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Local tourney doing a 500 point game. Was thinking something along these lines:

Ethereal 50

6 Firewarriors 54
6 Firewarriors 54

Riptide: Ion, FB, EWO 190

2 Broadsides: HYMP, EWO, 1 Missile drone 152

500 on the nose. Could drop the solitary drone for a Fireblade. Gets me 1 ML which isn't really worth it though counter acts the extra VP. I have the Ethereal already painted though...

Would it be worth dropping the Riptide to spam 4 Missilesides?

Hmm...it's a bit iffy just from lack of numbers. It's always hard to make a TAC list for 500 points or the like. The Riptide is a good all-comers killer, though I would frown on seeing it in a non-tourney list at this point level. If it were me, I would not drop it for more missile sides. If I did swap it out for XV88's, I would go with rails just for the AP and anti armor. In the end I'd say keep the Ion Tide, as it gives you a counter for AV14, which some unscrupulous types will undoubtedly bring to a 500 point event.

Perhaps you could swap the missile drone out for a single marker drone on your fire warriors? No guarantee it will do anything, but at 500 points a single light can do some good.

I think that you should swap the ethereal for a fireblade. IMO ethereals are too squishy and is a easy few bps for the enemy.

I don't want a single ML I'd want at least 2 so I can strip cover if needed a +1Bs isn't that useful to a Riptide or the already twin linked broadsides.

Railsides are terrible I would never take them. Missilesides are just infinitely better. If I was making the swap I'd be able to get a fusion suit to deal with AV14.


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I'd considered the Fireblade though you're practically forced to stick him with Firewarriors rather than the Riptide or Broadsides where the Ethereal would hang out most games. He's also not giving that ld10 bubble. Plus I'm giving up 2 S7 shots a turn. Is it worth it? Not sure. A near guarranteed ML hit a turn is nice but as stated its 2 I want for ignores cover.

I already have the Ethereal painted and I blend my Tau through to Fulgrim Pink which takes a while so that is something I will consider once I get the rest of the list painted as I'm short on time.

Definitely use HBC for a 500 list. Fliers die hard to hbc, also transports or any wraithknight shenanigans will meet a quick end. And really you aren't going to have an opportunity for that sweet ap 2 blast to vaporize a termie squad. Not at 500 pts, only a fool would deepstrike a termite squad against an ewo Iontide. And when the termies are in standard formation you wont get more than 2 maybe 3 under that pie plate. But the HBC will kill 2 or more per turn (while novacharged). An ion tide NEEDS ml support. If you miss with that ion you just shut down half your own army's shooting for a turn whereas the HBC's bread and butter is in rending AND forcing saves. 500 is tough but I would drop the broadsides in favor of a skyray. There's an armor counter and 2 markerlights. If the ray doesn't drop the armor get all up in their face with that tide and fb it's ass to death. I would really try getting Stims on the tide, you are going to want to nova every turn with the HBC and play the skyray up in their face also so you get those ml hits. And remember to have that tide or ray on their side at the end for line breaker.


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Sweet thing is when you slam that tide and skyray down their throats your squishy blue dudes have the run of the rest of the table.


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Sweet thing is when you slam that tide and skyray down their throats your squishy blue dudes have the run of the rest of the table.

Looks pretty dirty man; I like it. I hope it's for a 500 pt tourny though. Otherwise, you'll chase all the baby seals out of the shop.

I currently run 2 Iontides and will not have time to paint another Riptide. I have attempted Novacharging 9 times with the 2 Riptides and been successful twice. I hate Nova charging as it basically never works for me so relying on it with the HBC riptide just won't work with my dice. I can see the logic and I agree the Iontide needs ML support to be truly effective. But I wouldn't be surprised to see a drop pod army and the Iontide is very effective against them. Plus denying the opportunity for someone to deep strike their Terminators can be very useful in 500 points.

Skyrays are just too 1 hit to be viable at such a low points value. I know it nets me 2 MLs which is attractive but if my opponent brings 2 flyers I'm stuffed and his flyer(s) will get the alphastrike which the Broadsides deny him. I like Skyrays but at 500 points I can't afford a quarter of my army to be a one shot weapon.

Stupid restrictions. No 2+ saves no 3W models no AV total more than 33, no flyers. Also HQ is optional. Enclaves seems the way forward:

3 Crisis: 2 Plasma, 2 Gun drones 180
2 Crisis: 2 MP each, EWO 114
3 Crisis: 2 Burst cannons each, 1 drone controller, 6 Gun drones 206

Everything is troops metric f-tonne of firepower.

 bossfearless wrote:
In the end I'd say keep the Ion Tide, as it gives you a counter for AV14, which some unscrupulous types will undoubtedly bring to a 500 point event.

Kind of like those unscrupulous types that bring a Riptide in a 500 point army?