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Hello all, I have been toying around with the thought of a tau army. I want it to be really suit heavy but I dont have the codex, and I was wondering if this would be a viable list for friendly games of around 1000-1500. Are hammerheads totally necessary if I have enough broadsides and fire warriors to protect them, plus lotsa suits deepstrikeing behind the enemy?

Let me know your thoughts as I am more of a fantasy player than 40k, figured some more experienced player could give me some ideas as what Im doing wrong or right.

Personally I'm not one for deepstriking battlesuits. IMHO it is better to have them jumping out from terrain (though that might stop happening in the 5th edition). Broadsides with advance stablisation systems (slow and prposeful) are good, as the enemy cant really escape. And, if you ask me, no you don't need the hammerhead.

Hammerheads can let you get oblique shots at very long range. Broadsides don't do this. I got rid of my suits when I was playtesting the army, Hammerheads are more flexible and cost less. Broadsides are overkill, my Hammerheads with 1 shot take down most tanks without a problem.

I think I've deepstruck my suits...once.

So...Say I nix the hammerheads, all my suits would then have to be specialized for specific roles, right? Like anti infantry, anti heavy-infantry. would I still need anti-tank squads or would the broadsides cover that?

Oh, thanks for all your responses.

I actually really hate broadsides. they're a waste of points. A hammerhead or skyray is more handy. Especially as the skyray has unlimited range and doesn't need line of sight. Broadsides can be instant killed so easily. Skyrays are much better with a squad of eight pathfinders.

Got to say I rarely deepstrike my suits. Think I've done it twice, both times against tau armies ironically enough.

I think broadsides have their place. I generally take a squad of 2 with two shield drones and ASS, a railhead and an ionhead. It tends to work out quite well. Although broadsides are slow and not be able to get oblique shots , the dual twin linked railguns will kill enemy tanks better than anything you have elsewhere.

I'd disagree with the skyray and pathfinders being much better due to the singular fact that pathfinders have to sit still and fire and aren't exactly hard to kill with any army. Plus if your army is mainly suits, the pathfinders would be pretty much the only target and get nailed.

Anyway, it's all down to personal choice at the end of the day. One of my mates takes three railhead and does as well as i do with my mixed heavy support.

Okay, How about 1 team of 2 broadsides with ASS, 2 shield drones and another squad of just 1 broadside that scoots along the sides trying to set up crossfires with a squad of human auxillarys screening him. Oh yeah, the single broadside will have the ASS upgrade as well. And maybe a hammerhead with a ionhead for chewing up meqs.

If you take a broadside you really want to take a shield drone or two to protect them from instant kill.

Sorry, forgot to mention that.