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HQ:
Commander Shadowsun w/ Command-link Drone
Elite:
Riptide w/ IA, TL-SMS, EWO
Riptide w/ HBC, TL-SMS, VT, 2 Shielded Missile Drones
Troops:
9 Fire Warriors
9 Fire Warriors
Fast Attack:
5 Pathfinders
5 Pathfinders
Heavy Support:
Sky Ray Missile Defense Gunship w/ TL-SMS, BSF Point Defense Targeting Relay, Disruption Pod
3 XV88 Broadside w/ TL-HYMP, TL-SMS, 4 Missile Drones
3 XV88 Broadside w/ TL-HYMP, TL-SMS, 4 Missile Drones

Total: 1494 points

The plan with this list is classic: Shadowsun joins the HBC Riptide. Re-roll 1's due to Command-link Drone, majority T6 due to the 2 Shielded Missile Drones and Riptide, and 2+ cover all-around. Things I've considered is taking the Riptides and Broadsides in the cadre formation, and cutting the Sky Ray for more troops because I feel like that may be a better use of points, but at the same time it's another outlet for marker lights and anti-MEQ pies.

Shadowsun? Meh.

Never, ever take shielded missile drones. If they kill one all of a sudden you're taking a morale check on a critical model. You get majority T6 with Shadowsun just from the Riptide itself. (And before you go saying, "but it can't attach to a single model! Yes. It. Can. ICs can attach to any unit that can be more than 1 model.)

The HBC tide needs EWO.

Kroot > Firewarriors. If you insist on the latter, they need a fish (with SMS). Since that's very expensive, see point one about Kroot.

Marker Drones > Pathfinders. Pathfinders = First Blood.

Lose the extra toys on the Skyray except for BSF.

Second EWO on the tide. Without an ethereal, kroot are better than warriors. Also, 2 troop units at 1500 is a bit light, considering it is only 18 T3 models.

Also ICs can't join Monstrous Creatures. Page 39 RB. Or am I wrong because of the missile drones? never could figure this out. Please someone correct me if I am wrong.

It states clearly on page 39 that ICs cannot join units that ALWAYS consist of single models. The mention of monstrous creatures is anecdotal and illustrative; meant as an example. Riptides do not always consist of single models as they can purchase drone companions.

 The Shrike wrote:
Shadowsun? Meh.

Never, ever take shielded missile drones. If they kill one all of a sudden you're taking a morale check on a critical model. You get majority T6 with Shadowsun just from the Riptide itself. (And before you go saying, "but it can't attach to a single model! Yes. It. Can. ICs can attach to any unit that can be more than 1 model.)

The HBC tide needs EWO.

Kroot > Firewarriors. If you insist on the latter, they need a fish (with SMS). Since that's very expensive, see point one about Kroot.

Marker Drones > Pathfinders. Pathfinders = First Blood.

Lose the extra toys on the Skyray except for BSF.

Ah, I didn't realize the Command-link Drone was T4. Alright, I'll definitely cut the Shielded-Missile Drones. I'll definitely get EWO on there too, Dr. Serling.

I actually only have 10 Kroot. I'd like to invest in more at some point but until then Fire Warriors are all I've got.

I'm honestly not sure where I stand on Marker Drones vs Pathfinders. I'm definitely not shooting down your suggestion I'd just like to discuss it a little because it's something I've never been sure on myself. On one hand Pathfinders are Scouts and therefore get Outflanking, meaning they're not necessarily First Blood. Deploying them like that is much safer for them and could set up a big play of shooting one of their priority targets off the board. They also have +1 BS and carry a gun that inflicts wounds if need be. Marker Drones on the other hand have the better armor save and are jet pack infantry. Heavy means most of the time they'll be on snaps anyways, but hitting 50% of the time vs 33% of the time is pretty big for those stand-and-shoot turns.

To be honest the extra stuff on the Sky Ray was to fill out points because I didn't know where to put them. I'll post an amended list with these changes soon.

Drones are relentless! So you're never snap firing unless at a flier.

The big bonus for drones though is you can take a cheap crisis commander and attach him to make them BS5! In additon to T4, 4+, JSJ....see where I'm going with this?

 The Shrike wrote:
Drones are relentless! So you're never snap firing unless at a flier.

The big bonus for drones though is you can take a cheap crisis commander and attach him to make them BS5! In additon to T4, 4+, JSJ....see where I'm going with this?

I completely missed the fact they had relentless. Huge oversight on my part, haha. I am familiar with that combo however. I've tried it a few times and I've always been happy with how many Markerlights I put out, but also disliked how easily ID'd the Commander is.

That's easily fixed, Iridium.

Wouldn't the drones make the majority toughness of the unit T4? Of course you let the drones meatshield for you as much as possible, but if they catch you out of position and you fail a Look Out, Sir! roll you lose a lot of points, especially if you sunk another 25 for Iridium in there.

Well that's what 2+ look out sir is for. I mean 1's happen man you can't avoid them. Also, you need to be able to use foresight when playing this game. The 36" range of the drones (42" really when considering their 6" move) PLUS JSJ, should keep them out of harm's way. If you can't keep them away from ID causing stuff I don't know what to tell you. Fliers are really all I can think of and honestly, if a Storm Raven comes in and shoots its load of missiles at DRONES then I think that's a net win.

In any case, drones are better than Pathfinders. Unless you have access to Forge World (Tertras), they're the go-to for marker support. A Skyray or two are excellent supplements.

You make a lot of valid points. I think I'll try that unit composition again with a little more experience and this conversation under my belt, haha.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
In fact, check this out:

HQ:
Commander w/ PEN Chip, Iridium, 2 Missile Pod, Target Lock, Drone Controller. 168 points.
Elite:
Riptide w/ Heavy Burst Cannon, TL-SMS, EWO, Velocity Tracker. 205 points.
Riptide w/ Ion Accelerator, TL-FB, EWO. 190 points.
Crisis Team with 2 suits w/ 2 Missile Pod, Target Lock. Shas'vre with C&CN, MSSS. 253 points.
Troops:
10 Kroot w/ Hound, Sniper Rounds. 75 points.
10 Kroot w/ Hound, Sniper Rounds. 75 points.
Heavy Support:
3 Broadside w/ TL-SMS, TL-HYMP, 6 Missile Drones. 267 points.
3 Broadside w/ TL-SMS, TL-HYMP, 6 Missile Drones. 267 points.

Total: 1500/1500

I dropped the Shadowsun plan because it feels cheesy. I'm going to proxy some Fire Warriors as Kroot for awhile to get a feel for them. Anyways, the strategy of this list is to put the Commander with the Crisis Team for BS5 Marker Lights, but also the ability to shoot at priority targets with their Target Locks along with the obvious benefits from C&CN, MSSS, and PEN Chip. The Commander can also join one of the Broadside units to give the Drones BS5 and PEN Chip all around. Current list of things I'm iffy on:
- If I should cut the Crisis Team and make it just the typical combo of Marker Drones and Commander.
- If I should keep the HBC on the Riptide or swap it to IA since I can't re-roll 1's now; alternatively give him a Stim Injector for the inevitable Gets Hot! rolls.
- If I should make room somewhere for more troops.

I can't tell you what to do but I can explain the evolution I've gone through on Mark'os.

At first I was like: "Well, drones are 2 points cheaper as an upgrade, so I'll shove him in a unit of MP Crisis with 6 Markers and then 2 of his own...sweet!"

Then, I realized that by the time you pay for Drone controller and Target Locks so everybody can still function as they normally would, it ends up being the same price if not more. I prefer the autonomy of the Mark'o just being with a unit of FA slot drones. They do their 1 thing well in support of everyone else who do their one thing well. That's how Tau synergy is supposed to work.

I'll also tell you the evolution I've had on Broadsides. At first, I always took max drones. 72 points for 6 Autocannons? I'm in. And they're ablative wounds too. But I find that just 3 broadsides by themselves are often overkill. Now I roll with a Shas'vre (ld9 is huge) and EWO on all three. It's much cheaper. Whatever way you go, you NEED EWO. I know you have it on the tides, but if you're facing drop pods, you'll need them all.

I would take the points saved from losing the drones to double your Kroot. You are almost absurdly light on scoring at this point.

I'd also swap the MPs on the crisis for fusion and throw in a couple target locks. You're low on S8+. If you run into a land raider or two you'll be in trouble without this unit.

Lastly, I'd probably bump down to two units of 2 broadsides and take another squad of 20 Kroot. If you do as i've recommended, that would give you 3 squads of 20 or 4 squads of 15 (probably better). That's decent scoring for 1500.

I'm learning lots reading this!