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I've played CSM exclusively since late 4th edition, and I just cant do it anymore. Between showing its age with the 4 year old codex, the old sad model line, sad excuse of an "update" with the 3 year old supplements being reprinted with formations, assault being weak, or me just not being able to stand painting any more black and gold, I'm just done. So I searched for something to fill the hole that CSM left, and found it in the most unexpected place, I found it in Tau.

Scanning through of my buddy's Tau codex, I was amazed by what he had at his disposal. Army synergy. Great mobility. Great army customization. Outstanding firepower. Is this what it feels like to actually have have choices in your units you take... and their upgrades... and be viable? Is this what it's like to have a top tier army? I was sold.

So, I have given in and taken up the army I once hated with the most virulent passion. I have taken up the mantle of the greater good.

Story time aside, I picked up a tau start collecting box and i'm looking into picking up a used tau army. Start collecting box comes with fire warriors, ethereal on hover drone, crisis suits, and I think 8 drones. The used lot I'm looking at has a riptide still in box, more fire warriors, a piranha, a hammerhead, a devilfish, a lot of kroot, commander Shadowsun, some stealth suits, (One with fusion blaster), three broadsides with railguns (including a cool forgeworld one with the underarm mounted railguns.), and but load of drones and hopefully a Tau codex.

I come to you fellow dakkanaughts in hopes that you can help guide me on my next purchases to improve what I currently have along with suggestions on how to properly kit out units like my crisis suits and fire warriors.

Obviously, the next purchase is the codex if its not included in the lot. Other than that, What do you suggest buying?
Are fire warrior breacher teams actually worth the risk of having to get them that close to use their guns effectively? Or is it better equip them with as strike teams with rifles, and taking a Shas'ui to bring in an extra markerlight and allow more drone marker lights?
What are some good crisis suit system loadouts? The Airbursting fragmentation projector looks appealing with its large blast, barrage, and decent strength, but what would pair with it well?
Other than the obviously useful markerlight drones, is there any reason to take the other drones over them?
Modeling wise, Do you prefer to model your crisis suits using their jump packs or on the ground?

Sorry ahead of the time for the many questions, Its the first time in the long time that I'm excited about playing the game, and if nothing else, at least I'm not painting more black and gold.

Edit: Spelling, Shadowsun, not Farsight.

Get a single Culexus. Beyond that, magnets. Personally, I'm a fan of breachers for the fire warriors. 5++ and AP3 are wonderful to have on troops - even if you decide to go FSE or Mont'ka. Also, a shieldline with Shadowsun can be hilarious. A 2+ cover save on some pathfinders, that count as stationary (so they can use their markerlights to full effect) that your opponents WILL shoot at are too funny. (Or you know, broadsides that count as stationary. . .)

If you've got six Stealth suits, get a Ghostkeel and run the Optimized Stealth Cadre. If you don't have six Stealth suits, get more Stealth suits and a Ghostkeel. That formation is awesome! You definitely want to take carldooley's advice and get magnets for your Crisis suits. I did and it really is handy being able to swap out their weapons. Another unit you might want to look into would be a Stormsurge. It's expensive both in points and $$$, but worth every bit of both!
If you want to run Breachers, you will most likely want a Devilfish for them to ride in. It's hard to get them close enough to the enemy without one. You're covered if you get that lot as it has one in it. I think Breachers can be better than Strikers in some situations, but you will have to invest more points in the unit to make it effective (dedicated Devilfish, Shas'ui upgrade, Guardian Drone).
I like to run my Crisis suits with either 2x Plasma + Early Warning Override, or single suits with just 2x Fusion. I think the best thing to pair with the AFP is another AFP, or perhaps a Burst Cannon or Flamer.
I'm not completely sold on the other drones. I have a friend who swears by using Shield Drones on Crisis teams to increase their durability, but I don't know. They weren't that helpful to me. You can't go wrong with Marker Drones!
I modeled my Crisis suits on the ground, but I've seen them modeled in the air and they look okay. To me posing them properly in the air would be a pain in the ass.

Hope that helps!

The most important advice: always double your Crisis weapons. Don't do Plasma and Flamer - go either 2x Plasma or 2x Flamer.

AFP is interesting, as it's our unique Barrage weapon (AFAIK). But our army already has a lot of good anti-infantry weapon and one of the best Ignores Cover sources in the game. Unless your meta heavily uses hidden infantry, AFP isn't that useful.

Am in the same boat as you. Have started collecting Dark Eldar as an alternative to my CSMs, but am wondering about sidelining them in favour of Tau - especially since my regular opponent has bought an Eldar Wraith Host army... :(