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.

Hello all! Looking for some advice for this list. I am transitioning into 1850 pt games from smaller games. Please let me know what you guys think!

Hunter Contingent

Commander - drone controller, 2x missile pods, target lock

Riptide - IA , stim injector, velocity tracker
Riptide - IA , stim injector, velocity tracker (REALLY tempted to switch these both to HBC's. I've had much better luck with those).
3x crisis suits - 3x2xFusion Blasters, 2x target locks

Piranha, fusion blaster, disruption pod, blacksun filter
Piranha, fusion blaster, disruption pod, blacksun filter
piranha, fusion blaster, disruption pod

Hammerhead, submunitions, disrution pod, blacksun filter
Hammerhead, submunitions, disrution pod, blacksun filter
Hammerhead, submunitions, disrution pod, blacksun filter

Strike Team 10 warriors - Pulse Rifles
Strike Team 5x warriors - Pulse Rifles
Strike Team 5x warriors - Pulse Rifles
Strike Team 5x warriors - Pulse Rifles
Strike Team 5x warriors - Pulse Rifles
Strike Team 5x warriors - Pulse Rifles

Drone Network - 9 x marker drones.

I know I'm probably upgrade heavy. I REALLY think I'll wind up going with the heavy burst cannons on the riptides. I just feel like they are more tried and true. I can't decide if I want the hammerheads all in one unit so they get an extra bs, or to keep them separate.

Let me know what you guys think!

This is a list designed for friendly games, I'm presuming. It's not going to be terribly competitive, but there are a few ways to shift things around to make what you have pack the most punch possible.

For starters, I don't think the Hunter Contingent is the best way to go for the force you've selected. Yes, you'll gain some extra movement from the formation bonuses, but having Objective Secured on that many troops is a far better benefit, in my opinion. Perhaps the most straightforward way to make this change is to split your force into a CAD and an Armored Inderdiction Cadre. If you really wanted to get fancy, you could shake things up a bit and have a Dawn Blade Contingent, but you would have to drop many of your Fire Warriors and make a bunch of other list changes.

Going the simple route, you'd have something like this:

Tau CAD
Commander - drone controller, 2x missile pods, target lock

Riptide - IA , stim injector, velocity tracker
Riptide - IA , stim injector, velocity tracker

3x crisis suits - 3x2xFusion Blasters, 2x target locks

3x Piranha, fusion blaster

6x Fire Warrior Teams

Marker Drones

AIC
3 Hammerheads
1 Skyray

You're right that you're very upgrade heavy, so the disruption pods have got to go. You'd rather not be jinking the Hammerheads, so unless they're just getting a ridiculous amount of fire dumped on them, the dpods are wasted. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Piranhas are expendable, so if they get owned, meh. You'd be better served just buying another one instead of protecting 3.

The AIC solves your unit organization issue by essentially making your tanks twin-linked, which trumps an extra BS.

I'm not really a fan of stims on Riptides, but some people are. It's a ton of points to keep a model that's already rock solid alive. I definitely wouldn't put them on IA Riptides since they're not dependent on the nova reactor to make their main gun worth a crap. I also wouldn't put velocity trackers on them since 3 S7 shots isn't really scaring anyone. Adding in the Skyray makes mediocre skyfire sources unnecessary. Perhaps reconsider if you decide to go HBC. You may also mull adding a third Riptide and Splitting them off into a Riptide Wing for the rather immense bonuses that formation grants.

Wow! First of all, let me thank you for such a detailed and thoughtful post. You have some really great advice in there for me.

Yes, this is list is definitely for a casual game. I did think about going with a CAD instead of the Hunter Contingent. One reason why I went with the HC vs the CAD is because I like to use 3 units firing together to rely less on markerlights since I can get the extra bs very easily with so many FWs and Drones (deployed from the vehicles turn 1).

The only reason that I did not use the AIC is because I only have 3 Hammerhead/Skyrays. That is also the case with the disruption pods vs just taking more piranhas. Also the case for the 3rd riptide.

If I did go to a CAD, would you suggest keeping the tanks as hammerheads, or switching to Skyrays? I feel the skyrays would give me better all around support with marker lights and skyfire, but I worry about only having one squad of fusion crisis and a few very brittle piranhas as anti-armor.

Also, going CAD I think I would take an Aegis Defense line for extra cover for some of the FWs. What do you think?

I have never taken stim injectors on my riptides before, I just wanted to try it out this game. That being said, I am almost certainly going to switch them to be HBCs. Just so I am clear though, you don't get to take a stim save against a failed nova reactor roll, correct?

Where can you find the rules for the Riptide Wing and Dawn Blade Contingent?

Again, Just want to say thank you for such a detailed post. I really appreciate the thought that you put into it.

Thanks!

No problem at all! I'm happy to help.

One reason why I went with the HC vs the CAD is because I like to use 3 units firing together to rely less on markerlights since I can get the extra bs very easily with so many FWs and Drones (deployed from the vehicles turn 1).

This is a fair argument, to be sure. If you find that you are able to defend objectives satisfactorily without obsec, then by all means, enjoy the extra special rules.

The only reason that I did not use the AIC is because I only have 3 Hammerhead/Skyrays. That is also the case with the disruption pods vs just taking more piranhas. Also the case for the 3rd riptide.

As someone who has been too poor to field a completely proxy-free Tau army under this new edition, I feel your pain. That's part of why I tried to minimize the changes you had to make in list composition.

If I did go to a CAD, would you suggest keeping the tanks as hammerheads, or switching to Skyrays?

To be perfectly honest with you, Hammerheads really aren't very good, even with the AIC bonuses. They're cool models, but their tabletop performance is mediocre, at best. If you're worried about losing their productivity in the anti-armor arena, consider investing in a Tidewall Gunfort. It's basically 3 more durable twin-linked Hammerheads for 2/3 the cost. Since Tau buildings move, you don't really even lose much (or any) mobility. If you're sticking with the models you have, changing over to Skyrays is the superior choice, in my mind. That volley of missiles is great for taking down most things short of Land Raiders and Imperial Knights, and it never hurts to have skyfire markerlights.

Also, going CAD I think I would take an Aegis Defense line for extra cover for some of the FWs. What do you think?

That sounds pretty reasonable to me, but consider using the Gunfort, as above.

I have never taken stim injectors on my riptides before, I just wanted to try it out this game. That being said, I am almost certainly going to switch them to be HBCs. Just so I am clear though, you don't get to take a stim save against a failed nova reactor roll, correct?

Try away. I'm not saying stims aren't useful. I just don't think they're necessary on IA Riptides, since you can use the nova reactor for a 3++ (which is better than 5++/5+++) if you're truly concerned about longevity. They make more sense on a HBC 'tide since you're going to be using your nova reactor basically every turn and can hurt yourself with your main gun.

Try away. I'm not saying stims aren't useful. I just don't think they're necessary on IA Riptides, since you can use the nova reactor for a 3++ (which is better than 5++/5+++) if you're truly concerned about longevity. They make more sense on a HBC 'tide since you're going to be using your nova reactor basically every turn and can hurt yourself with your main gun.

so are you saying that I CAN make FNP rolls against failed nova rolls?

As far as I'm aware, yes. I've never heard anything to the contrary.

Milkman's advice is pretty good. I will add ...

Suks wrote:
I have never taken stim injectors on my riptides before, I just wanted to try it out this game. That being said, I am almost certainly going to switch them to be HBCs. Just so I am clear though, you don't get to take a stim save against a failed nova reactor roll, correct?

Fully correct, because "it is not a Save", but an 'ignores wound', which is very different in a lot of the game mechanics.

I'm a recent Trip-Tide Wing user and they're nasty. The stims give just that much more middle finger to your opponent's guns. But, 660 or so points is a sizable chunk of your army.

Suks wrote:
Where can you find the rules for the Riptide Wing and Dawn Blade Contingent?

The Mont'ka books. $75, which also give you assassin rules and a lot of meh SH tank rules for Imperial Guard.

Suks wrote:
3x crisis suits - 3x2xFusion Blasters, 2x target locks

I don't like this. Generally, the meta doesn't have that many tanks needing melta busting. I'd switch at least two to dual PRs and EWO. Drop Pods *are* big party of 40k now and you want to erase marines before they fire their Gravguns at you. Toss the Target Locks.

If you toss out your HHs (at least one), add a 'Vre to the unit, with MSS and C&CN and more dudes with dual PRs and EWO. Maybe two gun drones for ablatives.

Something to consider for HBCs: 12 shots is gonna mean a lot of (and that one round of 24 shots each), a lot of Gets Hot!. Pay the 70 points for an ADL and an Ammo Dump upgrade. Look those up in Battle Field terrain ... page ... 108?


A little more advice: On your Cmdr Crisis Suit, always take Iridium Armor. Soooo worth it.