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.

I've been away since ~halfway through 5th ed. I see that my dear dear tau have gotten a new codex and that even more space marines have their own codexes now. I'm going to assume that each new one is even more OP than the last, if memory serves me right and the trend continued. How is 6th ed? Are Tau better now, or did they change at all? What else is new in the hobby, besides the ever present price increases?

Thanks for your help

The new Tau are far, far, far better than any space marine army at this point. Top tier easily.

6th is basically 5th with a hefty dash of 2nd for seasoning.

So, more random effects, slightly more involvement in your opponents turn (via overwatch)

Those that play, or wish to play, competitively wail and gnash their teeth, but as a fun system, its not too bad.

Over a year in, I still haven't got a handle on all the "before you start" dice rolling etc, but I'm certainly not alone at the club, so me and my opponent usually just work through the summary in the rulebook.

As for OP codexes? Most of what is considered OP is still hung over from 5th. The power curve has been much flatter with 6th ed books. Tau and Eldar are both strong, CSM are good, but perhaps overly rely on one or two units, DA are a bit meh, but still have some scary builds and Daemons are very unpredictable, due to a hefty amount of random charts, but have some power builds that will run anything close, as long as you have average luck with your rolls.

Overall, I've not minded 6th from a rules point of view, although a lot of the models have, IMO, been a bit lacking.

Tau, strong? This is actually happening?


...gak, I must be either dreaming or in the afterlife!

 micahaphone wrote:
Tau, strong? This is actually happening?


...gak, I must be either dreaming or in the afterlife!

The emphasis in 6th is biased in favour of shooting.

Tau are good shootists.

Monstrous creatures have become exponentially stronger in 6th, Tau got a Riptide, which is a shooty MC.

Not only are they strong, but the releases suggest they will stay that way for a while, and not be eclipsed by the next codex.

Welcome to 6th, you are awake.

 micahaphone wrote:
I've been away since ~halfway through 5th ed. I see that my dear dear tau have gotten a new codex and that even more space marines have their own codexes now. I'm going to assume that each new one is even more OP than the last, if memory serves me right and the trend continued. How is 6th ed? Are Tau better now, or did they change at all? What else is new in the hobby, besides the ever present price increases?

Thanks for your help

Well you certainly have a negative outlook. Are you sure you wanted to come back?

As has been said, the 6th edition Codices are roughly on par with each other, with some (Tau) being stronger than other (Dark Angels, CSM).

As a side-note, there are no more Marine Codices than when you left, it's just that 2 of the 3 4th edition Marine Codices got updated.

 micahaphone wrote:
I've been away since ~halfway through 5th ed. I see that my dear dear tau have gotten a new codex and that even more space marines have their own codexes now. I'm going to assume that each new one is even more OP than the last, if memory serves me right and the trend continued. How is 6th ed? Are Tau better now, or did they change at all? What else is new in the hobby, besides the ever present price increases?

Thanks for your help

The tau now play like the hi-tech shooting experts they've always been called, but never were in practice. The new book definitely brings them into their own. Of course it does come with the obligatory high priced new model kits, but that is the joy of the Games Workshop. As for the books themselves, the new 6th edition codecies are actually so far pretty well balanced with each other all things considered. Far, FAR different from earlier editions where the newest book was able to stomp on anything that had come out before it. Some folks keep calling the Tau book over powered, but all it really did was bring Tau into line with the proper power level. Given their book was so old and everything was so overpriced, they got a pretty decent buff up, but really needed it.

Skriker

I would say that in terms of competitiveness it is:
Daemons/CSM (these guys usually go hand in hand so i consider them one, if anything people drop the CSM portion because they don't need Hell Drakes)
Tau- super strong right now if you don't know how to deal with them with the army you have, you will die. To Be honest I don't think they are as strong as people say, but definitely very very strong, but by no means over powered. They require a different play style versus them though.
Eldar - Really Good. People thought the new codex was kind of flat, because they wanted certain units to be OP and they aren't. Wave Serpents are one of if not the best unit in the codex. Warp spiders are a close second. Then there are of course the obligatory 2 Jet bike squads for late game objectives, and guardians are amazing now with psuedo rending. Also ridiculously mobile. Cannot stress that enough.
Tyranids - They got Better, with out a codex. Somehow. I think because of the MC buffs and the fact that they can spam Big guys and little guys and psychic powers, they are just able to overrun a lot of people. Especially when they deep strike like 3-4 MCs/threats behind an aegis into an IG/tau gunline. Not going to be having a good day with that.
IG - Still super strong. Most of the time though not seen on their own. They do way better with allies.
Necrons - Just mess stuff up. Great Melee, Pretty good weapons for shooting, underpriced flyers that can teleport people around the board essentially. also screw D-lords with Mind Shackle Scarabs ("oh you like your big beat stick? well he just wacked himself in the face with all of his instant death attacks and killed himself...so good job...yes I just got a kill point, warlord, and first blood with that")
DA - Has some underpriced stuff. Supposedly mid high tier due to bikes and deathwing, but haven't faced them so no comment (mainly so high because most other marines are not good anymore)
Dark Eldar - They are in a weird spot. They can win...a lot...until the person brings Mech guard, and they can't pop enough tanks to use their venoms. so mid teir, but strong against most of the top teir armies.
Orks - IDK tbh. I haven't seen an overly awesome showing of orks, but that could just be local meta. They are great allies for many forces like Necrons since cron air needs the bodies to stay on the table turn 1. Can't speak about them by themselves though.
Space Wolves - still viable and competitive. Pigeon holed with their builds a lot of times though. Drop pods and long fangs are their friends
GK - Decent power level, not over the top but able to still have a good showing
any other Space Marine Army is not worth even considering (although i have seen some Sisters of Battle with IG lists running around that seem to have some success) due to Hell drakes. Those guys just cut off the tide of Space Marines due to the flying torrent flamer at ap 3 (that means 12" out then a flame template, which means ignores cover, which means bye bye marines)