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Here's a theoretical list I may start building towards for a tournament in the future. This would probably auto-lose any kill point missions but would be fun to play and packs a lot of firepower! The tournament allows any 2 detachments / formations. I would love to wreck some knights with this! Tactics are to deep strike all the crisis suits and have a core of fire warriors and broadsides to provide the bulk of the firepower. Riptide and sky ray are there for anti-air duty. I could try and add some more markerlights to the list, but I'm not sure I have much that would really benefit it. Another option would be to add an aegis line with coms relay? What do you think? competitive?

Tau Empire CAD

Ethereal 50pts

Crisis Shasvre with two fusion blasters and neuroweb systems jammer 64pts

12 fire warriors (accompanied by ethereal) 108pts
12 fire warriors (accompanied by fireblade) 108pts
8 fire warriors 72pts
8 fire warriors 72pts
8 fire warriors 72pts
8 fire warriors 72pts

Broadside with HYMP + SMS 65pts
Broadside with HYMP + SMS 65pts
Broadside with HYMP + SMS 65pts

Farsight Enclaves CAD

Fireblade 60pts

Riptide with ECPA, burst cannon, SMS and VT and EWO 235pts

3 Crisis suits with 2 flamers each and BK 99pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts

Broadside with HYMP, SMS + BK 66pts
Broadside with HYMP, SMS + BK 66pts
Sky ray with Blacksun Filter 116pts

Way too many fire warriors. Drop some and the ethereal to get a buff mander on the group of 3 broadsides. You may also want another riptide.

The broadsides are in separate units at the moment, I was trying to keep it an MSU list to prevent the enemy ever wrecking anything too key? Something in me just doesn't like the idea of sinking 350pts or more into a single unit that is liable to get focus-fired...

I thought the ethereal might serve a good purpose in this list by helping the central tau line stay together under enemy fire?

I could still drop a few of the FWs for more broadsides though. I could drop three 8-ma units to boost three broadside units to 2-suit ones?

I do have another riptide, but wasn't sure what'd be best to drop for it...

How does this sound then? some fire warriors have been dropped for two more broadsides and two min-sized units of pathfinders:

Multiple Small Unit Tau
Tau Empire CAD

Ethereal 50pts

Crisis Shasvre with two fusion blasters and neuroweb systems jammer 64pts

12 fire warriors (accompanied by ethereal) 108pts
12 fire warriors (accompanied by fireblade) 108pts
6 Fire warriors 54pts

4 pathfinders 44pts
4 pathfinders 44pts

2 Broadsides with HYMP + SMS 130pts
2 Broadsides with HYMP + SMS 130pts
1 Broadside with HYMP + SMS 65pts

Farsight Enclaves CAD

Fireblade 60pts

Riptide with ECPA, burst cannon, SMS and VT and EWO 235pts

3 Crisis suits with 2 flamers each and BK 99pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts

Broadside with HYMP, SMS + BK 66pts
Broadside with HYMP, SMS + BK 66pts
Sky ray with Blacksun Filter 116pts

I like the idea of running multiple small units. Once day I'd like to run lots of fire warrior squads, pop a couple of Etherals near them. Good times.

Do you have access/willing to use tetras? They'd be much better for you

I don't have any, but it wouldn't be out of the question...

I'm not sure how many points they are or what they do though? They're for markerlights right?

 DoomMouse wrote:
I don't have any, but it wouldn't be out of the question...

I'm not sure how many points they are or what they do though? They're for markerlights right?

Yeah, they're generally considered the best markerlight source and they're 35 points each, but more durable by far than pathfinders. Plus they can be upgraded with dispods for extra survivability


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh, and I'm pretty sure the markers they have are 'heavy 4'. They're fast, open-topped skimmers with 2 hull points

Wow, that's pretty crazy for 35 points even if they do fall apart easily... I'd definitely consider replacing the pathfinders with them. Never thought about forge world stuff, but the tournament does allow it apparently!

They'd fit into this MSU list very well though, particularly as I could potentially get 6 in over the 2 CADs if needed... Perhaps I could sub the pathfinders out for three if I lost an extra couple of fire warriors?

Tetras have a 2 shot marker light that is twin linked. Therein lies the beauty. They put skyrays to shame when it comes to lighting up targets.

Have you not thought of having 2 fireblades and 2 full fw squads? You would have 2 split firing bs5 markerlights which could augment a larger unit of marker lights before they fire and you fire warriors pump out an extra shot each at 30'.

SpankingApe wrote:
Tetras have a 2 shot marker light that is twin linked. Therein lies the beauty. They put skyrays to shame when it comes to lighting up targets.

Have you not thought of having 2 fireblades and 2 full fw squads? You would have 2 split firing bs5 markerlights which could augment a larger unit of marker lights before they fire and you fire warriors pump out an extra shot each at 30'.

Ah okay, wasn't aware of the latest update for them, where can we find that? Still very decent marking ability though

Fireblades are awesome, but still not as good as tetras for markerlights. I always use their shooting for the markerlight and the buff to fire warrior shooting is so valuable. I don't agree with markers boosting markers though, seems a bit of a waste?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 DoomMouse wrote:
Wow, that's pretty crazy for 35 points even if they do fall apart easily... I'd definitely consider replacing the pathfinders with them. Never thought about forge world stuff, but the tournament does allow it apparently!

They'd fit into this MSU list very well though, particularly as I could potentially get 6 in over the 2 CADs if needed... Perhaps I could sub the pathfinders out for three if I lost an extra couple of fire warriors?

People are generally a bit 'scared' of forge world stuff, but seeing as tetras are just doing the same job for you as pathfinders you shouldn't get anyone calling you 'overpowered' simply for using forge world lol.

But yeah tetras are great and I'd definitely recommend you make that change. Even if they can be killed fairly easily, it actually does a great job of diverting anti-vehicle fire away from your actual important units, so you get value for points either way, whereas this generally isn't the case with pathfinders.

Thats another potential good idea, having a second fireblade instead of the ethereal. I was mainly thinking of the ethereal for the leadership boost and FNP, but I suppose at least a fireblade wouldn't give up the additional VP as easily and boost the squad's killing power... Tricky decision!

It'd be quite cool to model and paint the tetras too, they look like quite nice models. It's quite funny that GW pretty much seems to have caught up with forge world in terms of over-pricing their models. £36 for two vehicles is fairly reasonable by GW standards lol

Are these the current tetra rules? It seems to think they're 50pts http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/t/Tauupdate.pdf if so then I like the ability to re-roll scatter dice for crisis suits too, that would be awesome!

Battlescribe has something different where they have the option of including the disruption pod. And they changed the heavy 4 markerlight to a heavy 2 twin linked markerlight.

If anyone out there has the link to the newest rules/update please let me know where they are.

They are in the Taros campaign 2nd edition,

They have been updated no longer 50pts now 35 (but you dont run them without the disruption pods haha) and as stated H2 TL markers

Don't disruption pods only grant +1 to cover save? I'd rather have three of them than two with an additional 1/6 survivability! Do they still have that rule about deep striking? If so then I think I will probably order a couple

Yes the disruption pods only grant 1+ to cover saves but I find that 3+ reallys saves me. That being said they are one of the "least" effecient places to put a disruption pod as the twin linked makes you not worry as much about snap shooting and its only a 35 point vehicle, they are better suited for the skyrays but I find them ok if I don't have anything else critical. I put them in the same category as seeker missles for devilfish or broadsides, a luxury item for sure but not a bad way to spend points.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also to address something from earlier, the cadre fireblade doesn't have a networked markerlight to allow him to buff the unit of firewarriors he's attached to's shooting. He should still probably markerlight as opposed to shoot but his markerlight cannot benifit his squad.

Tetras cannot deep strike but they are plenty fast and have plenty of range.

Thanks Epartalis, that's really helpful. Just one more question though, do they still have the rule to buffing deep strike of other tau units within their line of sight, or has that been replaced by the homing beacon?

Thanks!

Also I was looking for the updated FAQ for that book that show the changes. I have the old Taros campaign book


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That has been replaced by the homing beacon as far as I can tell. So anything in 6"(doesn't require line of sight) of a model with a homing beacon(tetras come with them). Fantastic for getting those crisis suits, Y'VARHA, or even a riptide up close and personal(mainly for dumping melta all over people's face.

Well that's another great use for them then! In events allowing forge world they will be included

Here's the latest incarnation of the list then. I decided to crowbar in an additional riptide to give the markerlights something to guide:

Tau Empire CAD

Ethereal 50pts

Riptide with Ion Accelerator, SMS and EWO 190pts
Crisis Shasvre with two fusion blasters and neuroweb systems jammer 64pts

12 fire warriors (accompanied by ethereal) 108pts
12 fire warriors (accompanied by fireblade) 108pts

4 pathfinders 44pts
4 pathfinders 44pts

1 Broadside with HYMP + SMS 65pts
1 Broadside with HYMP + SMS 65pts
1 Broadside with HYMP + SMS 65pts

Farsight Enclaves CAD

Fireblade 60pts

Riptide with ECPA, burst cannon, SMS and VT and EWO 235pts

3 Crisis suits with 2 flamers each and BK 99pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts

Tetra 35pts
Tetra 35pts

Broadside with HYMP, SMS + BK 66pts
Broadside with HYMP, SMS + BK 66pts
Sky ray with Blacksun Filter 116pts

Just one quick point, you should probably switch the single fusion crisis suit from the empire list into the troops slot in the farsight list. Makes it a troops with obj sec

That ones there to get the neuroweb jammer, possibly one of the most underpriced upgrades in the game in my opinion! I don't think farsight detachments can get that sig system though so it'd have to be tau detachment

You sure you can't fit one more broadside in there to make a firebase support cadre? This would help you a lot in my opinion


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also is a farsight riptide allowed 3 suit systems?

Unfortunately the tournament is a maximum of two detachments / formations, so firebase support cadre is out. Plus I was trying to design an MSU list

And damn, no they can't! Cna't believe I missed that... I could drop the VT and change to an iontide? Perhaps use the savings to help bump a broadside up to a sky ray for the anti air?

Epartalis wrote:
Yes the disruption pods only grant 1+ to cover saves but I find that 3+ reallys saves me. That being said they are one of the "least" effecient places to put a disruption pod as the twin linked makes you not worry as much about snap shooting and its only a 35 point vehicle, they are better suited for the skyrays but I find them ok if I don't have anything else critical. I put them in the same category as seeker missles for devilfish or broadsides, a luxury item for sure but not a bad way to spend points.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also to address something from earlier, the cadre fireblade doesn't have a networked markerlight to allow him to buff the unit of firewarriors he's attached to's shooting. He should still probably markerlight as opposed to shoot but his markerlight cannot benifit his squad.

Tetras cannot deep strike but they are plenty fast and have plenty of range.

yea the 6+ in open is shabby but the 3+ jink is pretty sweet!!

But the regular ones still get a 4+ jink right? You're still only removing 1/6 of the damage incoming for almost half the points of another tetra. I don't think I could be persuaded to get D-pods on them, 3 without are more durable and have more markerlights than 2 with

Agreed but with only 10 all round and open topped there gona get popped first against anyone that knoes what they are/do. Anything to keep them alive really from 50% chance to save to 66.6% they go from scouts to tac squads haha

Hang on. His farsight riptide has 2 support systems and 1 signature system. That is perfectly legal

Oh phew, thanks for spotting that. Thought I'd seen them run like that before.

I'm definitely not using D-pods lol

Here is an alternative idea using the Firebase support cadre mentioned earlier. It makes the list a bit less MSU, but has a lot of hitting power and reduces the need to buy redundant HQ units. I also upped the sky-ray count too to give me some air superiority:

Firebase Support Cadre

Riptide with Ion Accelerator, EWO and SMS 190pts
3 Broadsides with HYMP, SMS, 1 Target Lock 200pts
3 Broadsides with HYMP, SMS, 1 Target Lock 200pts

Farsight enclave detachment

Ethereal 50pts (joins broadside unit)

Riptide with ECPA, EWO, Burst Cannon 215pts

3 Suits with 5 missile pods in total + BKs 144pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
Crisis suit with fusion blaster + twin linked fusion blaster, BK 58pts
10 kroot and hound 65pts

Tetra 35pts
Tetra 35pts
Tetra 35pts
(sub these out for pathfinders if FW not allowed in event)

Sky ray with Blacksun filter 116pts
Sky ray with Blacksun filter 116pts
Sky ray with Blacksun filter 116pts