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Let it be understood that this is not my creation, I did make a few changes, but it is actually something I found on Warseer in a fandex by a poster named Shas'O Dragonfly.

Now that the legalities are through.

This the Tau's attempt at getting an Assault Transport unit similar to the IG Valkyrie

Mako[150pts]
3 Makos make be taken as a single Heavy choice, though they operate as individual units.
BS4 F12 S12 R10
Fast Skimmer

Transport Capacity
12 FW or 3 Crisis Suits*
*Drones do not count toward the unit size.

Wargear:
Nose-mounted Ion Cannon
2 wing-mounted TL Burst Cannons
Target Lock
Target Array

Special Rules:
Deep Strike
Aerial Assault*
Tactical Drop/(Grav-Chute Insertion)*
As they are in the DE/IG codexes

Options:
May replace the IonCannon with:
Plasma Cannons[20pts]
48" S7 AP2 Heavy2

May take
Disruption[15pts]
Flechette Discharger[10pts]
Up to 2 Air-bursting Fragmentation Missiles[5pts]
Unlimited Range S5 AP- Heavy3 One Shot
Up to 2 Seeker Missiles[10pts]
Unlimited Range S8 AP3 One Shot
Sensor Spines[10pts]

Is there a point to fusion missiles being melta? With unlimited range, there is no half range for the melta rule to come into effect. And if you made it 72" missile kind of thing, they would get melta 36" away, and would have to cost a LOT of points

I'd assume that they're like ranged melta bombs, always getting the bonus. Which is absurd. The S8/Ap3/Ordnance seeker missiles are absurd as well. Putting a rail gun on something that's meant to be a fast assault transport it more than a little silly as well.

It started off well, but as the list of upgrades went on, it basically became 'my game winning awesomemachine'.

I will admit the fusion missiles are flawed, I'll chnage that, but a single railgun is overpower when 3TL Lascannons for 20pts cheaper aren't stupid?

Also, Seeker Missiles are already S8 AP3. Would making them ordnance really be that game-changing?

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/TAU-ORCA-DROPSHIP.html

That's the Tau's "Valkyrie equivalent".


As for the Mako, this is absurd. You may think the Vendetta is OP, but 3 twin-linked Lascannons is nothing like toting a Rail Gun that is otherwise mounted only on a tank.

It's like if the Valkyrie could swap its Multilaser for a Laser Destroyer: a bad idea.

The Orca is a superheavy and a dedicated transport not an assault transport.

I've never heard of the Laser Destroyer but if it's anything like the Tubro-Laser Destructor, then they mount those on aircraft too. It's called the Thunderhawk. Oh, look another Imperial vehicle, what a coincidence.

I haven't done any math, but I'm pretty sure that 3 TL S9 shots have a better chance at wrecking armour than a single S10 AP1 hit.

I really don't see the reason for all this hate...

acekevin8412 wrote:but a single railgun is overpower when 3TL Lascannons for 20pts cheaper aren't stupid?

Those TL Lascannons don't get a form of sub munitions making them very effective against infantry as well. Upgrading to a Vendetta takes away effectiveness against infantry. It's a tradeoff. Though I personally think 20 points for that is very, very undercosted and realistically should have turned it into a gunship rather than a transport - there's no reason to continue GW's lunacy with your own. Upgrading to a Railgun with submunitions from an Ion Cannon isn't really a tradeoff. Especially when you can just put Plasma Cannons on which do the Ion Cannons job.

acekevin8412 wrote:Also, Seeker Missiles are already S8 AP3. Would making them ordnance really be that game-changing?

Additional chance to penetrate takes some of the risk away from having a one shot missile. They're cheap because they're not meant ot be a sure thing.

Although it is a nice idea (), this is what I belive it should be:

(Also, I don't know what the DE ability does, as I've never played against them before. if you would kindly elaborate, I may put it back in the rules.)

Mako: 150pts
3 Makos make be taken as a single Heavy choice, though they operate as individual units.
BS4 F12 S12 R10
Fast Skimmer

Transport Capacity
12 FW or 3 Crisis Suits*
*Drones do not count toward the unit size.

Wargear:
Nose-mounted Ion Cannon
2 wing-mounted TL Burst Cannons
Target Lock
Target Array

Special Rules:
Deep Strike
Grav-Chute Insertion (IG Codex)


Options:
May replace the Ion Cannon with:
Railgun w/o Submunitions --- 20pts
TL Railgun w/o submunitions (Broadside style) --- 40pts
May replace the TL Burst Cannons with:
TL Fusion Cannon --- 15pts
|-- 24" S8 AP1 Heavy1 Melta OR 24" S8 AP2 Heavy 1 Large Blast. One or the other. take only one for the final rules.
TL Plasma Cannons --- 20pts
|-- 48" S7 AP2 Heavy2

May take
Disruption --- 15pts
Flechette Discharger --- 10pts
Up to 2 Air-bursting Fragmentation Missiles --- 5pts
|-- Unlimited Range S5 AP- Heavy3 One Shot
Up to 2 Seeker Missiles -- 10pts
|-- Unlimited Range S8 AP3 One Shot
Sensor Spines --- 10pts

Fair enough, a few changes then

if the missiles are resolved at BS4, would it be better?

And I'll drop the submunitions from the railgun and the TL from the wing weapons.

Another note, the weapon upgrade profiles are taken from IA3.

acekevin8412 wrote:The Orca is a superheavy and a dedicated transport not an assault transport.

And the Valkyrie is an Airborne Assault Carrier, not an Assault Transport.

It's not meant to go in and perform the role of a Gunship. Robin Cruddace was a twerp for making the "Vendetta", when according to FW and GW both Valkyries operated in tandem with Vultures.

You will not see me fielding Vendettas if I can help it. You will see me fielding Vultures, however.

I've never heard of the Laser Destroyer but if it's anything like the Tubro-Laser Destructor, then they mount those on aircraft too. It's called the Thunderhawk. Oh, look another Imperial vehicle, what a coincidence.

That tank's weapon is the Laser Destroyer. The cooling and energy generation equipment takes up the entirety of the interior, much like a Devilfish's passenger capacity is taken up by ammunition stowage and energy/cooling equipment when it's converted to a Hammerhead of any stripe.

It is only fielded on the Destroyer Tank Hunter, just like Railguns with their submunitions are exclusive to Hammerheads currently.

I fail to see the difference between Assault Transport and Assault Carrier.

But you make a valid point on the Laser Destroyer and railgun.
Even though I suspect the Mako would be bigger than a Devilfish, it probably wouldn't be big enough to carry ammo and troops. Removed that option.

Even with the rules changes, the main problem I have is Tau using an assault transport. They're used to break a hole in the line and deploy a squad. Expectations for the squad is very close range firefights and likely melee. This isn't what Tau do.

Their Devilfish and Orcas do the transporting that Tau need in combat.

I think by assault transport it means a transport that can defend itself in the middle of a fight or an armoured personnel carrier.

acekevin8412 wrote:I fail to see the difference between Assault Transport and Assault Carrier.

Because you're not trying to see the difference.

An assault transport is used to punch a hole through a line, and deposit assault troops. An example of an assault transport is a Land Raider Crusader.

An assault carrier is something which is used to transport troops into combat, and allow for them to deploy and redeploy rapidly as the case necessitates.

Valkyries aren't simply dumping troops off en masse. They're assigned to specific units, and carry them into combat then pulling them out when they need to be relocated. The Valkyrie is armed just enough to be able to perform this role, provided the troops they're supporting are fighting capable.
In order to create a landing zone, Vultures or Thunderbolts are commonly utilized.

This is no different when compared to the Tau utilizing their Orca dropships to drop troops in landing zones cleared out by their Crisis Suits or Barracudas.

I really didn't know there was that distinction between assault transports and assault carriers. It's supposed to be an assault carrier then. Sorry.

I removed a couple options that made it too heavy.

I had a thought about how to best implement my original idea in a more balanced way.

Instead of basing it off the Valkyrie, an assault carrier, I should have based it on the stormraven in terms of cost and role.

Mako[200pts]
0-1 Choice, though 3 Makos make be taken as a single Heavy choice, though they operate as individual units.
BS4 F12 S12 R10
Fast Skimmer

Transport Capacity
12 Infantry*
*Drones do not count toward the unit size. Jump Infantry count as 2 infantry. May not carry krootox.

Wargear:
Nose-mounted Ion Cannon
2 wing-mounted TL Burst Cannons
Target Lock
Target Array

Special Rules:
Deep Strike
Tactical Drop/(Grav-Chute Insertion)*
As in the IG codexes

Options:
May replace the Ion Cannon with:
Railgun w/ subminitions[50pts]
72" S10 AP1 Heavy1 Ordnance
72" S6 AP4 Heavy1 Ordnance

Repeating Ion Gun[30pts]
48" S3 AP6 Heavy6 Rending

May replace the TL Burst Cannons:
Missile Pods[25pts]
Plasma Cannons[40pts]
48" S7 AP2 Heavy2


May take
Disruption Pod[15pts]
Flechette Discharger[10pts]
Sensor Spines[10pts]
Up to 2 Seeker Missiles[10pts]
Up to 2 Air-bursting Fragmentation Missiles[5pts]
Unlimited Range S5 AP- Heavy1 5" Blast* Barrage One Shot
*Resolve the scatter using BS5. May not fire indirectly.

Advanced Target Lock[15pts]-Allows the Mako to fire 2 weapons after moving at cruise speed


I made increased the cost 200pts Hammerhead w/ Ion Cannon and Burst Cannons[115pts]+Devilfish[80pts].

I then made the railgun profiles ordnance. Yes this does make them even stronger against vehicles, but now it limits the Mako to only firing the railgun. I also increased the cost, so a flying railgun now costs as much as a Land Raider. I also fixed the profile of the Air-bursting Frag Missile to what I intended.