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I was thinking of this sort of thing using the Tau army I've had for ages and never used. Instead of being a static gunline like every other Tau army in my meta, I was thinking of the below. I'm looking for the best signature/support systems/upgrades for my things.

HQ:
Battlesuit Commander
3x Crisis Bodyguards w/ Fusion Guns

Troops:
10 Fire Warriors
-Devilfish

10 Fire Warriors
-Devilfish

Elites:
3x Crisis Suits w/ Missile Pods

3x Crisis Suits w/ Plasma Rifles

Riptide w/ Ion Accelerator

Fast Attack:
Piranha w/ Fusion

4x Pathfinders

4x Pathfinders

Heavy Support:
Sky Ray


Is this viable competitively?

Its tau, it will work, dont worry.

 The Home Nuggeteer wrote:
Its tau, it will work, dont worry.

Could I have some actual feedback instead of passive agressive "Tau OP"?

 Verviedi wrote:

 The Home Nuggeteer wrote:
Its tau, it will work, dont worry.

Could I have some actual feedback instead of passive agressive "Tau OP"?

It is fine. I looks good, is more like real question is, have you playtested? If not, make cardboard cutouts and find a buddy.

On the tau OP, i let buddy borrow them to play me and he trounced me in the first game he ever played.

Looks like a solid start to a list, a couple things though.

You can only take up to 2 Crisis Bodyguards (unless you bring Farsight, then you can have up to 7).

Pathfinders are one of the least mobile markerlight sources in the army. If your local meta allows Forgeworld, I highly recommend getting some Tetras. Otherwise, if you want to keep with the mobile theme, look into Marker Drones with a Drone Controller Commander.

As for the list itself, what do you plan on having your Commander doing? Is he gonna be a Buff-commander, or do you want him to be more shooty? Also, this is personal preference, but I am not a fan of Piranhas. I just don't find them all that great. I would personally drop it and find room for another Sky Ray, as a Crisis Team with Fusion is gonna be more than enough melta.

Upgrades. No matter what his role, definitely give the Commander Iridium Armor, PEN chip, Stim, and Shield Generator. If you want him to be a Buff Commander, give him MSSS, C&C Node, and Hit & Run. If you want him to be more shooty, I personally like 2 Missile Pods. Give the Fusion Team target locks, you're gonna want to be able to hit more units. Give the Riptide EWO and Stim, I promise you he won't die without making his points back. Throw Sensor Spines and possibly Disruption Pods on your vehicles, make them all the more survivable. The other Crisis Teams, give them what you like and what you have points for.

Your list isn't bad; but it could be optimized.

I mean just generally, if you want to play a mobile Tau style you should probably play Enclaves. Failing that, I would run one squad of 12 FWs and another of 11 with an Ethereal. Put them in fish w/ SMS. Drive up, dump out on an objective; and blast away at all comers. Alternatively you can run them in min squads with emp grenades. That's amusing.

Pathfinders are probably the worst marker support available. Tetras are great. Skyrays are also awesome once you blow your Seeker Missiles (before then, the Skyrays usually need their own lights). The third, most expensive and probably most intriguing option is the marker star. It's a ton of point but can really take over a game; especially against the annoyingly ubiquitous Serpent Spam.

Enclaves Commander: 2x Missile Pods, Drone Controller, Target Lock, 2x Marker Drones- 152

3x Crisis Suits: Bonding, 6x Missile Pods, 3x Target Locks, 6x Marker Drones- 246

(Rest of your army here)

Allied Detachment: Tau Empire

Empire Commander: Iridium suit, MSSS, CnC, PENchip, Onager Gauntlet, VRT, Stims, Shield Gen, 2x Marker Drones- 234

(Mandatory troop)

This thing costs over 600 points and doesn't kill as much as a normal deathstar of equivalent cost. It still kills vehicles with ease though. And it makes rock stars of riptides. 10 BS5 twin-linked marker lights. Granted, that's at one target. So the way this works is, you light up the most important unit in the opponent's army each turn, and the riptides blow it away. Meanwhile, your suits all target lock out and shoot their missile pods at vehicles. Blowing them up with jink-ignoring, twin-linked, tank-hunter goodness. Three riptides, three skyrays, a bunch of solo fusion suits and some kroot are kinda the tourny way to fill out this list.

It's mean.....and mobile

 The Home Nuggeteer wrote:
find a buddy.

Oh God.

 Verviedi wrote:

 The Home Nuggeteer wrote:
find a buddy.

Oh God.

How can you have anyone to play with if you have no buddies? That is what I find the best about this game the social aspects. You have to have someone you play a lot, a friendly rival so to speak.

 The Home Nuggeteer wrote:

 Verviedi wrote:

 The Home Nuggeteer wrote:
find a buddy.

Oh God.

How can you have anyone to play with if you have no buddies? That is what I find the best about this game the social aspects. You have to have someone you play a lot, a friendly rival so to speak.

...I do, but...
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/632109.page
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/639317.page
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/617853.page
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/627283.page
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/622444.page
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/617563.page

That guy is my opponent. And if he figures out I'm running a test list he's likely to run GK Invisible PaladinStar + Riptide + Bersekers + Lootas to get an easy win.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 The Shrike wrote:
Your list isn't bad; but it could be optimized.

I mean just generally, if you want to play a mobile Tau style you should probably play Enclaves. Failing that, I would run one squad of 12 FWs and another of 11 with an Ethereal. Put them in fish w/ SMS. Drive up, dump out on an objective; and blast away at all comers. Alternatively you can run them in min squads with emp grenades. That's amusing.

Pathfinders are probably the worst marker support available. Tetras are great. Skyrays are also awesome once you blow your Seeker Missiles (before then, the Skyrays usually need their own lights). The third, most expensive and probably most intriguing option is the marker star. It's a ton of point but can really take over a game; especially against the annoyingly ubiquitous Serpent Spam.

Enclaves Commander: 2x Missile Pods, Drone Controller, Target Lock, 2x Marker Drones- 152

3x Crisis Suits: Bonding, 6x Missile Pods, 3x Target Locks, 6x Marker Drones- 246

(Rest of your army here)

Allied Detachment: Tau Empire

Empire Commander: Iridium suit, MSSS, CnC, PENchip, Onager Gauntlet, VRT, Stims, Shield Gen, 2x Marker Drones- 234

(Mandatory troop)

This thing costs over 600 points and doesn't kill as much as a normal deathstar of equivalent cost. It still kills vehicles with ease though. And it makes rock stars of riptides. 10 BS5 twin-linked marker lights. Granted, that's at one target. So the way this works is, you light up the most important unit in the opponent's army each turn, and the riptides blow it away. Meanwhile, your suits all target lock out and shoot their missile pods at vehicles. Blowing them up with jink-ignoring, twin-linked, tank-hunter goodness. Three riptides, three skyrays, a bunch of solo fusion suits and some kroot are kinda the tourny way to fill out this list.

It's mean.....and mobile

I must say GW's most necarious scheme was to charge $50 for a supplement and require having a Codex to also get a supplement. Argghfjtkthrbvh

Seems pretty good. What's a good way to get drones in bulk?

Yes.

Do's = Drones, vehicles and suits.

Don'ts = Pathfinders, Fire Warriors, relying on the positional synergy (supporting fire, especially any ethereal abilities, etc), static units*

With regards to mobility, you must consider that any army with excellent mobility may also need to secure their starting position - this means you can keep your board presence and mobility whilst keeping 1 immobile unit, ideally with a smaller footprint. *Broadsides excel in this role!

Use jet-pack moves! Nova Charge for a 4d6" (That earth cast pilot array isn't your burst-stick but in fact a wonderfully reliable mobile 6"+4d6" beast!).

I noticed in one of those links that you play Necrons. A Caoptek Harvest is an excellent ally for a mobile suit army. Great for throwing at invisible IG blobs/centstars/draigowing.

I don't know where to get drones en masse. Of course the default answer is ebay. But what about Spiky Bits or Bits Barn? Perhaps they might have some. You only need 6 or so to make that squad mean; though I listed 10 b/c it leaves you room for some to die (which tends to happen lol).

Who knows where our OP can buy some drones on the cheap?

 The Shrike wrote:
I noticed in one of those links that you play Necrons. A Caoptek Harvest is an excellent ally for a mobile suit army. Great for throwing at invisible IG blobs/centstars/draigowing.

I don't know where to get drones en masse. Of course the default answer is ebay. But what about Spiky Bits or Bits Barn? Perhaps they might have some. You only need 6 or so to make that squad mean; though I listed 10 b/c it leaves you room for some to die (which tends to happen lol).

Who knows where our OP can buy some drones on the cheap?

I'm definitely planning on allying Tau with Necrons.

Just to warn you, a Commander can bring only 2 bodyguards alongside it

 Vector Strike wrote:
Just to warn you, a Commander can bring only 2 bodyguards alongside it

So I should run one of the Missile Suits as a commander?

 Verviedi wrote:

 Vector Strike wrote:
Just to warn you, a Commander can bring only 2 bodyguards alongside it

So I should run one of the Missile Suits as a commander?

Lol; don't bring bodyguards! You're paying 10 points for a guarnateed LoS; NOT worth it. Just stick the missile pod commander in the missile pod crisis unit like I described above. Marker drones, target locks, and a drone controller on the commander.

 The Shrike wrote:

 Verviedi wrote:

 Vector Strike wrote:
Just to warn you, a Commander can bring only 2 bodyguards alongside it

So I should run one of the Missile Suits as a commander?

Lol; don't bring bodyguards! You're paying 10 points for a guarnateed LoS; NOT worth it. Just stick the missile pod commander in the missile pod crisis unit like I described above. Marker drones, target locks, and a drone controller on the commander.

Is it worth it buying the Commander model? How about Farsight?

Well, that's a complicated question. Both are really super cool models. But word on the street is Tau are getting a new codex in Aug/Sept and Crisis suits are getting redone; possibly in a combo box with commander model; all in plastic. Not sure about farsight; i presume he'd stay in failcast but not so sure.

Farsight is one of the coolest in their range; so dynamic.

 The Shrike wrote:
Well, that's a complicated question. Both are really super cool models. But word on the street is Tau are getting a new codex in Aug/Sept and Crisis suits are getting redone; possibly in a combo box with commander model; all in plastic. Not sure about farsight; i presume he'd stay in failcast but not so sure.

Farsight is one of the coolest in their range; so dynamic.

Meh. That's 6 months. I can buy now and if I like the new one, buy later if the codex is so far away.

Does the Battlesuit Commander kit contain all of the options?

I would try and fit in a cadre fireblade in there, keep the 2 squads together, when they get out to rapid fire there will be 60 shots which will kill anything you point it at

 Verviedi wrote:
I was thinking of this sort of thing using the Tau army I've had for ages and never used. Instead of being a static gunline like every other Tau army in my meta, I was thinking of the below. I'm looking for the best signature/support systems/upgrades for my things.

HQ:
Battlesuit Commander
3x Crisis Bodyguards w/ Fusion Guns

Troops:
10 Fire Warriors
-Devilfish
10 Fire Warriors
-Devilfish

Elites:
3x Crisis Suits w/ Missile Pods
3x Crisis Suits w/ Plasma Rifles
Riptide w/ Ion Accelerator

Fast Attack:
Piranha w/ Fusion
4x Pathfinders
4x Pathfinders

Heavy Support:
Sky Ray

Is this viable competitively?

I think so. I've played lists like that before in friendly games and they've worked. One issue i have found with 4 man pathfinder squads is that the moment one dies, 25% of the squad is gone and your rolling...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I played an unconventional list of all tau mechanized(vehicle based) vs tyranids with a lot of success the other night. I tried two Sun shark bombers and 2 units of fire warriors in devilfish with ethereals, 1railhead, 2 ionheads, 2 skyrays. Big kicker was that i gave almost all vehicles SMS and Point Defence upgrades for overwatch.

My friend brought a Tyranid MSU list.
2 FHT, 5 lichtors, death leaper, Carnifex that was behind a unit of gaunts, 3 warriors shielded by another group of gaunts, 1 broodlord + genestealers(formation), also brought long range shooting models that hid in the back in ruins for ranged support(can't remember their names) may have also been part of a formation with the warriors or something.

We went to 7 turns in a maelstrom game and he Won by 1 pt. i still had my 2 fliers and one sky ray alive. he had his broodlord and a gaunt. Every lichtor died easily due to SMS.

So I thought about re-tooling the list to capture objectives better. Main thing issue I found with vehicle heavy build was that I only had 7 units on the table to start and was terrified to move them to far and have them only snap shoot. I came up with this list. Its unbound but I think it could be very strong and far more mobile. I'm losing interest in gunlines and fire warriors in general. This list is light on marker lights but the lights it has hit at a better rate due to the improved ballistics skill of the firing unit.

HQ
Commander w/ CCN, MSSS, PEN Chip, XV-8-02 Iridium Battlesuit, Drone Controller, Shield Gen, Stim Injector, Flamer(for overwatch), 2 marker drones

Elites
Riptide w/ Ion Accelerator, SMS, Stim Injector
Crisis Suit Team - All 3 w/ Missile Pod, Fusion Blaster

Heavy Support
Hammerhead Gunship w/ Longstrike, Railgun w/ Submunitions, Disruption Pod, Sensor Spines, SMS
2X Hammerhead Gunship w/ Ion Cannon, Disruption Pod, SMS, Point Defence Targeting relay
2X Skyray Missile Gunship , SMS, Point Defence Targeting relay

Farsight Enclaves -
Elite
Riptide w/ HBC, SMS, Stim Injector, ECPA

I think this list covers everything and hits hard. Commander joins with CSTeam. Riptides up the flanks, vehicles staying in close formation holding back of the table objectives.
Anti-Air - 2 skyrays and 12 shots out of the HBC
Anti-Tank - 3 twin-linked meltas, rail gun w/ tank hunters and nova charged ordinance ion accelerator
Anti-blob - 4 large blasts with high str low ap, 12 shots out of the HBC
Anti-cover - all crisis shots ignore cover, marker light support to ignore cover, seeker missiles, 7 units with SMS
Long range support - Check
High str weapsons everwhere for tough units
All vehicles can overwatch and supporting fire

 Verviedi wrote:
Does the Battlesuit Commander kit contain all of the options?

no. It would better justify the cost if they did, but they don't. Don't get me wrong, I own 2, but only bought one new.

 carldooley wrote:

 Verviedi wrote:
Does the Battlesuit Commander kit contain all of the options?

no. It would better justify the cost if they did, but they don't. Don't get me wrong, I own 2, but only bought one new.

Does it at least have Fusion Blasters, Plasma Rifles, and Missile Pods?

sorry. 1 Plasma Rifle, 1 AFP, 1 CIB. & some bits & alternate hands. that, really, is it.

 carldooley wrote:
sorry. 1 Plasma Rifle, 1 AFP, 1 CIB. & some bits & alternate hands. that, really, is it.

What's an AFP?

 Verviedi wrote:

 carldooley wrote:
sorry. 1 Plasma Rifle, 1 AFP, 1 CIB. & some bits & alternate hands. that, really, is it.

What's an AFP?

Airburst Fragmentation Projector
Special, one per army weapon that shoots a low str barrage that ignors cover - battle suit weapon

& CIB is Carnation Instant Breakfast. I mean, who hasn't had strawberry?

Naaris wrote:

 Verviedi wrote:

 carldooley wrote:
sorry. 1 Plasma Rifle, 1 AFP, 1 CIB. & some bits & alternate hands. that, really, is it.

What's an AFP?

Airburst Fragmentation Projector
Special, one per army weapon that shoots a low str barrage that ignors cover - battle suit weapon

Are either the AFP or CIB viable?

 Verviedi wrote:

Naaris wrote:

 Verviedi wrote:

 carldooley wrote:
sorry. 1 Plasma Rifle, 1 AFP, 1 CIB. & some bits & alternate hands. that, really, is it.

What's an AFP?

Airburst Fragmentation Projector
Special, one per army weapon that shoots a low str barrage that ignors cover - battle suit weapon

Are either the AFP or CIB viable?

Ultimately no. 1d4chan tau tactics actually has a pretty good write up on these two weapons.

Airbursting Fragmentation Projector*:

This was iffy in the last codex when it was damn near the only thing with a blast template, and it's still iffy now. An average S and AP mean that Pulse Carbines and Rifles out class it in most aspects. It's only really useful against cover-camping cowards. Cover camping blob armies will be kinda pissed, but anyone with reasonable AP or T will laugh it off. The update from blast to large blast helps it though. It is worth noting that this is the only Barrage weapon in the entire codex. Flamers do the same STR and AP, ignores cover , costs 10 points less, and gets guaranteed hits in overwatch (they both ignore cover, and this gets more hits regularly and has better range). Pass.

Cyclic Ion Blaster*:

This has been changed to be an extra shot missile pod in normal mode (with half the range). In overcharge mode it becomes a +1S blast. The only downside is the chance to burn your little anime fan fingers. Not a bad choice as it costs the same as a missile pod but it doesn't have the option to TL.

However, they are both the only way to get blast weapons on crisis suits.

Naaris wrote:

 Verviedi wrote:

Naaris wrote:

 Verviedi wrote:

 carldooley wrote:
sorry. 1 Plasma Rifle, 1 AFP, 1 CIB. & some bits & alternate hands. that, really, is it.

What's an AFP?

Airburst Fragmentation Projector
Special, one per army weapon that shoots a low str barrage that ignors cover - battle suit weapon

Are either the AFP or CIB viable?

Ultimately no. 1d4chan tau tactics actually has a pretty good write up on these two weapons.

Airbursting Fragmentation Projector*:

This was iffy in the last codex when it was damn near the only thing with a blast template, and it's still iffy now. An average S and AP mean that Pulse Carbines and Rifles out class it in most aspects. It's only really useful against cover-camping cowards. Cover camping blob armies will be kinda pissed, but anyone with reasonable AP or T will laugh it off. The update from blast to large blast helps it though. It is worth noting that this is the only Barrage weapon in the entire codex. Flamers do the same STR and AP, ignores cover , costs 10 points less, and gets guaranteed hits in overwatch (they both ignore cover, and this gets more hits regularly and has better range). Pass.

Cyclic Ion Blaster*:

This has been changed to be an extra shot missile pod in normal mode (with half the range). In overcharge mode it becomes a +1S blast. The only downside is the chance to burn your little anime fan fingers. Not a bad choice as it costs the same as a missile pod but it doesn't have the option to TL.

However, they are both the only way to get blast weapons on crisis suits.

Ok... So I'm stuck recasting missile pods then?