun for 35 points? Gimme a break.

Hopefully we get some more reliable rumors soon, as I'd love to get back to my Tau army.

It's official Tau are next up!

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2018/02/23/coming-march-blood-snakes-battlesuitsgw-homepage-post-4fw-homepage-post-2/

5 septs plus enclaves included

 ZergSmasher wrote:

A lot of that sounds too good to be true. Commanders would be literally the only non-unique unit in the game to have a limit like that (I'm pretty sure anyways)

IG Command squads have a one unit per Company Commander limit, same for Scion Command squads and Tempestor Primes, so there is precedent.

and a Heavy 18 S6 AP-1 D2 gun for 35 points? Gimme a break.

I'd say that's the nova charged profile for the Riptide heavy burst cannon. Remember that big models often get cheap weapons (often 0 point ones) because most of their cost is already in the base price for the model (and that not being the case is the reason why Riptides are so bad right now).