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Hello all and thanks for the much needed input!

I'm a long time lurker and just noticed my last post was from 2007. Haven't played 40k since 4th edition and now I have the time to pick up the hobby once more.

My strategy (or lack there of ) is to build my army into two distinct sections: maneuvers and fire support.

The maneuvers section is composed of the following:

Main effort:

Troops: 11x sniper kroot, 1x hound = 82 points
Troops: 10x sniper kroot, 1x hound = 75 points
Troops: 10x sniper kroot, 1x hound = 75 points

Main effort fires:

Heavy: Ionhead w/ Dpod & SMS = 140 points
Elite: Riptide w/ ion, EWO, stims, SMS = 225 points
Elite: Riptide w/ ion, EWO, stims, SMS = 225 points

Main effort support:

Heavy: Skyray w/ SMS = 115 points
HQ: Commander w/ 2x missile pods, target lock, drone controller, I armor, 2x marker drones = 177 points
FA: 6x marker drones = 84 points

Concept: Main effort (kroot) captures objectives. Riptides and Ionhead support kroot with long range fire support. Skyray assists with flyers and marker lights. Commander joins marker drones to provide marker light support plus 2x missile pod shots.

The fire support section is composed of the following:

HQ: Ethereal = 50 points
Troops: 12x FW = 108 points
Troops: 12x FW = 108 points
FA: 10x pathfinders = 110 points
Heavy: 3x Broadsides w/ HYMP, bonding knife, 6x missile drones = 270 points
Elite: 3x XV8 w/ 2x fusion each = 156 points

Concept: Ethereal buffs all. Troops and broadsides hold objectives / key terrain in deployment zone. Pathfinders support with marker lights. XV8s are deepstrike units used to deal with AV14.

2000 point even.

I want to hold my deployment area and also penetrate the opponents. Hopefully both sections can support each other with ranged attacks.

All comments, suggestions, criticism, etc. are very welcome. Thanks in advance.

Give your doing a 2000 pt list. I would seriouslly look at dual FOC to run 2 fireblades. You already have the troop count to do it. 2 Fireblades will effectively give you a third squad at short range and a third and fourth squad at long range.

Looks solid. I would split your pathfinders into 2 seperate teams, and maybe a bit less of each? You have a lot of marker support with the mark'o, skyray and 10 pathfinders. Maybe not sniper rounds on all the kroot?

Skyray could use a d-pod, 'vre is better than bonding if you can afford. Although, so long as your ethereal is alive he can bubble in the broadsides(maybe even joining them).

Fusion may be better than SMS on the riptides. Smart missiles mesh better with the HBC.

Gentleman's agreement is generally still 1999+1 (i.e. 1 FOC) unless previously specified. You don't want to get into playing double FOC games unless you're prepared to bring the cheese. You'll start running into crazy combos.

Now, to the list:

Both SMS and Fusion on Riptides have their place. I would go half and half. SMS is by far the best to ripple fire. Can be devastating versus GEQ. I'd split it up.

Lose the pathfinders. You have plenty of marker support and all too often they just end up giving up first blood.

Throw a couple target locks in the fusion crisis. That way, if you come in and need to kill 3 rhinos you can do it.

Also, if you can spare a point throw a blacksun filter on the Skyray in case nightfight hinders a T1 alpha strike or first blood bid.

Thanks for all the great replies.

Dropping the pathfinders. That'll give me some points to play with.

Add D-pod to Skyray. Add black sun filters to Skyray and Ionhead.

Just got my Farsight Enclaves book two days ago. So thought about moving the Ethereal down as an ally HQ along with the XV8s and one Riptide. The XV8s will get bonding knives plus two target locks. Also toss an earth caste pilot onto one Riptide. To me it makes sense just to take advantage of the earth caste pilot and to make the XV8s scoring troops.

Is it common place for Tau to take Enclave as an ally to make suits troops?

Thanks again for the input.

Yes you can certainly just ally them in to get 1-2 units of scoring crisis, ECPA on a riptide and the talisman for great psychic defense.