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Hey I'm a new tau player and I keep hearing people say "buffmander". What exactly is a "buffmander"?

A Shas'O Commander with a combination of wargear that gives bonuses ('buffs') to the unit he is with. Most of the time he's equipped with no shooting weapons and just stacked with other wargear.
Typically this will be:
Command & Control Node (if he doesn't shoot, his unit re-rolls to hit)
Multi-Spectrum Sensor Suite (if he doesn't shoot, his unit ignores cover)
Puretide Engrame Neurochip (gives his unit one of Monster Hunter / Tank Hunter / Stubborn / Counter Attack)

You can then add on other bits like:
Drone Controller
Iridium Armour, Shield Generator, and/or Stim Packs to significantly increase his durability

He ends up costing a lot, but put with 3+ crisis suits it gives you a unit that is generally hitting, wounding and ignoring armor with 6-12 melta/plasma shots.

It's a Tau Commander with the Multi-Spectrum Sensor Suite, Puretide Engram Nurochip, and Command and Control Node. It forces the commander to not fire his weapons to give his unit twin-linked and ignore cover with monster/tank hunter.

Personally I am a fan of the Neuroweb System Jammer, especially against my buddies Imperial Footguard army. Its quite entertaining to watch x20 Lasgunners with "First Rank Fire" start shooting. Last game I think he had roughly 12 guys kill themselves due to overheating in a single round of shooting!

Neuroweb is very situational. Considering it is dirt cheap though it can be entertaining lol.