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I recently got my hands on at least 1200 points of Tau, going to be playing a game tommorow morning, 1500 Points
I just have a few questions.

Are gun drone squads really effective?
How good are the sniper drones against Marines or Equal?
Kroot annoy me, so I'm using the Human Aux rules with 24 of my IG soldiers. Is this a good idea?

Yeah! Another joins the greater good.

Gun drones are a good speed bump. And can be fairly effective for harassing enemy flanks if "supported" by marker lights. Don't expect much out of them other wise. Best use so far Ive come up with is that they can tie up a necron destroyer or heavy destroyer squad(my record is 4 turns). Also drop them as screen right in front of snipers (using JSJ so as to not give SMs a cover save)the turn before SMs are able to assault the sniper teams

Sniper drone can be really good (especially against SMs)depending on placement and how long you can keep them firing. Again extra markers help. The effectiveness then depends on the amount of cover.
I some times use the snipers as bait drawing the opponent into a focused field of fire from several hard hitting squads. With Tau remember the object is to completely wipe squads out with your gun fire to punch an escape hole for you army. If playing long edges I set them up towards the middle about 8" to 12" in. A crisis sqaud right behind benefits from a 4+ cover from them against any heavy weapons(keep in mind blast temps) and JSJs to the side. Also have found that running gun drones out in front can slow the enemy down with the right tactic and positioning.

As far as Kroot go. Depends on your tactics. I, personally love them for the Hounds. Keep them hidden and have themcharge in numbers(don't waste points on armor) against a squad already whittled down from gun fire. It'll change your mind. Those Initiative 5 hounds really make a difference. Just can't let them get charged cause on the charge in they'll get decimated if theres a flamer. Personally I'd run both humans and kroot. Only infiltrate the kroot if the cover is worth it.

As far as anything else, I dont know what you have.

Remember this is what works for me and all suggestions are IMHO. Best of luck

I wouldn't say gun drones are really effective - they're at their best against low ld targets who can be pinned more easily (markerlights can help here if you use them to lower your targets ld).
As has been said, they also make good speed bumps and their speed makes them good for last turn objective chases.

Sniper drones I've never played with (and the one time I played against them they got all of 1 shot off before my seraphim flamed them - tip, don't hide near enemy flamers!)

Kroot I love! I have two units, one with hounds for CC and one with krootox (the poor mans autocannon..) for fire support and counter-charges. I even have 6x knarloc riders which are awesome. But only if your opponent lets you take them
I would definately take them instead of the tau'gue'vesa.

Good luck with your first game and welcome to the greater good...

Please don't mistake my tied up heavy destroyers comment as they ar good in CC. Just that Necron destroyers are that bad.