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Hi..How are we all doing? I was just wondering what the EMP and Photon grenades do and what purpose they serve? also...pros and cons? thanks all

Both EMP and Photon grenades are fully explained in the codex.

Purpose? Be one of the several option most tau player pretty much never pick...

EMPs... if you're ever close enough a vehicle to use them, then you're probably better off running around to the rear and rapid-firing it down; they're largely overcosted for a krak-equiv.

Photons are equally useless, if we're assaulted then there's no point trying to delay the inevitable; unless your units are ninjas like mine seem to be (they're better in combat than shooting in most of my games; my broadside can't hit a vehicle for toffee, even with markerlights and the re-roll, but he can smack units around in combat and sweeping advance them down well enough...) then you're best off looking for ways to regroup and counter; your fire warriors are already dead.

Firewarriors are the min troop guys that you wish you could not take (kroot are more useful most of the time). Don't bother spending more points on them for a situation that probably won't happen, and if it does probably won't matter.

Photon grenades are actually counter-productive. You want Firewarriors that are caught in close combat to die/run away so that you can shoot the assaulting unit in your following turn.

Lorek wrote:Photon grenades are actually counter-productive. You want Firewarriors that are caught in close combat to die/run away so that you can shoot the assaulting unit in your following turn.

That is %200 correct. You can never do anything worse than get photon grenades for your firewarriors.

I find EMP grenades rather fun to use, if I have spare points. The only game I ever equipped them, I managed to assault and blow up a monolith, that was awesome. It couldn't hurt to give each firewarrior unit 1 EMP grenade, in case they get assaulted by a walker or something along those lines.

That, and any fire-warriors in CC = Dead, dead, deader then dead.

And here's the "kicker", why spend points on dead models?

The Bringer wrote:

Lorek wrote:Photon grenades are actually counter-productive. You want Firewarriors that are caught in close combat to die/run away so that you can shoot the assaulting unit in your following turn.

That is %200 correct. You can never do anything worse than get photon grenades for your firewarriors.

I find EMP grenades rather fun to use, if I have spare points. The only game I ever equipped them, I managed to assault and blow up a monolith, that was awesome. It couldn't hurt to give each firewarrior unit 1 EMP grenade, in case they get assaulted by a walker or something along those lines.

I guess my first question here is:

How did a walker manage to get into your lines?

, well you never know.

I will never take EMP grenades again, it was rather lucky now that I look back at it.

All comments are correct. If I could give EMP grenades to Steath suits (or photons, for that matter) I certainly would. Those guys find themselves in a close support role very often, and the stealth field ability, plus the AS and photons would give them a very passible chance to hold up in CC. Photons would be great if our counter assault elements were reliable, but they simply are not. Also giving out the crates upon crates of unused grenades to Vespids, Kroot, or battlesuits would improve those units as well. The problem is the grenades are available only to the units that need them the least.

Tau have but one purpose in close combat. To die a glorious death as soon as possible. This way our brothers may quickly avenge them w/ barrages of pulse and plasma.

Thaylen wrote:Tau have but one purpose in close combat. To die a glorious death as soon as possible. This way our brothers may quickly avenge them w/ barrages of pulse and plasma.

I would say that there one purpose is to die as horribly as possible, though insane luck with winning the combat is preferable.

The Bringer wrote:

Thaylen wrote:Tau have but one purpose in close combat. To die a glorious death as soon as possible. This way our brothers may quickly avenge them w/ barrages of pulse and plasma.

I would say that there one purpose is to die as horribly as possible, though insane luck with winning the combat is preferable.

Lictor charges 5 Fire Warriors in cover. After 2 rounds of combat, he kills one; in return the rest of the FWs go into a frenzy and beat the lictor to death with their pulse rifles.

5 Harlies charge 10 FWs and kill 1; in return the rest of the FWs go into a frenzy and beat the clowns to death with their pulse rifles.

A jetseer council charges 10 Fire Warriors. Combat sees no casualties on either side and they remain in combat until the end of the game.

Just some of the accomplishments of my ninja Tau (the last two were in the same game, where I also managed to have 2 hammerheads and 2 broadsides fail to do anything to a wave serpent and falcon over the course of 6 turns bar immobilising the falcon (forcing the harlies out) and taking the last wound off a wraithlord), other accomplishments include a broadside being charged by a scout squad with combat knives and a sergeant with a power weapon after they outlfanked and slaughtered my FWs (who kill 1 in return). My broadside took 1 wound, got mad, smacked two scouts around the head with his smart missile system and sweeping advanced the others as they fled. ! Crisis suit also held the Throne of Judgement in combat for most of a game, even managing to deal a wound.

Yeah, these guys can't shoot for gak, but they have moves

Avatar 720 wrote:

Lictor charges 5 Fire Warriors in cover. After 2 rounds of combat, he kills one; in return the rest of the FWs go into a frenzy and beat the lictor to death with their pulse rifles.

5 Harlies charge 10 FWs and kill 1; in return the rest of the FWs go into a frenzy and beat the clowns to death with their pulse rifles.

A jetseer council charges 10 Fire Warriors. Combat sees no casualties on either side and they remain in combat until the end of the game.

Just some of the accomplishments of my ninja Tau (the last two were in the same game, where I also managed to have 2 hammerheads and 2 broadsides fail to do anything to a wave serpent and falcon over the course of 6 turns bar immobilising the falcon (forcing the harlies out) and taking the last wound off a wraithlord), other accomplishments include a broadside being charged by a scout squad with combat knives and a sergeant with a power weapon after they outlfanked and slaughtered my FWs (who kill 1 in return). My broadside took 1 wound, got mad, smacked two scouts around the head with his smart missile system and sweeping advanced the others as they fled. ! Crisis suit also held the Throne of Judgement in combat for most of a game, even managing to deal a wound.

Yeah, these guys can't shoot for gak, but they have moves

I wish my Tau did that!!!

It all seems awesome until you watch my shooting phase. I couldn't hit a titan if it danced naked in front my gunline.

Avatar, i my next game against Eldar I will play assault ninja-Tau (no kroot), and see how much insane luck I can dish out.

This will either be an epic victory, or an horrible fail...

EDIT - On a side not, I had my commander assaulted by a full unit of hormigaunts. I killed off a couple, they failed leadership, and I ran them down first round of combat. Ninja'O ftw.

EDITEDIT :

I'm going to play a game with dedicated ninja- Tau, so can you critique it http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/340417.page

The Bringer wrote:Avatar, i my next game against Eldar I will play assault ninja-Tau (no kroot), and see how much insane luck I can dish out.

This will either be an epic victory, or an horrible fail...

EDIT - On a side not, I had my commander assaulted by a full unit of hormigaunts. I killed off a couple, they failed leadership, and I ran them down first round of combat. Ninja'O ftw.

EDITEDIT :

I'm going to play a game with dedicated ninja- Tau, so can you critique it http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/340417.page

Good Luck my fellow Tau Playa... For The Greater Good! ninja style