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.

Have they been nerfed? Last codex they were on a 5+ with characters, are they still the same or have they gotten worse? Are they still worth it on my commanders?

Whats ATS?

Advanced Targeting System, and it's slightly worse than it was before. Because all characters lost their innate precision shots/strikes rule, the ATS was similarly changed to just grant Precision Shots to a model equipped with it. It no longer gives the 5+ on characters that it used to.

It's still surprisingly handy on models that get a lot of shots - HBC Riptides, HYMP Broadsides, BC/CIB Crisis, possibly Stealths. There are better options, but it can still be put to good use.

Rate of Fire = Good
Single/Duo shots = bad

Basically if its something like Burst Cannons, CIR, CIB, HBC, or Stormsurge nonblast weapons its pretty potent.

Theres more reasons to target specific models than taking out a heavy weapon. Other reasons would be: apply dice to characters, bypass the "tank" of the unit thats standing in front with his 2+/3++ (or 4++ in Tankmander's case), take out battle standards, or shoot out of coherency. yes that last one is a thing and its hilarious when it works.

I used to use ATS alot, but i went to CF because of local meta being heavy assault. ymmv

Technically its great on Fusions/Plasmas because of the AP reliably wounding such targets, but the rate of fire they have usually means theyre better off with another upgrade that will be more dependable. I'll still say plasmas can do it since thats 4 shots per Crisis suit at rapid fire range if you dont feel any need for Target Locks or EWO on them, but i wouldnt bother on Fusions lol

Also the Characters getting 5+ in the old dex was because of the "Characters have precision shots" causing the upgrade to be pointless, so they said they get a 5+. Depending on who you talk to, that went away the moment 7th dropped not the new tau dex.
Not that big a problem to me, since except Shadowsun who comes stock with it, no commander has the slots for it, Riptides/Ghosts cant be characters, and who the heck buys crisis suit shas'vre upgrades? lol theyre always either with a commander so the LD bonus is moot or theyre a solo dive-bomb suicide unit.

It's not for sniping characters (who can LOS! them onto chumps), it's for taking out fools with expensive upgrades (think Grav cannon dude in a tac squad).

I'd say it's actually best on plasma IMHO, since it'll reliably kill what you want (because AP2) rather than a burst cannon or missile pod, since it's on a 6 to-hit, so unless you want to stack a bunch of armours saves on 1 guy, there's a risk of failing to wound or failing to pen armour against MEQ or better unless you're toting plasma or fusion.

Fusion and HRR can both try and use it to snipe T4 characters (Hello Tigurius! Fusion to the face!), but again, you come up against that annoying LOS! not-a-save in combination with the low rate of fire. Awesome when it works though, and for 3 points, it's nice filler.

Think I might have to try the ATS on my Stormsurge now, rolling 4d6 missile shots with that seems like a good idea!

 gmaleron wrote:
Think I might have to try the ATS on my Stormsurge now, rolling 4d6 missile shots with that seems like a good idea!

For 3 points on a 400+ point model i say its almost an auto-include

 gmaleron wrote:
Think I might have to try the ATS on my Stormsurge now, rolling 4d6 missile shots with that seems like a good idea!

What else would you take for the 3rd support slot?

Vector Trackers is terrible on him because he cant use his main gun (except the 10" double D) since its not a per weapon thing, its a "at the begining of the turn, i have skyfire or i dont have skyfire" thing.
Shields/EWO is autotake
Doesnt need stims
Cant use VRTs
Has no use for DCs
Cannot overwatch per GMC rules, so CF is out
Who even has a use for positional relay, let alone put it on a model that doesnt want to move?

Adv Targeting, EWO, and Shields are all he can get thats not a total waste of time. If Velocity Tracker was per weapon, it would be great, but it affects all or none so its really bad.