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I'm thinking of taking an Inquisitor with an Ulumeathi Plasma Syphon again Tau, I was just curious as to what Tau guns are affected by the Syphon, as it doesn't say in the rulebook or FAQ.
Also, do Markerlights buff the Syphon's BS1 to better, or are the Syphon's effects final?

From the GK FAQ page 6:

Q: What counts as a plasma weapon for the Ulumeathi Plasma
Syphon? (p62)
A: All Plasma weapons, as well as Eldar missile launchers firing
plasma missiles, burst cannons, starcannons, all Tau pulse
weapons and any weapon described as using ‘plasma’ as its
effect or in its special rules.

http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m3440038a_Grey_Knights_v1.5_September_13.pdf

Also, the UPS makes it a set modifier. So while they can expend markerlight markers to up the BS, it will still go off at BS1.

It should be noted that the Grey Knight FAQ only applies to Grey Knights. If you take the Plasma Syphon from the Inquisition Codex, it only affects weapons with plasma in their name, not Tau Pulse weapons.

Mortikye wrote:
Also, the UPS makes it a set modifier. So while they can expend markerlight markers to up the BS, it will still go off at BS1.

That doesn't seem right. The markerlights can affect snap shots, and are the only thing in the game that can override the set to BS1 modifier of snap shooting. The snap shot rules are "If a model is forced to make Snap Shots rather than shoot normally, then its Ballistic Skill is counted as being I for the purpose of those shots." The plasma syphon reads "Models firing plasma weapons (including plasma pistols, plasma guns, and plasma cannons) while within 12" of a model with an Ulumeathi Plasma Syphon will count as Ballistic Skill 1." Both of these effects use the wording "counts as," leading me to conclude that markerlights can be used to increase the ballistic skill of models firing within 12" of the syphon.

Markerlights have a specific allownace to override the multiple modifier rules on page 2, by modifying the value of a set modifier. Do you have such an allowance for markerlights affecting the syphon?

 Nilok wrote:
It should be noted that the Grey Knight FAQ only applies to Grey Knights. If you take the Plasma Syphon from the Inquisition Codex, it only affects weapons with plasma in their name, not Tau Pulse weapons.

Sounds like someone forgot to update from the FAQ when they copy/pasted from the GK codex...

It also depends on which siphon you are using.

The Codex: Inquisition one directs you to the Plasma weapons in the rule book(does not effect tau or plasma missiles)

 Kommissar Kel wrote:
It also depends on which siphon you are using.

The Codex: Inquisition one directs you to the Plasma weapons in the rule book(does not effect tau or plasma missiles)

Which seems rather unfair, for a weapon called a "Plasma" siphon to not effect weapons that are named "plasma guns" (with lower Str).

Elric,

I think Kel was talking about the fact the 'standard' siphon was able to effect any weapon with plasma in the fluff which is now lacking from the 'new' version, due to the fact it is in a different book and not bound by the very broken Frequently Asked Question answer. It would still effect Tau Plasma Rifles because that is how the war-gear works, it's special rule grants it power over a category of weapons that are found in other Codex's and the Basic rule Books. It just can't effect Pulse carbines, Pulse Rifles, Pulse Pistols, Burst cannons, Kroot rifles firing pulse shots, or that Eldar missile that use "plasma" warhead tips... and probably one or two I am forgetting. Noticeably; weapons that do not contain plasma in their name and are not located under any 'plasma weapon' category but all previously effected by the Gray Knight Siphon.

The new siphon does not effect Plasma Rifles, they are not "Plasma Weapons" as defined by the 40k rulebook(which is the exact-ish of the new siphon).

 Kommissar Kel wrote:
The new siphon does not effect Plasma Rifles, they are not "Plasma Weapons" as defined by the 40k rulebook(which is the exact-ish of the new siphon).

That sounds more like an error in the ebook codex more then anything else. Be extremely silly if it affects all armies that use more standard plasma weapon but not Tau plasma.

I will need to double check when I get home, but I thought the Tau weapons had the same category name as the basic rule book's plasma weapons.

Per the codex and rulebook, the only things affected are plasma pistols, plasma guns, and plasma cannons.

Until such a time, the wargear is removed from the GK codex, I will play it as per the GK faq. Even if that means my plasma missiles, grenades and star/sun cannons are affected.

 Happyjew wrote:
Per the codex and rulebook, the only things affected are plasma pistols, plasma guns, and plasma cannons.

Until such a time, the wargear is removed from the GK codex, I will play it as per the GK faq. Even if that means my plasma missiles, grenades and star/sun cannons are affected.

That's the way that seemed the most reasonable to me to go, but since I field a UPS, I felt kind of iffy voicing that opinion. I think that if I ran a competitive event between here and whenever we get a clarification from corporate, that's the way I'd rule it.