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I'm trying to make a list with minimum purchases (based around the battleforce). Something I can start fielding and learning how to handle the Greater Good.

HQShas'el commander- Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod, Hardwire Multi-tracker, Targetting Array. 97 points

Elites XV8 Crisis team (2 strong)- Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod, Multi-tracker. 124 points

TroopsFire Warrior Squad (12 strong)- Shas'ui, bonding knife. 135 points
Troops Kroot Squad (10 strong). 70

Heavy SupportXV88 Broadside team (1 strong)- blacksun filter. 73 points

499 points total

I know the Broadside isn't needed for tank busting, but I figure he can instant death any independent characters or start hitting powerful squads from turn one. I'm debating whether I should find room for more kroot or not.

PraetorDave wrote:I'm trying to make a list with minimum purchases (based around the battleforce). Something I can start fielding and learning how to handle the Greater Good.

What about the Warfish (SMS, MT, TA. DisPod) ? That'd be good at 500 and learning how transport vehicles work is also a big part in playing 40k.

PraetorDave wrote:I know the Broadside isn't needed for tank busting, but I figure he can instant death any independent characters or start hitting powerful squads from turn one.

No one is going to leave their IC alone with a b-side on the table, unless they're a nOOb. Really, unless there's a MechIG player going to run a couple chimera's & Matincore (do I have that right, IG players?) or TFG who brings a LR to a 500 point game, the b-side is overkill at this low a level. It depends on the local meta.

At 500 points, I'd split the two Crisis Suits into singles. Having XV8s in the smallest units possible is something you should always do, IMHO.

Though it does not go with the BattleForce box, see my list I posted in the thread with Cottonjaw's 500 point list (given Combat Patrol rules).

500 pts. is a very sensitive level... do you know who you would be playing, or will it be random?

I think hammerheads are fun at this level. They can provide a degree of anti-horde, and they still have a railgun for when vehicles appear.

If you make your fire warriors squad minimum, and get rid of the TA on your commander, you can turn the broadside into a hammerhead with a disruption pod... but you are losing a lot. Its just something you could change, I don't know if it would be any better.

Brothererekose wrote:

PraetorDave wrote:I'm trying to make a list with minimum purchases (based around the battleforce). Something I can start fielding and learning how to handle the Greater Good.

What about the Warfish (SMS, MT, TA. DisPod) ? That'd be good at 500 and learning how transport vehicles work is also a big part in playing 40k.

I'm an experienced player, so I know how vehicles work. I meant learning how to use the Tau specifically.

I felt that a Hammerhead might be a little too much at this points level, especially considering with Railgun, it is nearly 150 points. What else could I take as a heavy weapon? A pair of TL missile pod suits? With those I couldn't ID any multi wound units (my main worry being Nobz). Or possibly Fusion blaster armed stealth suits, though I know they are expensive for what you get. Suggestions?

I don't know... I think there are better things for killing nobs.

Unless they have heavy armor, buckets of normal burst cannon and pulse rifle fire would be more effective. If they have 'eavy armor:

A dethrain (per the point) will do more damage than a broadside (per the point). I mathhammered it, and 2 dethrains will do a load more damage to heavy' armo nobs than a broadside... not to mention you'll have more wounds to throw around.

So a dethrain is about %58 more effective than a broadside (and %47 more than a broadside with a TA), if I did my math correctly. I just double checked it, and I do believe it is correct.



Edit - Against nobs:

TL Missile Pod Suit w/ BF - 46 pts. 1.25 wounds
TL Missile Pod Suit w/ TA - 53 pts. 1.48 wounds

Broadside w/ BF - 73 pts. 1.25 wounds (these include the two wounds for ID)
Broadside w/ TA - 80 pts. 1.48 wounds

So, for a much greater price, a broadside does the exact same thing as a dethrain.

Ok then,

HQ Shas'el Commander- Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod, Hardwire Multi-tracker, Targetting Array. 97 points

Elites XV8 Crisis Team (2 strong)- Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod, Multi-tracker. 124 points.
Elites XV8 Crisis Team (2 strong)- TL Missile Pods, Blacksun Filters. 92 points.

Troops Fire Warrior Squad (10 strong)- Shas'ui, bonding knife. 115 points.
Troops Kroot Squad (10 strong). 70 points.

498 total

I know the Deathrain suits should have targetting arrays, but I couldn't find the 20 points for them, so I filled the space with blacksun filters.

Ah I would say instead of the blacksun filters, give the two crisis suits Flamers, they are only 1 point more, and will bring you to 500 points, and give you some added anti hoard power should you need it.

That's a very good point, I would do as ragnor says.

excuse the noobness, but what actually are the rules for the black sun filters?

Clumpski wrote:excuse the noobness, but what actually are the rules for the black sun filters?

... the rules are "we are a piece of equipment that is pointless, yet is so cheap it is often used to soak the third hard-point."

I don't know at how much liberty we have to tell you the rules...

Let's just say it makes night-fighting missions easier... but people barely ever do night-fighting missions, if ever.

fair enough

Let's just say it makes night-fighting missions easier... but people barely ever do night-fighting missions, if ever.

1 in 3 games is night fighting in 40k. But you are so boned being a Tau player in DoW anyway that a blacksun filter is irrelevant (unless you're doing ninja Tau).

.. one in three games has 1 turn of night fighting...

.. one in three games has 1 turn of night fighting...

Which is about as long as most Tau armies last

But on a serious note it is thye first turn which is the most iomportant turn for any non-ninja Tau.

Alrighty then. Flamers on the deathrain suits. Thanks for the help guys!

FlingitNow wrote:

Let's just say it makes night-fighting missions easier... but people barely ever do night-fighting missions, if ever.

1 in 3 games is night fighting in 40k. But you are so boned being a Tau player in DoW anyway that a blacksun filter is irrelevant (unless you're doing ninja Tau).

Flamers on the stealth suits. Not in the thread! hahaha

You're right, anyway, we only need one round of shooting to table most armies

we only need one round of shooting to table most armies

Yeah its not like it takes on average 4.5 railgun HITS (not shots) to pop a smoked Rhino or anything is it...

Cottonjaw wrote:
You're right, anyway, we only need one round of shooting to table most armies

I like your enthusiasm.

*grumble mumble* old codex *grumble mumble* freakin' 5e *grumble mumble* you weren't laughing in 3e *grumble mumble*

hahaha