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I currently play Space Wolves, but I'm looking to pick up a 2nd army that's completely different (so, shooty) so I picked Tau. I know Tau are rumored to be revamped, but I figured I'd play some games on Vassal to get a feel for the Tau style. Here's my first 1,500 point list, I went mostly mech. I'm familiar with bubble wrapping the Broadsides, but any tips on how exactly to use the crisis suits would be appreciated so I don't just get esploded in my first game.

HQ
Shas'El, TL MP, TL Flamer, MT

Elite
Shas'ui, TL MP, TL Flamer, TA x3
Shas'ui, TL MP, TL Flamer, TA x3
Shas'ui, TL MP, TL Flamer, TA x2

Troops
Firewarriors x6, Devilfish, Disruption Pod
Firewarriors x6, Devilfish, Disruption Pod
Firewarriors x6, Devilfish, Disruption Pod
Kroot x10
Kroot x10

Fast
Piranha, Disruption Pod, Targeting Array, Fusion Blaster

Heavy
Broadside x2
Broadside x2

From what I've been able to gather, the Kroot are a screen for the Broadsides and the Crisis Suits utilize jump, shoot, jump behind the Devilfish?

First thing to fix is your suits. They are not a legal configuration. Twin linking weapons counts as 2 hardpoints so TL Missile Pods TL flamers and a TA are 5 hardpoints where you can only take 3. Also, if your missile pods are twin linked do they really need an extra BS of the Target array? Most suits that take Twin Linked missile pods take a flamer because it is cheap for the third hardpoint.

Lacking plasma guns in this army may make dealing with MEQ armies a challenge since don't have much that can negate their saves and the stuff that can will most likely be hunting your opponents vehicles.

I see. So, I'd need to roll with TL Missile Pods and then straight flamers and work in some plasma rifles.

So (don't have codex in front of me right now), for the hardpoints each crisis suit needs to have 3 total, so having a TL weapon + another weapon meets the requirements?

On the suits you need 3 hardpoints to be legal which can be combinations of weapons and secondary systems. Typical configurations include 2 weapons (1 twin linked or 2 different weapons) and a secondary system. For taking 2 different weapons the mutlitracker tends to be a must have as a secondary so you can shoot both weapons in the same turn.

For some added complexity, suits that are upgraded to Shas'ui's and commander suits can take hardwired systems which don't count towards the hardpoint total so you can free up your commander to take some extra goodies by hardwiring things like drone controllers.

So, for example a legal suit would be: TL Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Multi-tracker

And for the HQ something like TL Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Multi-Tracker, Hard Wired Drone Controller (2 Shield Drones)

The twin linked counts as 2 so you are one over in each case. The legal suit is Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, multi-tracker and the same with the commander, but other than the twin linked yeah it would be a valid config.

Got it. Let's try this again:


HQ
Shas'o, MP, Plasma Rifle, MT, HW Drone Controller, Shield Drone x2
Shas'vre, MP, Plasma Rifle, MT, HW Drone Controller, Shield Drone x2

Elite
Shas'ui, MP, Flamer, MT x3
Shas'ui, MP, Plasma Rifle, MT x3


Troops
Firewarriors x6, Devilfish, Disruption Pod
Firewarriors x6, Devilfish, Disruption Pod
Firewarriors x6, Devilfish, Disruption Pod
Kroot x10
Kroot x10

Fast
Piranha, Disruption Pod, Targeting Array, Fusion Blaster

Heavy
Broadside x2
Broadside x2

Ghent wrote:So, for example a legal suit would be: TL Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Multi-tracker

No, that equals four hard points. The only way that would be legal is if the Multi-tracker was hard-wired. Hard-wired options don't take up a hard point, but only Team Leaders, Shas've, Shas'el, and Shas'o can take hard-wired options.

Ghent wrote:And for the HQ something like TL Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Multi-Tracker, Hard Wired Drone Controller (2 Shield Drones)

Yet again, the only way that would be legal is if the multi-tracker was also hard-wired.

EDIT - ninja'd

There aren't too many tau list threads in this forum, but check 'em out. Many of them will help, with a lot of the same advice ... which I'll give you now anyway.

Ghent wrote:Shas'o, MP, Plasma Rifle, MT, HW Drone Controller, Shield Drone x2

Demote to Shas'el:
Target Array, PR, MP, hwMT, hwDC, 2 Shield Drones.

Ghent wrote:Shas'vre, MP, Plasma Rifle, MT, HW Drone Controller, Shield Drone x2

This is going to be a somewhat big unit (4 drones and 2 suits), easily caught in h2h. I'd have the drones shifted to the broadsides. Two Crisis Suits ought to be able to JSJ to safety.

I'd promote on 'Vre to Shas'el and have him be elsewhere.

If you prefer to have the HQ and his bodyguard keep 4 drones as one crew, then definitely add a Bonding Knife, as once the drones are gone, the two suits can't rally if they blow Morale and Fall Back.

Ghent wrote: Shas'ui, MP, Flamer, MT x3

Still not a good load out as you're not going to want to shoot a MP at whatever it is you're flaming. Flamers or for killing troops and MPs for lightly armored vehicles. Here are the popular three load outs:

PR/MP/MT - FireKnife
TL MP, Target Array - called a Deathrain
BC/MP/MT - FireStorm
PR/FB/MT - Helios

Stick with those.

Ghent wrote:Shas'ui, MP, Plasma Rifle, MT x3

Try three pairs of suits, instead of two trios. Here's why:
1. Smaller units are easier to hide behind terrain with JSJ.
2. Smaller units are harder to catch in h2h, a good thing given that is what tau's weakness is.
3. Splits your fire, which is good.
4. Splits his fire which is good for you

And you could try a pair of each of the first three load-outs.

Ghent wrote:Broadside x2
Broadside x2

They really need Shield Ds to survive.

Also, I'd downgrade your Shas'ui XV8 to a Team Leader...Everything is the same except for Initiative (iirc) and they're cheaper.

EDIT - I think that's correct...I don't have my codex at work :S

Awesome. Thanks for the information.

I shall now go tweak the list around and see what I get.

Just FYI, I wound up trying this list out on vassal against a buddy who used an Eldar Jetbike army. It did pretty solid and he wound up conceding. Though, I did get lucky saving 10 wounds in the first round of CC on my Suits.

Nice! Tau/Eldar fights are always good ones.

I played against Chaos Marines yesterday and did terrible LOL. He ended up with two points captured and mine contested :/

Personally i dislike kroot. For those points id get my Shas'o a CIB and ABF, get some bodyguards up, or ABF, tl Flamer, hw Multi tracker, and pump up my FWs number to get deacentrap id abilities. try to concentrate fireing types on specific enemie groups. ABF and flamer vs unites in cover - 5th ed behind a straw of grass 4+ - the multies for advanceing troops from all squads, preferably with DTC blocking other enemy fire.
For my Shas'o CIB-ABF-Shield combo i use Helios XV8 bodyguard configs - my personal favorite.
For AT i mostly use the fusions and the plasmas - both have a chance - or broadsides.
Depending on the enemy, taking 3*3 Broadsides with target array - a massive amount of points - can decimate a mech army. 3 different targets get 3 tl S10AP1 shots on 3+...hurt. Or if you want to play XV8, id say Helios or Deathrain. Use the most FWs as you can. And personally i'd leave the kroots at home. The only time i'd be willing to take them is in a jungle fight map, where their the gods of the greater good and the tau just stay out of the forest for a beer.