Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Is it possible to have a viable Tau Fire-Line list? Like 36+ FW's with Broads and Hammers?

I would either have broads OR hammers rather than both.

Remember too, markerlights are your friend.

I would use broadsides in a fireline.

Broadsides with Targetting Arrays for a Static Fireline. Take Pathfinders to markerlight up as much as you can.

Railrifles and other pinning weapons help as well.

3 Squads of 2 Broadsides
3-4 Squads of 12 Firewarriors w/ ML
2-3 Squads of Crisis Suits
0-1 Squad of Stealthsuits
Commander or Shadowsun (who gives 10 Ld in 18" radius)
Kroot Horde for counter assault if enemy gets too close

How big army are you making? For 2k I'd say... 70 firewarrios is very nice :3 only 700 points and you can fit in allot more into the army.... hell I had 50 on 1k, then some broadsides and the rest went for HQ and Xv8s. This idea is mostly based on Imperial Guard, massed number with (for tau) superior weapons add up, massed concentration with superior weapons makes a blast ^_^
Backing them up with Xv8's for picking at the army even more, everything from finishing of squads to picking of light armour vehicles while your Broadsides wreck havoc among the enemy armour, hell even their smart missile system is usefull if the enemy don't have many vechiles.

Keep your force together and focus fire =)

If you want a Horde just buy as many Kroot as you possibly can. I made up a list of about 150 models - almost all Kroot with 1 FW squad and a commander plus some broadsides I believe. It would almost be like playing orks - except they can actually shot and hit something.

You definitely need to make sure you have combined arms and taarget correctly for a gun-line. Also, you need to have counter-assault troops (Kroot and Vespid) in order to prevent the assault from everyhtign that gets through your firing (Jetbike Seer Council that is fortuned).

Tactics are very specific in that you must destroy the mechanization of an army then take out units from the largest threat to the smallest. Completely unload into a squad until it is completely destroyed. Overwhelming firepower is the only way to go. With markerlights you can destroy cover saves and increase your BS skill. If a squad can be pinned use your ML to reduce the Ld for pinning. Nail them with gun drones and every pinning weapon that you have. Next turn focus fire upon them and destroy them.