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Okay I have a team tourney coming up and I am thinking about playing Tau. My team mate will be playing SM with a Libby, 2 Tacs in Backs, 2 Dreads, and a Thunderfire Cannon. And this is a shared Organization Chart so I only have; 1-HQ, 1 Elite, 4-Troops, 3-Fast Attack, and 2-Heavy Support options.

My total is 989

Shas'el w/MP, PR, TA, HWMT = 97

ELITES
3 Shas'ui w/TLMP, BSF, Team Leader w/TL, BK, = 153

TROOPS
18 Kroot - 126
10 Firewarriors = 100
Devilfish w/SMS, DP, MT, TA - 120

HEAVY SUPPORT
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ BSF, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ BSF, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195

What do you mean BSF to mean?

Your list looks fine, and is a tidy firebase-
(however i'd split the kroot into 2 squads of ten for blocking and scoring).
I personally always take the drones for the devilfish- blocking wins Tau games. Drop the fish down to a 'dumb fish.' Drones and disruption pods- use the pts on kroot or plasma rifles.

However... You're Tau! Tell your friend to put in some CC threat. That's not your job, it's his lol.

Split the Deathrains up to Monats:
1. Saves points on Team Leadership & BK (flechetts for the Warfish? Maybe one FW out?)
2. Ease of hiding each with JSJ
3. Splits fire for you - good!
4. Splits fire for him - good for you!

The rest looks great.

So like this maybe? I simplified the Shas'el and droped the DF to a Dumbfish to include a Body Guard just for extra MP. What should I do with the extra pts? And is it really worth splitting the Kroot into two squads? I was planning on outflanking them.

My total is 986

HQ (0-1)
Shas'el w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter, HWDC w/ 2 Gun Drones - 91
Body Guard w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter - 56

ELITES (0-1)
3 Shas'ui w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter - 138

TROOPS (0-3)
18 Kroot - 126
8 Firewarriors - 80
Devilfish w/SMS, DP - 105

HEAVY SUPPORT (0-2)
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195

I would drop the BSF on the HQ and Body guard. That frees 20 points to add a Burst Cannon (16)to each and a hwBSF for one of them for (3).

Seriously though, talk to your mate about dropping the Thunderfire and atleast one Dread to pickup some more CC units. Unless the TO is going to require you both to field Troops, the SM should field the Troop and Fast Attack slot as SM are way more durable in the Damage Sink and CC roles. That way you can drop the Troops and free up 300+ points for heavy long range fire support which is the Tau strong suit..

The BSF on the HQ and bodyguard is only 6pts.

And the requirements is that each person have 1 HQ and 2 Troops

Maybe with the points left over you could change the bsf to flamers? they are nice and cheap too, 4 pts each i think and also provide a nice little backup should anyone deepstrike around or outflank your suits. i do agree with barnowl about you having less troops though, in an ideal world it would be better for you to have two 6 man firewarriors squads, no fish, leave the cc up to your friend and then spend all the extra lovely points on more suits of death!

So like this? 989pts

And I really don't want to remove the BSF as there are several necromancer players at my FLGS and they all bring the Stormlord and keep night fighting going until like turn 4.

HQ (0-1)
Shas'el w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter, HWDC w/ 2 Gun Drones - 91
2 Body Guards w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter - 112

ELITES (0-1)
3 Shas'ui w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter - 138
3 Shas'ui w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter - 138

TROOPS (0-3)
6 Firewarriors - 60
6 Firewatriors - 60

HEAVY SUPPORT (0-2)
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195

Ah ok that's fair enough then and that looks waaaay better only one thing i can see which you could possibly change, is the weapon configuration of the new battle suit squad. Personally I don't know what armies are in your local pool, but in mine for instance there are a lot of marine players, i dont see any plasma in your force. If there aren't many in your pool then MP is the way to go, if there are a number, then maybe change one suit squad to MP/PR/MT? It's the only slight nibble I have left you have yourself a good solid list

Where should I get the points for the plasma and MT from? I'm thinking the best way to get the points is to drop one of the bodyguards.

Much better list. I can see running a lot BSF if you know you need to deal with a bunch of Storm bringers. BSF is a real cheap way to make his day worse.

Oh and I got 20 points to work with based on 6 for the HQ and bodyguard BSF and 16 form the points left over out of 1000 point total, just to be clear where I go tit from.

I would have liked some Plasma Rifles or Burst Cannon in there, but at 1000 points with Marines to acts a buffer you should be good to go. Just make sure the Marines know there job is act as a bubblewr....., I mean, screen for you suits.

You could potentially drop a body guard, and then split your crisis suits into 3 teams of 2. one with PR/MP/MT and the other two with tw MP and BSF. Its completely up to you though, as you know what you will be facing. have some test games before you make your final decisions and see how the list runs, that's the true test.

Sould I put the plasma on one of the crisis suit squads, or the HQ and bodyguards?

Probably better on the HQ because of his better BS, also just realised instead of dropping a whole suit for the plasma, why not see if you can drop the gun drones on the command squad instead? And you still have 11 points left over from the total 1000, (seen as you have spent 989) so fingers crossed you shouldn't need to lose a suit. I would still separate your crisis squads into twos though as it helps to spread your firing and stop overkill (wasting of shots). it's easier to JSJ with smaller squads too.

Okay, I had to drop a Bodyguard to get the plasma. But I still have 19pts left. What should I do with them? I am thinking maybe upgrade the HQ drones to shield drones?

HQ (0-1)
Shas'el w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter, HWDC w/ 2 Gun Drones - 91
1 Body Guard w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter - 56

ELITES (0-2)
3 Shas'ui w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter - 138
3 Shas'ui w/MP, Plasma Gun, MT - 138

TROOPS (0-3)
6 Firewarriors - 60
6 Firewatriors - 60

HEAVY SUPPORT (0-2)
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195

A Templar consorting with Tau? Heresy!

List
Emperor's Champion-100-140
Close combat goodness-900-960

There I fixed it

Kidding aside, I'm a bit concerned about your lack of mobility with your buddy only having two transports and you not having any for late game contesting, even though you are probably camping in the DZ, but since devilfishes are expensive I can't see any place in the list to fit one in where you wouldn't lose something else.

Shield drones seem like a good idea with the extra points since you lost a bodyguard.

One clarification-the system abbreviated as TL on the broadsides is the one that lets them split fire, correct?

Shas'el w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter, HWDC w/ 1 shield drone 86

ELITES (0-2)
3 Shas'ui w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter - 138
3 Shas'ui w/MP, Plasma Gun, MT - 138

TROOPS (0-3)
6 Firewarriors - 60
10 Kroot -70
10 Kroot -70

HEAVY SUPPORT (0-2)
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195

952...

Im guessing you didn't properly cost the newly outfitted plasma crisis team?

Dude, you really need Kroot.

Shoot to your heart's content. Hopefully your buddy will give you some offensive support top-field.
Outflank the Kroot in ftw

Just play your commander attached to a crisis team, but give him a target lock

BTNeophyte wrote:

Kidding aside, I'm a bit concerned about your lack of mobility with your buddy only having two transports and you not having any for late game contesting, even though you are probably camping in the DZ, but since devilfishes are expensive I can't see any place in the list to fit one in where you wouldn't lose something else.

Shield drones seem like a good idea with the extra points since you lost a bodyguard.

One clarification-the system abbreviated as TL on the broadsides is the one that lets them split fire, correct?

My teammates list will probably change to include speeders and other fast units, so I am not to worried. My Tau is basically to hold our base and shoot, and he will go grab objectives with tacs and speeders.

And yeah, the second TL on the broadsides allow them to split fire. The first TL is for team leader

And yeah, I forgot to change the points. But that is an idea to drop the other bodyguard for kroot. And maybe give one of the suit squads a team leader that can shoot at a different target also?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Okay, so I think this is going to be my final list.

And here is my teammates list at the moment.


HQ
Shas'el w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter,HWTL, HWDC w/1 Gun Drone - 86

ELITES (0-2)
3 Shas'ui w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter - 138
3 Shas'ui w/MP, Plasma Gun, MT - 186

TROOPS (0-3)
6 Firewarriors - 60
10 Kroot -70
10 Kroot -70

HEAVY SUPPORT (0-2)
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195

Tactic thought with the Tech marine you get free with Thunderfire. What ever cover you plan to camp the fire warriors in, ideally near a back field objective, make that what the Techmarine boosts the cover save for.

barnowl wrote:Tactic thought with the Tech marine you get free with Thunderfire. What ever cover you plan to camp the fire warriors in, ideally near a back field objective, make that what the Techmarine boosts the cover save for.

Exactly what I was thinking and planning on doing. And maybe even putting the Broadsides there also

Woulg it be worth dropping the FW for 8 more kroot?

People use kroot more than FW nowadays. But its required to have atleast 1 FW squad so keep that at 6.
Also try Fireknives but in a different way...

2 Shas'uis MP/PR/MT
Team leader MP/PR/TA/HW-MT

I use my Shas'el this way with 2 body guards.
Shas'el PR/MP/TA/HW-MT
Shas'vre PR/MP/TA/HW-MT
Shas'vre PR/MP/TA/HW-MT

With this, your shas'el gets BS 5, and the 2 body guards get BS4.

Other than that, lovely list. I adore what deathrains do. My main transport popper in my army.

I find it funny that you brought about as much CC as the marine player. I haven't read the new 'cron codex yet; how are the armour saves? You might pay for not bringing plasma if you come across destroyers and immortals.

The overall list is nice, with a ton of transport/tank poppers. You've got a clean firebase on homeplate, with some potentially mobile suits togive you some options.

If the marine player is planning on mostly moving his guys out, it might be worthwhile leaving a squad of kroot behind on defence.

Okay, so I might have to drop two of the broadsides as a trade I had going for them just fell through.

Would a Warfish be a good substitute?

Marshall Ragnar wrote:Okay I have a team tourney coming up and I am thinking about playing Tau. My team mate will be playing SM with a Libby, 2 Tacs in Backs, 2 Dreads, and a Thunderfire Cannon. And this is a shared Organization Chart so I only have; 1-HQ, 1 Elite, 4-Troops, 3-Fast Attack, and 2-Heavy Support options.

My total is 989

Shas'el w/MP, PR, TA, HWMT = 97

ELITES
3 Shas'ui w/TLMP, BSF, Team Leader w/TL, BK, = 153

TROOPS
18 Kroot - 126
10 Firewarriors = 100
Devilfish w/SMS, DP, MT, TA - 120

HEAVY SUPPORT
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ BSF, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ BSF, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195

Drop down to a dumbfish (DP and nothing else) and get flamers on those suits instead of BSF. Discourages assault, thins assault and is only 1 point more.

Tell your ally to give you more elite slots. That is the strength of the tau, right there. He can take a different option, and he can like it.

Also, you may want to swap a broadside unit for a hammerhead. I love broadsides, but a mix is great, and Hammerheads are more multi-purpose (and cheaper! plus, lasguns do nothing)

Also, you will want a smaller unit of firewarriors. Even if you don't drop it to the minimum (which would give you a bunch more kroot) One thing I recommend is to drop four fire warriors, and use the points to buy 5 kroot. This allow you to make 2 units of 10 and 13, with thirteen being good because it is the minimum number of kroot to force 4 deaths before a panic check.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Marshall Ragnar wrote:Okay, so I might have to drop two of the broadsides as a trade I had going for them just fell through.

Would a Warfish be a good substitute?

Warfish are bad.

Take a hammerhead.

You could proxy a D-fish as one if you lack models.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

HQ
Shas'el w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter,HWTL, HWDC w/1 Gun Drone - 86

ELITES (0-2)
3 Shas'ui w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter - 138
3 Shas'ui w/MP, Plasma Gun, MT - 186

TROOPS (0-3)
6 Firewarriors - 60
10 Kroot -70
10 Kroot -70

HEAVY SUPPORT (0-2)
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195

Seems I was a bit late.

Anyways here, Don't take gun drones. They are only to be used on vehicles.

You intend to attach your shas'el to your deathrains, yes? I have found that 4 suits in a unit is generally not a good idea, you stand to lose more in assault, and risk over kill. I suggest you switch the loadout on your commander and have him stand either alone or with the FW to keep them alive on the objective. Give him a different loadout (or you could lose one deathrain? Drop some of those useless BSF too and you have enough points for a d-fish-that'll keep your troops safe!) I recommend the classic centurion loadout for the commander.

With regards to your wanting to drop one unit of broadsides, as I have said, you should take a railhead. a properly kitted out one is usually 165-175 points. That gives more points to invest elsewhere.

Ok, so I think this is the new list. Is it still good?

HQ
Shas'el w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter,HWTL, HWDC w/2 Shield Drones - 101

ELITES (0-2)
3 Shas'ui w/TLMP, Black Sun Filter - 138
3 Shas'ui w/MP, Plasma Gun, MT - 186

TROOPS (0-3)
6 Firewarriors - 60
10 Kroot -70
10 Kroot -70

HEAVY SUPPORT (0-2)
2 Broadsides w/ASS, TL w/ Black Sun Filter, TL, HWDC w/2 SD - 195
Hammerhead w/RG, BC, BSF, FL, DP, MT, TA - 180