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This army plan has been rolling around in my head for a few days, and while I probably won't go ahead with it for a while since I am starting a new Deathwing force its something I wanted to put down in writing for some comments. This is a major change away from where I last played my tau with lots of stealth suits and seeker missiles from pathfinders. The list plays off the tactic of not deploying anything but the 1st EL onto the table and then picking and choosing situational reserves with the positional relay until late in the game when everything hits the board and tries to sweep onto objectives or rush out some quick kill points.

HQ:
Shas'EL w/ Cyclic Ion Blaster, Missile Pod, Positional Relay, HW BSF, HW Multi-tracker, Stimulant Injector possibly a HW drone controller with a shield drone.

I am debating the single drone but it is one more item I can sink my last 15 points into to try and keep this guy alive.

Shas'EL #2w/ TL Fusion Blaster, Flamer
1 Bodyguard w/ TL Fusion Blaster, Flamer

Elite:
Crisis Team #1
3 Suits w/ Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle and Multi-tracker
one suit is upgraded to team leader and has a HW BSF

Crisis Team #2
3 Suits w/ Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle and Multi-tracker
one suit is upgraded to team leader and has a HW BSF

Crisis Team #3
3 Suits w/ Flamer, Plasma Rifle and Multi-tracker

Troops:

6 Fire Warriors

6 Fire Warriors

10 Kroot w/
1 Kroot Ox

10 Kroot w.
1 Kroot Ox

Fast Attack:

4 Pathfinders
Devilfish w/d-pod and drones

4 Pathfinders
Devilfish w/ d-pod and drones

Heavy Support:

Broadside Team #1:
2 Suits w/ASS and SMS
1 suit is upgraded to Team leader and has HW BSF & HW Drone controller with 2 shield drones

Broadside Team #2:
2 Suits w/ASS and SMS
1 suit is upgraded to Team leader and has HW BSF & HW Drone controller with 2 shield drones

Broadside Team #3:
2 Suits w/ASS and SMS
1 suit is upgraded to Team leader and has HW BSF & HW Drone controller with 2 shield drones


So the grand total is 1994 points if I have that added up correctly. The leaders with BSF is to negate as much night fight as possible. The plan is to use the relay on the commander to pick and choose select units to bring in via deep-strike, outflank, or walking broadsides on. The FW teams steal the pathfinders fish before deployment. 12 crisis suits and 6 broadsides should be able to pick off most threats, along with the Ox guns nobody expects to ever see coming in on outflank. Save up most of the army for a late game capture of objectives or late alpha strike to score kill points. The 4 teams of suits, 3 elite and 2nd hq are role dependent to take out either armor (HQ), troops in cover (Team #3) or general purpose (teams 1 and 2)

Not sure your plan with the DF is legal. It is a dedicated transport, so has to start with the pathfinder. After first turn, it is fine to steal it.

Since those units are about the last ones I would bring on the table I try and bring them at the same time. Outflank the pathfinders and then get the fish to the FW's. I have been rules discussing with friends if they both come from reserves at the same time can the FW take the fish at that time.

That gets a little weird. See the Fish and pathfinders can come as one unit mounted, or as 2 units with the fish empty. The FW can only take the fish after it is on the board.

If the Fish comes in empty on the same turn as the FW _and_ the FW end there movement with in the 2" embarking limitations, then yes.

barnowl wrote:That gets a little weird. See the Fish and pathfinders can come as one unit mounted, or as 2 units with the fish empty. The FW can only take the fish after it is on the board.

If the Fish comes in empty on the same turn as the FW _and_ the FW end there movement with in the 2" embarking limitations, then yes.

Yeah, the FWs cannot start embarked on the PFs' d'fish.

Pic:
Team #3 - flamers and PRs? Really?You deal with a lot of orks?

Yeah, the FWs cannot start embarked on the PFs' d'fish.

Agree.
I believe you could cut a corner to save time and move the PF d'fish so an door is no more than the FW movement from an edge and say the firewarriors walked on and embarked though.

I know the movement is tricky on the pathfinder/FW combo, its one of the odd elements of the list.

The Crisis suit team 3 is there for a reason. If ANYONE has a unit needing a cover save that I need to dis-lodge from an objective they are my choice on a turn to bring in. Drop in, rapid fire and template. If the game doesn't need flamers I simply rely on them bringing 3 plasma rifles to the fight. While I don't see a ton of orks, one of my most common buddies to play with uses lots of Eldar with rangers and pathfinders.

Piccolo wrote: While I don't see a ton of orks, one of my most common buddies to play with uses lots of Eldar with rangers and pathfinders.

... and flamers dislodge the well. Good call.

This is basically how I fight and have for a long time. There's some threads on this, one of which I started, you can check out. Positional Relays are awesome.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/436851.page

I remember that post. If you recall I was picking at the effectiveness of your unit choices. I went with mostly flexible crisis teams to fill all the problem solver roles instead.

I have been debating the need of the 2nd pathfinder sqaud. But I am not sure what I would do with the points.

Yeah they are concepts you can pick and choose from. But the relay makes Tau work now, competitively. I have fought some mean customers with it. Talk is talk. Resulkts is results.

As to the list you put up:
I like the list but when I look at the Shas'El Suits I think hmm...

Fusion+Flamers? Seems like a bit of a wast. I assume the fusion are there to cut open a vehicle but you'll likely be very close and unable to ever use the flamer if you get charged. Seems like you'd be better off with Missile + TL Flamer. You already have a lot of can opening power and this would add to it, plus give you the weapon of choice for up close and personal encounters. 6 Broadsides is a LOT. Just give the Team Leaders Target locks if you're worried about the number of targets you can pop (which seems the only reason you'd take a Fusion with a Flamer, as an emergency bulwark against breakthrough enemies.

Also, Cyclic Ion seems odd. Wouldn't the AirBurst frag launcher do more for you more often at those ranges? STR 3 Rending vs. STR 4 Pinning that ignores cover saves? Seems a better antihorde tool after they bunch up by charging the Devilfish or whatever.

Anyways, it looks good. Just think the Shas'El might need changing.

I too would take Air Frag over the Burster. Never been a big fan of putting flamers on a squad that you don't want anywhere near close combat.

The flamers on the 2nd hq team are point saving item. The unit is there for those armored targets/mc's that just need to die with no clear line for a Broadside team to use. The flamer is pretty much the cheapest item to toss on that has a secondary use. I have no problem tossing this unit deep into the enemy if sacrificing them eliminates a larger threat. On the off chance they are not needed for melting armor to slag they are more likely to be contesting points on the table or generally taking cheap shots where needed. i have debated moving a few points by taking the drones off my main el to switch them over to burst cannons, but I really need to try both in games and see what works out.

The CiB on the main EL is the same thing. He will most of the game be staying at max range using only his missiles and being there for the relay. If something does get close enough to cause a threat I went with the cheapest gun that gave me the best chance to cause multiple wounds. Units that concern me for him won't care about the ap5 blast marker, however some hot rolls for ap1 will help greatly.

I dont think ther CIB gives you the best chance of causing wounds. I thing the Frag launcher does.

But in any event, the Shas'El's are definitely what I would change. Then they dont have to be sacrificia; and they can stand back and bolster kroot ld for a couple rounds while you wait for the charge...then cut him loose on the would be chargers and soften em up so the kroot can keep being a wall.

That's all I got.