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Basically as the subject states. With Gun Drones going up in points, are they still worth fielding as cheap screening units and ablative wounds for crisis suits? I'm seeing pros and cons, but I'm wondering what the more experienced T'au players are thinking with the new codex about to drop.

Screening units? No.. field kroot and expand pre-turn 1 into space (unless that encourages Turn 1 charges from the enemy deployment zone... Unless that extra movement would still slow enemy units advancing from their deployment zone, a good example being double-running hormagaunts... being charged turn 1 sucks, wherever it comes from).

Even Fire Warriors (if they are 7ppm 5man units) are great screens.

DC buffed Gun drones for massed str 5 shooting - then yes, potentially.

66pts (Crisis + 3 burst cannons) = 5.5pts/Str5 shot. (18" + movement.. minimum squad size )

48pts (4 drones, pulse carbines) = 3pts/str5 shot (requires DC, weaker. cheap to field, extremely cheapest firepower).

Fire Warriors (5 squad, pulse rifles) = 7pts/str5 shot
= 3.5pts/str5 (within 1/2 range.. or 1/2 range + more, weakerer)
= 3.1pts/str 4 (within 1/2 range, buffed by a fireblade with a pulse rifle, max squad size, 2 slots)

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In summary, if you can reasonably field a DC naturally (rather than having a dedicated model), the cost is very nominal. Drones can still put out a withering amount of firepower, very cheaply* (*assuming the drone controller model/s are still pretty functional forgoing a support slot).

We'll end up using some combination of Kroot and Strike teams to screen our units. Kroot are better at screening away opposing deep strikers thanks to their free move, while Strike teams have a nastier punch. Both are sufficiently cheap you can deploy sizable screens of them.

Gun drones are a little too expensive to fill that role, but they're still solid at laying down fire and providing ablative wounds for suits. Basically they went from criminally undercosted to reasonably priced (maybe just ever so slightly expensive).

You guys do realize that Tactical Drone units can deepstrike now, right?

 Ragnar Blackmane wrote:
You guys do realize that Tactical Drone units can deepstrike now, right?

Manta striking doesn't do much to screen turn 1 charges, though.

Since they can now deep strike, they are still one of our better units. Dropping in a high volume of S5 firepower wherever you need it can be critical to clearing screens and creating space for bigger suits. Given how cheap Fire Warriors are, you can easily create a droppable army with built-in chaff screen and large suit protection. I'm thinking I'll include Ghostkeels for easy DC sources to make your ablative wounds even more effective shooters. I see competitive Tau lists being highly mobile with units of drones dropping in near key suits as needed.

As for deep strike screening, others have noted that we have units that are much better on that role, and I agree completely. Drones are for suit protection.

 meleti wrote:

 Ragnar Blackmane wrote:
You guys do realize that Tactical Drone units can deepstrike now, right?

Manta striking doesn't do much to screen turn 1 charges, though.

There is Kroot, Pathfinders and Fire Warriors for that. The new job of Tactical drones is to drop behind squishy backfield units and either kill or tie them down. Bonus points if you lock down 180+ point units in close combat.

Also you can now drop a bunch of shield and gun drones right next to your infiltrating ghostkeel or turbo-boosting Coldstar.

 Ragnar Blackmane wrote:

 meleti wrote:

 Ragnar Blackmane wrote:
You guys do realize that Tactical Drone units can deepstrike now, right?

Manta striking doesn't do much to screen turn 1 charges, though.

There is Kroot, Pathfinders and Fire Warriors for that.

Yeah, I was just talking about screening because that's one of the things the OP asked about specifically.

Gun Drones are absolutely worth taking as extra wounds and short range firepower for commanders and suits.

When a crisis suits cost 80 points you really want a couple of extra wounds that can tank that lasscannon shot.

Even for things like Stealth Suits or Ghostkheel Suits they are absolutely worth it.

I also think the ability to deep strike boatloads of S5 shots anywhere on the map is going to be really effective at clearing out chaff. While leadership could be a problem, 4 or more gun drones firing 4 shots each is no joke even if they shoot like orks.

If I'm interpreting the Tau Sept Tenet correctly we need at least two friendly Tau Sept units within 6" of each other in order to get the bonus to firing on overwatch. Gun Drones could be a good way of making sure Tau Sept units keep that benefit. Plus, the Gun Drones would also overwatch on a 5+ which is nice.