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.

Hi All,

I am currently branching out my Tau Army (about 1500 points) and I would like to include some ForgeWorld pieces. I would greatly appreciate any feedback!

The style I like to play is a small firebase (broadsides+FW) with plenty of mobile firepower. I am choosing to bring FE allies for 2 teams of scoring XV8s. I think they add a lot to the mobility of Tau and I just love crisis (staple unit of the army for me). For extra mobility, I would like to run Darkstrider with a squad of FW, which at worst will die after outflanking and taking out a juicy target or, with some luck it will end up capturing an objective in the enemy deployment zone.

Both riptides run a positional relay to ensure a useful outflank (using Nova Reactor to reach the desired edge). R'alai is there to push forward and glance AV14 armor as needed. An alternative to the current load-out is to lose Longstrike, 3 fire warriors, and a couple more support systems to add a third Broadside and 2 Missile Drones to the firebase team.

HQ
Commander (warlord, joins broadside team or as needed) - *CCN, *MSS, *PEN (135)
R’alai - 2 Blacklight Marker Drones (190)
(ally) Darkstrider (joins 12 man FW team) (100)

Elites
Riptide - Ion accelerator, TL Plasma, EWO, Positional Relay (195)
(ally) Riptide - Heavy burst cannon, TL SMS, *ECPA, EWO, Positional Relay (220)

Troops
Fire Warrior Team (x12) (Outflank with Darkstrider) (108)
Fire Warrior Team (x9) (Backfield camp) (81)
(ally) Crisis Team (x3) (Backfield/flank mobile) (159)
2x MP, bonding knife
2x MP, bonding knife
2x MP, bonding knife
(ally) Crisis Team (x3) (Forward/Deep Strike) (159)
1x PR, 1x FB, bonding knife
1x PR, 1x FB, bonding knife
1x PR, 1x FB, bonding knife

Fast Attack
Tetra Scout Team (x2) (70)
Tetra Scout Team (x2) (70)

Heavy Support
Hammerhead - *Longstrike, Railgun w sub., TL SMS, Disruption Pod, Sensor Spines (195)
Broadside Team (x2) (Backfield camp with Buffmander, missile drones shoot separetely) (188)
TL Rail Rifle, TL SMS, TL
TL Rail Rifle, TL SMS, TL
Missile Drone (x4)
Skyray (Alpha strike and Skyfire, Skyfire ML support) - Point Defense Targeting Relay, Sensor Spines (130)

As a regular Tau opponent, I would recommend keeping Longstrike in the list if possible...

This looks like a good example of a 1500pt Tau list, unless I am missing something critical. I really like SMS on broadsides.

I should probably say something negative, yes? Die, xenos?

 Brometheus wrote:
As a regular Tau opponent, I would recommend keeping Longstrike in the list if possible...

This looks like a good example of a 1500pt Tau list, unless I am missing something critical. I really like SMS on broadsides.

I should probably say something negative, yes? Die, xenos?

Haha thanks! It's at 2000 points now.

I guess I am most concerned with the points sink for Darkstrider but he has been useful in a couple games. Maybe there's a better way of adding scoring mobility for the tau that I am not aware of? I don't have a Kroot hound but it's often what I see for outflank squads. My concern with them is their squishiness.

Lastly, the internets are pretty devoid of battle reports with the updated R'alai rules. So I was hoping for some feedback on him.

Xirj wrote:

Lastly, the internets are pretty devoid of battle reports with the updated R'alai rules. So I was hoping for some feedback on him.

That's because his drones make him T3 while both of them are alive. Also, he cannot join another unit for ablative wounds. I've lost him to one squad of rapid firing FWs once.... Not fun.

Also why give an already twin linked Broadsides a buffmander that makes them twin link again? Either drop the CNN or have your commander roll around with one of your Riptides. That'll make your Riptide more effective and your warlord T6 sitting behind a model with 2+ armor and 5++ or 3++. For this reason I usually have my buffmander roll with my IA Riptide (which I feel benefits more from a 3++ invul rather than a slight strength increase and ordinance on his blast).

DirtyDeeds wrote:

That's because his drones make him T3 while both of them are alive. Also, he cannot join another unit for ablative wounds. I've lost him to one squad of rapid firing FWs once.... Not fun.

As far as I can tell the IA3: 2nd edition Blacklight drones got upgraded to T4 so that becomes less of an issue but I agree still made more fragile by them. Guess I'll have to try it out.

DirtyDeeds wrote:

Also why give an already twin linked Broadsides a buffmander that makes them twin link again? Either drop the CNN or have your commander roll around with one of your Riptides. That'll make your Riptide more effective and your warlord T6 sitting behind a model with 2+ armor and 5++ or 3++. For this reason I usually have my buffmander roll with my IA Riptide (which I feel benefits more from a 3++ invul rather than a slight strength increase and ordinance on his blast).

Yes, I've been thinking about this myself. CNN was there more for drones but I guess that's what I can be using markerlights for. The only time markerlights won't help the drones is against flyers, which the twin-link would be great for.

Good call on the IA riptide with commander, I will try that out. Last game my opponent was not into letting my Buffmander join a riptide.

Xirj wrote:

Good call on the IA riptide with commander, I will try that out. Last game my opponent was not into letting my Buffmander join a riptide.

That's because of the way the rule is worded for Independent Characters. Pp. 39 of the LRB, "Independent Characters can join other units. They cannot, however, join vehicle squadrons or units that always consist of a single model, (such as most vehicles and Monstrous Creatures).

Before the Riptide and its shielded missile drones came to our table tops, there were very few monstrous creatures that could be fielded as a member of a squad. Current argument is that the shielded missile drones count as squad members for morale tests and other rules that are associated with a unit consisting of more than one model. That being said, a Riptide squad can consist or more than one model, so an IC may join the Riptide Squad. However, you do not need to purchase the shielded missile drones to join an IC.

Its a loophole that MIGHT be fixed in a FAQ down the road, but at the moment there are some very large tournaments that honor this interpretation of the rules. Just be sure to find that section in your rule book the next time you play someone who challenges it.

Here is a link to an amazing article titled "Big Brothers: Helping our Riptides Help Us Better". There's a section describing the issue we were just discussing.
http://advancedtautactica.com/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=20743&p=262239&hilit=+commander+joining+riptide#p262239

The Buffmander is the preferred choice for a Riptide buddy, but I have used Shadowsun as a Little Sister to our Big Daddy to give my HBC/FB Riptide Infiltrate, and a constant 4+ cover (2+ in ruins )

One of the most common and deadly combos utilizing this rule interpretation is making an O'Vesa star... This includes Farsight, O'Vesa, Riptide (any weapon combo) +2 Drones and target lock, and a buffmander with CNN, MSSS, PENChip, drone controller, and VRT. This unit has 22 T6 wounds with plenty invulnerable saves and of Look Out Sir targets. Its a unit that can dish out massive amounts of damage and can achieve relatively good results in combat thanks to Farsight/ 2 MCs, and you will never be stuck in combat on your opponents terms with an I5 Hit and Run. However, it's expensive to run so you can pick and choose how you want to run this unit.