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 Dakka Dakka .

So I have decided to start a Tau army and have managed to purchase the following items.

Tau Riptide
3 Crisis Battle Suits
Ethereal
10 Tau Fire warriors
10 Tau Pathfinders
2 Tau Broadsides

I used to play Tau in the old book and they would be considered my main army back then, however I have had not played against or looked into the new Tau.

So with a brief look through battlescribe and the book, I have made this small 1k list and would love any feedback or advice on a new Tau collector.

Cheers

+++ The Tau Have Returned (993pts) +++

++ Tau Empire: Codex (2015) (Combined Arms Detachment) ++

+ HQ +

Ethereal [2x Equalizers, 2x MV4 Shield Drone, Recon Armour]

+ Elites +

XV104 Riptide Battlesuits [2x MV84 Shielded Missile Drone]

Riptide Shas'vre [Early Warning Override, Ion Accelerator, Stimulant Injector, Twin-linked Smart Missile System]

Crisis Shas'ui [Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Stimulant Injector]

Crisis Shas'ui [Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Stimulant Injector]

Crisis Shas'ui [Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Stimulant Injector]

+ Troops +

Strike Team [5x Fire Warrior with Pulse Rifle]
····DS8 Tactical Support Turret [Smart Missile System]
····Fire Warrior Shas'ui [Pulse Rifle]

Strike Team [5x Fire Warrior with Pulse Rifle]
····Fire Warrior Shas'ui [Pulse Rifle]

+ Fast Attack +

Pathfinder Team [4x Pathfinder]
····Pathfinder Shas'ui [Pulse Carbine with Markerlight]

Pathfinder Team [4x Pathfinder]
····Pathfinder Shas'ui [Pulse Carbine with Markerlight]

+ Heavy Support +

Broadside [Stimulant Injector, Twin-linked High-Yield Missile Pod, Twin-linked Smart Missile System]

Broadside [Stimulant Injector, Twin-linked High-Yield Missile Pod, Twin-linked Smart Missile System]

I am by no means an expert on 40k or Tau, but a few things:

1. I wouldn't take drones with your Riptide. They can result in leadership tests when they die.
2. I would recommend you remove the stimulant injectors from the crisis suits.
3. I would recommend that you use some of the drones that came with the models you have to make a squad of markerlight drones. Once you get a commander suit model, the marker drones would become a better source of markerlights than the pathfinders.
4. I am not sure about the stimulant injectors on the broadsides since I currently do not have any. I run mainly a mobile crisis suit/riptide/piranha/drone type of list.

It looks like you are trying to push 1000 points, but with the models I am not sure it is there. You might be better off at 750 to start off with the models you have available.

I am an 11 year tau veteran.

Shinzra wrote:
Ethereal [2x Equalizers, 2x MV4 Shield Drone, Recon Armour]

Upgrades for him were bad in 4e, especially body guards and stuff. Same thing now, two books later. Drop him altogether and go with a Cmdr. XV8

Shinzra wrote:
Riptide Shas'vre [Early Warning Override, Ion Accelerator, Stimulant Injector, Twin-linked Smart Missile System]

As spect_spidey said, no drones as losing one causes a Morale Check.

Shinzra wrote:
Crisis Shas'ui [Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Stimulant Injector]
Crisis Shas'ui [Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Stimulant Injector]
Crisis Shas'ui [Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Stimulant Injector]

Ah, the old FireKnife. Not what it used to be. Nowadays, go with dual guns, for a small game, like 1k or less, dual Burst Cans. And Stims are a bit much. Do promote one of them to Cmdr, take Irid Armor & two guns.

Shinzra wrote:
Strike Team [5x Fire Warrior with Pulse Rifle]
····DS8 Tactical Support Turret [Smart Missile System]····Fire Warrior Shas'ui [Pulse Rifle]
Strike Team [5x Fire Warrior with Pulse Rifle]····Fire Warrior Shas'ui [Pulse Rifle]
Pathfinder Team [4x Pathfinder] ····Pathfinder Shas'ui [Pulse Carbine with Markerlight]
Pathfinder Team [4x Pathfinder]····Pathfinder Shas'ui [Pulse Carbine with Markerlight]

You're 'pushing' your list, loading up on wargear that imbalances your dakka. Maybe try for a leaner 750 point list instead of a fat, bloated 1k. I'd skip 'Ui promotions and turrets.

Shinzra wrote:
Broadside [Stimulant Injector, Twin-linked High-Yield Missile Pod, Twin-linked Smart Missile System]
Broadside [Stimulant Injector, Twin-linked High-Yield Missile Pod, Twin-linked Smart Missile System]

Now missile drones for these guys *are* worth the upgrade. However, those pricey stims on suits are tipping your balance over. They're are really best for StormSurges and Riptides.

Two more Riptides are your next purchases.