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.
I want some opinions on this Tau list that I made. I don't have any knowledge about Tau so I've gone with what looks good. Ideally, I wanted to go mobile Tau but I included the Cadre Firebase as it looks really vicious. I'd like the list to be as competitive as possible please.
I think I've got more Dakka than I previously had and a good source of Markerlights from 2 sources (three if you count Fireblade). The list looks like it's got a lot of mobility with Infiltrators or Outflank depending on what I want to do with the Kroot, Deep Strikers and Fast vehicles. Piranhas are in for AV14 but also to block LOS against Crisis and Broadsides depending on position. Skyray coupled with Broadsides should be enough AA.
This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2015/02/07 09:38:25
YMDC = nightmare
2015/02/02 02:26:07
Subject: Re:[1500 ] - Tau - First list - Help needed
Looks like a nice balanced list - plenty of dakka from the FBSC, DSing Crisis and some go forward / mobile speed bumps in the FW & Devilfishes. This list can of course be much more optimized in terms of putting out more dakka / spamming riptides/ even a double FBSC, but presuming you are settled on this balanced TAC style of play there are a few minor alterations I would make.
Commander + 8 marker drones is overkill. You will only be targeting one unit per turn, and with the toys the commander has you will probably get 8 ML tokens average, which will usually be too much (about 3/4 ML tokens per unit normally does it in my experience, whether they are infantry or vehicles). Personally I would drop the unit down to just four marker drones and lose the CNC node. BS 5 is going to get you 3-4 ML per turn anyway. You could also give the commander dual MPs and a target lock so he can join in some of the shooting. EWO is a nice touch - tbh I have never though about intercepting with MLs, might work quite well combined with the Broadsides.
Shadowsun - I haven't used her much, but its quite a lot of points to spend just to give cover saves to the ML unit - you are probably better off using JSJ to keep them out of trouble and investing her points elsewhere or using her differently. Maybe she can go with the DSing crisis team? Or give her a stealth team to DS with? Personally I would swap her with a cadre fireblade or ethereal to go in a devilfish with an 11 man FW team for super close range dakka on disembarking.
Crisis Teams - All flamers is brave, I like the aggressive style but they might not have as much punch as you hope for - if they are anti-horde role I would go with flamer/BC mix or Dual BC. With the plasma team I would also go for dual plasma rather than TL if you can find the points. Also put VRT on one model to give the whole squad 3D6 jump moves and hit and run to get out of trouble.
FBSC - Perfect. Maybe Stim injector on the riptide to help with failed novas, although this can usually be managed by not nova charging every turn...
MLs - you only have one source meaning you can only target one unit per turn, and a decent opponent will target this unit first. If you manage to save some points with the above, I would invest them in either one or two barebones pathfinder units or a Firesight Marksman team (sniper drones team with three Firesight marksman for three BS5 MLs). Neither might last very long, but they will give you some extra MLs and keep the pressure off your main ML unit.
Anyway, hope that helps!
If in doubt, frag it out...
Fight spam with spam, cheese with cheese, and fluff with a razor sharp sense of the appropriate
Maybe one target lock in each unit, just to give you a split fire option, but two in each is probably not needed - either way, I would only do it if you have the points left over as it is a bit of a luxury.
Skyray is good, by far the best AA platform for the Tau, but looking at you list I'm not sure what you would sacrifice for it. Obviously choice would be a devilfish, but that would really hurt your mobility and the way I think you want to play.
If I was going to redesign your list with the advice given/models on offer, I might go for something like the following:
Sacrificed shadowsun (wasn't really adding much for the cost) and a devilfish to get the Skyray in there, also swapped a fw unit out for kroot which will help with the reduced mobility (due to lost devilfish). Now you have two sources of MLs which are fairly durable, a good AA platform/missile alpha strike and still a fairly mobile force. I also removed Bonding Knife from the broadsides, as if they get into CC they are pretty much dead anyway.
If in doubt, frag it out...
Fight spam with spam, cheese with cheese, and fluff with a razor sharp sense of the appropriate
Tau can be played in a variety of ways.
The two most common being
1) Etherial and firewarrior combo and static defense with some broadside riptide support.
2) Mobile crisis Suit based shenanigans. With some distractions/supporting fire.
If you like sitting in a corner and watching things come at you, and usually die before getting close to you, then go no 1.
If you like to be agressive and get in peoples faces, then go mobile with crisis teams, riptides.
More often than not you will rely on marker lights, I much prefer pathfinders, for the reliable cheap goodness.
As for your suit teams flamers on crisis suits are pretty avg, the whole point in the crisis teams are jump into range, shoot, then jump back to safety.
The range of flamers is such that if you are close enough to use the flamer, then you will be close enough to be charged in your opponents turn, and that means in all cases, very dead crisis teams.
My favourite loadouts for suits are burst cannon missile pod for its balance and anti infantry, or two plasma rifles for the elite and character AP 2 killing.
I would rarely go with more than 1 commander in 1500pts,
The ethereial would be the best if you were going mass fireworriors,
A crisis commander is better if you want to go mobile.
Farsight is good if you want a no scatter impact unit.
Troops wise 9-10man fire warrior squads in devil fish with either fireblade or ethereal are always solid.
Cadre firebase is pretty solid, as you have done it.
I also think Kroot are underrated, and are a great screen and distraction unit for your suits.
Once again don't take a marker drone squad as its better to get pathfinders.
and just to blow your mind, have a look at the farsight enclaves if you really want a mobile army,
Have a look at the list i posted, from the enclave suppliment. its 1850pts with so many suits. That are scoring units.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Ps this is my 1500pts farsight enclaves
alt 1500 pt Tau army list
115pts - Commander
Plasma rifle, Cyclic ion blaster
Iapedus wrote: Maybe one target lock in each unit, just to give you a split fire option, but two in each is probably not needed - either way, I would only do it if you have the points left over as it is a bit of a luxury.
Skyray is good, by far the best AA platform for the Tau, but looking at you list I'm not sure what you would sacrifice for it. Obviously choice would be a devilfish, but that would really hurt your mobility and the way I think you want to play.
If I was going to redesign your list with the advice given/models on offer, I might go for something like the following:
Sacrificed shadowsun (wasn't really adding much for the cost) and a devilfish to get the Skyray in there, also swapped a fw unit out for kroot which will help with the reduced mobility (due to lost devilfish). Now you have two sources of MLs which are fairly durable, a good AA platform/missile alpha strike and still a fairly mobile force. I also removed Bonding Knife from the broadsides, as if they get into CC they are pretty much dead anyway.
That list looks really good and should suit my playstyle, thanks! I'm unsure about Bonding Knife ritual though, since as the formation is from the Enclaves book so I think they have to take BK?
Also would it be useful to have one Kroot hound and Sniper rounds on the Kroot if they do outflank?
Heavy Support Skyray w/ SMS, VT, 6x Seeker, 2x Markerlights
FBCS 3x Broadsides w/ HYMP, SMS, 2x EWO, 1x TL, Bonding Knife (apparently I have to take Bonding Knife and either EWO or TL, according to battlescribe) 3x Broadsides w/ HYMP, SMS, 2x EWO, 1x TL Riptide w/ IA, EWO
So I have Kroot that can either infiltrate or outflank depending on how objectives are set up, AT in form of Broadsides and Riptide, AI in the form of Crisis and Fire Warriors and AA in the case of Broadsides and Skyray? Would this work? Ideally 2x Burst Cannon would look better (24 shots :O) but I couldn't fit in the points, unless I took off Disruption pods.
Or I could replace the Burst Cannon Crisis with a Stealth Suit and with the points remaining get Sniper Rounds and a 5th Marker Drone?
This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2015/02/04 21:10:23
If you want to outflank kroot then yes definitely give a hound. Snipers did get nerfed in 7th but can still be useful so if you have the points free, take them
2015/02/05 01:37:16
Subject: Re:[1500 ] - Tau - First list - Help needed
Yeah go for a hound if you can afford it, and sniper rounds if you have the points left over (its not crucial as rapid fire kroot rifles is also quite nice). You don't need BKR on the FBSC - it is a Tau formation, not just an FE formation. Battlescribe might be telling you to take if because you are picking it out of the FE force? Try adding the formation to the normal Tau section and it should let you get rid of them (tried it on mine, works fine).
Stealth teams are highly underrated - if you look at my campaign batreps you will see they perform quite well on average, usually making their points back. People will tell you that point for point a crisis is better because of the extra wound and better weapon options, but stealth are cheaper than the equivalent fit out in crisis and come with a whole bunch of special rules. Infiltrate is also handy when trying to contain your opponent/deny his infiltrator position. Well worth considering imo as they well do the AI job just as well as the BC/flamer crisis in this list, but it is a mater for personal preference.
One more thing - not sure you can have EWO and TL on a broadside as they are 1 support system only I think? You will have to double check. Also don't be afraid to drop NSJ off of the commander if you need the two points - it is a hilarious upgrade and useful for using up left over points, but if he is within 12" of an enemy unit during their shooting phase something has gone terribly wrong and NSJ probably 'aint gonna save him.
Any extra points I would probably put another FW in the 10 man squad.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/02/05 01:37:44
If in doubt, frag it out...
Fight spam with spam, cheese with cheese, and fluff with a razor sharp sense of the appropriate
Updated OP with a new list considering all the suggestions. Thoughts? I'm undecided on the SMS or Fusion for Riptide as for AV14 I will have two Piranhas and that's it (unless I smash). SMS let's me keep further away though, although that said, Fusion Blasters might work better for Mobile Tau..
Would it be useful having two Target Locks on two Broadsides in each unit so I could split fire if need be?
