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 just purchased a 1k Tau army from a buddy of mine who is quitting for cheap. What I got was...

1 Commander, all bits magnetized so I can swap out whatever, 24 Firewarriors, 6 Vespid, 10 Pathfinders, 1 Devilfish, 3 Stealth Suits, 1 Sniper Drone squad, 1 Piranha w/ magnetized gun, 1 Hammerhead w/ magnetized turret.

Using what I have, here is what I was thinking for my list:

Shas'o (177)
Drone Controller - Shield, Marker
Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod, Multi-tracker, Shield Generator

12 Fire Warriors (140)
Shas'ui w/ marker

12 Fire Warriors (140)
Shas'ui w/ Marker

8 Pathfinder (226)
3 Rail Rifles, 5 Pulse Carbines w/ Marker
Devilfish with Multi-Tracker, Disruption Pod, and Targeting Array

Piranha (70)
Fusion Blaster, Targetting Array

Sniper Drone Team (80)

Hammerhead (165)
Railgun, 2X Burst Cannons, Disruption Pod, Multi-Tracker

Total: 998 points

First, is this a good list based off what I have available? Second, I plan on buying at least 20 kroot, 3 crisis suits, and 2 broadside suits. Any advice on what else to spend my money on?

Hmm... interesting list. Okay, a couple of things. First of all, marker drones are pretty much useless, and way too overpriced. Your commander already has max BS available to him, and markerlights won't make it any better.

What are pathfinders for? Same for your fire warriors. I would take them off as well, I would also give both your fire warrior units bonding knives.

That should give you 80 points to spend. I would give your hammerhead a target lock so that he can split fire.

With the leftover points... hmm...

I don't like vespids, but you could get them as a point filler for now, considering you can't do anything with those points.

That would give you about 4-5 vespids, roughly.

Its an ok start for an army, but I would never use vespids, as they are weak, or stealth suits, as I think they aren't effective enough for their price. I would get another devilfish on top of the other things you want to get, that would enable your fire-warrior units to each have a devilfish that could zoom them into rapid fire range, thus making them way more effective.

EDIT - It is a good list considering what you have. I also think that what you plan to expand with is a good choice, though you may want to get either more broadsides or another hammerhead in the future, and probably three more crisis suits.

I had the intention to help but got too lazy to read your list. Vespids though...Everyone in the internet say they suck (att being optimistic about them) except one player. He uses vespids as bait. The vespids move back while the enemy moves into firing range. They also look good aesthetically. I suggest you buy some kroot though if you want an auxiliary unit because vespid otherwise just suck.

So drop the Marker drone. Should I pick up another shield, throw in a gun, or just take the single shield drone?

Drop the pathfinders and give one of the FW squads the devilfish?

Dropping the marker drone, the pathfinders, and giving the devilfish to one of the fire warriors while giving both shas'ui a bonding knife brought ti down to 857 points. 6 Vespid are 102 points, so I'm left with 41 points.

In the future I plan on having 9 crisis suits and 6 broadsides as well as a second hammerhead. That will give me plenty of options. I'm also going to get a full squadron of piranhas, maybe two, but thats after I get the stuff I mentioned above.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

daemon wrote:I had the intention to help but got too lazy to read your list.

I appreciate the honesty if nothing else.

I do intend on getting kroot. Lots of 'em.

Aaahk, sorry, I mis-conveyed some things.

Pathfinders do what marker drones do but way better, don't actually get marker drones, but keep the pathfinders. Pathfinders are really good.

I was suggesting you take the marker drones off of everything, including fire warriors. It would kind of help if you edit the original list, just so we can better see where you're at.

I've only used vespids once, and my thoughts were this: they stink in assault, they they have high initiative, and they have good guns, but its low range. They also are really weak.

Ah, ok. Let's see then...

Shas'o (177)
HW Drone Controller - Shield
Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod, HW Multi-tracker, Shield Generator

12 Fire Warriors (135)
Shas'ui w/ BK

12 Fire Warriors (135)
Shas'ui w/ BK

8 Pathfinder (226)
3 Rail Rifles, 5 Pulse Carbines w/ Marker
Devilfish with Multi-Tracker, Disruption Pod, and Targeting Array

Piranha (70)
Fusion Blaster, Targetting Array

Sniper Drone Team (80)

Hammerhead (165)
Railgun, 2X Burst Cannons, Disruption Pod, Multi-Tracker

Total: 958 points

I only had Marker Lights on the Shas'uis, not Marker drones, so that is only 10 points off the list after adding the Bonding Knives. Take away the 30 from the Marker Drone and I'm down to 958 points. Not enough for a Vespid squad. Maybe a Gun Drone squad to help run interference on an enemy squad that is getting too close for comfort?

Ok, misread that, sorry. Either way, i would advise agains tthem.

You could get your Hammerhead a Target Lock for one. Your could give your Devilish SMS (Smart Missile System). That would leave you enough points to get your commander another shield drone, and they you would about break even, with two points to spare.

You don't have the points for a gun drone squad. Minimum squads cost 48 pts.

Problem with a single Piranha is it's going to just get blasted first turn. I would say leave it at home untill you get one or two more.

Most people dislike stealth suits but I love 'em. They can put out a lot of dakka (and if you really want to, give 'em all two gun drones for even MORE dakka) and are annoying to shoot back at. Stealth fields keep them alive at range, and they are jetpack, so jump into range shoot jump back.

So, I would suggest running some.

Shrike: I like the Piranha for tank hunting purposes. The first game I played with the first list I posted, the Piranha trippled its points by killing a Land Raider turn 2. Turn 1 it turbo-boosted to get cover behind terrain, and popped over to blast the LR in the back with it's fusion blaster. Granted, it won't always work, but I'll wager my points on it. If they blast it, then that's one less shot at something more valuable, like the transport or the railhead. Though I do wanna try the stealth suits out some time.

Bringer: I need to get a SMS for my devilfish before I bring it. The guy I purchased this stuff from seems to have done something with them. Gonna look through the bits again today and hopefully I'll find 'em. I thought I put Target Lock on the hammerhead this last list... I'll fix it. I'll also throw another shield drone in.

I can tell you how to make them from gun drones if you have any.

... as long as this guy gave you the spare bits that came with the hammerhead as will.

alright so i still havent read it but i skimmed over comments and your list. Remember that this is 1000 points so you need to trim as much as possible. Stealth teams are used for infantry harassment or as a marker team and you dont need either. They are also very expensive. You don't need an O' but i suppose thats fun. Piranha isn't as reliable as you think when its only one but your call. Dont need a target lock on hammerhead. Get a shield drone instead of a shield gen. shield gens are over priced.

i actually don't know i've never gone with static tau it doesn't work well for me. I find you'll probably get destroyed by anything mobile and meq. Thats my opinion though.