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I am completely new to 40k. I've done my research though, read rulebooks, and looked at all the rumors. I am currently not sure what to do right now though.
My starting collection will be composed of the following units (hopefully) as I want a nearly all mech list + some railgun support:

Crisis suits (duh.)
Devilfish + Firewarriors (another standard from what I've read)
Broadsides (I like mechs w/ big guns)
Pathfinders w/ railguns (Snipers are just awesome)
Hammerhead w/ railgun (because having one of the strongest weapons in the game is something I can't pass up)

Note: There is a distinct lack of allies. I'm not a fan of them breaking the look.

To get back to the topic, with the new codex, I'm assuming that there will be new models and such, thus I'm afraid of getting the crisis suits because the new codex might bring about some great changes and the suits are what I want to base my army around. I am also lacking a HQ, I am interested in what new ones will come out. Anyways, I was wondering if it would be best to just order the Firewarriors and Snipers and get to painting? or just wait it out completely.

...and secondly do you think that the units I'm starting out with can form a decent army? It looks fun to me.

I wouldnt get crisis suit yet, there is always a high chance they come up with new ones that looks better (its not that hard consider how ugly the current ones are )

Cant go wrong with the core fire warrior troops either.

If you arnt worry about looks and is only worried about crisis suit lay out, worry not, the weapons can be interchanged without gluing.

Well, crisis suits aside, the first thing I'd do before a new codex is just buy the current battleforce since its a steal as it is and they're bound to change it like they did for nids.

Its £60 and you get

12 FW and two drones £18

12 Kroot £18

Stealth suits-£15

Crisis suit and two drones £15

Devilfish-£20

so £86 worth of kit and enough to make a viable 500pt Tau army.

Since I can't see them changing most of those kits except for crisis suits (which you can just use as older marks of suit) it would be a pretty good idea. Hammerheads are a safe bet as well and would round out the army fairly well.

A) It does not seem that Tau will be "early" in 6th Edition. As far as rumours go (they are still rumours), Tau will be behind Dark Angels and Chaos Marines at the very least. So I wouldn't bank on Tau in 2012 (given the current rumours).

B) As said, Crisis Suits (and almost certainly the hybrid-kit Broadsides) will likely be replaced. The vehicles will more likely than not stay the same, as will Firewarriors (and Kroot as they are also plastic).

C) Tau Battleforce is an awsome deal, but it does include Kroot and the sometimes unpopular Stealth suits (who, however, might not get an update as miniatures go).

D) I haven't bought Tau in a long time, so it might have changed. But back in the day, you got both Hammerhead and Skyray options in the Skyray kit, but only the Hammerhead option for the same price in the Hammerhead-box. Thus, it was always advisable to buy Skyray instead of the Hammerhead as you got extra-bits for nothing.

Hmmm it does seem like tau are getting the short end of the stick here. I guess to start I'll just grab some fire warriors, Snipers, and 2 Devilfish + a hammerhead. I'm staying away from the starterset just because I do not want to use kroot or the stealthy guys. Once the suits come out I'll get those to fill out my collection. As for the codex I managed to find a PDF of 4th so I'll just use that I guess.

The next Tau codex and models better be super awesome after waiting this long.

Edit: Are there any recommended starting tool sets?