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.

So the Tau 8th is leaked online http://www.3plusplus.net/2017/05/tau-empire-complete-8th-tau-codex/

So let's talk about the good and the bad (that I've spotted so far):

The good:
Broadsides are getting double the potential output (2 SMS and 2 HYMP a total of 16 shots).
Stealth suits, ghostkeels and shadowsun appear to be able to deploy just more than 12" away from enemy models.
Advanced tracking adds 1 to the AP of a weapon.
Target lock removes the modification to hit with moving and shoot heavy or move advance shoot assault weapons.
The shield line potentially dished out mortal wounds to an attacker (albeit unlikely).
Drones can lookout sir for most things within 3"
Pathfinders and darkstrider can scout move 7" at the start of the game.

The bad:
Markerlights - these seem a little less relevant to me now.
Riptide can cause itself mortal wounds on both the reactor and standard overcharge ion (i say bad but it's not too bad).
The fortifications can be blown up and can cause mortal wounds to everything in 6".
Ethereals are less useful (IMO)
Less accurate BS overall.
Flyers are still a bit meh.
The firewarrior turret is basically useless (destroyed if you move out of coherency).
Seeker missiles and destroyer missiles only hit on a 6 (but do cause mortal wounds) making them really naff.

That's all I've got so far.
Overall I'd say it's a mixed bag not much in the way of weapon changes making things pretty much as they were before.
I think some changes are fine, the markerlights suck now in my opinion I will probably forego them in exchange for more weapons.

I need some more time to process.

Please feel free to share your views.

Whats going on with the seeker missiles and destroyer missiles.

A limited shot resource that only hits on a 6 that can't be modified. Who would ever choose that weapon, you'll almost never hit with the things.

Seeker and destroyer missiles resolve at the user's ballistic roll instead of 6+ if you have two marker lights shining on their target.

Meaning seekers are garbage if you dumbfire them, which is exactly how they should behave.

There's a thread for this in the tactical board, it's just getting started, but you may find some of the discussion there informative.