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1. Make pathfinders a troop choice
2. Make sniper drone squads an attachment to FW squads, same points only 1 per FW squad and independent after deployment
3. Add a pathfinder scout bikes as a new fast attack choice #3-9- twin linked particle carbines, networked markerlight, jet bikes. 1 in 3 can have a rail rifle, 1 in 3 drop EMP's on fly over
4. Fusion Blaster=multi-melta
Besides tweaking the kroot a bit to match their fluff (more breeds, adaptions) ,vespids maybe geting a 5+inv save and other allies being added the rest is good imo. Though even more wishfull thinking is possible (stealthsuits as fast attack choice)

Aren't finders already a troop choice?

and making the Blaster into a MM would be a bit OP I think. You already have rail weapons as your long ranged AT.

Yes to the kroot,
giving the vespids 5++ I don't like. Why would they have it? A better armor save and/or toughness would make more sense.
I don't think bikes are very tau, imo.

Anyway, Pulse Carbines should be better. Like, assault 2 instead of 1. It just doesn't seem right for them to only have 1 shot at a time.

Aren't finders already a troop choice?

and making the Blaster into a MM would be a bit OP I think. You already have rail weapons as your long ranged AT.

Yes to the kroot,
giving the vespids 5++ I don't like. Why would they have it? A better armor save and/or toughness would make more sense.
I don't think bikes are very tau, imo.

Anyway, Pulse Carbines should be better. Like, assault 2 instead of 1. It just doesn't seem right for them to only have 1 shot at a time.

Finders are Fast choice
I would have agreed with you on the blasters till I met quantum shielding on Anilation Barges
Think imperial scout troopers from Starwars IV, I think scout bikes would mesh really well with the style and energy of the tau.

Tun_Tau wrote:

Finders are Fast choice
Think imperial scout troopers from Starwars IV, I think scout bikes would mesh really well with the style and energy of the tau.

They're fast? Now that's not right at all.

Yeah, those scout bikes would work I think. Its just that when you said bikes, I thought you were talking about motorbikes.

Finders should have always been a troops choice, definately needed change

Agreed on sniper drone teams, either than or should be as they are now, 1-3 units, never scoring, but a troops choice and have infiltrate

Kroot need genetic adaptions and a higher initative or better furious charge, something to make them match the fluff and actually be useful in close combat against anything more than a stiff breeze

Vespid should be cheaper, 4+ armour save

Also like the pathfinder bike idea, what about tetra squadrons though?

Id also like to add that the shas'o should be BS6, shas'el BS 5, and all shas'vre BS4

also remove the BS5 stacking limit on markerlights

Poke a look at my shameless self promotion

Also like the pathfinder bike idea, what about tetra squadrons though?

Id also like to add that the shas'o should be BS6, shas'el BS 5, and all shas'vre BS4

also remove the BS5 stacking limit on markerlights

I like the tetra in theory but see jetbikes being more useful and less like piranha-tetra could be a variant that could be added to pirahna squads maybe.
If pathfinders are used as troop choice with all those markerlights higher BS for anything would be overkill

I figured a +5 inv save on vespids would be worth it at current point value- quick and agile combined with natural armor like a wasp-still squishy, but a bit more hardy in close combat.

Aren't Tetras just like Tau jetbikes? And I agree with the kroot idea.

Pathfinders would be good if all Markerlights auto hit the target... OR give a PF a BS5....

Paying points for a unit that dosent shoot and sucks at lighting up targets sucks....

I have no training in laser guidance weapons but im pretty sure if someone asked me to point a laser at a tank I could do it without missing. There is no recoil etc to make me miss... aim point and click.

Pathfinders as Troops only works if you put some limitations on them, Fire Warriors are supposed to be the regular troops of the Tau; perhaps no more than 1 Pathfinder unit per Fire Warrior unit?

I suspect a Markerlight is at least a little more complicated than "point laser at tank, vehicle fires Seeker missile, tank explodes". Plus the tank isn't always going to be stationary, you aren't always going to be in a good position, you may not have any time to aim...there are a lot of conditions the rules simply don't represent that might alter your aim.

Either that, or you have a BS of 5. Good for you.

AnomanderRake wrote:Pathfinders as Troops only works if you put some limitations on them, Fire Warriors are supposed to be the regular troops of the Tau; perhaps no more than 1 Pathfinder unit per Fire Warrior unit?

I suspect a Markerlight is at least a little more complicated than "point laser at tank, vehicle fires Seeker missile, tank explodes". Plus the tank isn't always going to be stationary, you aren't always going to be in a good position, you may not have any time to aim...there are a lot of conditions the rules simply don't represent that might alter your aim.

Either that, or you have a BS of 5. Good for you.

The problem is you have to roll to hit with the markerlight and then roll to hit with the missile. That's one more dice roll than should be needed for a weapon that can only be fired once (the missile).

The problem is you have to roll to hit with the markerlight and then roll to hit with the missile. That's one more dice roll than should be needed for a weapon that can only be fired once (the missile).

I couldnt imagine automatic hits using seekers.
It works like this. Pathfinder's shoot marker lights roll to hit , dont have to roll to wound , a hammerhead use them to its advantage, so say 4 markers on a tank in cover, add +1 to BS to bring it up to BS5, Take -2 to cover save, and launch a seeker missle with a BS5 for good measure comming in from behind the tank to strike rear armor from a piranha on the other side of the board. Not rolling would just be mean at that point!




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Pathfinders as Troops only works if you put some limitations on them, Fire Warriors are supposed to be the regular troops of the Tau; perhaps no more than 1 Pathfinder unit per Fire Warrior unit?

Would 6 pathfinder teams really be that over powered? and besides why would you ever need more than 2 or 3
I think the ratio of pathfinders other troop choices would balance itself out.

Tun_Tau wrote:

Also like the pathfinder bike idea, what about tetra squadrons though?

Id also like to add that the shas'o should be BS6, shas'el BS 5, and all shas'vre BS4

also remove the BS5 stacking limit on markerlights

I like the tetra in theory but see jetbikes being more useful and less like piranha-tetra could be a variant that could be added to pirahna squads maybe.
If pathfinders are used as troop choice with all those markerlights higher BS for anything would be overkill

I disagree, remember that for the points you are paying for pathfinders, youre actually not getting that much out of them, 80 pts for the devilfish, and then 96 for an 8 man pathfinder team, of which 4 on average will actually hit. Thats an aweful lot of points for 4 marker hits on a single target, and to be fair the units that make most use of markerlights would still be BS3, Broadsides, fire warriors, elites crisis teams, the hammerhead which is BS4 anyway and the skyray which doesnt use its BS to fire its weapons anyway

also in regards to 6 pathfinder teams being overpowered, no it wouldnt be, because youd be spending a lot of points on troops that have next to no long range offensive firepower, and with all those points used up, whos going to be left to make use of those markerlight hits in an average game?

Fusion blaster need range added badly, would make using piranha squads feel less like really expensive kamikazi runs.

MORE BLATANT SELFPROMOTION

But I really feel that a lot of the issues you guys are having are addressed in my fandex.

For instance, Piranhas - I liked what the IASE did with them, and moved that to a more modular role;

Unit: Piranha Squadron
Model: Piranha
Points: 45
Models: 1
Unit Type: Vehicle (Skimmer, Fast, Open Topped)

Piranha: BS: 3 Front AV: 11 Side AV: 10 Rear AV: 10

A Piranha Squadron is a Fast Attack choice for a Tau Empire Army. Up to 4 additional Piranhas may be added to the Squadron, at 45 points per model.

Wargear: A Hull-Mounted Light Vehicle Weapon from the Vehicle Armoury. When purchased, this weapon becomes twin-linked. Two Turret-Mounted Pulse Rifles.

Special Rules: Drone-Assisted Smallarms

Drone-Assisted Smallarms: A vehicle with this rule counts its Pulse Rifles as defensive weapons.

Unit Options: Each Piranha must purchase a Light Vehicle Weapon from the Vehicle Armoury. Piranhas may purchase wargear from the Vehicle Armoury.

And for light vehicle weapons, the range issue is also addressed;

15 Points – Fusion Beamer: Range: 24” S: 8 AP: 1 Special: Assault 1, Melta

Looking through your fandex I can say thats its really nice! Love the drone assisted targeting and dynamic entry rules especially, they make so much sense.

It makes the killing blow a lot more effective in a ninjatau army, while still being useful in a non-deepstrike-heavy setup be letting your precision strikes be that much more devastating. I'm glad you like it :3

Tun_Tau wrote:1. Make pathfinders a troop choice
2. Make sniper drone squads an attachment to FW squads, same points only 1 per FW squad and independent after deployment
3. Add a pathfinder scout bikes as a new fast attack choice #3-9- twin linked particle carbines, networked markerlight, jet bikes. 1 in 3 can have a rail rifle, 1 in 3 drop EMP's on fly over
4. Fusion Blaster=multi-melta
Besides tweaking the kroot a bit to match their fluff (more breeds, adaptions) ,vespids maybe geting a 5+inv save and other allies being added the rest is good imo. Though even more wishfull thinking is possible (stealthsuits as fast attack choice)

1-Maybe if they were attached to fire warrior squads like the guard platoon. On their own it could just be used for suits to completely remove the need for FW.

2-sure, just do that for Pathfinders

3-maybe a pirranha varient that can do this, that sort of is their jetbike already

4-sure. I'd love if shadowsun had 24'' meltaguns. 30'' Burst cannons as well.

I strongly like all of these ideas. I've always thought that Tau should have a jetbike because they are pretty advanced I never understood why they didn't.
Cheaper Vespids, and better armour, NOOOOOO one is going to field them now. Sadly even though they are like perfect for MEQ.
Perhaps more fusion blaster range at like reduced strength or something?
Cheaper Piranha's
Perhaps so form of an assault piranha? With like blades on the front...or something haha

Perhaps so form of an assault piranha? With like blades on the front...or something haha

Or they drop EMP's on stuff they fly over
The fusion blaster should at least equal the multi-melta on vehicles like a fusion cannon or something.




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I have a 5th change I'd like to see.
The Ion Cannon needs an upgrade!
possible ways it could work: Take your choice
1. Up the power to STR8 AP3
2. Up the amount of shots to 4 or 5
3. make it twin linked
4. varried setings for flexability
a. anti-infantry STR 5 AP3 6 shots
b. normal STR 7 AP3 3 shots
c. heavy STR 9 AP3 1 shot
5 .if it hits on a 6 it causes 2 additional wounds

Those also sound really good, but could those be bias because we are Tau players? I would probably take an Ion cannon more often if it were a little bit better, or offered different rounds or something.

Perhaps make the kroot a little better? With perhaps more kroot options, like a Knarloc and riders etc.

More range on the vespid weapon. Or just more weapon options in general? And a better armor and cut the price. THEN I might actually take them.

Give Firewarriors strength 6 weapons, who cares about BS, you can get those form Markerlights and the fluff really prevents it from happening. Or some better drone options, like twinlinked burst cannons with 30 or 24 inch range, some better.

Perhaps some new rounds for the HH? Like a Strength 8 AP 3 small blast (not really likely but just like another option, I hope you catch my drift).

I think an alternate fire mode for the Ion cannon would be all thats required. S:5 AP:5 Heavy 5-6

An alternate weapon option for xv 88s, something that pumps out loads of mid strenght shots. Like 10 twin linked ones maybe. S:5-6 AP: 5-6 possibly pinning.

I think a Tau jetbike is a horrible idea. They are advanced. Advanced enough to know that going screaming towards the enemy while fully exposed is a really bad idea. They're squishy and armour is good.

Making Pirhanna and Tetras the same unit entry. Like landspeeders and their upgrades will add flexiblity to them.

Maybe making fusion blasters range 18''. That would make them a bit unique.

Drop the price on suits about 5 points. Same thing with Pirhannas.

Drop the points on Devilfish by about 15-20 (Like all 5th ed vehicles) to make it 60-65 would make it more compatible.

Either drop the points of Fire warriors by 1 or 2 or include more stuff as standard. Photon grenades as standard. This, coupled with a mandatory squad leader (ala almost every 5th ed codex) and a reduced cost of Devilfish should bring the cost of a squad down by about 40 pts. (The EXACT same number of points a space marine squad got cheaper when similarly equipped from 4th to 5th)

Recost wargear. No reason for plasma guns to be 20 pts.
Something that allows suits to deepstrike more accurately, we're supposed to be good at it. No reason Disruption pods should be that cheap either, unless they change.

More options for Kroot. New weapon options, fixing Krootox. Maybe giving them the evolutionary upgrades like they have in the Kroot codex. Allowing the shaper to take something that helps the rest of the tau army. Locator beacon maybe, something similar. Fixing their wonky rules for field craft to something more general.

More characters, maybe an non-suit equipped character. Characters that can be purchased like upgrades to a squad or as an independent character as part of a squad (Again, almost every 5th ed codex)

Fixing the space pope and his subordinates so that we may actually take them again.

Some kinds of way to disrupt psychic powers. Not psychic hoods but equipment that makes it more difficult for the opponent.

Fix Vespid, something. Hold objectives maybe, screw with enemy deep stike? Anything that makes them worth taking.

More weapon options for suits, things that allow a lot of lower strenght shots to bring elite units down through weight of fire. Plasma is useless against THSS and Thunderwolfe.


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No to S6 basic weapons, we have the second best basic weapon in the game already.

Alternate gundrones, networked marker drones need to be dropped. Cheaper stealthsuits by a few points or more options for them to justify their cost.

Long range missiles on them perhaps?

No to S6 basic weapons, we have the second best basic weapon in the game already.

just allow sniper drone teams to be an attachment for FW.

Unit: Vespid Stingwing
Model: Stingwing, Strain Leader
Points: 100
Models: 5
Unit Type: Jump Infantry

Sting Wing: WS: 3 BS: 3 S: 3 T: 4 W: 1 I: 5 A: 1 Ld: 6 Sv: 5+
Strain Leader: WS: 3 BS: 3 S: 3 T: 4 W: 1 I: 5 A: 2 Ld: 9 Sv: 5+

A Vespid Stingwing consists of 4 Stingwings and a Strain Leader, and is an Auxiliary Fast Attack choice for a Tau Empire Army. An Army with a Vespid Princeling may instead take Vespid Stingwings as Auxiliary Troops Choices. Up to 5 additional Stingwings may be added to the unit, at 18 points per model.

Wargear: Command Helm (Strain Leader Only), Neutron Blaster

Special Rules: Deepstrike, Fleet, Harrying, Hit and Run.

Harrying: Units with this rule have the Skilled Fliers special rule (they may reroll failed dangerous terrain tests), and can make a Turbo Boost move as a Jetbike (gaining the cover save inherent). During the shooting phase, they may fire their weapons at a single target they moved over in the previous movement phase. This shooting takes place at BS2.

Stingwing and Strain Leaders saves listed in their profile are Invulnerable.

Still with the 5+ save? Why not given them better armor?

Celtic Strike wrote:I think a Tau jetbike is a horrible idea. They are advanced. Advanced enough to know that going screaming towards the enemy while fully exposed is a really bad idea. They're squishy and armour is good.

I disagree as bikes are sturdy and well armoured constructs (+1T) and are hard to hit when going fast (Turboboosting 3+ cover)

Because their armour is invulnerable, because they're cheap, powerful, and mobile enough to make up for it, and because it fits with their fluff - the vibration of their wings, combined with special crystal formations, creates a barrier out of air and shimmering energy. If you really want to have good saves with them, instead of attacking with them, you can harry your enemies for the 3+

Deadshot wrote:

Celtic Strike wrote:I think a Tau jetbike is a horrible idea. They are advanced. Advanced enough to know that going screaming towards the enemy while fully exposed is a really bad idea. They're squishy and armour is good.

I disagree as bikes are sturdy and well armoured constructs (+1T) and are hard to hit when going fast (Turboboosting 3+ cover)

Piranhas are sturdier, better armoured constructs (AV11F), and are hard to hit when going fast, or slow (almost constant 4+ cover, glancing hits don't always wreck your day - a single wound would.)

Those also sound really good, but could those be bias because we are Tau players?

We could be asking for things like medics to have a chance of our casualties being patched up and back and action or be able to teleport around the board, that would be overpo.rrr....wait a second..nevermind.

I dont think any of the suggestions could come close to some of the insanity some codex have lol

Just wondering that nobody mentioned the obvious power ups, like reworking markerlights into non-shooting weapons (so you just place the markerlight counters at the start of your Shooting phase without shooting anything). Or the D6 "i-don't-want-assault" move and army-wide Hit and Run (with an option to remove D3 models and auto-succeed the I test).

I like the tetra and would love to mix them in with my piranha squadrons but.... I still think jet bikes would fill the role a lot better as pathfinders.

I think a Tau jetbike is a horrible idea. They are advanced. Advanced enough to know that going screaming towards the enemy while fully exposed is a really bad idea.

The thing is you could just RUN AWAY from enemy units, lighting them up with markerlights the whole time. Give them a stealth gen option and people would hate them lol.


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Just wondering that nobody mentioned the obvious power ups, like reworking markerlights into non-shooting weapons (so you just place the markerlight counters at the start of your Shooting phase without shooting anything). Or the D6 "i-don't-want-assault" move and army-wide Hit and Run (with an option to remove D3 models and auto-succeed the I test).

Not so into power ups like these I guess. Markerlights can be hit or miss, and I never seem to have one in the right spot when I need it but I have to say it does balance out the strenght of our army pretty well.