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Im starting tau shortly. Starting at 500 points and then just working my way up. I have my HQ and troops worked out just fine to were I like them.
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HQ

Shas'el w/ AFP, CIB, Targeting Array and multi tracker.

Troops

2X 12 fire warriors.
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Now my question is what heavy to go with.

If i go with a broadside I would have extra points left over to throw on my hq and bonding knifes for my troops. But being only one 2+ model it wouldnt be all to hard to take out but would be great for dropping armor.

I can fit in a hammerhead and that would give me some model andi tank as well as a pie plate to throw around.

And then there is the sky ray. Which threy all my digging around the net this thing just really isnt talked about much. With the 6 seeker missles I can see it still being effective at taking out armor as well as giving good support with its marker lights for the rest of the group.

I wanna lean towards the sky ray just for the support aspect of it. I know it wont be as good as a rail gun. But the added support would balance out.

So are is the broadside/hammerhead just hands down the better options or over all is it not really that big of a deal.

I would go for the hammerhead. The dual nature of the hammerhead's railgun makes it very versatile and with a Disruption Pod and its good armor will hard to kill. The sky ray works best with pathfinders as the extra markerlights can make for a very devastating missile barrage or when the sky ray's markerlights miss. The broadside is another good choice but I usually prefer the hammerhead.

The hammerhead is the best choice. With a disruption pod it will be tough to kill from a distance at 500 points. If you buy the Sky Ray Box it comes with all of the Sprues for the Hammerhead, The Devilfish, and the SkyRay. If you don't glue the turret on you will have the ability to switch out from game to game. The Ion Cannon on the Hammerhead can also give you the the ability to take out tanks and SMs for a lot less points than the Railgun.

Shouldn't this be in the Army Lists Forum?

Definately a hammerhead first...at larger games I would take 2, then fill out the final slot with a team of 3 broadsides. That's a whole lot of S10 ap1 on the board.

Hammerhead should always be your first heavy choice if possilble. But the idea of the changeable turrets is a great idea because then you can adjust it to your various enemies.

I actually prefer 1 Hammerhead with 2 teams of 2 broadsides at larger point games. The twinlinked Railguns have a 75% shot of scoring a hit rather than the 66% chance that a hammerhead has. Also for the cost of a Railhead you get 2 Broadsides = 2 S10 AP1 Shots each hitting 75% of the time.

Hammerheads are much more durable. Buy a Hammerhead first. Buy a Broadside or two second. Find out which you like better. Switch out the Railgun on the hammerhead for an Ion Cannon. Try out different tactics. Expand your force depending on what you like best.

Definately buy the sky ray. That way you get a choice of:
Skyray
Rail Hammerhead
Ion Hammerhead
Devilfish

all in one box.

True, though I prefer the diversity that the hammerhead offers. Of course it's up to the OP to see which he likes best.

i'd take the broadsides. you can take two broadsides with a couple of drones for the price of a single hammerhead. you'll lose out on anti-horde but you'll pop any vehicles the enemy may have easily.

I like Broadsides and usally pick a Hammerhead for my first choice followed by a three suit team of Broadsides as my second choice then depending on my enemy, my third might be either a Hammerhead or Broadsides and if I fill really daring sniper teams.