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Playing some Nids on Wednesday night.

my 2nd or 3rd game against this player and i've lost all so far soI'd like to get a win in.

I've no idea what he's bringing but I'm betting it'll be psychic heavy. I need a list that will be a good all round bid list. I don't think he will be bound either so I want to capitalise on that with some strong troops.

so far this is what I've come up with...

+++ Tau 01.20.15 (1849pts) +++

++ Tau Empire: Codex (2013) (Combined Arms Detachment) ++

+ HQ +

Commander
[Command and Control Node, Drone controller, 2x Marker Drone, Multi-spectrum Sensor Suite, Neuroweb System Jammer]

Commander
[Drone controller, 2x Fusion blaster, 2x Marker Drone]

+ Elites +
XV104 Riptide
[Ion accelerator, Twin-linked fusion blaster]

XV8 Crisis Team ····
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster] ····
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster] ····
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]

+ Troops +
Fire Warrior Team
[6x Fire Warrior Shas'la with pulse rifle]

Fire Warrior Team
[6x Fire Warrior Shas'la with pulse rifle]

++ Tau Empire: Codex (2013) (Formation Detachment) ++

+ Formation +

Firebase Support Cadre ····

XV104 Riptide
[Early warning override, Ion accelerator, Twin-linked fusion blaster] ····

XV88 Broadside Team ········
Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system] ········

Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system] ········

Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system] ····

XV88 Broadside Team ········
Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system] ········

Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system] ········

Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]

++ Tau Empire: Supplement - Farsight Enclaves (2013) (Combined Arms Detachment) ++

+ HQ +

Commander
[Drone controller, 2x Fusion blaster, 2x Marker Drone]

+ Troops +
XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory)
[Bonding Knife Ritual, 2x Marker Drone] ····
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle] ····
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle] ····
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]

XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory)
[Bonding Knife Ritual] ····
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster] ····
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster] ····
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]

OK, your Farsight Tau Commander doesnt know what he's doing, there's alot of point invested in him buffing markerlight drones and yet he has two fusion blasters that want him really close to the enemy, if you want him buffing the markerlights then missilepods and a targetlock are probably the best way to keep your markerdrones from dissolving under small arms fire. Same with your Tau detachment of a similar build, either target lock them or longer range firepower, remember the drones arent networked so the commander cannot benefit from his own drones.

You're packing alot of fusion blasters for an anti nid list... actually you're packing alot for any list, whilst they're nice IDing warriors you may find more bang for your buck with plasma rifles, the 2 shots at 12 inches for a total of 4 per suit is a godsend against T6 MC and anything with a worse than 2+ save.

Firewarriors are firewarriors, they may run but lets be fair the squads are dirt cheap.

If you had the points I would recommend burying one of your commanders in a Markerdrone squad since all benefit from his BS5 rather than just his own drones,

Worryingly (for Tau) I think horde lists may trip you up, you're very invested in a low volume of high strength shots atm

 Melcavuk wrote:
OK, your Farsight Tau Commander doesnt know what he's doing, there's alot of point invested in him buffing markerlight drones and yet he has two fusion blasters that want him really close to the enemy, if you want him buffing the markerlights then missilepods and a targetlock are probably the best way to keep your markerdrones from dissolving under small arms fire. Same with your Tau detachment of a similar build, either target lock them or longer range firepower, remember the drones arent networked so the commander cannot benefit from his own drones.

You're packing alot of fusion blasters for an anti nid list... actually you're packing alot for any list, whilst they're nice IDing warriors you may find more bang for your buck with plasma rifles, the 2 shots at 12 inches for a total of 4 per suit is a godsend against T6 MC and anything with a worse than 2+ save.

Firewarriors are firewarriors, they may run but lets be fair the squads are dirt cheap.

If you had the points I would recommend burying one of your commanders in a Markerdrone squad since all benefit from his BS5 rather than just his own drones,

Worryingly (for Tau) I think horde lists may trip you up, you're very invested in a low volume of high strength shots atm

Yeah I see what your saying this is an adaptation of my last list which did very well against Dark Angles.

All of the commanders will be attached to crisis teams. I see what your saying about the FB but they are just so damn effective and I want something thats mobile but also can cut down his MC.

Ive amended the list below. The plasma Commanders go with the plasma crisis teams the Buff-mander goes with the FB crisis team...

+++ Tau 01.20.15 (1849pts) +++

++ Tau Empire: Codex (2013) (Combined Arms Detachment) ++

+ HQ +

Commander [Command and Control Node, Drone controller, 2x Marker Drone, Multi-spectrum Sensor Suite, Neuroweb System Jammer]

Commander [Drone controller, 2x Marker Drone, 2x Plasma rifle]

+ Elites +

XV104 Riptide [Ion accelerator, Twin-linked fusion blaster]

XV8 Crisis Team
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]

+ Troops +

Fire Warrior Team [6x Fire Warrior Shas'la with pulse rifle]

Fire Warrior Team [6x Fire Warrior Shas'la with pulse rifle]

++ Tau Empire: Codex (2013) (Formation Detachment) ++

+ Formation +

Firebase Support Cadre
····XV104 Riptide [Early warning override, Ion accelerator, Twin-linked fusion blaster]
····XV88 Broadside Team
········Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
········Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
········Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
····XV88 Broadside Team
········Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
········Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
········Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]

++ Tau Empire: Supplement - Farsight Enclaves (2013) (Combined Arms Detachment) ++

+ HQ +

Commander [Drone controller, 2x Marker Drone, 2x Plasma rifle]

+ Troops +

XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory) [Bonding Knife Ritual, 2x Marker Drone]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]

XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory) [Bonding Knife Ritual]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]

Understandable, the abundance of anti tank did seem shocking.

If your commanders are in crisis teams then I'd recommend either target locks for every member of the team, or dropping the marker drones, for example.

If Commander A (Codex: Tau one) is in the Plasma rifle team, they will be firing 4 shots a piece, so 16 plasma shots at the target. Typically that target should now be dead or useless, so the 4 markerlight shots add nothing to this unit, and cant fire at a different target to the unit.

The only way I could consider it being effective is if the Commander is on his own, inside a unit of markerlight drones, with a target lock. That way you commander shoots one target, your drones mark another.

 Melcavuk wrote:
Understandable, the abundance of anti tank did seem shocking.

If your commanders are in crisis teams then I'd recommend either target locks for every member of the team, or dropping the marker drones, for example.

If Commander A (Codex: Tau one) is in the Plasma rifle team, they will be firing 4 shots a piece, so 16 plasma shots at the target. Typically that target should now be dead or useless, so the 4 markerlight shots add nothing to this unit, and cant fire at a different target to the unit.

The only way I could consider it being effective is if the Commander is on his own, inside a unit of markerlight drones, with a target lock. That way you commander shoots one target, your drones mark another.

My thoughts were go in with crisis team and do a lot of damage, then use the markers from the crisis team with the riptides to finish off those units?

What your saying with the TL makes more sense and is certainly a more efficiant option, but it means taking points from another unit and i really do not want to sacrifice any fire power in this list.

Maybe I'll drop the Tau and just do two detachments of Farsight, that way I loose the fire warriors altogether and can add more marker lights/ crisis suits??

I have to admit that the tetras worked nicely in my last game, they tend to be real dakka magnets but with v10 all round are suprisingly tough, I just can't sacrifice actual firepower to put them in.

The issue with dropping the Tau is the loss of the Buffmander, depending on how vital he is to your tactics then its a toss up really.

As for going for Farsight... i have 5 crisis teams and many riptides, I heartily endorse a full suit list, especially given the sheer mobility being a boost against assault centric armies like nids.

I agree dropping firepower would leave you short against what could be a horde army, you're potentially right up against it if he brings masses of smaller bugs as it is.

I think Dropping one commander would potentially free up the points to bury the other commander in a drone squad, and potentially gain a crisis suit or two out of the bargain aswell. (Essentially putting your markerlights into their own units, without the loss of firepower)


if you did move it all into a Farsight Enclave single detachment you could lose the BuffCommander (since you cant take him anyways) in exchange for another crisis team, drop one of the firewarrior squads for a path finder team and the other for a drone squad. Essentially converting the

2 Commanders
2 Firewarrior teams
Crisis Team
Riptide

from the Tau Codex into
1 Commander + Dronesquad
1 Path Finder Team
2 x Crisis Team
Riptide

To add to your farsight list. Markerlights for ignoring cover could prove vital if he's running alot of Venomthropes or the bigger shrouded bug.

 Melcavuk wrote:
The issue with dropping the Tau is the loss of the Buffmander, depending on how vital he is to your tactics then its a toss up really.

As for going for Farsight... i have 5 crisis teams and many riptides, I heartily endorse a full suit list, especially given the sheer mobility being a boost against assault centric armies like nids.

I agree dropping firepower would leave you short against what could be a horde army, you're potentially right up against it if he brings masses of smaller bugs as it is.

I think Dropping one commander would potentially free up the points to bury the other commander in a drone squad, and potentially gain a crisis suit or two out of the bargain aswell. (Essentially putting your markerlights into their own units, without the loss of firepower)


if you did move it all into a Farsight Enclave single detachment you could lose the BuffCommander (since you cant take him anyways) in exchange for another crisis team, drop one of the firewarrior squads for a path finder team and the other for a drone squad. Essentially converting the

2 Commanders
2 Firewarrior teams
Crisis Team
Riptide

from the Tau Codex into
1 Commander + Dronesquad
1 Path Finder Team
2 x Crisis Team
Riptide

To add to your farsight list. Markerlights for ignoring cover could prove vital if he's running alot of Venomthropes or the bigger shrouded bug.

tbh I don't remember what he has. I know he has one biovore, some warriors, a hive tyrant (i think), death leaper, various gaunts, some gene stealers, a guard, tervigon, carnifex, tyrannofex and he bought some new units recently. I suppose it doesn't really matter his exact units I want to build a list that can at least have a competitive game against most bid lists.

the loss of the buffmander is a big deal, just because of how effective it is, however he will most likely do his best to nail that unit down in the first turn with some psychic shenanigans so maybe I am better off dropping it.

I don't like pathfinders at all, the fact that they are so soft and can't move and shoot just makes them a sitting target imo and an easy first blood. how about this?


+++ Tau 01.20.15 (1844pts) +++

++ Tau Empire: Codex (2013) (Formation Detachment) ++

+ Formation +

Firebase Support Cadre
····XV104 Riptide [Early warning override, Ion accelerator, Twin-linked fusion blaster]
····XV88 Broadside Team
········Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
········Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
········Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
····XV88 Broadside Team
········Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
········Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
········Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]

++ Tau Empire: Supplement - Farsight Enclaves (2013) (Combined Arms Detachment) ++

+ HQ +

Commander [Drone controller, 2x Plasma rifle]

+ Troops +

XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory) [Bonding Knife Ritual]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]

XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory) [Bonding Knife Ritual]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]

+ Fast Attack +

Drone Squadron [4x Marker Drone]

++ Tau Empire: Supplement - Farsight Enclaves (2013) (Combined Arms Detachment) ++

+ HQ +

Commander [Drone controller, 2x Plasma rifle]

+ Elites +

XV104 Riptide [Early warning override, Ion accelerator, Twin-linked fusion blaster]

+ Troops +

XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory) [Bonding Knife Ritual]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]

XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory) [Bonding Knife Ritual]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]
····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Plasma rifle]

+ Fast Attack +

Drone Squadron [4x Marker Drone]

Tetra Scout Speeder Team [FW]
····Tetra [Disruption pod]

I'd love to run my Farsight bomb against your opponent's Tyranids...

But for your list, the only thing it lacks is target locks. I think you will struggle with target priority if a whole suit unit needs to fire at one thing. For example, your opponent has a carnifex on 1 wound and a squad of warriors. Both are within charging range of a fusion commander and two fusion suits he is attached to (let's say one has been killed already). Do you fire the whole unit at 1 wound, or take out the warriors that will seriously mess you up? You wouldn't have this problem with target locks

13045273 wrote:
I'd love to run my Farsight bomb against your opponent's Tyranids...

But for your list, the only thing it lacks is target locks. I think you will struggle with target priority if a whole suit unit needs to fire at one thing. For example, your opponent has a carnifex on 1 wound and a squad of warriors. Both are within charging range of a fusion commander and two fusion suits he is attached to (let's say one has been killed already). Do you fire the whole unit at 1 wound, or take out the warriors that will seriously mess you up? You wouldn't have this problem with target locks

How do you load out your FS Bomb? Are you not worried about that unit getting caught in cc or locked down by a psychic power?

The TL argument is getting strong.

I load mine out like this:

1x Commander with cyclic ion blaster, plasma rifle, iridium armour, drone controller (for BS5 drones - highly valuable for this unit), vectored retro-thrusters, 2 gun drones.
Just to answer your question, thrusters is how I deal with not getting caught in combat because it gives the whole bomb hit and run. Also, the amount of overwatch you'll have certainly helps.

1x Farsight

3x bodyguards with 2 fusion blasters each, all target locks, all with 2 gun drones

3x bodyguards with 2 plasma rifles each, all target locks, all with 2 gun drones

1x bodyguard "buffsuit" with puretide chip, C&C node, MSS, 2 gun drones. This suit gives your whole bomb ignores cover and twin-linked, as well as one rule a turn e.g tank hunter

This particular configuration of the bomb is 787 points, but you can play around with how many target locks you want etc. The reason I use a buffsuit rather than a buffmander is because I prefer using my commander's BS5 for shooting.

This configuration means you can fire your commander, Farsight and drones at one target, but fire everything else at separate targets and eliminate many threats at once, whilst deterring and combat retaliation with all that overwatch. 16 drones (32 twin-linked shots), 8 plasma rifles (including Farsight and the commander), and 6 fusion blaster shots as well as those from the cyclic ion blaster is a very hard-hitting unit. Plus you always get first shot as you'll be deep striking perfectly (due to Farsight's warlord trait)

I've decided to change the list to a Farsight enclave list.

Objective secured crisis suits just seems like a no brainer to me, especially as i don't think he will be playing a bound list.

I've taken the advise on the missile pods, giving them to all crisis suits bar one Fusion blaster team. I've also given the tides sms. The lack of Fusion scare me as I have found it very effective before but I think its better to keep my distance against these nids.

I plan to pair the 2 commanders with the 2 crisis suit teams that have the drones+target locks and have them zoom around hurting nids and laying down marker lights for the riptides and broadsides to finish with.

The other two crisis teams can secure objectives hopefully having the right weapons for the right area depending on what he has sitting there already.

The tetra is just there to land awkward marker lights that the crisis teams can't see but also just as an annoyance. I have yet to use deepstrike in a game as I find that you are wasting possible scoring units especially in maelstrom, but at least if I do decide to use it I will have a homing beacon on the tetra?

Any thoughts? Should I loose the tetra and maybe add more marker drones? Or is there another unit i should be bringing instead of something?

Here is the new list....



+++ 01.20.15 Farsight (1846pts) +++

++ Tau Empire: Codex (2013) (Formation Detachment) ++

+ Formation +

Firebase Support Cadre
XV104 Riptide [Early warning override, Ion accelerator, Twin-linked smart missile system]
XV88 Broadside Team
Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
XV88 Broadside Team
Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]
Broadside Shas'ui [Early warning override, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system]

++ Tau Empire: Supplement - Farsight Enclaves (2013) (Combined Arms Detachment) ++

+ HQ +

Commander [Drone controller, 2x Marker Drone, 2x Missile pod]

Commander [Drone controller, 2x Marker Drone, 2x Missile pod]

+ Elites +

XV104 Riptide [Early warning override, Ion accelerator, Twin-linked smart missile system]

+ Troops +

XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory)
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Missile pod]
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Missile pod]
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Missile pod]

XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory)
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion blaster]

XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory) [2x Marker Drone]
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Missile pod, Target lock]
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Missile pod, Target lock]
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Missile pod, Target lock]

XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory) [2x Marker Drone]
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Missile pod, Target lock]
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Missile pod, Target lock]
Crisis Shas'ui [2x Missile pod, Target lock]

+ Fast Attack +

Tetra Scout Speeder Team [FW]
Tetra [Disruption pod]