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.

I really like the flavor behind the Space Pope. He's a terrible, terrible choice for an army, but his fluff is kinda cool. I like how his death causes the Tau to freak out and run, it makes sense.

So, I was thinking about making this ability even more devastating: If he dies, all Tau units (not Kroot or Vespids) automatically fail a leadership test and fall back. Any units in CC trigger a sweeping advance opportunity for the enemy. For the rest of the game, Tau units can't regroup.

Now, I know what you're all thinking: "That's terrible, stop being stupid Grakmar!" But, the Space Pope's bodyguard guys are pretty sweet. So, to balance this out, I'd up their count to 4.

The issue is how many points?

I'm actually thinking of making it a free unit, possibly even costing a negative amount.

It could be kinda cool if he cost -100 points. You take a huge liability in your army and have to protect it at all costs, but get extra points to do it in. Thoughts?

What if the player just sits him in reserve?

What was the whole point of this?

Would still rather leave him on the shelf at the FLGS, even if he does have more crappy bodyguards.

The Model is kinda Epic. If I were to ever run an Ethereal, I'd buy the Aun'va Model.

Iur_tae_mont wrote:The Model is kinda Epic. If I were to ever run head-first into a wall made of diamond before jumping off an ant and then carve out my lower brain with a spoon then run an Ethereal, I'd buy the Aun'va Model.

Fix'd.

As it stands, Ethereals are pointless and have no place on a battlefield. My only hope is that they scrap Tau all-together, but failing that, remove Ethereals from the Army list.

I dunno. Lump all your Tau around Shadowsun and have the Ethereal with a Honor Blade and a 21 Kroot Salute charge the Closest Enemy, pass more rolls because of her LD 10 Bubble, and then The Tau get Preferred Enemy. Doesn't sound like a horrible Idea actually. Alot of points in your HQs, but I'mma have to try that....

*starts writing Army list before work*

Blast weapons, ho!

M.

Ethereal are nice in Apocalypse...

and make for great Storyline campaign/missions.

But yeah, that's about it.

I dunno about blasts being a problem, when the LD bubble of shadowsun is 36 inches (every unit within 18 of her special drone, so from one edge of the bubble to the other would be 36). I mean that's pretty much your deployment in Spearhead. I'll have to give it a try.

Back On topic: 2 more Hanz and Franz clones don't make up for Aun'va's death equaling the Tau player just losing. If I kill Calgar, the Smurfs don't drop a load in their armor and run.

Iur_tae_mont wrote:If I kill Calgar, the Smurfs don't drop a load in their armor and run.

They do, but only AFTER they kill everyone.

T'au, being weak minded Xenos scum, do it right away!

Well maybe the Smurfs do drop a load when Calgar dies, but the Suit can recycle and save it until after the battle is over.

grayspark wrote:Ethereal are nice in Apocalypse...

We use them as objectives!

MekanobSamael wrote:

grayspark wrote:Ethereal are nice in Apocalypse...

We use them as objectives!

The way I use them, is my friends let me use a Formation of them, an Ethereal Council.

I place them up on a large platform or hill, and everything in my army is fearless and my Allies count as leadership 10 because they are guided by the Ethereals.

I also get an assortment of things, such as Orbital Bombardment.