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Hi Dakka.

We're going to be doing a few months of small-points games this summer, with everyone trying out new or under-used units. I was thinking of something like the list below as a starting point, and was curious if the Dakka community had thoughts for other Tau lists that fit the criteria.

750pts, try to use at least a couple of under-subscribed or new units

Here's what I'll try first.

XV84 Commander (forgeworld) - TL Missile Pod, Targetting Array, Multitracker, XV84 Target Lock and Markerlight Upgrades
Xv8 (x2) - Fireknives
Xv8 (x2) - Missile Pod, TL Flamer // TL Missile Pod, Flamer

Kroot (x12)
Kroot (x12)
Firewarriors (x6) - Shas'ui, Target Lock, Markerlight

Drones (x8)
Drones (x8)

All sorts of problems with this list, but that's part of the point. I was also considering swapping out drones for more kroots and a (wait for it) Skyray.

So... how would you fit Skyrays, Drones, Sniper Drones, or (even!) Vespid into a 750pt list (recognizing that this is entirely for fun, though I wouldn't mind putting up a good fight and recognizing everyone will be picking unusual units). Mech IG, Mech SM, possibly Orks with lots of Trukks will be the most commonly played opponents.

Doing a fun little campaign like this is great...

Adds some spice to the mundane life of 5E..

My only concern is lack of Anti Mech. Str 7 MP is not going to cut it.

I would at least shoot for 1 single XV88, HammerHead or even a FB Suit... anything that could dent soemthing.

Dont go for a hammerhead, they always miss with their single shot.
Broadsides is what you need, TL railguns almost never miss.

Which is what EVERY Tau player fields thus is not unique.

The FB Suicide Suit would be interesting as well... not overly popular with comp players....

A Farsight Bomb would be interesting at 750 pts as well lol

You have to have at least 1500 points to field farsight

I like the Sky ray, but you need to enough markerlight support, and once you have enough support it starts paying to have the extra 2 seekers. I like to put the multi tracker dpod on it and you get a nice mobile fire support unit. Marker lights are defensive weapons, so you can move fire the SMS, and either drop seekers or in crease BS or reduce covers.

Thanks for all of the replies, everyone. (And sorry I’ve been slow to say thanks; I’m travelling for work.) We’ve upped the points value to 850 so that gives some latitude to adjust the list and build in some of your ideas.

Remember that this isn’t meant to be an optimized list: it’s meant to be a list for trying out new ideas in lots of small, short games against other people also trying out under-used units from their codex. That being siad, I'd still like to do well.

~850 Points (my codex is in another country, so this is from memory… may be off a bit)

HQ – Xv84 (forgeworld) (TL Missile Pods, Multitracker, xv84 Markerlight, xv84 Target Lock)
Elite – 2 Xv8 (TL Missile Pod, Flamer) + (Missile Pod, TL Flamer)
Elite – 1 Xv8 (TL Fusion Blaster, Target Array) – held in reserve, dropped against heavy vehicles
Troops – 6 Firewarriors (Shas’ui, Markerlight, Target Lock)
Troops – 13 Kroot
Troops – 13 Kroot
Fast – 8 Gun Drones
Fast – 8 Gun Drones
Heavy – Skyray (Multitracker, Target Array, Disruption Pod)

Thoughts?

(Random idea I had for the next codex while building this list. How can you potentially make gun drones and skyrays both more useful without dramatically changing either? Allow a Skyray, the Tau command and control vehicle, to make gun drone squadrons count as troops the same way a warboss allows a group of nobz to count as troops.)

Sounds like a fun little list. Sky ray can be fun but without a decent amount of marker lights it won't get to fire much. Your list only has 3 and with hitting on 4's isn't gonna be enough. You might get 1 or 2 at best or none per turn. I'm no points expert on a skyray as I have never fielded one but for around the same points you go probably get 2 broadsides w/ gun drones and be way more effective. Just my 2 cents. Nice to see your bringing kroot, they should be a lot of fun in that list. And most of all have fun.