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The rule on markerlights reads "Note that as markerlight counters are removed from the target before the shooting attack is made, it is impossible for a unit to benefit from it's own markerlights."

This is no longer the case. Not all shooting attacks are made simultaniously, so it is entirely possible to resolve a markerlight shot, and then resolve your shooting attack.... and the markerlight token will be there to remove.

Am I missing something or did markerlights just turn into networked markerlights?

Nope.

You still declare a unit to shoot. You may fire each weapon type and resolve them in order, but the Target Acquired Markerlight Special rules clearly requires you to use Markerlight Tokens before the Unit Shoots.

It is absolutely impossible to use your own standard Markerlight. The quoted rule is still absolutely correct.

As Zagman said... in addition, if marker lights worked the way you suggest emmagine, (i.e. you could use them after firing within the same unit to apply them to a different weapons shots) then they would then be limited to each type of weapon they are pulled for. (I.e. only the pulse rifles, or only the Smart Missile Systems etc, if you had multible guns in a unit you could only use the markerlight bonus on any one type)

chanceafs wrote:
As Zagman said... in addition, if marker lights worked the way you suggest emmagine, (i.e. you could use them after firing within the same unit to apply them to a different weapons shots) then they would then be limited to each type of weapon they are pulled for. (I.e. only the pulse rifles, or only the Smart Missile Systems etc, if you had multible guns in a unit you could only use the markerlight bonus on any one type)

I like this answer. "Before a unit shoots" could be interpreted to mean each weapon very easily. Zagman, you've added verbage to your rule quote that completely changes its interpretation. Doing that always weakens your argument severly. Just fyi

Ya but the tau codex is clear on this. paraphrasing if you have a networked marker light than yes, if not your unit cannot benefit from its own markerlights. Current iirc the only unit that has network markerlights is the skyray.

The RAW is not very clear-cut on the subject, due to 7th changes.

The RAI however, is very obvious that markerlights do not assists own unit unless networked.

I agree. 90% of my arguments here are so that I can make a strong cases when playing. my tau haven't seen the table in a good 7 months. I've been focusing on eldar. But with so many people playing tau around here, I'm anticipating the discussion. I like the option of giving them the choice between "sure, but then you can only use it for one weapon group" or "play it the old way".

as it's declared before they shoot, do they have to decide how they are using the tokens before firing anything?

IE if a skyray chooses to fire his missiles as seekers, using 2 tokens, would he not be able to decide whether to boost his other guns BS after seeing if they seekers worked?

this came up in a game, he fired seeker missiles, rolled snake eyes, then decided to boost the BS on his front guns afterwards. should he have declared it before firing anything?

He should have declared any token usage from other units first, then fired the networked markerlights, then declared if he was going to use them and how before rolling any other dice. As soon as you have rolled a to-hit dice you cannot change your mind on how many tokens you use or what effect they will have