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So I decided to teach my buddy a crash course in the Tau Empire because he wants to start playing with Tau. I figured the best way to go is with some hands-on training in an apocalypse match, yea we'll probably lose, but at least we'll have fun. Any ideas on what we should bring to the table. We both play tau and we're going to be teaming up to make 5000pts.

Apocalypse is probably the worst way to learn 40k or a new army. You need to simplify it 500pts would be the about right. Numerous rules abilities, special apocalypse rules etc. is overwhelming not encouraging. Also i would guess this really goes in the 40k discussions.

Dear god no. Having a giant game full of confusing units and rules and models that aren't in regular 40k is a bad way to introduce someone to the game. He'll be overwhelmed and might have a wargame-induced seizure. There's something to be said for diving in head first, but this isn't a good way to get him into the game. Start small.

Do not start with an Apocalypse game. Simply put it will be too long and complicated for a learning experience.

Start with a kill team match, super simple. 10x Fire Warriors vs. 5x Marines or something like that. So he can learn the basics of move, shoot, and assault. It will take 10 minutes instead of 2 hours.


Then organize a small game. Do not even worry about points or having a fair game.

Give him an HQ suit and a body guard, Fire Warriors in a devilfish, kroot, a Piranha and a broadside or two.


Face off against Eldar. Farseer, Fire Dragons in a serpent, Rangers, Guardian Jet Bikes, and a Wraithlord.


What I am trying to do is give this guy a taste of all of the different unit types and some of the other abilities in this game.

You have infantry, jet packs, vehicles, a Monstrous Creature, a psyker, kroot can outflank so he can learn about reserves, Rangers have some USRs.


This is the sort of game you want when you are learning the game. Keep the game small so that your friend does not have to wait a long time for his turn.

I am under the impression that neither of them is new to 40k, and the OP isn't new to tau either...

Agreed with the others! Don't go APOC unless you and he have had some practice together first! DO go for inspiration! But if you think he has a good handle on his units and the rules, then sure, go get stuck in with APOC and have fun!

As long as he isn't new to 40k as a whole then it's not so bad but I would play a couple of 1000 to 1500 point games first.

Anyway, for apoc try a load of fire warriors in devilfishes, I'm pretty sure there's a datasheet for that somewhere. Oh yeah, and lots of battlesuits.

GeckoOBac wrote:I am under the impression that neither of them is new to 40k, and the OP isn't new to tau either...

fox-light713 wrote:

GeckoOBac wrote:I am under the impression that neither of them is new to 40k, and the OP isn't new to tau either...

There was no point to quoting this and not saying anything. Please refrain from pontless posts such as this.

New to the game or not, Apoc is not a place for learning the basics of any army. The amount of weird rules and abilities will seriously skew your perception of how the army should function.

Have him get the Tau Battleforce and fight against 500pts of Squad of Marines a few times. Gradually escalate in scale after a few games.

Thanks for the info, I am not new to Tau or 40k, but he is. I was going to pretty much be a guide for him to go off of until he gets comfortable, but i'll take your advice and go with a few 1000-1500pt games first and see how he fares.