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Random questions that I"m hoping this lovely community could please help me out with

I'm just starting 40k, and actually have some Chaos Daemons on the way. However, and I know I'm probably biting off a bit more than I can chew, but I want to work on another army at the same time. I'm leaning a lot towards Tau, simply because I love the way they look. The high-tech aliens that look like they can snipe off anything from miles away? Love their apperance!
I'm reading through the rulebook and some general "tactica" online for Tau, and I'm so lost on a few things with them. Few questions, if people could please help :3

1. Is there any way at all that Fire Warriors can move after they shoot? I'm reading a bit here and there about jetpacks allowing additional movement, but I have no idea what units it can go on, what phase it can be used in, can it be used if you also shoot that turn, etc.

2. Dedicated transport.. is it worth it? I'm getting a general sense that you don't use Pathfinders without it, but I'm wondering if it's worth it in general, and if so, for which units?

3. Markers. How does this work exactly? Used on a single big-bad enemy, used on an entire group of troops, can Pathfinders (I believe that's who casts Maker ) move / jump back into their transport after they "cast" or "use" Marker, does it make a big enough difference to get units that can cast Marker, etc.

4. What exactly is a Drone, how many are there, and how do they work? I hear about them being used solo, sometimes in groups of a few of them, bunch of different kinds of drones to go around, sometimes following your HQ around, sometimes mixed into a group of units, etc. Just overall, what's a drone, and how do they work?

5. Anything additional I should know about this army? They seem kind of complex just to understand. I'm coming from Fantasy where there's too many rules to memorize, so I'm not hopeless if Tau are a bit of a challenge
I just can't seem to wrap my head around them, and I want to understand how everything works before investing in the army.

Random side note: I intend on building Tau up over a fairly long length of time. I love how they look, and look forward to painting them. However, in a year or so (with painting maybe few units here and there), I wouldn't mind fielding an army. So I'm getting a direction of what to buy, to paint over a long length of time, so that I can have a "functional" army when the time comes

Thanks for any extra info!

Bitcly wrote:
1. Is there any way at all that Fire Warriors can move after they shoot? I'm reading a bit here and there about jetpacks allowing additional movement, but I have no idea what units it can go on, what phase it can be used in, can it be used if you also shoot that turn, etc.

I think you need to go over the BRB for a bit. The Jetpack move is clearly hashed out there. You move 6 during movement and 2D6" during assault phase. Firewarriors can't move and shoot because they have no jetpack.

2. Dedicated transport.. is it worth it? I'm getting a general sense that you don't use Pathfinders without it, but I'm wondering if it's worth it in general, and if so, for which units?

Pathfinders are fine without it. The Devilfish is just too many points for a transport that doesn't mesh with it's troops. Necrons for example get a skimmer that's open-topped so the entire unit can shoot out of it still. IG and MEQ get special weapons in the squad and have firepoints they can shoot from. Some people recommend using them as mobile terrain, but just about any skimmer serves the same purpose.

3. Markers. How does this work exactly? Used on a single big-bad enemy, used on an entire group of troops, can Pathfinders (I believe that's who casts Maker ) move / jump back into their transport after they "cast" or "use" Marker, does it make a big enough difference to get units that can cast Marker, etc.

Pathfinders are infantry. They can't jump after they shoot. Markerdrones can however.

4. What exactly is a Drone, how many are there, and how do they work? I hear about them being used solo, sometimes in groups of a few of them, bunch of different kinds of drones to go around, sometimes following your HQ around, sometimes mixed into a group of units, etc. Just overall, what's a drone, and how do they work?

Drones are either purchased gear or a FA unit. It's clearly stated in the limitations in the book. You get drones with just about every box you buy, and it's not that hard to make markerdrones out of gun drones. Shield drones are rather pointless now.

5. Anything additional I should know about this army? They seem kind of complex just to understand. I'm coming from Fantasy where there's too many rules to memorize, so I'm not hopeless if Tau are a bit of a challenge
I just can't seem to wrap my head around them, and I want to understand how everything works before investing in the army.

Tau are a difficult to run army. Most of the game for Tau is done in the list making and deployment phase. They have some weakness because certain units are almost vital to the army, like markers. It's not impossible to start off playing Tau, but it's not really the easiest place to start.