Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Now, I know all the other Tau players on this forum will yell "We already got snipers! The drone team is OK!" Or not, either way, I had this idea when I was converting some Fire warriors fora different project. The basic statline looks like this
WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv
Sniper 2 4 3 3 1 2 1 7 4+
Spotter 2 4 3 3 1 2 1 7 4+

cost: 35 pts
consists of 1 Sniper and 1 spotter
Heavy Support choice

Wargear
Sniper: Longshot pulse rifle, Combat Armor, Photon grenades, Refraction cloak
Spotter: Pulse Carbine, Combat Armor, Photon Grenades, Markerlight, Refraction cloak
Refraction Cloak: Gives +1 to cover saves

Special Rules:
Supporting Fire, Infiltrate, Spotter tactics
Spotter tactics- The spotter may select a specific model within 24", any Tau Sniper Team unit shooting at a unit with that model in it may choose to target that model, this choice must be made before attacks are declared

Options:
Sniper may exchange his Longshot pulse rifle for
-Ion Rifle 10 pts
-Rail Rifle 15 pts
Sniper or Spotter may take a blacksun filter- 1 pt per model
Spotter may take up to two Marker Drones
Spotter may take a Drone Controller-- 8 pts

First custom unit, any tweaks gladly accepted.

The points cost is a bit much 25pts is probably better

I think they should have Recon Armour not Combat Armour

Can you add more Snipers? because I don't think there is any reason to take a 1 shot model in a HS.

Ever thought that the unit would be better in Troops?

Being able to take the Drone Controller goes against the main Tau codex as GW have made it so that only battlesuits can take that type of upgrade

The Markerlight should be networked or its completely pointless.

I don't like the Spotter Tactics rule, you've basically given the unit a version of the new Vindicare Deadshot rule. I would prefer to see that Markerlights used will add +1 to the chance to Persission Shots

 PastelAvenger wrote:


Being able to take the Drone Controller goes against the main Tau codex as GW have made it so that only battlesuits can take that type of upgrade

The Firesight Marksman from the Sniper Drone team has a drone controller.

 A Town Called Malus wrote:

 PastelAvenger wrote:


Being able to take the Drone Controller goes against the main Tau codex as GW have made it so that only battlesuits can take that type of upgrade

The Firesight Marksman from the Sniper Drone team has a drone controller.

He does but it's not an upgrade and have you seen the size of the kit? if the non suit version is that big then a 2 man sniper team isn't going to use it. I was trying to specifically target the idea of the upgrade but after rereading that sentence I think my point wasn't very clear.

Personally, I'd make them Elites instead; and perhaps "simplify" the system as something as follows:

Unit composition: 1-3 Snipers, 0-3 Spotters
Stats and wargear: As per Fire Warriors
Cost: ??

Options:
- Snipers MUST replace their Pulse rifle with either a Longshot ion rifle (free) or a Longshot rail rifle (?? cost).
- Spotters MUST receive Networked markerlights (free).
- The entire unit may take EMP grenades.
- The entire unit may take Refractory cloaks (+1 Cover saves) for ?? points/model.

Weapon profiles:
- Longshot ion rifle - Range: 48", S: 7, AP: 4, Type: Salvo 1/1
- Longshot rail rifle - Range: 48", S: 6, AP: 1, Type: Salvo 1/1

Special rules:
- Scout
- Shoot sharp and scarper
- Designated spotter (Spotter only): If a model in the unit has this special rule, all Sniper weapons count as Rapid fire and gain the Sniper special rule.

I think I'd still pick the Sniper drones (they should be elites!)

Although I think there could be potential if these kind of thing were made options for pathfinders to take.

-I think pathfinders should have stealth anyway.
-They could have an upgrade for networked marker lights
-Camo cloaks to give them shrouded
-have more than 3 rail rifles/ion rifles in a squad
-Longshot pulse rifles could be made an option as well

Personally I think I'd still use them for marker lights but the variety would be appreciated and make them more interesting.