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With eve of the Tau release on us, in addition to the many leaks, how does everyone feel about Heavy Rail Rifles vs High-Yield Missile Pods in roles ranging from anti-armour, monster hunting, anti-air, and interception.

For reference, I posted this on the Advanced Tau Tactica:
http://advancedtautactica.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19608&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=0

ALL THE MISSILES

I think the name of the game is getting consistent damage rather than explosive damage. For that reason I think the Missile Pods would be better.

Against most infantry even without factoring cover in the increased number of shots is going to kill more(unless they have a 2+ save, even then in cover it will be better to have high yield) Against most vehicles that are not AV 13/14 it will also be better just for the ability to get through any saves on a more consistent basis(IMO)

Also as an anti flier option I feel the high yield would be better, especially considering that most fliers are av 11/12

Probably the missiles. AA is the only thing they're even remotely good at with either weapon, and "autocannon" spam is better than single STR 8 shots for dealing with most flyers.

Oh, and attached HQ with the tank hunter upgrade is pretty much mandatory so you need to edit all of your numbers to account for it.

I think people are selling the Heavy Rail Rifle a bit short, particularly as an Anti-Air Weapon. Remember, many of the most popular fliers in the game only have one weapon (Night Scythe, Hell Drake), so pretty much any penetrating hit with AP 1 effectively bones the target. The Missiles may provide more consistent HP damage but who cares about HP when they either are dead or can't shoot anymore?

ShadarLogoth wrote:
I think people are selling the Heavy Rail Rifle a bit short, particularly as an Anti-Air Weapon. Remember, many of the most popular fliers in the game only have one weapon (Night Scythe, Hell Drake), so pretty much any penetrating hit with AP 1 effectively bones the target. The Missiles may provide more consistent HP damage but who cares about HP when they either are dead or can't shoot anymore?

8 twinlink S7 at bs3. If people hat the dakkafex at only s6 with out skyfire do to it's effectiveness, What makes you think the Missileside with skyfire is not going to be devastating?

ShadarLogoth wrote:
I think people are selling the Heavy Rail Rifle a bit short, particularly as an Anti-Air Weapon. Remember, many of the most popular fliers in the game only have one weapon (Night Scythe, Hell Drake), so pretty much any penetrating hit with AP 1 effectively bones the target. The Missiles may provide more consistent HP damage but who cares about HP when they either are dead or can't shoot anymore?

So what? If you wreck the flier, then it won't shoot anyways. And you need less HYMP Broadsides to destroy a flier than HRR Broadsides. 6 HYMP Broadsides can destroy a Heldrake for sure. 6 HRR Broadsides have roughly a ~50% chance to destroy a Heldrake.

Once you figure out that railsides are no longer AT and only backup that role, you will see its true mission:
ID snipers with the ATS.

 BoomWolf wrote:
Once you figure out that railsides are no longer AT and only backup that role, you will see its true mission:
ID snipers with the ATS.

This is what I was thinking too. 3xTLHRR/TLPR+built in multi tracker+advanced targeting system=murder anything you want, whenever you want. There are cheaper ways to kill fliers, and you can take two missle drones on every broadside to get the missle spam anyway+ extra wounds to soak whatever they try to counter it with.Attach shadowsun to them and you get it all under her stealth generators (shrouded and stealth both only require 1 model to have the rule in order to cover the whole unit).

Am I the only who doesn't rate Broadsides at all? They cost SO many points for what they bring to the table, and they are not exactly hard to take out.

A Commander with 3 Broadsides with Skyfire is around 400 points, they are ridiculous.

Maybe it's because I don't have to fight stupid lists like triple Heldrake in my meta, but a quad-gun and Skyfire on one of my Riptides is enough for me. I'd rather put the points in Sniper Drone Teams, they are just all kinds of awesome.

Definately going to invest in some missile broadsides, heldrake has been roasting some of my guys recently.

Missiles. Single Str8 shots dont have a great chance at doing much damage to something like a Heldrake, so i'd rather have the RoF. Not to mention that the HYM + SMS will help deal mass wounds to infantry.

Broadsides are awesome. Really, really awesome.

Another possible use for the Broadside is a multi-role suit.
It can attack light to medium tanks thanks to S8/AP1 and the range. Those traits also lend it to monster hunting. At the same time, a Shas'Vre with the Advanced Targeting System can function as a relatively cheap and reliable character sniper. Compared to the Vindicare, which is almost twice as expensive, you get S8 and a 2+ save. The S8 allows the Broadside to wound T4 on a 2+ and instant kill it whereas the Vindicare is forced to choose between wounding on a 2+ or causing 2 wounds on a 4+.