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I'm doing a Tau army list and thinking about having a Broadside squad (3 guys) but arn't sure about which support systems are best for them, i was thinking about having them all with advanced stabilisation systems with a team leader that has a Hard wired Drone controller, 2 sheild drones and Hard wired target lock which looks good to me but is really expensive at 280 points.

I was wondering how other people use Broadsides and what upgrades work best for you?

That is good - probably the best - configuration. Might throw in HW Multitracker too if you're feeling rich. On lower points levels, team of 3 might be slight overkill though.

Its a 1500 point list and the rest of my heavy slots are taken up by 2 Hammerheads. I can't decide on whether to take the stabilisation systems, Targetting arrays or the cheaper multi trackers.

The outlay you have sketched up is probably the best. ASS is vital to keep up with the other mobile gun platforms you have.

I've used them with ASS and while the extra movement is nice I've come to love the TA for the increase in BS, and I always give them PR,
but I only play against CSM, so they become a MEQ/TEQ killer and an armor killer.

rogersss wrote:Its a 1500 point list and the rest of my heavy slots are taken up by 2 Hammerheads. I can't decide on whether to take the stabilisation systems, Targetting arrays or the cheaper multi trackers.

Multi-tracker is generally useful only if the Broadsides are armed with Plasma Rifles, as SMS and Railgun are effective against very different type of targets (pretty pointless to shoot Railguns slugs at Ork Boyz...). Might take it as a wargear if you have the points, but don't waste precious Support system slot to it.

I usually run mine with ASS, team leader, and a target lock and bonding knife.

ASS is usually mandatory for me since I usually play fairly aggressively and shuffle my Broadsides a little to the right or a little to the left to get better angles. Terrain is not always guaranteed to be be on your side so I like having the flexibility to move and shoot the railguns.

Teamleader + Target lock is for 1.) wound allocation 2.) for those situations where 3 railgun shots is overkill. Perhaps I want to put 2 railgun shots into a rhino, and some SMS on those assault marines to the left. Those sort of situations.

If I've got the points, or if the broadsides are my only source of anti-tank, then I'll also throw on 2 shield drones. 1 if I'm feeling lucky and want to risk falling back due to one shield drone dying.

Remember that even if your broadsides fallback, with ASS they can still shoot their railguns.

I also run them in teams of 2 in small points games. With that there is no need for bonding knife since killing over 50% of the squad means killing them completely.

I generally run teams of 2-3 suits as either:
1) TL Plasma/Multitracker, Team lead with 2 shield drones and target lock

2) Target Array, Team Lead with 2 shield drones and target lock.


I don't run Stabilization very often. For me the small amount of movement you get isn't worth giving up gear that makes them blow more stuff up, with the exception of a DoW mission with no night fight (like last years 'Ard Boyz scenario). When properly buffered there often isn't much room for movement anyway, but it depends on your list. The above setups are what works for me.

Generally I'm an ASS man, since the rest of the army will do some significant shifting to buy time and this lets the broadsides not be left behind, but the targeting array is probably better for gunline Tau.

A.S.S is the way to go, throw in a leader with H/W target lock and you've got a good unit, the only question is survivability, if you have the points throw a pair of frisbees in there, It doesn't even have to be shields if you're sticking them in cover, gun drones would do the job just fine while saving you 10 points in the process.

I play Tau, too. Aren't A.S.S. special equipment? i.e. only commanders and bodyguards have access?

killykavekommando wrote:I play Tau, too. Aren't A.S.S. special equipment? i.e. only commanders and bodyguards have access?

Nope the dex states that if you give one ass then you MUST equip the rest with it.

But ya I go with ass at all point levels, and never take the PR. I always equip mine with shield drones and at higher point values, >1500 I use 2 2 man teams. SO my load out is

1500 or less

1 Team Leader BS
HW DT, 2 Shield Drones, ASS
1 BS
ASS

Greater than 1500

I use 2 elites slots for BS, 1 for HH. The HH is only there in case of hordes really, BS have TL and can soak up just as much fire with shield drones

X2

Teams Leader BS
HW DT, 2 Shield Drones, ASS, TA
1 BS
ASS


So overall I use mine to simply do what they need to do, take out enemy tanks and transports and monstrous creatures, while being able to soak up all the enemies fire. I dont bother wasting points on TL, I run 2 squads, or PR's, or anything else that would make my expensive unit a point sink. If I really need the BS upgrade for everyone then I take pathfinders. But I dont take 2 HH to deal with hordes b/c thats what I use the rest of my army for. I also have more points to give them kroot blockers since I didnt waste points on needless upgrades. There's how I manage to tackle all opposing armies, regardless of teq, meq, or horde

Are you using smart missile system or plasma rifles?

I love broadsides; i'd marry them if it were legal. But I don't put plasma rifles or ASS on them. Multi Trackers, Target Locks, Targeting arrays, hell yeah... because as much as I love broadsides, other players love shooting them.

The great thing about broadsides is they earn their points back really fast, dropping vehicles and IDing complex models from the first round; but they are the bull's eye painted on your army's back.

Put them in the best possible spot you can on deployment, and be confident that they will be a gunfire magnet; because your opponent ignores them at his own peril; use them as an anchor and swing your deployment around them, as the bait in pincer formation that will close around your opponent as he develops tunnel vision for the unit that just trashed his ironclad without breaking a sweat.

If you've got the space in your force org, run 2 squads of them, but remember that they are your samurai; they attack and attack so that they may die a glorious death in service of your Crisis suits, who have all the plasma rifles you need.

And that smart missile system, that's just great for discouraging that rampaging horde from getting too close.

Junk has some great advice - especially the anchor point.

I normally use this all the time. Most of my army on one side of the table with the Broadsides on the extreme other end. I normally don't support them with anything or than the odd DF with Firewarriors in if needed but most of the time they do their job within the first couple of turns and then I march them up that flank or towards the middle of the table.

I do use PR as my meta-game is MEQ galore. If it was Horde then I would go SMS.

I use

Shas'ui TL
- RG
- PR
- ASS
- H/W Target Lock
- H/W Multi-tracker (Sometimes I don't, depends on points)
- H/W 2 Shield Drones

Shas'ui
- RG
- PR
- ASS

I would use three but I've found two do the job really. Combined with Crisis Missile pods they can take down AV10-AV14 with ease.

Don't be afraid to move them and use them aggressively either, this will catch you're opponent off guard and force him to react, and boy will he!

Haonn wrote:Are you using smart missile system or plasma rifles?

Smart missile system

If you have points I would swap the SMS for the Plasma Rifles.

the plasma rifle gives you some punch against MEQs that are gunning for your broadsides.

Plasma Rifles are a terrible choice for Broadsides. You'll get essentially the same number of kills with a SMS as a Plasma rifle from 12.1" to 24" due to the extra shots vs MEQs and TEQs, and the SMS is much more effective against models with 5+ saves. About the only time the Plasma works as well as the SMS is if you're within rapid fire range and have a Multi tracker to fire the railgun as well, and thats still only against models with saves better than 4+.

Also SMS ignores line of sight and and all cover except for area terrain just like if it were on a devil fish ya?

Darkcloud, yes, SMS ignores cover (except area terrain) and does not require LOS. It's fantastic.

I know people love plasma rifles, but your crisis suits have that covered, if the plasma rifles were cheaper, I'd say go for it, but they're actually more expensive than the sms.

You have plenty of weapons at your disposal for TeQ and MeQ units... SMS is one of your only defenses against an assaulting horde.

rogersss wrote:I'm doing a Tau army list and thinking about having a Broadside squad (3 guys) but arn't sure about which support systems are best for them, i was thinking about having them all with advanced stabilisation systems with a team leader that has a Hard wired Drone controller, 2 sheild drones and Hard wired target lock which looks good to me but is really expensive at 280 points.

I was wondering how other people use Broadsides and what upgrades work best for you?

Bingo! this is what I use or if I feel the battle field being open and want something static a targeting array. A hard wired multi tracker is what I put on the team leader if there are points to spend.

SMS is the tau (even though it came before) version of hive gaurd.