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.

Stealth suits are rarely taken for a number of reasons....

1. too much competition for the slots
2. don't really bring anything to the table that something else doesn't do better
3. the rules for stealth make them unpopular

I propose a change, give them mechanical invisibility. Now I am not saying give it for free, add say 1/3 the point cost on top or make it only work if they remain stationary. this would in effect make them in line with the fluff. Hell give them something like the nova generator that they can overcharge to get invisibility. This would be a fix for reason #3

Allow them to take sniper drones and change the weapon from a burst cannon to a rail rifle. Now you have a more expensive unit that has a role on the battlefield, that of the bogeyman. An area denial unit that might not kill more models due to the lower rate of fire but it would hit harder. Sort of the Tau's response to the deathstar, a unit that can snipe out key members from range. Even if the invisibility had a chance of disappearing after you shoot forcing you to redeploy using the assault jump it would still be worth taking. This takes care of reason #2

With so much competition for the elite slot a simple addition of a formation could fix reason #1. 0-3 stealth units, led by Shadowsun, maybe adding a formation benefit that all drones are BS 5 on turns they do not move, or something like that.

With all of the technology the Tau have these changes seem like continuations in the direction they have been going, not making them super OP but fleshing them out more as a highly advanced race that understands science and tech.

These are my thoughts..... what are yours.

Give them Mr Clux style of invisibility instead + stealth instead of stealth + shrouded.

Makes them still use cover. and allows people to counter with pie plates and templates.

That would work as well, I didn't think of that.

My houserules give a negative 1 to bs when shooting at for stealth, and a negative 2 to bes for shooting at shrouded and they stack. Makes night fighting more of a game changer, and allows stealth and/or shrouded units a good counter to D weapons. Ignores cover ignores the penalty also.