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Soooo... The HQ in question is the famous Buffcommander with the works (CC Node, MSSS, PENchip, Iridium, RetroThrusters). In 6th he use to be used in Ovesa-star to give everyone TL, ignore cover, Monster or Tank Hunter, and Hit and Run. Insane buffs all around. However, I never ran him that way... I've always ran him with this unit in Farsight Enclave.

3 x Crisis Suit Unit: auto-pass Look out Sir
6x Marker Drones (ablative wounds essentially adding 6 more wounds to the Buffcommanders great T5 4 wounds 2+ 5++ toughness, and some even sprinkle in FNP)
Crisis Battle Suit - 2 Missile Pods, Target Lock
Crisis Battle Suit - 2 Missile Pods, Target Lock
Crisis Battle Suit - 2 Missile Pods, Target Lock

The Buffcommander also had 2 marker drones of his own giving him essentially 8 additional ablative wounds for a total of 12 wounds total because I would always run him up front and center. Since he's in a unit of Crisis Suits Look out Sir rolls auto pass. Easily taking out 1.5 Serpents a turn with ease and markerlighting up another unit/model. (Marker drones target a model, and I Target Lock my Suits to another target) This unit is tough as nails and I've rarely ever had it fully wiped before the rest of my army could put a major enough dent into my opponents army.

Now I can still run this and it's still great! But I always think there's something "better" or more "effective" out there.

How do you run your Buffcommander now in 7th? Do you think it's more effective/better than the current setup I have now? If so why? I'd love to change things up a bit. (I ran this setup all through 6th already)

You DO realize that you are cheating, yes?

 syypher wrote:
Soooo... The HQ in question is the famous Buffcommander with the works (CC Node, MSSS, PENchip, Iridium, RetroThrusters). In 6th he use to be used in Ovesa-star to give everyone TL, ignore cover, Monster or Tank Hunter, and Hit and Run. Insane buffs all around. However, I never ran him that way... I've always ran him with this unit in Farsight Enclave.

3 x Crisis Suit Unit: auto-pass Look out Sir
6x Marker Drones (ablative wounds essentially adding 6 more wounds to the Buffcommanders great T5 4 wounds 2+ 5++ toughness, and some even sprinkle in FNP)
Crisis Battle Suit - 2 Missile Pods, Advanced Targetting System
Crisis Battle Suit - 2 Missile Pods, Advanced Targetting System
Crisis Battle Suit - 2 Missile Pods, Advanced Targetting System

The Buffcommander also had 2 marker drones of his own giving him essentially 8 additional ablative wounds for a total of 12 wounds total because I would always run him up front and center. Since he's in a unit of Crisis Suits Look out Sir rolls auto pass. Easily taking out 1.5 Serpents a turn with ease and markerlighting up another unit/model. (Marker drones target a model, and I ATS my Suits to another target)

This unit wrecked shop. And it's still viable in 7th! Now I can still run this and it's still great! But I always think there's something "better" or more "effective" out there.

How do you run your Buffcommander now in 7th? Do you think it's more effective/better than the current setup I have now? If so why? I'd love to change things up a bit. (I ran this setup all through 6th already)

Huh? Please explain... I got this setup from one of the ToF authors. He said it's been doing great for him (back in 6th). What's wrong with it o_o?

Advanced Targeting System isn't a Target Lock, which I assume you are talking about. look up the entries in your codex.

but assuming that is what you meant, I agree. especially since I play farsight and I have to take a full squad of crisis suits in the list.

OMG... that's it? That was just a mistype bro. Sorry about that. Correcting it. I used Target Lock on my setup. Was just typing too fast, didn't catch that.

In regards to the autopass look out sir, you get that by using bodyguards - not the regular crisis squad.

ArmadA wrote:
In regards to the autopass look out sir, you get that by using bodyguards - not the regular crisis squad.

Thanks for the find. No one ever corrected me and I had misunderstood it then when I read it. I'll roll my 2+

So... how do you guys use your Buffcommanders now? Do you still find him cost effective? I'm liking my "mini-deathstar" setup.

consider dropping VRT for a drone controller. There should be no reason when everything in the unit has relentless and range 36" to let anything get close to it.

If you are worried about getting charged, consider running a solo suit with VRT, Stim injectors, Shield Generator & 2 drones. It can get into combat, weather any strikes, and have a better roll for hit & run than your entry.


edit - d'oh, ignore me. I keep forgetting that sig systems don't take up a suit's slots.

My Decked Out Buffcommander(MSS, C&CN, Pen, NSJ, VTR, DC, Onager, Iridium, Shield, Stims) is Tanking for a unit that consists of:

3 Dual Missile Pod Crisis with Target Locks and 6 Marker Drones
Commander with Dual Missile Pods, Target Lock, and a Velocity Tracker

I've been running this unit since the day 7th dropped and it has performed well. Unfortunately Barrage really huts, so do Orbital Bombardments. I've found it more potent, but less reliable, than 6th when I attatched a BuffCommander to an HBC or IA Riptide.


Lights one unit up like a Christmas Tree, and can engage up to four others with Twinlinked Tank/Monster Hunter Ignore Cover Missile Pods. And four even have Skyfire.

I've had the unit destroy 3 Venoms, a Ravager, and light up another Ravager for Destruction in a Single turn. I've had it take out two Wave Serpents and light up another unit. I've had it drop 3 Razorbacks and light up another in a turn.

It can effectively engage multiple enemies. Even against a non optimal target, a Dreadknight, it still averages ~2 Unsaved Wounds plus its Markerlight Support. Averages 2.4 unsaved Wounds against a Wraithknight, 3.8Wounds against a TMC etc.

 Zagman wrote:
My Decked Out Buffcommander(MSS, C&CN, Pen, NSJ, VTR, DC, Onager, Iridium, Shield, Stims) is Tanking for a unit that consists of:

3 Dual Missile Pod Crisis with Target Locks and 6 Marker Drones
Commander with Dual Missile Pods, Target Lock, and a Velocity Tracker

I've been running this unit since the day 7th dropped and it has performed well. Unfortunately Barrage really huts, so do Orbital Bombardments. I've found it more potent, but less reliable, than 6th when I attatched a BuffCommander to an HBC or IA Riptide.


Lights one unit up like a Christmas Tree, and can engage up to four others with Twinlinked Tank/Monster Hunter Ignore Cover Missile Pods. And four even have Skyfire.

I've had the unit destroy 3 Venoms, a Ravager, and light up another Ravager for Destruction in a Single turn. I've had it take out two Wave Serpents and light up another unit. I've had it drop 3 Razorbacks and light up another in a turn.

It can effectively engage multiple enemies. Even against a non optimal target, a Dreadknight, it still averages ~2 Unsaved Wounds plus its Markerlight Support. Averages 2.4 unsaved Wounds against a Wraithknight, 3.8Wounds against a TMC etc.

Oh, another Commander to add more MPs to the mix, sounds even more awesome! More firepower

Do you find Velocity Tracker helpful for him though? It's kind of expensive for him.

 syypher wrote:

 Zagman wrote:
My Decked Out Buffcommander(MSS, C&CN, Pen, NSJ, VTR, DC, Onager, Iridium, Shield, Stims) is Tanking for a unit that consists of:

3 Dual Missile Pod Crisis with Target Locks and 6 Marker Drones
Commander with Dual Missile Pods, Target Lock, and a Velocity Tracker

I've been running this unit since the day 7th dropped and it has performed well. Unfortunately Barrage really huts, so do Orbital Bombardments. I've found it more potent, but less reliable, than 6th when I attatched a BuffCommander to an HBC or IA Riptide.


Lights one unit up like a Christmas Tree, and can engage up to four others with Twinlinked Tank/Monster Hunter Ignore Cover Missile Pods. And four even have Skyfire.

I've had the unit destroy 3 Venoms, a Ravager, and light up another Ravager for Destruction in a Single turn. I've had it take out two Wave Serpents and light up another unit. I've had it drop 3 Razorbacks and light up another in a turn.

It can effectively engage multiple enemies. Even against a non optimal target, a Dreadknight, it still averages ~2 Unsaved Wounds plus its Markerlight Support. Averages 2.4 unsaved Wounds against a Wraithknight, 3.8Wounds against a TMC etc.

Oh, another Commander to add more MPs to the mix, sounds even more awesome! More firepower

Do you find Velocity Tracker helpful for him though? It's kind of expensive for him.

Yep, gotta have a Warlord, figured may as well add firepower and get some extra mileage out of my BuffCommander. Plus, it incentives opponents to shoot at the unit through the BuffCommander which is generally what I want them to be trying anyway!

The VT is there to add another source of AA. It averages 2.9 HP to a AV 11 Flyer by himself or 2.1 HP to an AV12 Flyer. How many times against Night Scythes do you with you had another simple unit that could pick off another one? The unit itself with Twinlinked Tank Hunter Snap Shots deals an average 2.7HP to an AV11 Flyer. meaning that I have pretty good odds of taking out two Night Scythes with just that unit and Commander. Plus, I've got 2.4 Markerlight Hits against another meaning one or both my two VT HBC Riptides can take that out too. As designed, most turns I can drop three Night Scythes or combine to take out 2 AV12 Flyers pretty reliably. And that is with only 3 VTs in the entire list, 60pts and I don't really fear Flyers or FMCs, and lists that just take one or two generally are giving me easy kills.

Adding just that VT to a Commander my list has to have anyway, really upped the anti for my anti Flyer/FMC ability. Right now, there really isn't a Flyer dominant list that scares me, maybe the new Wolf one, but I doubt we'll see that on the tables anytime soon. For a 140pts, he is one of the single best AA platforms in the game when attached to the BuffCommander, literally unparalleled.

 Zagman wrote:

 syypher wrote:

 Zagman wrote:
My Decked Out Buffcommander(MSS, C&CN, Pen, NSJ, VTR, DC, Onager, Iridium, Shield, Stims) is Tanking for a unit that consists of:

3 Dual Missile Pod Crisis with Target Locks and 6 Marker Drones
Commander with Dual Missile Pods, Target Lock, and a Velocity Tracker

I've been running this unit since the day 7th dropped and it has performed well. Unfortunately Barrage really huts, so do Orbital Bombardments. I've found it more potent, but less reliable, than 6th when I attatched a BuffCommander to an HBC or IA Riptide.


Lights one unit up like a Christmas Tree, and can engage up to four others with Twinlinked Tank/Monster Hunter Ignore Cover Missile Pods. And four even have Skyfire.

I've had the unit destroy 3 Venoms, a Ravager, and light up another Ravager for Destruction in a Single turn. I've had it take out two Wave Serpents and light up another unit. I've had it drop 3 Razorbacks and light up another in a turn.

It can effectively engage multiple enemies. Even against a non optimal target, a Dreadknight, it still averages ~2 Unsaved Wounds plus its Markerlight Support. Averages 2.4 unsaved Wounds against a Wraithknight, 3.8Wounds against a TMC etc.

Oh, another Commander to add more MPs to the mix, sounds even more awesome! More firepower

Do you find Velocity Tracker helpful for him though? It's kind of expensive for him.

Yep, gotta have a Warlord, figured may as well add firepower and get some extra mileage out of my BuffCommander. Plus, it incentives opponents to shoot at the unit through the BuffCommander which is generally what I want them to be trying anyway!

The VT is there to add another source of AA. It averages 2.9 HP to a AV 11 Flyer by himself or 2.1 HP to an AV12 Flyer. How many times against Night Scythes do you with you had another simple unit that could pick off another one? The unit itself with Twinlinked Tank Hunter Snap Shots deals an average 2.7HP to an AV11 Flyer. meaning that I have pretty good odds of taking out two Night Scythes with just that unit and Commander. Plus, I've got 2.4 Markerlight Hits against another meaning one or both my two VT HBC Riptides can take that out too. As designed, most turns I can drop three Night Scythes or combine to take out 2 AV12 Flyers pretty reliably. And that is with only 3 VTs in the entire list, 60pts and I don't really fear Flyers or FMCs, and lists that just take one or two generally are giving me easy kills.

Adding just that VT to a Commander my list has to have anyway, really upped the anti for my anti Flyer/FMC ability. Right now, there really isn't a Flyer dominant list that scares me, maybe the new Wolf one, but I doubt we'll see that on the tables anytime soon. For a 140pts, he is one of the single best AA platforms in the game when attached to the BuffCommander, literally unparalleled.

That puts it into perspective. Really legit! I guess I don't need 2x Skyrays in my lists now hahah But the Skyrays do bring some nice durable Markerlight + SMS support once their shot out all their missiles

Curious, do you ever run Skyrays in your lists?

Skyrays are awesome, I'm a huge advocate of them. If I wasn't running a themed Suits and Drones army, I would be making heavy use of SkyRays. 3 Skyrays brings decent offense and enough Skyfire Markerlight support to power an entire army with solid alpha strike potential.

The biggest failing of my current list is that I can only Light Up one unit per turn, granted that one unit turns into a flashing neon sign and I can do some crazy things with 8 Markerlights like virtually guaranteed no scatter IA Blasts, or spend 4 to boost my ECPA HBC to BS5(Effective BS10 with ECPA) and Ignores Cover. That alone takes out one AV11 target, Pens an AV12 target twice on average, and takes 2HP off of AV13 with a chance for some pens. Also, my Marker Drones are my Ablative wounds so after a while i really start running short on Support.

Do you guys think putting the Buff Commander with a squad of Missilesides + Missle Drones slows it down too much? No more JSJ... also all weapons are heavy so a lot less mobility... but a ton more firepower flying out the gates.

Thoughts?

 syypher wrote:
Do you guys think putting the Buff Commander with a squad of Missilesides + Missle Drones slows it down too much? No more JSJ... also all weapons are heavy so a lot less mobility... but a ton more firepower flying out the gates.

Thoughts?

IMO it's definitely a solidunit. Allows for a cheaper BuffCommander, only really needs MSS, pen, and Iridium. Stim and Shield are optional. The MissileSides are already Twinlinked. The biggest difference between BuffCommander +Missile Crisis and BuffCommander +Missilesides is that the Missile crisis puts out good firepower in a mobile platform and offers army support, whereas the Missilesides put out more Firepower with less mobility and requires support to function optimally. Just 2 Markerlights and you can move the MissileSides and fire with good effect, especially for the Missile Drones.

IMO, if you are looking at the BuffCommander +Missilesides you really need a good external source of Markerlights, Skyrays really fit the bill here. Two offer four Skyfire Markerlights and enough Markerlights to make moving and shooting highly effective. Two Markerlights means very shots hits at 75% against all targets! solid. Plus, Skyrays are the most resilient form of Markerlights we can field.

That's how I'd do it.

Thanks. I think I'll test out the Missilesides. It sounds awesome, especially with MH and TankH.

Off topic question but having to do with Tau... where do I find the latest rules for the FW XV107 R'varna Riptide variant?

It's on the FW website. In the R'Varna description.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Don't think you can take a buffmander in a FE list. You need pure Tau to get the systems. Like the idea of the missile pods / mark o unit. Haven't tried that.

I don't use buffmander that much. I rather equip him (and a 3xCrisis) with plasma rifles to deal with big monsters and 2+ stuff. I bring more markerlights to give them the ignore cover and good BS

But I've used buffmander before - it's quite good.

Kholzerino wrote:
It's on the FW website. In the R'Varna description.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Don't think you can take a buffmander in a FE list. You need pure Tau to get the systems. Like the idea of the missile pods / mark o unit. Haven't tried that.

grab a CAD of tau empire and voilá! buffmmander

Now, the bodyguards are good. The normal crisis suits, however, cannot pass look out sir instantly.

The bodyguards pay 10 points each for that auto LoS and the tiny bonus to CC that is largely irrelevant.
No reason to ever, EVER take them.

Kholzerino wrote:
Don't think you can take a buffmander in a FE list. You need pure Tau to get the systems. Like the idea of the missile pods / mark o unit. Haven't tried that.

actually, if you take Farsight, his bodyguard unit has the buff systems spread across them, and they are all independent characters. It gets expensive, but you can have access without resorting to CADs or allies.

Expensive as feth, and not nearly as effective.
Its actually cheaper to ally in a buffmander and a minimum size FW squad than just get the two of farsight's squad that got the shooting-preventing items.

Thats actually exactly how ive been running mine and its been pissing my meta off something fierce lol. Only the local Daemon player has been able to shut that unit down reliably (damn flying manta-ray thingies...)

ML-wise its a bit of an overkill since thats 6 ML firing at BS5 with reroll failed hits. I think in about 15 games since 7th with my tau ive managed to only land 5 out of 6 once lol....its always all 6. Generally whatever i light up only uses half of them and the rest are wasted since the unit is dead.

Its really nasty too. Nobody gives it the credit it deserves for punch-power either. They immediately assume my Broadsides are going to do 2x the damage and focus fire on them (which are still tougher to kill btw) then suddenly my crisis blob causes 11 wounds on a big bug or auto-wrecks a vehicle on top of setting up the kill for the broadsides and/or riptides lol.

edit: also on the auto-pass LoS. Thats actually pretty lousy of a rule since you usually dont ever want to use it. If you are running a buffmander this way you NEED to make him enable tank-mode or that unit will die in a heartbeat. Odds are the only things you want to LoS are things that would splat the crisis suits, since theyre risking splatting a T5 commander. Havent looked at the rule in awhile but i believe only one model needs the rule for autopass so it can go to the drones too, but the drones are kinda valuable too in this situation lol. Cant recall the last time i actually LoS'd in this unit.
Not to mention theres the model limits and cost changes. 2 crisis suit body guards at 32pts base vs 3 crisis suits at 22pts base. 3 is already too damn small. unless you really dont want to field any hammerheads and your elites are full i dont ever see a reason to taking the 2man bodyguard squad.

has anyone taken this to extremes? I mean Farsight in TE, with 7 bodyguards, 14 markerlights, & buffmander?

 carldooley wrote:
has anyone taken this to extremes? I mean Farsight in TE, with 7 bodyguards, 14 markerlights, & buffmander?

I was actually thinking about this yesterday with my bud. Not so much to do a deepstrike bomb "farsight bomb" as most call it but to just have an awesome sort of mini death-star.

(With a double CAD)
Buffcommander (all the buffing things, Vectored Retro Thrusters, Onager Gauntlet)
Commander (Velocity Tracker, 2x Missile Pods, Target Lock)
Commander (Velocity Tracker, 2x Missile Pods, Target Lock)
Commander (Fusion Blades, TL Fusions , Target Lock, Vectored Retro Thrusters)
3 unit Crisis Suits (2x Missile Pods, Target Lock)
14x Gun Drones

20x S7 ignore cover, monster or tank hunter, TL shots - all of which can be split into multiple individual targets
28x S5 ignore cover, monster or tank hunter, TL shots
Unit can EASILY drop 2-3 flyers from the sky a turn
Unit has hit and run
Unit has decent punch if charging for some reason with 5x S8 AP1 attacks + 1 S10 AP1 attack
Commander tanking as T5 2+ 4++ and FNP with essentially 14 gun drones as ablative wounds...

Fusion blades commander is illigal, as fusion blades is an upgrade on top of existing set of TLFB-and that's why its so bad. (50 points total for a TLFB that can be used in CC but might brake and destroy the gun too)

 BoomWolf wrote:
Fusion blades commander is illigal, as fusion blades is an upgrade on top of existing set of TLFB-and that's why its so bad. (50 points total for a TLFB that can be used in CC but might brake and destroy the gun too)

Oh snap really?!?! Well that's poop... oh well. (fixed)

Fusion blades is utter crap. Quite frankly if you take anything other than the warscraper drone, ECPA for a riptide, or the Relic if you so choose for Farsight relics....youre kinda...wasting your time as the rest suck lol.

Fusion blades is technically good but its SO FREAKIN EXPENSIVE and on a model that doesnt really want combat anyway. I really wish they would fix Vespid to be a real melee unit so these fusion blade commanders/farsight actually have a unit they want to assault with.