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Alright I'm having a doubles game this weekend, as Tau. My partner will be Orks and my opponents will be SM (expect Chapter Master, Bike Chappy, and Vanguard Vets) and IG (no idea what's coming). We will be playing VP-annihilation, pitched battle setup.

Shas'El - 127
Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod, Targeting Array, Hardwired Multi-tracker, Hardwired Drone Controller, 2 Shield Drones

Fire Warrior Team - 135
12 Fire Warriors, Shas'ui with Bonding Knife

Fire Warrior Team - 135
12 Fire Warriors, Shas'ui with Bonding Knife

Pathfinders - 216
8 Pathfinders, Devilfish with SMS, TA, MT, and Disruption Pod

3 Hammerheads - 540
Railgun, two Burst Cannons, Multi-tracker, Target Lock, Disruption Pod

Total: 1153... so 97 more points. Any ideas?

drop a railhead for some broadsides.
8 pathfinders is too many for 1250.
need more suits.... maybe 2 to go with commander.
drop a 2nd railhead, just because of overkill.
grab a cheap kroot unit (personal preference here.)

you should really read the whole post before answering
you might be able to avoid useless comments that way.

for a doubles with orks in your team this seems pretty solid.
three railheads is fine IMOO, you definitely don't need any kroot with orks as allies.
the additional suits are a must though, if you have to drop some pathfinders, but your commander really needs some extra wounds

As mentioned before, definitely add some suits. I would recommend Fireknives since you'll be playing marines. Also, your HQ seems to not really have a definite purpose. CIB is good for light infantry (especially IG) and Fusion Blasters are good for anti-tank. I would suggest either swapping the CIB for a Plasma Rifle or MP or swap the Fusion Blaster for an Airbursting Fragmentation Projector or Burst Cannon. As for suits that may accompany him, I would suggest Firestorms (MP, Burst Cannon, MT).

I would also get another Devilfish with SMS, TA, MT, and D-Pod for your FWs, just to add a bit more mobility.

sieek is right, the kroot are unnecessary. However, I disagree that 3 railheads is okay. While it is effective, I would swap 1 of them for a unit of 2 Broadsides, just because they're a little more reliable when it comes to busting up tanks. That's your call, though. 3 railheads will still be pretty intimidating, hahaha.

I've tried Pathfinders at this point level and they haven't done anything for me, but they're definitely an useful unit.

firemind wrote:As mentioned before, definitely add some suits. I would recommend Fireknives since you'll be playing marines. Also, your HQ seems to not really have a definite purpose. CIB is good for light infantry (especially IG) and Fusion Blasters are good for anti-tank. I would suggest either swapping the CIB for a Plasma Rifle or MP or swap the Fusion Blaster for an Airbursting Fragmentation Projector or Burst Cannon. As for suits that may accompany him, I would suggest Firestorms (MP, Burst Cannon, MT).

... I think if you look you'll find I don't have a CiB.

Oops, my bad. I apparently can't read. Sorry about that, hahaha.

With your extra 97 points, I would either buy some crisis suits or another Devilfish for your other FW squads. I think the crisis suits would be more worthwhile, though. You could get 1 more Fireknife and 2 shield drones, or you could add in some Deathrains or Sunforges for pretty cheap (you could probably get 2 of either one). I think since you'll be paired with Orks you could even afford to drop a few FWs if you want to spend some more points on suits, but 12 FWs will still wreak some havoc.

Twin linked flamer suits are cheap. Not a big threat against space marines or IG though. Under a hundred points is tough for tau. Kroot are cheap and can outflank or infiltrate forcing opponents to do something about them. Seems orks have the cheap meat shield department covered...

Seems every time I see doubles there is ork and tau team ups, well they are complimentary armies! I went 2 hammer heads and a set of broadsides, I would drop the fire warrior teams to minimums and give them devilfish. The IG army may be hunting you first round as they will be afraid of your tank popping power. The pathfinders only help you I would drop them, and add some suits with plasma/missile pods. Your role is tank hunting and mop up. Suits can handle termies, light tanks, and mop up. The rest of the army is popping lemun russes I imagine.

That of course is my 2 cents, and I have no idea what your partners list is, you may be fine. As for the 3 rail heads, that is ok too, I just have a personal preference for a unit of broadsides! Whenever people post up a list and someone (like me) posts up their ideas on it/changes it actually means little. I do not know who you play, your style, or if you have the models to switch out etc. Just thought I would throw that out there as I was in a similar situation, the scenarios changed every match for me though. I wanted the mobility of the devilfish to contest etc. You are lucky to know what it is going in!