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Looking to add a Thunderfire cannon to my army for it's impressive ability to shove infantry off objectives.

Incorporating it into an allies detachment is difficult though because of the other choices forced on you.

I was thinking:

SM Allies
Librarian 65 Boltgun
5x Scouts, Camo Cloaks 4xBoltgun 1x Heavy Bolter 73
Thunderfire Cannon 100


This gives me a small scoutable scoring unit that can get impressive malediction's off. I think Imperial fists would be best for this specific detachment. Cloaks mesh really well with the techmarines bolster defences.. Making runs into 2+.
I think sniper's are another good option but don't really benefit from anything other than Iron Hands Tactics.

I'm grabbing a cannon for sure, how would you optimize a SM allies detachment?

I'm not that experienced but here is what I would want to take:

HQ:
Captain-Bike, combi-grav. (120)

Troop:
Bike Squad-4 normal with grav guns+sergeant with combi-grav. (175)

Heavy:
Thnderfire Cannon (100)

(395 Total)

Its a bit expencive but I really like bikes with grav weapons.

I feel that's a pretty bad composition, 40% of your army is good vs very few targets. Anymore opinions?

I would recommend scouts with sniper rifles and camo cloaks.
They are snipers and if you bolster the ruin they camp they get a 2+ cover save.
This setup is good and the cheapest way to incorporate a Thunderfire.
If only our Librarians could take divination..

What would you suggest got chapter tactics for snipers though? iron hands? Ultra?

I go for a bike captain, a bike squad, and a TFC. It gives you an extremely mobile and durable scoring squad with lots of good shooty, and the TFC which also improves the cover save for your other units. The mobile durable scoring bikeas as troops can be extremely useful for certain armies that usually have a tough time with capturing objects like regular Tau and their Firewarriors (what I ally them with).

Chapter Tactics: White Scars
HQ: Captain
-Bike, Artificer Armor, Power Sword, Bolt Pistol
Troops:
Bike Squad
-4x bikes, 2x grav guns, +1 attack bike w/ MM

HS:
TFC

 dylz_22 wrote:
I'm not that experienced but here is what I would want to take:

HQ:
Captain-Bike, combi-grav. (120)

Troop:
Bike Squad-4 normal with grav guns+sergeant with combi-grav. (175)

Heavy:
Thnderfire Cannon (100)

(395 Total)

Its a bit expencive but I really like bikes with grav weapons.

There's nothing wrong with this.