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I am going to propose a couple of fixes to streamline and make markerlights one of the truly defining parts of the Tau.

Firewarrior team leader markerlight upgrade: Unlike other markerlights, this purely increases the BS of the Tau to 4. It leaves the tau at BS3 as a base but it makes them dependent on the team leader much like eldar aspect warriors to gain the bonus.

All other markerlights - including pathfinders are considered networked marker lights. All the options are only available to them.

Drone- remove the part that makes drones like the unit they belong to. They are always considered jet packs. This means markerlight drones attached to a squad leader are always able to fire even if the unit moves.

Carbine changes to a ROF of 2 and assault 18".

Drone costs: Gun drones 10, markerlight drones 15, shield drones 20.

Drones are fearless: It really bothers me that the Tau, based on the greater good philosophy, have expendable drones that can take morale tests and run. If one thing begs to die to the last man for the greater good it is drones.

Burst Cannon - really based in an effort to keep stealth suits costed where they are and make them a tempting choice for the tau give burst cannons a ROF of 4. The goal is to make it a legitimate option for a Tau to consider as an XV8 mount rather than the missile pod and plasma rifle as the standard loadout.

Seeker missiles- either cheaper or unlimited. At a cost of 10, it is of limited value for a one shot item that is dependent on a marker light to hit the target.

Marker tokens - I kind of like the suggestion of stacking markerlights much like pain tokens for the DE. Come up with some progression so that marker lights are not expended on a per unit basis but that are good for all fire on that target for the entire turn.
For every 3 ML on a target, +1 BS
For every 2 ML on a target, -1 cover save and -1 to pin tests
So it sounds like it is attrocious and OP but figure your pathfinders with a BS of 3 hit with all 8 of its marker lights, that is going to result in a +2 BS -4 pin test and -4 cover save for all things that fire at that target.

Seeker missiles expend a marker light and also are immune to an enemy cover save.

I think that Markerlights ought to give an automatic +1 to BS along with any other benefits, so long as they hit the target.

Your Friend Doctor Robert wrote:I think that Markerlights ought to give an automatic +1 to BS along with any other benefits, so long as they hit the target.

*Facepalm*

DAaddict wrote:

Marker tokens - I kind of like the suggestion of stacking markerlights much like pain tokens for the DE. Come up with some progression so that marker lights are not expended on a per unit basis but that are good for all fire on that target for the entire turn.
For every 3 ML on a target, +1 BS
For every 2 ML on a target, -1 cover save and -1 to pin tests
So it sounds like it is attrocious and OP but figure your pathfinders with a BS of 3 hit with all 8 of its marker lights, that is going to result in a +2 BS -4 pin test and -4 cover save for all things that fire at that target.

You assume all 8 Pathfinders will hit with all 8 markerlights, but with BS3, on average 4 will hit.

The current markerlights are fine, the only problem is there isn't enough of them and they are expensive.

I suggest keep the "not expended on a per unit basis but that ar good for all fire" and give all Hammerheads and Devilfish default wargear marker lights so that they aren't dependent on another unit to fire their own seeker missile.

edit: grammer