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My friend and I are exchanging armies for a day... just for kicks. I've previously used Necrons, and now I'm going to get a rude awakening by using Tau. Here's what I've come up with so far:

HQ
Shas’el (Fusion blaster, missile pod, targeting array; iridium armour, hard-wired drone controller, hard-wired blacksun filter, hard-wired multi-tracker, 1x shield drone, stimulant injector)

ELITES
3x Battlesuits (3x Fusion blaster, 3x TL missile pod)
3x Battlesuits (3x Fusion blaster, 3x TL missile pod)

TROOPS
9x Firewarriors
9x Firewarriors
9x Firewarriors
9x Firewarriors
9x Firewarriors
9x Firewarriors

HEAVY SUPPORT
2x Broadsides (1 with a multi-tracker; leader with a targeting array, hard-wired blacksun filter, hard-wired multi-tracker, hard-wired target lock)
2x Broadsides (1 with a multi-tracker; leader with a targeting array, hard-wired blacksun filter, hard-wired multi-tracker, hard-wired target lock)
2x Broadsides (1 with a multi-tracker; leader with a targeting array, hard-wired blacksun filter, hard-wired multi-tracker, hard-wired target lock)

Total: [1498]

The plan is to:

deploy all the firewarriors and broadsides, reserve the battlesuits and maybe the shas'el.

battlsuits deepstrike and kill tanks from the rear. If they kill the tank and survive, they jump around shooting at range

HQ is a harasment unit that's hard to kill

lots of firewarrior dakka to make use of the new rapid fire rules. Units are 9x to ensure 3 kills are required for the morale check

broadsides do what broadsides do

Depending on terrain, I'd deploy in a big 'horse shoe' formation of firewarriors with the three broadsides loosely spaced in the middle. Probably have them all about 12-15" apart to make deepstriking in the middle difficult, and also make it so that anyone who did hit the deepstrike would be in the firing line of a lot of firewarrior rapid fire. This would also give enough space for each of the firewarrior squads to move back and shoot (with the new rapid fire rule) without getting in each others' way.

I like the idea of trying to include an Ethereal in a max-size firewarrior squad but I couldn't find the points. I've tried to steer clear of a lot of the other random upgrades (ie shield drones for broadsides, leaders for fire warriors) in favour of more dakka. The list is built around redundancy such that if any individual unit dies, it doesn't matter much.

Some quicky comments. Way to many fire warriors IMHO. FWs are better in 6th, but they are no that good. Also the Broadsides. No need for multi trackers, you seldom want to fire rail guns and smart missiles systems at the same target. Also, 6 Broadsides is too many at 1500pts. Four is more than enough in. You also need to find points for shield drones, or your Broadsides will die too quickly. Also, reserving suits is seldom a good idea. The key strategy for Tau is to kill stuff before it gets to you. A suit in reserve is a suit that's not killing stuff. Which brings me to wht i see as the biggets problem in your army - there are no Kroot. Unless you are playing allies, Kroot are essential for a Tau army. The have 2 crucial roles - the bubblewrap your guns, and they provide a degree of mobility (via inflitrate and outflank, which you really lack.

For more of my rammblings on Tau see my blogg http://apostatesanonymous.blogspot.co.uk/.

EYIG

You will struggle moving forward to take objectives with this list. I use alot of fire warriors myself and I put 2 squads in Devilfish to advance forward and I leave 2 sqauds back behing an Aegis with quad gun.

Broadsides only need blacksun and 2 sheild drones per unit. Keep them cheap but effective.

I also add gun drones to my crisis suit units to add extra wounds just keep them out in front.

Way to many fire warriors like said already. and I would get a squad of pathfinerds along with thier devilfish. Imo I would only take 1 squad of three braodsides and add a hammerhead with ion blaster for more dakka.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
You can always use the devil fish for a squad of fire warriors to take objectives.

Woh there not taking MT on your suits? Your wasting points on something you might be able to shoot and the tau already have it bad with some of our point’s costs.

It may be best to split them down into 2 jobs, 3 as Twin linked MP with a secondary maybe flamer or BSF to fill your hard point, and 3/2 as Twin linked FB as back field vehicle breakers, though broadsides are better.

It may be best to run those as Fire knives or Helios (I prefer) for terminator killing.

I also suggest taking a pathfinder squad with a dfish if you want to do the deep striking tactic as to help against scatter. And the marker lights help focus fire targets of interests.

Regardless of all the other things people have pointed out, I don't understand having suicide suits to take out armor and having broadsides.

Broadsides take out armor. Suits take out everything else.