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This is probably the last time I'm bringing out my Tau for a tournament until the codex gets redone. It's not really my standard list as I've gone for a more mechaized focus and left the broadsides at home. I'm not sure how it will do but it is worth noting that our FLGS really doesn't have the mech spam so prevalent in the global meta. Things I'm worried about is pure DoA Blood Angels, Horde Black Templar, and Kan Wall Ghaz horde. The most mechanized army I am likely to face is a Kantor list with 2 razorbacks, 2 rhinos, a pred, and a land raider. This is what I'm bringing.

HQ
Shas'el - plasma, missile, multi
Shas'el - plasma, missile, multi
2 Shas'vre - plasma, missile, multi
3 Fireknives - plasma, missile, multi
3 Fireknives - plasma, missle, multi
3 Fireknives - plasma, missle, multi
6 Firewarriors
Devilfish - disruption pod
10 Kroot - 7 hounds
10 Kroot - 7 hounds
1 Piranha - fusion, target array, flechettes
1 Piranha - fusion, target array, flechettes
1 Piranha - fusion, target array, flechettes
1 Railhead - railgun, sms, multi, disruption pod
1 Railhead - railgun, sms, multi, disruption pod
1 Railhead - railgun, burst, disruption pod, multi

So 26 S7 shots, 3 fusion guns, and 3 railguns. The obejctive here is to maintain mobility (hence, no broadsides) while still pumping out a lot of firepower. I'm a little worried about the lack of pathfinders - so I *could* drop one of those piranhas or the second shas'el in exchange for a squad of them. Now, If I DO run into an IG mech spam force, I might be screwed, but the chances of that happening are almost nil. Keeping the mobile theme in mind, what does Dakka think?

2000 points? No broadsides? Yeesh. Do you normally see alot of AV13/14 spam at your FLGS? I guess if you're only going to see a Kantor /w Landraider, and then only maybe... this will get along fine.

List looks fine, although I might consider dropping a piranha for a 4th troop choice @2k.

Yeah, I know, right? I usually pack between 5-7 railguns at 2k, but the mech-spam/anti-mech spam got so bad at our FLGS that most people have gone to a more mobile infantry type of list.

I seriously doubt I will face more than 1 AV14 target in any game. If I do, it will be Leman Russes which won't be too hard to outflank.

Instead of the more typical mech-spam of 10-12 AV11-13 targets, in our FLGS you'll probably face 3-6 AV11-12 targets with bikers, assault marines and the like for support. Unsurprisingly, Orks are now pretty strong at our meta.

So let me get his straight, you have a devilfish, but no pathfinders?!?!?

Especially at this points level where you have many more units, pathfinders become extremely valuable. I would get rid of a piranha for some.

I know, I know. I'm debating it. I would probably drop one of the shas'els for a pathfinder squad.

Sgt_Scruffy wrote: Unsurprisingly, Orks are now pretty strong at our meta.

There were Kan walls at the last several RTTs ... since November at least, for the monthly RTTs, but not one last time (the one ork army was BWs & Ghaz).

List wise - you're looking to table him every time, seeing as how fragile the troop situation is? Well, 13 FKs ought to do it; but they'll need PF help. So, yes, dump one piranha for PF MarkerLights to assist in eliminating the Cover Save Mephiston will be taking just before he eats your line.

Also, the Marker Lights will render the KFF useless to the ork player.

Brothererekose wrote:

Sgt_Scruffy wrote: Unsurprisingly, Orks are now pretty strong at our meta.

There were Kan walls at the last several RTTs ... since November at least, for the monthly RTTs, but not one last time (the one ork army was BWs & Ghaz).

Also, the Marker Lights will render the KFF useless to the ork player.

er... I don't think I am who you think I am. Thanks for the tips. Here's a revised list.

Shas'el - plasma/missile/multi/bsf
Shas'el - plasma/missile/multi
3x3 Fireknives
6 Firewarriors
6 Firewarriors
Devilfish - disruption pod
10 Kroot - 7 hounds
10 Kroot - 7 hounds
8 Pathfinders
Devilfish - disruption pod
1 Piranha - fusion, target array, flechettes
1 Piranha - fusion, target array, flechettes
1 Railhead - railgun, burst, multi, dispod
1 Railhead - railgun, burst, multi, dispod
1 Railhead - railgun, burst, multi, dispod

Sgt_Scruffy wrote:

Brothererekose wrote:

Sgt_Scruffy wrote: Unsurprisingly, Orks are now pretty strong at our meta.

There were Kan walls at the last several RTTs ... since November at least, for the monthly RTTs, but not one last time (the one ork army was BWs & Ghaz).

Also, the Marker Lights will render the KFF useless to the ork player.

er... I don't think I am who you think I am. Thanks for the tips. Here's a revised list.

Shas'el - plasma/missile/multi/bsf
Shas'el - plasma/missile/multi
3x3 Fireknives
6 Firewarriors
6 Firewarriors
Devilfish - disruption pod
10 Kroot - 7 hounds
10 Kroot - 7 hounds
8 Pathfinders
Devilfish - disruption pod
1 Piranha - fusion, target array, flechettes
1 Piranha - fusion, target array, flechettes
1 Railhead - railgun, burst, multi, dispod
1 Railhead - railgun, burst, multi, dispod
1 Railhead - railgun, burst, multi, dispod

IF it were me, I would drop one hammerhead a shasel, and one fireknife for another devilfish, a broadside team with shield drones, and whatever is left on another pathfinder or two, and split them into 5s. I think 2 pathfinder teams are gonna allow you to remove a kan wall almost completely in one turn, as you can hit 2 of the 3 squads. And when those are gone, and you can make two of the blobs eat pie plates with no force field saves....well I know it ruins my orks day pretty well. Dont forget that while the broadsides are not pie platey, that they each shoot 4 missiles from smart missile systems. 12 possible shots is still pretty damn good, especially with bs5 and no cover from the pathfinders.

I would look to replace at least one of those railheads for broadsides, the extra railguns and the TL will help a lot; making one broadside a team leader with a HW drone controller, 2 shield drones and a HW target lock will also help, the target lock allowing your team leader to target a different enemy if the need arises.

I'd cut the pathfinders down to 5 or 6 and grab another unit of the same number; give them your Fire Warrior devilfish (you can always shove the FWs in there later). Taking the BSF off the shas'el and giving it to a broadside team leader or a hammerhead can make a world of difference in DoW matches (broadsides especially thanks to Acute Senses); you can get an early lead by popping one of your opponent's tanks or transports with little fear of retalliation.

the problem is that broadsides and pathfinders are SLOW. Most of the armies that I'll face will be fast assault armies ala blood angels, shrike marines, and bikes. I want the mobility. I'm actually okay only having 3 railguns. I've tried the EXACT list that you are proposing and it doesn't really work out. Having a static firebase in our meta is almost always a death sentence.

Fast armies kill us whether we use broadsides or hammerheads. My local meta has a BA player who drops down and infernus pistols the rear of tank X with his SG, then jump packs over to the next if it hasn't already been taken care of by Meph or another unit. Bikes will simply Turbo Boost into our deployment and blast everything to pieces.

Tau have few, if any, counters to fast or deepstriking armies because they were last updated in an edition where they weren't an every-day opponent; dreadnoughts didn't drop behind your tanks in pods and multi-melta them to buggery, nor did Land Raiders.

I have also tried the exact list I proposed, albeit a cut-down version for 1500pts, and I have lost twice, drawn once (against an almost identical Tau list) and as of now, won 10 times. Granted, I haven't faced a shrike list or a khan list or a dedicated drop-pod list, but if I did then it wouldn't matter whether I chose a hammerhead or a broadside team, I would still lose, but taking broadsides gives me an edge over other lists I could potentially win against.

Trying to best fast or drop-pod armies is a lost cause, instead prepare for what you might face apart from them.

Sgt_Scruffy wrote:er... I don't think I am who you think I am. Thanks for the tips.

Ah. You misunderstood the intent of my post. I was just passing along what might've been slightly helpful as to the comings and goings of various favorites in one RTT scene (Los Angeles).

Revised list: Okay. I like Target Locks on my HHs but I dunno where you'd get the points as everything is pretty much pared down.

I really appreciate the comments everyone. I would usually be the first one to take broadsides. As an example, the last tournament I played in, I ran into exactly one tank the entire day (a soul crusher). Although I am not naive enough to think that I will never run into tanks at our FLGS, it is certainly less prevalent than many other shops. Even if I do run into tanks, it is usually just a few rhino/razorbacks.

Our missions tend to focus on movement as well. For instance, table quarters, getting into the enemy deployment zone, and so on. One of the missions I know being played allows you to "claim" an objective and then move away while carrying the objective. The enemy has to kill the objective holders or make them fall back - in which case the objective gets dropped.

Sgt_Scruffy wrote: One of the missions I know being played allows you to "claim" an objective and then move away while carrying the objective. The enemy has to kill the objective holders or make them fall back - in which case the objective gets dropped.

Steal the bacon. Cool. Haven't seen it at my FLGS.