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So while my Eldar project is well underway (as in, just dropped $300 bucks underway, and made some requests for Christmas gifts!)... I don't think Space Marines are the other army I'd like to collect just
yet, so I thought I'd give Tau a shot. The suits, the mobility, the pure ranged punch, it's very appealing... So without further ado, this is my first shot at making an 1850 point Tau list.

HQ

Commander - CCN, DC, MSS, OG, Puretide Chip, Vectored Retro-thrusters, TL Fusion Blaster, Iridium - 198 points

Elite

Riptide - EWO, Ion Accelerator, TL Fusion Blaster, Velocity Tracker - 210 points

Riptide - EWO, Ion Accelerator, TL Fusion Blaster, Velocity Tracker - 210 points

Riptide - EWO, Ion Accelerator, TL Fusion Blaster, Velocity Tracker - 210 points

Troops

12x Fire Warriors - Bonding Knife Ritual - 114 points

12x Fire Warriors - Bonding Knife Ritual - 114 points

12x Fire Warriors - Bonding Knife Ritual - 114 points

Fast Attack

9x Pathfinders with Markerlights, 1x Pathfinder with Rail Rifle, Devilfish with Burst Cannon, Disruption Pod, 2x Gun Drones - 220 points

Heavy Support

Broadside - TL SMS, TL HYMP, Target Lock - 70 points

Broadside - TL SMS, TL HYMP, Target Lock - 70 points

Broadside - TL SMS, TL HYMP, Target Lock - 70 points
(With 5x Markerlight Drones)

Hammerhead Gunship - Disruption Pod, Longstrike, Railgun with Submunitions, 2x Gun Drones


Comes out to 1850 on the dot. The Broadsides, Riptides, and Hammerhead are definitely staying in the list... The Pathfinders are very much up in the air, as are the
make-up of the Fire Warrior teams (though I want Fire Warriors, not a fan of the Kroot), and the Commander's load-out is also basically my best guess after forum browsing/reading the Codex.






Just for clarification, when I said the Riptides are staying, I definitely want at least 2 of them... The third could easily be switched for something else, like an XV8 team for the Commander to tag along with.

Since your commander is going buffmander, why even bother with fusion guns? If you must, why twin linked on BS5? 2 seperate would be best(and you have the hard points). Also, if you have the points free take the neuroweb jammer. One of the best upgrades around.

Three Ion accellarators are probably overkill, you probably want one HBC 2 cannons.

If you drop bonding from your fire warriors, you almost have enough points to get an ethereal to boost your entire line. Since your Ld7-8 everywhere, it helps. You don't want your broadsides to run after losing a couple of drones.

The pathfinders are ok, but 10 is overkill for markerlight saturation. 2 squads of 5 is better, and a devilfish is just OK. Could put fire warriors in it for a mobile scoring unit, as your pathfinders need to be marking from the get go.

I take it the plan is to split the broadsides and marker drones to mark one target and missile another? That is not bad, but not great. Pathfinders should cover markerlights well enough, and lots of drones means lots of morale checks. An ethereal helps, but also consider bonding and a 'vre, just in case. Broadsides are very easy to pin or break with enough fire, particularly if you have drones with the squad.

Longstrike is great, but take smart missiles for his hammerhead, maybe sensor spines and automated repair if you have points.

GOING TO WAR WITHOUT CRISIS SUITS?!?!
lol, nah, your list looks just fine .

Agreed with Serling on commander, 'specially neuroweb jammer, that thing is really worth the points, even moreso if your goinging full-time close range.

Bonding for the warriors really don't do to much. When it comes in handy, your already in trouble. Thats three dozen points to spend elsewhere.

Velocity Trackers on all the riptides? When they are decently priced, if you drop 1 or maybe 2 you get plenty of points to spend elsewhere. Then again, finding no flyers in a 1850 game is a rarity. Even so, unless your going against the flying crescents of death, flyers shouldn't be a problem with just one tracker. Also remember that Tau are full of guns, sooner or later the 6's will add up.

Agreed on the Pathfinders.

Markers with broadsides not really a effective setup.
Just think, drop the markerdrones and the target locks and you got yourself another squad of pathfinders (Or even 2).
Considering 4 Pathfinders are better then 5 markers, for around the same price, its really a better option.
Course you lose free wounds for the 'sides, and a bit of survivalist in general; but if you add it up PF are better.

If you have this much markers as it sounds like you will (Remember, this is never bad ) you may want to invest in a few more seekers on... anything.
If needed, one Piranha with two seekers can sit in reserve, pop up, flat out behind any tank, and still launch its seekers with marklight support. A really nice idea for the same amount of points as a stock 6-man FW squad.

Plan on deepstriking at least one of those Riptides, with lack of Crisis suits, you really need something to "Appear" behind the lines.

 Dr. Serling wrote:
Since your commander is going buffmander, why even bother with fusion guns? If you must, why twin linked on BS5? 2 seperate would be best(and you have the hard points). Also, if you have the points free take the neuroweb jammer. One of the best upgrades around.

Three Ion accellarators are probably overkill, you probably want one HBC 2 cannons.

If you drop bonding from your fire warriors, you almost have enough points to get an ethereal to boost your entire line. Since your Ld7-8 everywhere, it helps. You don't want your broadsides to run after losing a couple of drones.

The pathfinders are ok, but 10 is overkill for markerlight saturation. 2 squads of 5 is better, and a devilfish is just OK. Could put fire warriors in it for a mobile scoring unit, as your pathfinders need to be marking from the get go.

I take it the plan is to split the broadsides and marker drones to mark one target and missile another? That is not bad, but not great. Pathfinders should cover markerlights well enough, and lots of drones means lots of morale checks. An ethereal helps, but also consider bonding and a 'vre, just in case. Broadsides are very easy to pin or break with enough fire, particularly if you have drones with the squad.

Longstrike is great, but take smart missiles for his hammerhead, maybe sensor spines and automated repair if you have points.

On the Pathfinders, dropping the railrifle would let him take 10, and then split them into two squads of 5, which is far more effective than a squad of 9 or 10. As you already noted, just saying the points are there in the squad without needing to drop anything else. The one lone rail rifle isn't worth taking.

Also, you are better off putting a squad of firewarriors in the devilfish than the pathfinders. As Markerlights are heavy weapons, you won't want to be jumping out of fish with them. The firewarriors, however, can be dumped into rapid range to tear something a new one.