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<? My first take on Tau Empire. Not greatly different from a version 3 list, but more potent in many ways I feel, particularly in grabbing objectives. Whether its the most potent list or not, i'm not so certain - i think one of the those Ions needs to go Rail - but it should do pretty well in a competitive enviro. Anyway, what do you think?

 

 

97 ? Shas?el with plasma, missile, array, tracker

Why would you bother taking a Shas?O ever again?

 

92 ? Shas?el with CIB, missile, array, tracker

I?m not convinced the CIB is a good option, and adding a bodyguard with a 24 PR doesn?t exactly complement it. Ideally this guy would run solo, but the CIB simply cannot threaten rear armour. Probably the best option is simply to drop the CIB, but until I try it, I?ll never know.

82 ? Bodyguard with plasma, missile, array, tracker

The bodyguard with array is ?on the money? so to speak, when compared with the elite suit.

 

 

201 ? 3 Fireknife Crisis Suits, leader with array and HW tracker

The team leader with array is a real points break, and I see no reason not to upgrade every possible team leader in an army!

 

150 ? 3 Stealth Suits, 6 Gun Drones

150 ? 3 Stealth Suits, 6 Gun Drones

I?m willing to bet that 6 cloaked drones are better than 2 Stealth Suits. They may only have a 4+ and the unit footprint may be 50% bigger, but the drones are in majority, so the first kills degrade firepower far less, and 9 wounds means its 3 kills to test rather than 2. Plus 6 carbines gives a reasonable chance of putting a pin test on MEQ units.

 

 

60 ? Firewarriors

70 ? Kroot

The usual!

 

65 ? Piranha with fusion

65 ? Piranha with fusion

I?m not sure what the ?right? number or Piranhas in a Tau army is. The model is large and difficult to hide and I really don?t expect them to ever kill anything. What they can do is move 24? in turn 6, the value of which is difficult to quantify. I put fusion on just on the off-chance I need them to strike at something.

 

 

130 ? Ion/burst head

130 ? Ion/burst head

130 points for an Ion head is a steal- the real question is can I get them to work in 4^th. I?m pretty sure with M&F Broadsides, it will be possible, but it?s more a question of at what level they hit the ?playing ceiling?. I?ve never liked the Railhead ? paying 180 odd points for a one-shot AV13 skimmer has never sat well with me

 

195 ? Buttsides w/ 2 SDs

Its not at all clear in my head how well Buttsides will do, but at least this list will force them to work.-they are the only railguns!

I saw a pretty neat tactic performed the other day with a piranha...

not sure if it's legal but basically the guy drove up the back of a full chimera, popped the chimera and because his piranha was covering the only exit port... he took out the squad as well.

As for your list, I like it... the ion heads give you volume of shots to go along with your stealth suits. Just make sure you take out heavy armor early and you should be fine.

Dont forget the tactic of driving the Pirahna up to the enemy as soon as possible, blocking assaulters from advancing.

The points used to do this is ponderous but could be a viable tactic.

I am waiting on mine to arrive so that I can see how they play out.

The list otherwise, is solid as usual, Torgoch. The theory for your HS seems sound. Now, let us know how it works.

I like this list, a lot. I've come to a lot of the same conclusions you have regarding the stealth suits, but your use of the arrays is very interesting to me. In general I've shyed away from using them, but my list is markerlight heavy right now, so that's why.

I have to agree with you regarding one of the Ionheads going rail, too. I can't imagine not having submunitions.

Ezz

Posted By Sgt_Scruffy on 04/20/2006 3:26 PM
I saw a pretty neat tactic performed the other day with a piranha...

not sure if it's legal but basically the guy drove up the back of a full chimera, popped the chimera and because his piranha was covering the only exit port... he took out the squad as well.

This tactic is totally legal as far as I can see. I've heard of people doing it with several piranhas or the detached drones, for example, surround a Land Raider to block the hatches, blow it up and kill the squad inside at the same time. It's called "Meat in the sandwich."

This is one situation where the size of the piranha might turn to be an advantage ? particularly against Gaunts who simply cannot pull the thing out the sky when facing its front, but also against KoS Orks. Despite the lack of templates, I?m quite certain that this list can take on either army.

The blocking vehicles tactic is useful, but rarely necessary. There is sufficient mid-range firepower available to Tau that they should be able to strand transports well away from Tau lines ? in which situation you are giving up a 65pt skimmer to kill around 70-80 points of troops in the case of the Chimera. Not really a good exchange, since there are other methods to deal with footsloggers. Blocking can be useful on tight terrain boards, however, or when facing a Waveserpent.