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Made in us
Shas'la with Pulse Carbine





Utah

Okay, so I recently received some very helpful suggestions from the community here and am ready to field my next query. As I mentioned in my first post, I'm a newcomer to W40K and am going to be starting a Tau army (probably in the 1000 point range). Which of these lists shows the most promise?

List 1-

HQ
XV8 Crisis Commander
2 XV8 Crisis Bodyguards

Troops
6 FW Team
6 FW Team

Elite
3 Stealth Team
1 Riptide

Fast Attack
Piranha

List 2-

HQ
XV8 Crisis Commander
2 XV8 Crisis Bodyguards

Troops
6 FW Team
6 FW Team
20 Kroot Squad+ 4 Kroot Hounds + 1 Krootox

Elite
3 Stealth Team

Fast Attack
1 Piranha

List 3 -

HQ
XV8 Crisis Commander
2 XV8 Crisis Bodyguards

Troops
12 FW Team
12 FW Team

Elite
3 Stealth Team

Fast Attack
1 Piranha

Heavy Support
1 Broadside
   
Made in us
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Hyperspace

List one. Riptides are the best unit in the Codex and you should take as many as possible.



Peregrine - If you like the army buy it, and don't worry about what one random person on the internet thinks.
 
   
Made in us
Shas'la with Pulse Carbine





Utah

 Verviedi wrote:
List one. Riptides are the best unit in the Codex and you should take as many as possible.


Any specific loadout on the Riptide?
   
Made in us
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Let me ask you this as well, are you dead set on running the Boring, Normal Tau Codex where you would be a slave to the whims of the Ethereals? Or would you rather be part of the Rebelious, WAAAAY cooler Farsight Enclaves where you can get the almighty Crisis Battle Suit as TROOPS!!!!

I may be a TINY bit biased....

19th Krieg Siege Army 7500pts.
40k/HH Night Lords 5000pts.
Orks Waaaghmacht Spearhead 2500pts.
 
   
Made in us
Shas'la with Pulse Carbine





Utah

I'm totally open to Farsight Enclaves. Do you have a list you'd suggest for them?

Also, would it be harder to start out as FE than standard Tau?
   
Made in ca
Elite Tyranid Warrior





Farsight Enclave! Basically it lets you take Crisis suits as troop choices, meaning you can have a LOT of suits flood the battlefield. its what i prefer mainly because I'm building a full suit army

3500 Imperium army

1250 Nidzilla

1000 Chaos army

1000 Drukhari Raiding Force  
   
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Utah

 luky7dayz wrote:
Farsight Enclave! Basically it lets you take Crisis suits as troop choices, meaning you can have a LOT of suits flood the battlefield. its what i prefer mainly because I'm building a full suit army


So what does your list look like as of now?
   
Made in br
Fireknife Shas'el




Lisbon, Portugal

I think there's a better subforum for this thread (Army Lists)

That aside, may I ask why you don't have even 1 markerlight unit? It's the main reason to take Tau...

AI & BFG: / BMG: Mr. Freeze, Deathstroke / Battletech: SR, OWA / Fallout Factions: BoS / HGB: Caprice / Malifaux: Arcanists, Guild, Outcasts / MCP: Mutants / SAGA: Ordensstaat / SW Legion: CIS / WWX: Union

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
"FW is unbalanced and going to ruin tournaments."
"Name one where it did that."
"IT JUST DOES OKAY!"

 Shadenuat wrote:
Voted Astra Militarum for a chance for them to get nerfed instead of my own army.
 
   
Made in us
Shas'la with Pulse Carbine





Utah

 Vector Strike wrote:
I think there's a better subforum for this thread (Army Lists)

That aside, may I ask why you don't have even 1 markerlight unit? It's the main reason to take Tau...


I'm planning on using my XV8 Commander with Drone Controller + 2 Marker Drones. Both Crisis Bodyguards with Marker Drones as well.
   
Made in us
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the_kraken wrote:
I'm totally open to Farsight Enclaves. Do you have a list you'd suggest for them?

Also, would it be harder to start out as FE than standard Tau?


Personally I think they are much easier to collect, especially if you are going for an army themed around Crisis Suits. Don't have a list off the top of my head but if you head here you could find a lot of ideas for Tau lists in general, and its a Forum I suggest you join: http://advancedtautactica.com/viewforum.php?f=48&sid=84d8a14e09d952b71721d118df14805c

Also Vector Strike made a good point that Markerlights are GREAT assets to the Tau, personally however I don't take very many as I feel they become to much of a crutch and point sink especially at this small point value. I would run your Commander with a Marker Light Drone Squadron of x4 and give him x2 Missile Pods, Target Lock and Drone Controller at 1000pts. Gives you a small Markerlight Squad, keeps your Commander out of danger and frees up some more squads that could take advantage of the Markerlights.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/03/16 11:03:00


19th Krieg Siege Army 7500pts.
40k/HH Night Lords 5000pts.
Orks Waaaghmacht Spearhead 2500pts.
 
   
Made in ro
Dakka Veteran




the_kraken wrote:
 Verviedi wrote:
List one. Riptides are the best unit in the Codex and you should take as many as possible.


Any specific loadout on the Riptide?


Usually Ion Accelerator is regarded as a better choice than Heavy Burst Cannon.

For secondaries it's personal preference. I prefer Fusion Blasters because my list lacks a bit.in counters to AV14 so every bit helps.

Regarding support systems, I'd run Interceptor on IA Riptides. An s8 ap2 Large Blast will usually ruin the day of most Deep Striking units.

If you want to use a single Riptide I'd advise going Farsight Enclaves, as Earth Caste Pilot Array is awesome.
   
Made in us
Shas'la with Pulse Carbine





Utah

 gmaleron wrote:
the_kraken wrote:
I'm totally open to Farsight Enclaves. Do you have a list you'd suggest for them?

Also, would it be harder to start out as FE than standard Tau?


Personally I think they are much easier to collect, especially if you are going for an army themed around Crisis Suits. Don't have a list off the top of my head but if you head here you could find a lot of ideas for Tau lists in general, and its a Forum I suggest you join: http://advancedtautactica.com/viewforum.php?f=48&sid=84d8a14e09d952b71721d118df14805c

Also Vector Strike made a good point that Markerlights are GREAT assets to the Tau, personally however I don't take very many as I feel they become to much of a crutch and point sink especially at this small point value. I would run your Commander with a Marker Light Drone Squadron of x4 and give him x2 Missile Pods, Target Lock and Drone Controller at 1000pts. Gives you a small Markerlight Squad, keeps your Commander out of danger and frees up some more squads that could take advantage of the Markerlights.


I'm actually registered on there, but I can't figure out how to post anything?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
LordBlades wrote:
the_kraken wrote:
 Verviedi wrote:
List one. Riptides are the best unit in the Codex and you should take as many as possible.


Any specific loadout on the Riptide?


Usually Ion Accelerator is regarded as a better choice than Heavy Burst Cannon.

For secondaries it's personal preference. I prefer Fusion Blasters because my list lacks a bit.in counters to AV14 so every bit helps.

Regarding support systems, I'd run Interceptor on IA Riptides. An s8 ap2 Large Blast will usually ruin the day of most Deep Striking units.

If you want to use a single Riptide I'd advise going Farsight Enclaves, as Earth Caste Pilot Array is awesome.


Well, maybe I'll be heading more towards FE going forward.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/03/16 11:06:27


 
   
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Another good point made, do you have any idea what your local meta consists of? Like who will be your most common opponents and what armies do they run?

19th Krieg Siege Army 7500pts.
40k/HH Night Lords 5000pts.
Orks Waaaghmacht Spearhead 2500pts.
 
   
Made in us
Shas'la with Pulse Carbine





Utah

 gmaleron wrote:
Another good point made, do you have any idea what your local meta consists of? Like who will be your most common opponents and what armies do they run?


I haven't had an opportunity to get involved with the local meta yet. I need to see what nights the store out here does W40K. I have a buddy that is starting up with me who is debating between Necrons, Orks, and Tyranids who will most likely be my most frequent opponent.
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





Take a look at what others play. If you see no/few Riptides or similar-size things (Wraithknight, Dreadknight, Imperial Knight, etc), then avoid list #1, would be my suggestion.

What I'm really asking is how casual is your meta? If people aren't regularly fielding the scary stuff, bringing in the scary stuff can be a bad thing.

Bringing a Riptide to a laid-back meta could be like bringing a paintball gun to a pillow fight. You'll probably win, but ...

That said, if your meta is kinda competitive, a single Riptide won't change much.

Finally, going from less hardcore to more haedcore is a lot easier than the reverse. Because people will adapt to what you've brought in the past.
   
Made in us
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Utah

Bharring wrote:
Take a look at what others play. If you see no/few Riptides or similar-size things (Wraithknight, Dreadknight, Imperial Knight, etc), then avoid list #1, would be my suggestion.

What I'm really asking is how casual is your meta? If people aren't regularly fielding the scary stuff, bringing in the scary stuff can be a bad thing.

Bringing a Riptide to a laid-back meta could be like bringing a paintball gun to a pillow fight. You'll probably win, but ...

That said, if your meta is kinda competitive, a single Riptide won't change much.

Finally, going from less hardcore to more haedcore is a lot easier than the reverse. Because people will adapt to what you've brought in the past.


I suppose I'll need to check it out and go from there, eh?
   
Made in us
Focused Fire Warrior





http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Warhammer_40,000/Tactics/Tau(7E)

Great for Ideas. Just remember it is a troll form, so, take what it says with a grain of salt.

1. Markerlights are amazing. take them. Drones are the last thing you should bring with markerlights. - Remember, these things are usable by any unit besides itself. They can ignore cover for 2, and up BS by one for 1. Remember this is a straight increase. Got a broadside that just moved? Snapshot BS1. Add in 4 markerlight points, and it's BS5. While moving.
1b. Markerlights work in Overwatch. EVERYTHING gets an overwatch shot. Including drones. So fire your markerlights first, Then have the army being assaulted fire with BS6+. Markerlights expire at the end of the Assault phase.
1c. Tetras are arguably the best way to get markerlights. Pathfinders are the other. You could also take a Commander with Command and Control Node, Drone Controller and two markerlight drones. Then take a 12 unit of markerlights. Put the commander in that unit and you now have 14 Twin-Linked BS5 Markerlight Shots. (kind of expensive though, and not quite effective enough, but funny)

2. Try another commander, I really like the Fireblade Cadre. He can shoot independent of the unit. BS5. Markerlight. And finally he gives the Firewarrior unit he is with another FULL RANGE shot. (Many argue the ethereal is better, but I like FBC more.)

3. Customization. The Tau have a lot of Dakka... Excuse me Pew pew. They can take out most flood based armies, but Tau troops have trouble with tanks and fliers. Take some crisis teams dedicated to tank killing(Fusion Blasters) or MEQ/TEQ killing(Plasma Rifles). Riptides are obviously, the most powerful unit.

That's just my suggestions and findings. There's a lot you can do and think about.

1500pts ||| WM-Cygnar:85pts (5casters) WM-Mercs: 25pts (1caster) ||| X-wing: 191pts Imp / 173pts Scum

Current Projects: Custom Tau Commander, Tau MG-Rex, Heavy Gear Army Building
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Utah

 Vanguard-13 wrote:
http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Warhammer_40,000/Tactics/Tau(7E)

Great for Ideas. Just remember it is a troll form, so, take what it says with a grain of salt.

1. Markerlights are amazing. take them. Drones are the last thing you should bring with markerlights.


I was under the impression Drones attached to a Commander with DC isn't too bad of a choice? Also, are Tetra's FW? I couldn't see them on GW.
   
Made in us
Focused Fire Warrior





 the_kraken wrote:
 Vanguard-13 wrote:
http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Warhammer_40,000/Tactics/Tau(7E)

Great for Ideas. Just remember it is a troll form, so, take what it says with a grain of salt.

1. Markerlights are amazing. take them. Drones are the last thing you should bring with markerlights.


I was under the impression Drones attached to a Commander with DC isn't too bad of a choice? Also, are Tetra's FW? I couldn't see them on GW.


It's not a bad choice. But dones are one of the most expensive way to get Markerlights on to the field. Plus, they cant hit more then one unit a turn. They can JSJ which is good. But you need to bring in some serious Dakka to back up your Commander. As this unit won't have any shooting. (Commander gives up shooting to make things Twin Linked.) It's not a bad idea, but I haven't had any wins with it.

And yes, Tetras are Forgeworld.

1500pts ||| WM-Cygnar:85pts (5casters) WM-Mercs: 25pts (1caster) ||| X-wing: 191pts Imp / 173pts Scum

Current Projects: Custom Tau Commander, Tau MG-Rex, Heavy Gear Army Building
Mech Fanatic: I Know about all sorts of mechs, and if I don't, I want to learn it.

^CLICK THESE^^SUPPORT!^
Help me out by selling me some parts!
DS:80+S+G+MB--I+Pwmhd04/f#+D++A++/areWD297R+++T(I)DM+ 
   
Made in us
Shas'la with Pulse Carbine





Utah

 Vanguard-13 wrote:
 the_kraken wrote:
 Vanguard-13 wrote:
http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Warhammer_40,000/Tactics/Tau(7E)

Great for Ideas. Just remember it is a troll form, so, take what it says with a grain of salt.

1. Markerlights are amazing. take them. Drones are the last thing you should bring with markerlights.


I was under the impression Drones attached to a Commander with DC isn't too bad of a choice? Also, are Tetra's FW? I couldn't see them on GW.


It's not a bad choice. But dones are one of the most expensive way to get Markerlights on to the field. Plus, they cant hit more then one unit a turn. They can JSJ which is good. But you need to bring in some serious Dakka to back up your Commander. As this unit won't have any shooting. (Commander gives up shooting to make things Twin Linked.) It's not a bad idea, but I haven't had any wins with it.

And yes, Tetras are Forgeworld.


Interesting. I'll have to rethink my commander approach then. I'm also leaning toward FE, so I'd probably want a different source of Markerlights anyway.
   
Made in ro
Dakka Veteran




A lot of the guys I play with at the FLGS are ETC regulars, so there's usually a lot of tournament lists lying around, neing discussed, analyzed, tested etc.

As a result, I have looked over quite a few competitive Tau lists, and this is what I've gathered in regard to markerlights:

Skyrays and Tetras are by far the most common sources of markerlights in the lists I have seen.

Drones with Commander also occur somewhat regularly in lists, although way less than Tetras and Skyrays.

I can't say I've seen Pathfinders more than once in competitive lists.


IMO, it's because Pathfinders have no niche in the Markerlight business. For most practical applications there's another unit that does it better.
Skyrays get Markerlights with Skyfire.
Drones can JSJ and with Commander canland a ton of Narkerlights reliably on target due to BS5.
Pathfinder advantage is cost. At 11 points a pathfinder with bs3 gives you on average 0.5 Markerlights per turn from a static position. A Tetra is 35 points for 2 twin-linked markerlights (average 1.5 markerlights per turn) on a platform that's definitely more mobile and most likely more survivable than 3 pathfinders.if Markerlight cost is your concern, there's little reaso IMO to take Pathfinders over Tetras.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/03/16 15:03:50


 
   
Made in us
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Utah

LordBlades wrote:
A lot of the guys I play with at the FLGS are ETC regulars, so there's usually a lot of tournament lists lying around, neing discussed, analyzed, tested etc.

As a result, I have looked over quite a few competitive Tau lists, and this is what I've gathered in regard to markerlights:

Skyrays and Tetras are by far the most common sources of markerlights in the lists I have seen.

Drones with Commander also occur somewhat regularly in lists, although way less than Tetras and Skyrays.

I can't say I've seen Pathfinders more than once in competitive lists.


IMO, it's because Pathfinders have no niche in the Markerlight business. For most practical applications there's another unit that does it better.
Skyrays get Markerlights with Skyfire.
Drones can JSJ and with Commander canland a ton of Narkerlights reliably on target due to BS5.
Pathfinder advantage is cost. At 11 points a pathfinder with bs3 gives you on average 0.5 Markerlights per turn from a static position. A Tetra is 35 points for 2 twin-linked markerlights (average 1.5 markerlights per turn) on a platform that's definitely more mobile and most likely more survivable than 3 pathfinders.if Markerlight cost is your concern, there's little reaso IMO to take Pathfinders over Tetras.


So would you take Tetras over a Sky Ray?
   
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Dakka Veteran




 the_kraken wrote:


So would you take Tetras over a Sky Ray?


If you're taking it just for Markerlights, definitely. One Tetra gives you more Markelight hits than a Skyray, and for the cost of the Skyray you get more than 3 Tetras.

In my list.I use both (and Drones).

Tetras: these are my general purpose markerlights and quick objective grabbers. They can land their lights reliably, although not in numbers. I usually start them in Reserve, since it minimizes the likelihood of a lone Tetra giving First Blood.

6 Marker Drones and Commander: these fulfill a dual role. I have them on table turn 1 behund LOS blocking terrain since I can JSJ on my turn and my Fire Warriors benefit greatly from massed markerlights (Ignore Cover and/or BS boosts at 3 gaks/model hurts.
Skyray. I mainly took it for the missiles, which make a great alpha strike and Flyrant defence, but Skyfire Markerlights also greatly increase the AA threat of my Broadsides.
   
Made in us
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Utah

LordBlades wrote:
 the_kraken wrote:


So would you take Tetras over a Sky Ray?


If you're taking it just for Markerlights, definitely. One Tetra gives you more Markelight hits than a Skyray, and for the cost of the Skyray you get more than 3 Tetras.

In my list.I use both (and Drones).

Tetras: these are my general purpose markerlights and quick objective grabbers. They can land their lights reliably, although not in numbers. I usually start them in Reserve, since it minimizes the likelihood of a lone Tetra giving First Blood.

6 Marker Drones and Commander: these fulfill a dual role. I have them on table turn 1 behund LOS blocking terrain since I can JSJ on my turn and my Fire Warriors benefit greatly from massed markerlights (Ignore Cover and/or BS boosts at 3 gaks/model hurts.
Skyray. I mainly took it for the missiles, which make a great alpha strike and Flyrant defence, but Skyfire Markerlights also greatly increase the AA threat of my Broadsides.


I don't know how many Flying units I'll be encountering as of yet, so I guess I'll hold off on the Sky Ray. Are Tetras kosher at most metas?

Also a bit of an unrelated question here: if I were to go with a FE army build, should I still be looking at getting a Battleforce or should I invest that money elsewhere?
   
 
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