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5th ed came and with the massive amount of changes it brought it made armies like the Tau unfortunately very weak.

For a while now I have been thinking on some upgrades that may benefit the Tau, keeping in mind their shooting focus, so here are my thoughts.

1)Make markerlights give D3 tokens for every markerlight shot that hits.

The Markerlight is a finite resource that is the closest answer the Tau have to psychic abilities and powers, and it has a myriad of uses. Making them D3 tokens per hit, makes this finite resource much more accessible without being too over powered, even with pathfinders, since they still hit on rolls of 4 or more.

In addition and keeping in line with 5th Ed, make markerlights 12" Assault 1, this allows the Tau to have a small amount of mobility with this weapon and keeps it in line with the way it is supposed to operate, the short range means that its a last resort and allows some stationary units to still move with a small degree of freedom, but not much.

2) Make burst cannons 24" Assault 4, this makes the Burst cannons a more impressive option. It also keeps in line the tau motto of fast speed, long range and mobility.

3) Enhanced targeting asissts: This gear option allows a tau unit to re-roll missed to hit shots.

Since the Tau depend entirely on their long range and are not an AoE army, every hit counts, allowing the Tau to hit more in long range is only logical.

Price would be 20 pts per unit

4) Make kroot: WS 4 BS 3 S 4 T 3 W 1 I 5 A 2 Ld 7 S -

They have the following special rules:

Move through cover, Infiltrate, Stealth and fleet.

The kroot rifle still counts as 2 close combat weapons, but its profile changes to:

18" S 4 AP 5 Assault 1

5) Make vespids: WS 3 BS 3 S 3 T 4 W 1 I 6 A 2 Ld S

Vespid retain their previous rules of skilled flyers and fleet of wing, but gain the following:

Diamond hard claws: Vespid have rending close combat weapons

The neutron blaster profile changes to the following:

18" S 5 AP 3 Assault 2

Vespid have access to the following:

Neutron stampeder:

Template S 5 AP 3 Assault 1

6) Give the Tau Firewarriors, and the Tau access to the heavy gun drones, these act as special weapons for the Tau.

7) Take away the requirement of the pathfinders where they have to take a Devilfish, so that they can be deployed without the devilfish

8) Devilfish points cost reduced to 55 pts

9) Make crisis suits and stealth suits BS 4 standard, with option to be upgraded to BS 5. Targeting arrays cost 15 pts instd of 10

Agree.

Absolutely. This would be fantastic.
Good points every one!

Looks promising. I know a few players that would love these rules! Maybe a few playtests and let us know if it's balanced or not?

DoW

You know one thing I have always been wanting to see is a array of Burst cannon varients based on the ACTUAL model....after all GW is a WYSIWYG tyrant, and the various burst cannons do not look even remotely equal to each other.
So what I guess I would do is this:
Stealth suit Burst cannons = Compact burst cannon R:18" STR:5 AP:5 Assault 3 (standard BC )
Battle suit Burst Cannons = Burst Cannon R:24" STR:5 AP:5 Assault 3
Vehicle Burst cannons = Heavy burst Cannon R:24" STR:5 AP:4 Assault 4 ( ahhh if only )
Long barreled Burst cannons = Long range burst cannon R:30" STR:5 AP:5 or 4 Assault 3 or 4

But thats just me dreaming it would be nice to see the weapon's stats match the look of the models more.

Soo'Vah'Cha wrote: You know one thing I have always been wanting to see is a array of Burst cannon varients based on the ACTUAL model....after all GW is a WYSIWYG tyrant, and the various burst cannons do not look even remotely equal to each other.
So what I guess I would do is this:
Stealth suit Burst cannons = Compact burst cannon R:18" STR:5 AP:5 Assault 3 (standard BC )
Battle suit Burst Cannons = Burst Cannon R:24" STR:5 AP:5 Assault 3
Vehicle Burst cannons = Heavy burst Cannon R:24" STR:5 AP:4 Assault 4 ( ahhh if only )
Long barreled Burst cannons = Long range burst cannon R:30" STR:5 AP:5 or 4 Assault 3 or 4

But thats just me dreaming it would be nice to see the weapon's stats match the look of the models more.

U know that would be an excelent idea, but just a couple of thoughts on my part:

Burst cannons should be assault 4 minimum, simply to give the tau more shots which is what they need.

The battlesuit variants can be the same stats, since they are very similar, these should be R 24" S 5 AP 5 Assault 4

The one mounted on the chin of vehicles, which is supposed to be bigger and more powerful should be 30" S 6 AP 5 Assault 4

The big forge world ones should be: 48" S 6 AP 4 Heavy 8, to represent how much more powerful and advanced they are

A few more additions that I have been thinking on:

1) Smart missiles should be R 36" S 5 AP 5 Heavy 6, Ignore cover, no line of sight.

These missiles have advanced guidance systems that allows them to efficiently evade terrain and use advance targeting systems allowing them to get the maximum lethality possible.

2) Sky Rays should have the option to replenish their seeker missile racks, the rule should be like so:

Replenish Racks: Instead of firing seeker missiles a Sky Ray which has either depleted all its missiles or has few missiles left may opt not to fire seeker missiles for one turn (it can still move, use its marker lights or other weapons) in the next shooting phase the sky ray has a complete rack of 6 seeker missiles.

3) Sky Ray marker lights should be 48", as this represents that sky ray having more efficient and precise targeting scanners for its marker lights, allowing it to more effectively target enemy units.

4) Marker Drone cost should come down from 30 pts to at least 20 pts, that makes it more easily deployable as it is a neccessity for the Tau, similarly the heavy gun drone marker light should be no more expensive than 15 pts

5) Fire Warrior puls rifle should have a rapid fire range of 15" which is half of its range, its not much but for the Tau 3" are a lot and its perfectly in sync with the army

6) Railgun changes: The Railgun and the rail rifle should have a rule that is in line with their ability to over-penetrate targets like so:

Over Penetrate: A Rail-gun or Rail rifle ammunition fires in a straight line, roll to hit for the intended target. If a hit is scored, resolve as normal. However any models between the intended target and the rail0gun or rail rifle are automatically hit, similarly all models beyond the intended target up to the guns maximum range are hit, as this represents the incredible power of the bullet being able to easily go through multiple targets and not disintegrating.

If the rail-gun or rail-rifle firing unit does not score a hit the shot is missed, and this rule does not count.

If a vehicle unit is glanced, then the targeted player chooses one side of the vehicle and the rule is resolved as explained above, a line is drawn on the side that the targeted player chooses.

I would say only on vehicles, and not for rail rifles.

I love these rules all exept #3 on the op reroll missed hits that would be for vehicles, cuz you can twinlink for the same affect for cheaper. Unless your putting it as wargear but then it's still only available for certain units anyway.

markerlights need to maintain their 30 inch range.

stompydakka wrote:I would say only on vehicles, and not for rail rifles.

Good thought, I think I did go overboard on that one. This rule would only apply to the rail-gun to demonstrate its insane armor penetration ability.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Neroku wrote:I love these rules all exept #3 on the op reroll missed hits that would be for vehicles, cuz you can twinlink for the same affect for cheaper. Unless your putting it as wargear but then it's still only available for certain units anyway.

After having thought about this some more I find that it is overpowered at 20 pts per unit. So let me reqork it somewhat.

The enhanced targeter is an infantry unit upgrade, specifically pathfinders, firewarriors, vespids and Sniper Drone teams. At 5 pts per model it allows that model to re-roll to hit rolls, as if the model had twin linked guns.

Sniper Drone teams would be required to buy 4 of these, so their cost goes up from 80 pts to 100 pts, since this represents the need to arm all models with this device.

The thought behind this device is that its an advanced piece of equipment that corrects the shooters aim, it does not increase their ballistic skill, but it does significantly increase the chances of said model of hitting its intended target and its represented by re-rolling failed to hit rolls.

Because its such a powerful item I decided to give it a high cost to represent its potency, and I made it so that singular units could take it so that it does not become an insane points hog


Automatically Appended Next Post:

rryannn wrote:markerlights need to maintain their 30 inch range.

Markerlights used by infantry (pathfinders, tau shas'ui and sniper drone controllers) remain 36" only the sky ray ones are 48" this represents that the sky ray is able to more accurately target said beams and that they are far more potent than regular ones allowing them a greater field of fire

Information from "Imperial Armour : Volume Three - The Taros Campaign"

Primary Weapons (for hammerhead gunship)

Twin-Linked Long Barreled Burst Cannon
Range: 36" Str: 6 AP: 4 Type: Assault3

Twin-Linked Fusion Cannon
Range: 24" Str: 8 AP: 1 Type: Heavy1, Blast
Notes: At under half range (12") roll 2d6 for Armour Penetration like a multi-melta

Twin-Linked Plasma Cannon
Range: 48" Str: 7 AP: 2 Type: Heavy2
Notes: Does not suffer from overheating

Missile Pods
Range: 36" Str: 7 AP: 4 Type: Assault4


I hope that helps with your rule adjustments.

@broadside those are apoc rules tobad it replaces the Railgun. Dam I want that book to bad it's so pricey

Broadside wrote:Information from "Imperial Armour : Volume Three - The Taros Campaign"

Primary Weapons (for hammerhead gunship)

Twin-Linked Long Barreled Burst Cannon
Range: 36" Str: 6 AP: 4 Type: Assault3

Twin-Linked Fusion Cannon
Range: 24" Str: 8 AP: 1 Type: Heavy1, Blast
Notes: At under half range (12") roll 2d6 for Armour Penetration like a multi-melta

Twin-Linked Plasma Cannon
Range: 48" Str: 7 AP: 2 Type: Heavy2
Notes: Does not suffer from overheating

Missile Pods
Range: 36" Str: 7 AP: 4 Type: Assault4


I hope that helps with your rule adjustments.

Thanks a lot for that info.

Now I knew all of this info beforehand and realized that while it is awesome in many ways it fails in the one department that tau need shots.

The Tau are an army that depend on precise and loads of firepower to deal damage since they lack the AOE of the IG and cannot fall back on cc worth nothing (unless you take kroot, but that tones down your shooting)

Twin-Linked Long Barreled Burst Cannon
Range: 36" Str: 6 AP: 4 Type: Assault3

As I stated before I wanted to make this assault 8. Why is that? The answer is rather simple, this is a massive gattling gun, that can rotated a lot of times per minute, that being said it only makes sense that a more advanced and bigger version of the Tau's burst cannon would have the faster rate of fire.

This would make this weapon a powerful option without getting in the way of the more conventional hammerhead weapons.

Also I'd like to make the missile pods and the burst cannons 48" range, again long range firepower is the name of the game for the tau

I would love to dive into this thread and list ideas for the Tau..but

It always tends to wish listing, and untested upgrades based on what we may perceive a weapon or unit should do.

I sincerly hope when GW does get around to updating the Tau codex it does so with a full world image for the Tau, not alot of snazzy new units that are there merely to "keep up with the joneses "

I have always seen the Tau as the smart weapon army, they solve problems with measured and balanced applications of violence to eleminate a target, not just the buckets of dice approach that IG, Orks and other less tech savvy armies can use. ( thats kinda the reason behind my LDMS artillery experimantal weapon came about. )

Also I would really like the Tau to address their major shortcoming ( assault ) but not through the standard route of merely giving them some nasty allies to do the HTH work for them.
I could see them using tech to deal with the problem, or at least to help mitigate it, maybe advanced pining weapons, or gravitic artillery or something to slow down the continual charge of all the Assaulty armies ( but not just screw over armies that use it for their specialty ).

In short I want the Tau to be different , apart, and flavorful, but still able to stand with the best the rest of the 40k universe can throw at them.
I want them to have Class!

... because Railguns, pretty much the strongest long-ranged anti-tank in the game, really need to be buffed even MORE.

I really wasn't meaning them to be took that way. I just wanted to provide additional information that may or may not of been there. (Ignore this)

Melissia wrote:... because Railguns, pretty much the strongest long-ranged anti-tank in the game, really need to be buffed even MORE.

Have to agree with this.

Broadside wrote:I really wasn't meaning them to be took that way. I just wanted to provide additional information that may or may not of been there.

I don't have that much of an opinion on the other stuff, so normally I wouldn't have posted-- but that thing stuck out to me like a sore, bleeding thumb. Which was on fire.

Tau have the best long-ranged anti-tank ny far. Frankly I think it's their short ranged stuff that needs a buff, such as special weapons for fire warriors for example.

Melissia wrote:

Broadside wrote:I really wasn't meaning them to be took that way. I just wanted to provide additional information that may or may not of been there.

I don't have that much of an opinion on the other stuff, so normally I wouldn't have posted-- but that thing stuck out to me like a sore, bleeding thumb. Which was on fire.

Tau have the best long-ranged anti-tank ny far. Frankly I think it's their short ranged stuff that needs a buff, such as special weapons for fire warriors for example.

I agree that Tau have the best anti-tank, short range stuff needs a buff, and firewarriors need heavy gun drones. Regarding my first post all I was doing was just providing additional information the the OP may or may not have know so he could adjust them accordingly. Not everyone has Imperial Armour book I just happened to have the Tau one.

Melissia wrote:

Broadside wrote:I really wasn't meaning them to be took that way. I just wanted to provide additional information that may or may not of been there.

I don't have that much of an opinion on the other stuff, so normally I wouldn't have posted-- but that thing stuck out to me like a sore, bleeding thumb. Which was on fire.

Tau have the best long-ranged anti-tank ny far. Frankly I think it's their short ranged stuff that needs a buff, such as special weapons for fire warriors for example.

This.

I don't have any problem blowing up Land Raiders. It's killing whats inside with my extremely limited number of shots per round that i can put out. (effective shots. If I spammed burst cannons, I would roll a lot of dice, and do a whole lot of nothing.)

Plasma rifles assault 2?

Let XV8's take TWO of a weapon, instead of twin linking?

Make SOMETHING thats AP4 into AP3?

Just suggestions.

a really simple rule for Tau battle suits (XV-8 XV-9 , broadsides, etc ) would be to allow twin-linked weapons to fire either as twinlinked or two seperate weapons, and allow this to be done on the fly.
To represent the Tau perchance for highly adaptive systems, or some other fluffy reasons

I think this would go a little to help with Tau shooting, and be a very easy fit.

Sounds good to me. Add in gun drones which can be given special weapons and assigned to fire warriors that would I think make fire warriors more valuable as well.

Yeah, I also agree with a lot of the suggestions. Give Marker Drones relentless, Rapid Fire 15" for FW, improve all Elite suits to BS 4 (maybe increase costs to compensate), drop the necessary Devilfish for Pathfinders, make all Markerlights assault (the D3 is also great) and you've got a great army.

Melissia wrote:Sounds good to me. Add in gun drones which can be given special weapons and assigned to fire warriors that would I think make fire warriors more valuable as well.

Here is where the Heavy gun drone comes in.

The standard gun drone is more of a security and defensive system than an actual support system. If it had BS of 3 at the very least instead of 2 it would be better.

The heavy gun drone on the other hand is a honest to goodness support system.

At 30 pts per drone it has twin linked burst cannons, and BS of 3.

It can be further improved by switching one or both burst cannons with a host of options, including fusion rifles, plasma rifles, and even markerlights, these can be taken in any combination of ones or twos. It also has the relentless special rule, allowing it to move an fire on the fly making it a perfect asset.

Just this would make firewarriors far more survivable and much more flexible even if it is a points hog

I always liked the idea of some sort of CC battlesuits. Like, they had some really cool special weapons, and a higher WS. They could jump around and do precision strikes.. give them hit-and-run, fleet, and maybe a weapon similar to shining spears laser lance.

loota boy wrote:I always liked the idea of some sort of CC battlesuits. Like, they had some really cool special weapons, and a higher WS. They could jump around and do precision strikes.. give them hit-and-run, fleet, and maybe a weapon similar to shining spears laser lance.

As much as I like the idea of trying to make Battlesuits CC capable, it in my opnion defeats the purpose of a long range fighting force, which is what the Tau are meant to be.

Now the idea has merits on the fact that it could be a wargear option for battlesuits, but I will let someone else handle that if they wish.

As for special rules, the only rule I would give to battle-suits would be the hit and run, as that would represent their ability to retreat from close-combat rapidly if they are engaged thanks to their jet-packs.

Definitely the hit and run would make battlesuits more survivable and much more in-line with what they are meant to be which is a long-range fast action team

XV-9's have hit and run as per standard loadout, and all thier weapons are fairly short range, so they are the closest to CC battlesuit I think the tau should ever have, I personally LOVE the fact that tau get beat like redheaded stepchildren in CC, it gives more depth to the tactics I am required to use to keep my little blue dudes alive, the only decent CC they should ever field is from allies and auxileries and even those should not be incrediblely nasty.

I recently purchased a number of XV-9 battlesuits and will be testing them out to explore the capabilities and uses of them, they stand to be a very unusual addition to the Tau arsenal.

Agree. You should be working at GW. Simple