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Here's a list I put together after being taken to the school of hard knocks with my Tau. I have a friend who has offered to let me borrow his Riptides, so I decided I might just take him up on it. Here's the list:
Combined Arms Detachment:
HQ:
Commander: 2x Missile Pod, Drone Controller, Target Lock, Iridium Suit, Neuroweb Jammer, 2x Marker Drone
Elites:
XV95 Ghostkeel: Cyclic Ion Raker, TL Fusion Blaster, EWO, Velocity Tracker
Troops:
Kroot Carnivore Squad: 12 Kroot, Sniper Rounds
Strike Team: 5 men, DS8 Turret w/Missile Pod
Fast Attack:
Pathfinder Team: 6 men
Drones: 4x Marker Drone
Heavy Support;
TX78 Sky Ray: Disruption Pod, Sensor Spines, TL SMS
Lord of War:
KV128 Stormsurge: Pulse Driver Cannon, TL AFP, Shield Generator, Early Warning Override
Riptide Wing:
3 identical Riptides, each with: Ion Accelerator, TL SMS, EWO, Stim Injector
Total 1850
I don't know if this list is any good or not, but advice about it would be appreciated. I feel like the Riptide Wing might be stronger than the OSC, although the OSC does have its perks.

What are the rules for the tournament? Are they using ITC format? Hunter contingent could be really great if only it didn't get beat with the nerf bat so badly. As far as lists go it's ok, I would definately consider tetras with a CAD and I would consider the forgeworld supremacy suit. Then add riptide wing and go to town. I'd love to see the dakka community hash this one out though. I haven't been able to get a good feeling for what is a "good" tournament list these days for tau. So many options with the OSC, pirahna firestream wing arguably, riptide wing, and drone formation. Is the CAD really the way to go when you consider how bad firewarriors are?

As for the fire warriors, I did take a minimum squad for exactly the reason stated; they are crap. Troop tax only, with missile turret to make them able to sort of punch above their weight. I don't know anyone with any Tetras or the Supremacy suit, hence the Pathfinders and the Stormsurge. As for the rules, we use the Adepticon FAQ. 3 detachments max, Lords of War restrictions are no single model over 40% of the whole army, total of LOW not over 66%. Not sure if the Supremacy suit would even fit. I've tried the Hunter Contingent (recently in fact) and found that the benefits did not make up for being forced to take 3 troops and no skyrays. OSC worked well, and will be in my alternative list should I be unable to contact my friend with the Riptides.

Ok this is a kinda simliar list to what I'm planning to take to a tournament. I'm taking

Buffmander marker drones, ignores cover to target, can use his BS, the tanking suit t5, 2+, shield generator, and fnp.

2 x strike teams minimum size

3 broadsides, not decided on weapon loadout yet, will playtest, railguns are cool because I want to say "fire all railguns on my target", but I think the missiles are a smarter pick. (all have split fire, but will probably give one of them at least something else, as thats obviously a waste).

riptide wing all ion cannons, missiles, intercept and skyfire.

supremacy suit with the non melta arms tri axis, .

2 pathfinder teams, (although i do really like the drones formation, I can't justify with such few options to have so few ways of scoring objectives, BUT i would consider tetras if I owned them.

IF the tournament states no forgeworld, then i swap out the supremacy for a stormsurge and add in an assassin (culexus or callidus, depends on whether they have psychic limitations that mitigate psychic stars). Culexus's can also win you relic games, a common feature in many tournaments almost instantly, as they either divert so much firepower to it that you shoot them off the map, or you get the relic and focus shooting on whatever can drop a culexus efficiently.