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Hey i had an idea for a tau army that i thought might compare in high strength low model numbers to other zilla lists out there. Granted, all of the models have comparatively low toughness, but for the heavy hitters the important i think is armor saves and manuverability (the two big things with Tau). So Here's my thoughts, lemmi know what you think
HQ
Shas'el FireKnife With HW Multitracker and a shield generator-107
Elite
3 FireKnife Suits, 1 TEAM LEADER w/ HW DC, 2 Shield Drones, bonded-226
3 FireKnife Suits, 1 TEAM LEADER w/ HW DC, 2 Shield Drones, bonded-226
3 FireKnife Suits, 1 TEAM LEADER w/ HW DC, 2 Shield Drones, bonded-226
Troops
9 FW, Shas-Sgt guy, bonded-115
9 FW, Shas whatever, bonded-115
Heavy Support
3 Broadsides, TEAM LEADER w/ TL Plasma Rifles, Shield Generator, Stabilizers, Shield Drones, Bonded-325
3 Broadsides, TEAM LEADER w/ TL Plasma Rifles, Shield Generator, Stabilizers, Shield Drones, Bonded-325
3 Broadsides, TEAM LEADER w/ TL Plasma Rifles, Shield Generator, Stabilizers, Shield Drones, Bonded-325
total, 1990pts

Thats a 2000 pt army that puts out 35 shots which ignore all armor saves, as well as 64 of the usual anti squishy shots, 39 of which are rerollable, and consists of a staggering 10 relentless models
Tactics would probably be broadsides are snipers, and advance suits to cover and to provide cover to the FW behind them
Big weakness is the lack of troops (probably aim for the "wipeout" victory condition since there are 99 shots per turn) and the lack of mobility with the broadsides, as well as low model count and the glaring weakness in close combat (which goes without saying)
still, thoughts? suggestions? comments? This would be a "hey this would be sooooo cool" army rather than a "beat the new space wolves codex" army

This is an army that I really want to try and will be working towards once I've finished my Imperial Fists.

My thinking is, with all those broadsides you'll shut down all transports in turn 1. Leaving you clear to shoot the enemy down all over the table.

The only thing that'll screw you over is deepstrikers. But to be honest, I think the enemy will take such a beating on the first shooting phase that they'll be easy to mop up from then on.

yea that was my thinking too...and such high strength weapons would be good against a lot of heavies...my only fear is mob armies, like orks, massed nids, or massed IG...since it only fires 99 shots per turn...and at 2000 points there would be well over 200 models in a massed army like that...

Ok, if you want to run this idea, then two things:
First, limit your fire warriors to as few models possible, 6, and then give all your broadside team leaders target locks, that is the first step. With the target locks, the broadside teams are targeting up to 6 vehicles every turn. Otherwise, I would mix your suits up a little bit. Give you better options for horde. Like drop one set of knives, and make then deathrains with flame throwers, for those large orkgroups and stuff. you could also try to fit some kroot in there for screening deep strikers, and mopping up units.
Just some ideas...

I ran this list when 5th came out and is brutal.

With the fact that every army got as mobile or more than the Tau, we had to to play to our strengths.

At 1500 I ran:

Fireknife Shas'el = 117
HWMT, Sheild Generator, Stimulant Injector.

3 Fireknife Suits = 186
HWMT.
3 Fireknife Suits = 186
HWMT.
3 Deathrain suits = 141
Flamers.

6 FW = 60
10 Kroot = 70
10 Kroot = 70
10 Kroot = 70

2 Broadsides = 200
ASS, Team leader with HWTL, HWDC, 2 Shield Drones.
2 Broadsides = 200
ASS, Team leader with HWTL, HWDC, 2 Shield Drones.
2 Broadsides = 200
ASS, Team leader with HWTL, HWDC, 2 Shield Drones.

The Kroot were used for shielding the XV88 from Deepstrikers and the FW were only there to make up the numbers.
Although they have killed their fare share of kool stuff - Thraka in one round of shooting as he dared to charge them, only to fail and leave himself in the open and Abaddon, who pretty much did the same thing are the two biggest threats they dropped.

It is actually relatively easy to table a mech player with this army. Horde is tricky, but it is not a lost cause.

huh, cool ideas guys thanks
yea i play a lot of MEQs (i know, the bane of tau everywhere right?) hence y all the AP2 shots there
but yea interesting ideas...in truth i wanted to see if fielding a maxed out broadside army was possible...and from what you guys have said not only is it possible it's deadly

Very deadly.

The trick with Tau is to cut out the weak part of the list (FW, Ethereals et al) in favour of the heavy hitters (XV8, XV88, Sniper Drone Teams).

eh i'm not a big fan of sniper drone teams, as they're not jump infantry,so they suffer from the big weakness of pathfinders without the added survivability of a devilfish
i suppose tho reducing the number of FW may work...knick it down to six each...but that only frees up 80pts...what would i do with that?
Oh and what could a deathrain offer that a fireknife or TL Plasmas can't? besides longer range weaker fire (armor wise...) cause apparantly deathrain is quite popular...and i've wondered y...is it cause it's slightly cheaper?

Ok i know this probably constitutes threadomancy but i started this thread to brainstorm (so hopefully timing doesnt matter? < but i reworked the list and i realized that if i switched one fireknife suit for a deathrain that would give me the points for a shas'o with stims AND target locks for all the Broadside team leaders...plus the additional average shot bonuses... so any more thoughts? since this thread died and i rely on you people to tell me how to play