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Background: Up until now, my son and I have been playing using the 8E indexes only, and only with 1,000 point armies. We don't use characters either, due to some really bad experiences I've had in prior editions, and ForgeWorld units are essentially unavailable to us. I have been picking up the card packs with Strategies and Objective cards in them as they come out, however. I haven't bothered to look at the FAQ updates since 8E has come out, nor Chapter Approved. Yeah, I know - pretty atypical, gotta be weird.

With that background, I have been considering picking up the 8E Tau codex, as it is the army I like best. But I'm not really sure if what it adds would improve our game beyond what we have available in the index. Beyond the updates to point costs*, what does the Tau codex add, and do you feel its worth a non-tournament player to pick it up? Can someone give me a summary rundown of the significant changes between the Index and Codex?

* We use Battlescribe to build our army lists, so we sort of automatically get the point changes without having to have the codex in hand.

Codex will add Sept traits, warlord traits, stratagems (which is a big part of 8th Ed) and datasheet changes for several units.

The indexes were always intended as a temporary filler, to get the full use out of an army you'll ideally need the codex.

 NurglesR0T wrote:
Codex will add Sept traits, warlord traits, stratagems (which is a big part of 8th Ed) and datasheet changes for several units.

The indexes were always intended as a temporary filler, to get the full use out of an army you'll ideally need the codex.

Are the Sept and Warlord traits worth bothering with? Same with the datasheets - are there significant changes to any of actual units that would alter my games in a noticeable way? I do already have the Stratagems due to having the cards.

I'm not attempting to troll or be difficult, but I am trying to figure out if, for me, the cost of yet another round of codexes introduces enough changes to the game to be worth the price tag.

You...you're missing out...

The armies play so differently with traits and stratagems.

 Stormonu wrote:

 NurglesR0T wrote:
Codex will add Sept traits, warlord traits, stratagems (which is a big part of 8th Ed) and datasheet changes for several units.

The indexes were always intended as a temporary filler, to get the full use out of an army you'll ideally need the codex.

Are the Sept and Warlord traits worth bothering with? Same with the datasheets - are there significant changes to any of actual units that would alter my games in a noticeable way? I do already have the Stratagems due to having the cards.

I'm not attempting to troll or be difficult, but I am trying to figure out if, for me, the cost of yet another round of codexes introduces enough changes to the game to be worth the price tag.

Honestly? Yes, they do make a difference. One of the traits you can extend your pulse range by 6" if I'm not mistaken, which can really lend itself to creating a Fire Warrior build for your army which can have a profound impact on your list creation.

If cost is an issue for you, ask yourself - how many games do you play each month? if you add up all the games that you play over a 1-2 year period before the next codex is released, you'll probably find there is value there.

Also, it's not just the traits that you miss out on. Several units were revised in the codex release, an example would be the Riptide (weapon stat adjustments etc)

I really enjoy the flavor that Sept Tenets/Chapter Tactics and Stratagems add to the game. I don't play competitively and I still find a lot of value in the Codex. (Plus there's a bunch of good art and background information.)

If money is tight you might wait a while and snag a used copy off of eBay. It might take quite a while to get a good deal since the codex is so new.

It adds a lot of value, as others have noted.

I’d also recommend that you both check the FAQs - they clarify or modify quite a few very important things. Ynnari, for example, play massively differently post-FAQ.

Also, for what it’s worth, don’t be afraid of characters - it sounds like you guys are restricting the game to much less than it is or could be...and it’s fine, each to their own, but imo you’re missing out.

Every army has what amounts to chapter tactics now. For Tau thats sept traits. One adds 6" to the range of all rapid fire and heavy weapons.

You get about 6 warlord traits that are generic plus one unique for each sept.

Relics are the same... maybe 8? +1 for each sept.

Then not only have points and datasheets changed but the weapon profiles have also changed drastically in a lot of cases.

So on and so forth for every army.