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Ok I run a (nearly) typical Nidzilla list. Lots of outflanking stealers and 7 MCs. The composition of my list isn't really that important. The guy I was facing played sensibly, castling up in the centre and throwing out a few tarpit units everytime a brood showed up, then rapid fired with a second unit behind it. His 3 Hammerheads were nigh invincible - even with 3 VCs and 6 BSs on the table. TBH I had a really hard time punching through his 4+ cover saves from disruption fields. In my deployment I made a critical error, deploying far back and out of sight or range of his plasma and railguns, and this meant by the end of the game I had no-one near his objective (I should have deployed as far forward as possible). I would like to know how other veteran nidzilla players would have handled this situation.

Thanks for any responses.

I'm not a nidzilla player, but I'd say you've already figured out your own problem: you deployed too far away.

When I face Tau with my chaos marines, even though I generally have some decent mid-long range shooting, I know that my only chance against the Tau is to apply simultaneous pressure along his entire front. This forces him to maneuver instead of shooting, which can lead to my longer range shooting being more effective.

Thanks for the advice. I knew I played it wrong straight after turn 1. So it seems that was the one error I made and it cost me. Ah well, live and learn.

Also, don't discount the Tau player: in addition to the mistake you made if he's a good player it's going to be a tough fight either way.

Thanks for that. He's actually quite a new player and he lost badly quite a few times in his early games. However he has now become quite proficient and gave our local, yet very experienced IG player a thrashing a few days ago. Looks like we may have a new master in our FLGS midst.

this may not sound too good, but drop a MC and grab some gargoyles or raveners, once you hit the fire line and drag them into combat it reduces thier shooting alot, as most units of thiers will be moving clear of the fight, giving you more time to get the MC's closer.

The problem with that approach is that it really gives the firewarriors something to shoot at whilst the heavy stuff just aims at the MCs. Also, I like to keep my MCs cheap so it really wouldn't add that many gargoyles or raveners to the force. A max of 12 gargoyles or 4 raveners. Easily downable in turn 1, then stealers turn up on turn 2, no split shooting.

Switch out your dakka fexs for Scything talon fexes and have them "run".

Haha, sounds like a good idea. Im now toying with a more balanced build incorporating more warriors (they last longer than fexes in large broods).

If you have a carpet of gaunts use them. This forces the player to use his only template weapon on the hammerheads against the large unit or use the railguns against your MCs.

Besides deploying closer, you can probably just run everything in a long column straight at him, especially if your units provide cover save to each other and he castles in the middle of the table. As a Tau player I rely on my mobility to get around that tactic, but if he's just castling with lots of FW on foot that isn't going to work.

thanks for the advice. Thats exactly what I was planning. 60 WoN gaunts plus 16 warriors instead of 1 MC and the stealers.

Remember to keep a balanced list though - if you cater specifically to beating Tau you'll get chewn up.

My advice as a Tau gunline expert....

a couple of Broodlords (I think? The guys who start off in terrain and appear by magic) can tie up half a gunline without taking a wound, and are next to impossible for firewarriors to kill. Outflanking Genestealers also suck hard for us as Tau. Your MCs should be charging willy-nilly across the field without shooting, so give them combat upgrades; at the end of the day, you don't want to have a shooting match with Tau, you want to tie them up in close combat, where we evaporate.