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I'd like some thoughts on which type of Farsight bomb you guys think is the most competitive?

List 1:

Farsight-165
Commander, Stimulant injector, drone controller, Iridium armour, C+C node, MSSS , puretide, onager, 2 shield drones, vectored retro thrusters - 217
Farsight command team-590
5x Double plasmas
2x Double fusion
7 target locks
4xshield drones, 9 gun drones

10 kroot-60
10 kroot-60

Skyray, BSF-116
Skyray, BSF-116
Skyray, BSF-116

Severin Loth-175
5 scouts, bolters, Storm, heavy flamer-100
5 scouts, bolters, Storm, heavy flamer-100

List 2:

Farsight-165
Commander, Stimulant injector, Iridium armour, C+C node, MSSS , puretide, onager, 2 shield drones, vectored retro thrusters - 209

10 kroot-60
10 kroot-60

Skyray, BSF-116
Skyray, BSF-116
Skyray, BSF-116

Severin Loth-175
5 scouts, bolters, apoth serg, Storm, heavy flamer-110
5 scouts, bolters, apoth serg, Storm, heavy flamer-110
6 centurions, grav cannons, omniscope-500

112 points spare..

I've gone with Loth in both for 100% gate. Worthwhile over Tiggy?

Whoa, someone who actually reads and researches similar threads before they post? Exalted for that buddy!

As for the list, if your gaming group/event allows FW, absolutely. I've never used him but IIRC, he can pick like any whole chart right? That's amazing.

Both Deathstars are good, but obviously the more expensive one (list 1) is better. It can shoot at multiple targets (and eliminate them), can JSJ, and has many ablative wounds. You have less scoring, but you should be shooting to table anyway. AND your scoring is very mobile.

I dig either one, but if you're taking either to an event, list 1 is stronger.

Thank you for your reply.

Yeah your advice actually helped me refine my farsight list down! I haven't tried the centurion bomb yet but It was a bit of a thought experiment..why do you think it is worse out of curiosity?

Loth lets me take any 3 spells from bio/telepathy/telekinesis which is great yeah..plus he is a bit better in combat than Tiggy.

Is the 10 double plasma the right way to go or is 1-2 with missiles worthwhile to shoot down serpents?

I also have the option of swapping a skyray for a TFC or a scorpius launcher..is 3 required or would 2 be sufficient?

I like the idea of 1 TFC; they're great. It gives you a little anti-horde and more importantly, the ability to barrage snipe characters.

Yes, you've got it right. At least that's how I play it. 5/2 ratio plasma/fusion.

As I outlined above, the tradional bomb is better than the Centurion bomb because it has greater versatility. The Centurion bomb may be deadlier on a point for point basis, but it can only fire at 1 thing. You NEED to be able to fire at multiple targets if you're investing nearly 900 points in a deathstar. Additionally, the traditional bomb can JSJ. All you can do with the Cents is jump Farsight and the Buffmander around.

Have fun with it. With guaranteed gate I think it's right up there with O'Vesastar (and it's actually better in head to head) as Tau lists go.

As Shrike says also the traditional bomb can overwatch something the Cents can't. Which is a big pain. You can also fail LOS in the Cent bomb which is impossible in the normal bomb.

The Cent bomb does better against O'Vesastar but otherwise the normal bomb is just the better option all round. Personally I'd go with 1 MP suit just to strip transports and the like whilst also allowing you to engage further out targets.

The biggest factor is the ability to target 8 units compared to 2.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also I prefer shotguns on the LSS scouts as it allows you to assault and clear out objectives.

I'll second the shotguns. Up to you on the MPs. They're good, I've just never needed one. If you decide to take it, replace a plasma suit not fusion. You still need 2 fusion suits.

Why can't you fail LOS on the normal bomb? Does Loth have guaranteed LOS?

Tau bodyguards have guaranteed LOS. Sworn Protector? I believe that was the rule

 The Shrike wrote:
I'll second the shotguns. Up to you on the MPs. They're good, I've just never needed one. If you decide to take it, replace a plasma suit not fusion. You still need 2 fusion suits.

Why can't you fail LOS on the normal bomb? Does Loth have guaranteed LOS?

No, but Farsight does, which is what they're referring to.

The difference between using the Farsight bomb with crisis suits and the centurions is the number of targets they can take out. Centurions are best against anything with a 4+ or better, while the traditional farsight bomb can take out tanks wreck any infantry it sees.

I would personally go with the traditional bomb with the crisis suits, it just brings a lot more utility.

 The Shrike wrote:
I'll second the shotguns. Up to you on the MPs. They're good, I've just never needed one. If you decide to take it, replace a plasma suit not fusion. You still need 2 fusion suits.

Why can't you fail LOS on the normal bomb? Does Loth have guaranteed LOS?

Yeah sworn protector on bodyguards means you auto pass LoS its amazing! You can literally soak to your last wound on characters knowing they won't die until the squad is gone.

Yeah it would be a plasma suit to replace for a MP one. I think it is useful particularly as he has no broadsides.

Farsight-165
Commander, Stimulant injector, drone controller, Iridium armour, C+C node, MSSS , puretide, onager, 2 gun drones, vectored retro thrusters - 217
Farsight command team-625
3x Double plasmas
2x Double fusion
2x Double missile
7 target locks
4xshield drones, 9 gun drones

10 kroot-60
10 kroot-60

Skyray, BSF-116
Skyray, BSF-116
Skyray, BSF-116

Sevirin Loth-175
5 scouts, shotguns, Storm, heavy flamer-100
5 scouts, shotguns, Storm, heavy flamer-100

How have you guys found the storms? I've liked them personally but the number of troops is really low!

Start all your troops in reserve and play defensively with them. You're looking to table in most game with the bomb.

Thanks for posting your list.

I would maybe cut back to just 1 double MP suit he puts about 2 HPs on AV12 on his own. With 3 Skyrays not sure you'll need 2 as you also have 6 Bs4 MLs.

I actually tried both bombs today..they were both fun!

The farsight bomb is definitely a bit more competitive, it has less bad matches I feel and tougher to take out.

The centurion bomb's firepower was very very impressive but totally overkill against everything but the biggest of deathstars.

The centurion bomb appeals to me only because it is a bit more rarer to see on the tourney tables I suppose! Also our house rules here only allow units completely made up of jetpack dudes to use the jetpack move, this definitely hurts farsight bomb :(.

I ran:

Commander, msss, c+c, puretide, iridium, pen, vrt, 2 shield drones, stim, neuroweb-206
Farsight-165

10 kroot-60
10 kroot-60


skyray bsf-116
skyray bsf-116
skyray bsf-116

Sevirin loth-175
10 scouts-110
5 scouts-55
6 centurions, gravs/bolters/1 missile on champ, scope-510
Inquisitor, terminator armour psycannon-80
Inquisitor, terminator armour psycannon-80

Interesting. Are you planning on wanting to play competitively? If you are, I would not play a type of bomb right now, just because its very risky, especially when you have to reserve a lot things. That of course IMO. I like to play death-star type armies just because everything (almost) starts on board. I play the O'Vesa-star.

And yes to people who have helped out on my earlier threads, I have gotten all of my models and decided on a solid list, as well as getting 4 games under my belt with it so far. If you want to see one of my disappointing games (before I had all of the models) you can check out jy2's battle report on his Chaos Daemons vs my O'Vesa-star.

@Commander_Farsight: His army DOES start on the board (barring troops, if he wants) because He has guaranteed Gate of Infinity with Loth!

@Jpr: House rules? Are you kidding me? Why would they nerf something relatively rare like a Farsight bomb? Why not nerf Jetseer?

You didn't tell us your group has comp. I never would have advised you to play the bomb if they won't let you JSJ. It's critical!

 The Shrike wrote:
@Commander_Farsight: His army DOES start on the board (barring troops, if he wants) because He has guaranteed Gate of Infinity with Loth

Im sorry, so you are just planning on jumping around on the board with a not very sufficient deat-star compared to some of the other armies and builds out there?? IDK man, doesn't sound very good to me. I would like to see what would happen against what some people call the big 3 (or 4 if you count crons). I think that GoI is very overrated. I mean, yes you do get to jump around when you please (with this build), but especially with these "house rules" if your GoI goes down, you are not in a very good position to really have a shot at the game anymore IMO. Please correct me if I am totally wrong and missing something.

Couple of criticisms:

1. You're doing the Centurion bomb wrong. Centurions are expensive and have nothing in the way of protection against AP2 weaponry and other deathstars; 6 Centurions is overkill as not much can survive more than 4 shooting in the game aside from Seer Council and Screamerstar, and maybe the O'Vesa star. The lack of target lock also means you have 2 Centurions just wasting shots. The correct way to build Centurion Bomb is with Farsight Enclave:

Farsight
O'Vesa
Torchstar for MSS
3-4 Centurions, Gravs, Omniscope
Xenos Inquisitor with Prescience and Psychotroke

I also like to add a Tau Commander with Talisman (5+/4+ DTW on 4D6 is incredibly obnoxious), double Fusion, target lock and hit and run. Other options are Coteaz + Mirrocodex for a 5+ rerollable seize and Shavastos for the Engram chip (not hugely useful since you already re-roll the primary armament.)

This is the core of the build, and you have a little room for Skyrays and other supporting units. O'Vesa tanking with his 2+ 3++ FNP is much better than two termie inquisitors.

Loth is much better than Tigurius considering you can now get prescience from the Inquisitors.

Red Scorpions chapter tactics only applies to Tactical squads, you can't get free apothecaries in your scout squads.

2. Farsight bomb suffers from the massive problem of being extremely vulnerable to Riptides (which are common) and being relatively mediocre in close combat compared to other true Deathstars. While Loth goes some way to mitigating the latter
its at a disadvantage against Tier 1 Lists (Enclave Gravstar, O'vesastar, Seer Council).

I'd put the signature systems on a normal bodyguard not to waste the commmander's BS5; give him the fusion guns. Have a separate Iridium Armour bodyguard to tank with.

Commander_Farsight wrote:

 The Shrike wrote:
@Commander_Farsight: His army DOES start on the board (barring troops, if he wants) because He has guaranteed Gate of Infinity with Loth

Im sorry, so you are just planning on jumping around on the board with a not very sufficient deat-star compared to some of the other armies and builds out there?? IDK man, doesn't sound very good to me. I would like to see what would happen against what some people call the big 3 (or 4 if you count crons). I think that GoI is very overrated. I mean, yes you do get to jump around when you please (with this build), but especially with these "house rules" if your GoI goes down, you are not in a very good position to really have a shot at the game anymore IMO. Please correct me if I am totally wrong and missing something.

Have you faced a Loth-based deathstar yet? Gate gives incredible mobility - deploying in a line and gating from the middle of the board means nowhere is safe; and versatility, as you can gate even when locked in combat if you fail your hit and run. It ensures you get the full alpha strike, and the position to use all your guns effectively every single turn it passes. O'vesa star doesn't quite have the mobility to match, and mobility is the key to 40k.

Jpr wrote:I actually tried both bombs today..they were both fun!

The farsight bomb is definitely a bit more competitive, it has less bad matches I feel and tougher to take out.

The centurion bomb's firepower was very very impressive but totally overkill against everything but the biggest of deathstars.

The centurion bomb appeals to me only because it is a bit more rarer to see on the tourney tables I suppose! Also our house rules here only allow units completely made up of jetpack dudes to use the jetpack move, this definitely hurts farsight bomb :(.

I ran:

Commander, msss, c+c, puretide, iridium, pen, vrt, 2 shield drones, stim, neuroweb-206
Farsight-165

10 kroot-60
10 kroot-60


skyray bsf-116
skyray bsf-116
skyray bsf-116

Sevirin loth-175
10 scouts-110
5 scouts-55
6 centurions, gravs/bolters/1 missile on champ, scope-510
Inquisitor, terminator armour psycannon-80
Inquisitor, terminator armour psycannon-80

Glad you had fun, bombs are really fun to use if I find, if a little bit gamebreaking.

I wasn't aware jet-pack ICs were able to use their assault move in a non-fully jet-pack unit. Can you jet pack regardless normally?

@Asmodai: Yes, you can use your jet-pack assault move if you have the ability, you just can't move any models in the unit who DON'T have a jetpack; i.e. Loth/Tiggy.

Riptides (Ion Accelerators) do threaten the bomb; but, clever deployment can mitigate getting second turn. That's why even though I stopped taking Shadowsun in place of a buffmander, I take a few shield drones to counter that one IA blast that's sure to get me if I get turn 2.

Either way, the IA tides become target #1. A bomb can kill 2 riptides a turn, so if you're opponent is smart, he'll place the two IA tides on opposite ends of his deployment. Of course, if you're facing an O'Vesa Star, they don't have that luxury. You gun for the star and their 3rd (and possibly 4th) Riptides being alive won't be enough to mitigate you crippling the star T1.

RAW it seems you can't, because the rules for Jet Pack infantry specify Jet Pack unit; I was referring to Jet Pack ICs attached to a Centurion unit.

Well its been a while since I have contributed to this thread, and have gotten A LOT of experience under my belt. I am currently on a win streak with my Farsight bomb + Red Scorpions (Loth). I am thinking about entering in a 2k tournament and was wondering if doing a centurion bomb and a Farsight bomb would be a good idea. I dont think that there are many viable Tau builds, but I have just started thinking about this. If I could get some help with building a list that is highly competitive that could either be a 2k Tau list or a 2k Tau + SM list, I would really appreciate it!

One of the things that I am getting stumped on so far is if I should be running a Farsight Bomb type list or not. Dual force org. is allowed, and so are FW models with the 40k approved stamp. I could spam Riptides, and maybe take an R'Varna, but since the rule update (AP 3 to AP 4 on the Pulse Submunitions Cannons) I don't think it is as viable of an option.

This time I have also done some research before I post (@The Shrike I hope you appreciate this ). What I have found is that although the Centurions are quite powerful, they lack some major things like an invuln. save that makes them more weak. They can put out a lot of damage, and having pretty much everything TL is very good. I could run 2 bombs for a 2k list. One Centurion bomb with Loth that would GoI around the board, along with a Farsight Bomb that would either DS, or possibly start in an offensive position so it can JSJ around and get in range quickly. Of course all of this would be backed up by some Riptides, and possibly some Stormtalons with troops if needed.

So to recap, as you can probably tell, I do have quite a few questions, and hopefully some guidance will help me refine my focus more so I can contribute and ask more specific and important questions down the road. Thanks!