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LockeWatts wrote:

They have one of the best sniper weapons in the game

Uhh... 48" Rapid Fire AP5 does not make one of the best sniper weapons in the game. The Vindicare called, it wants it's title back.

One of. I never claimed it was the best, just that it is one of the better. Compare it to the basic sniper rifle. 48" vs 36", AP5 vs AP6, Rapid fire vs heavy 1. It's a damn good sniper weapon.

move and shoot, JSJ,

The Marksman can't, which severely limits the utility of these.

Considering that you'll be cover-camping most of the time, it's not such a big concern. And they can still move and shoot even when he doesn't.

If sniper drones could be taken in any other unit, they'd be amazing. Having a unit on their own isn't that bad.
Their only problem is they compete for HS slots.

Lots of simple solutions to fix these guys.
Let Pathfinders and Stealth Suit units have access to purchase them.
Or let a support unit with the marksman and three drones be purchased free of a FOC slot for each FW unit.

I feel like drones have the most variety, but ultimately tend to be the most restricted and under utilized.

I am hoping it is really toned down. Tau were too good in sixth edition. The number one thing they need to nerf are markerlights.

LockeWatts wrote:

They have one of the best sniper weapons in the game

Uhh... 48" Rapid Fire AP5 does not make one of the best sniper weapons in the game. The Vindicare called, it wants it's title back.

move and shoot, JSJ,

The Marksman can't, which severely limits the utility of these.

I think Sniper Drone Teams were a poor concept when they were made, and haven't improved much. If Tau wanted snipers, they should have just bolted Rail Rifles to them. Now those would be an interesting unit.

They originally were iirc.

And could take 3 units in one slot (meaning you can spread those drones out more)

I remember a last game of a GT versus Tau with two maxed out sniper drone teams... he asked me why everyone was so unfriendly.

Lol

One of. I never claimed it was the best, just that it is one of the better. Compare it to the basic sniper rifle. 48" vs 36", AP5 vs AP6, Rapid fire vs heavy 1. It's a damn good sniper weapon.

Uhh. The basic sniper rifle is terrible. So terrible that an 8 point Kroot can take it. Giving it 12" of range and AP5 does very little. Rapid fire at 24" is kind of nice, but still doesn't many it any good. The entire team rapid firing doesn't reliably put a wound on a Wraithknight (one of the best targets for sniper weapons in the game).

I am hoping it is really toned down. Tau were too good in sixth edition. The number one thing they need to nerf are markerlights.

You don't know what you're talking about. Tau were good in 6th, so what. It's 7th, and Tau are sub-par compared to every new codex. Nerfing them would just make them unplayably bad compared to the rest of the new codicies. They need a buff to be competitive with the other 7th books. This is obvious to anyone paying attention to the tournament scene.

We don't need another OP army right now. If they are redesigned as a tier 2 army I'll be okay with it.

LockeWatts wrote:

The Big-Detachment is the Tau Coalition. The basic Core formation is the Hunter Demi-Cadre (sorry, but Half-Cadre sounds silly). Stick together two Demi-Cadres for a full Hunter Cadre extra bonuses a'la SM.

I don't think this is a guaranteed thing. Daemonkin, and Necrons have only 1 core option (Slaughtercult and Reclamation Legion respectively), while Eldar have 3. And Marines are unique in their "put 2 of these together to get free stuff" bit. Why do you assume Tau will go that way?

Because on its own, fielding a full Hunter Cadre is pretty darn expensive (points wise), just like fielding a full Battle Company. So they have to split the Hunter Cadre into two less-costly halves.

LockeWatts wrote:

Also as far as the naming structure, a Hunter Cadre is almost certainly the detachment level name. I hope every formation doesn't end with the same word. That would get highly annoying.

The Cadre is the basic large-scale Tau military unit, the perfect fit for Formations. Of course, some formations would have a different name like the Riptide Wing, but the Hunter Cadre will be a simple Formation and not the big Detachment.

 Dozer Blades wrote:
We don't need another OP army right now. If they are redesigned as a tier 2 army I'll be okay with it.

My Ultras have never lost to Tau, (Assault Marines, Assault and Devastator Centurions, METUL BAWKSES{
Nor my flashlight guys, (Beeeeeeiiinblaaaaayde)
Nor my Khorne, (Roll for Daemon Prince!!)

So I dun see how thy're OP.

I've been waiting for the human auxiliaries since I restarted the hobby, I really love the idea of them in the fluff, hammerhead formations would be sweet too. I have two and a rule that lets me field 3 in a unit would make me gladly buy another.

 Dozer Blades wrote:
I am hoping it is really toned down. Tau were too good in sixth edition. The number one thing they need to nerf are markerlights.

....What? Games Workshop is trying to balance the game, so that no army is tier 1 or tier 2. They're doing that by building to a specific power level in 7th. Building Tau to anything less than that power level is just bad game design.

LockeWatts wrote:

 Dozer Blades wrote:
I am hoping it is really toned down. Tau were too good in sixth edition. The number one thing they need to nerf are markerlights.

....What? Games Workshop is trying to balance the game, so that no army is tier 1 or tier 2. They're doing that by building to a specific power level in 7th. Building Tau to anything less than that power level is just bad game design.

There are two very important phrases in that comment, that fit together like hand in glove. Games Workshop and bad game design.

Let's use the legion method.

Fire warrior sqaud, for every fire warrior squad at 12 men the following support sqauds may be taken and do not count as a troops FOC selection, but do have objective secured.

Pathfinders 0-1
Sniper drone team 0-1
Devilfish 0-1
Stealth battlesuits. 0-1

Stealth suits, snipers and pathfinders all remain in there respective FOC slots if you do not wish to buy them with the mandatory fire warrior team

While it will suck for us Tau players, moving the Riptide to Heavy Support would make a lot of sense and balance out some of the nastier spam lists.

At the same time moving Sniper Drones out of Heavy Support would see them more likely to be taken.

I want to agree with that, but there already is a Heavy Support Riptide and a FA Riptide. Though I honestly don't see what makes the current Riptide stand out as "elite" compared to those two.

As long as we don't have a Riptide in the troop section I'm happy where they are at.

For them to Nerf the Riptide, my mate has three of them and they're a bitch to take down, even with Lychguard (Thats if they don't get blown to dust before they get there)

Destroyer, that's fething hilarious coming from a Necron player.

Destroyer67 wrote:
For them to Nerf the Riptide, my mate has three of them and they're a bitch to take down, even with Lychguard (Thats if they don't get blown to dust before they get there)

Throw wraiths at 'em that should pretty much take them down or lock them down for a looong time (assuming we're fighting cheese with cheese)

Sniper drones are the most effective anti-MC in the Tau codex. Do the math.

Riptide to Lord of War is the "best" solution.

 Kanluwen wrote:
Riptide to Lord of War is the "best" solution.

It's the only solution.

If the Riptide doesnt end up as a LOW..... There will be much rage.

 master of ordinance wrote:
If the Riptide doesnt end up significantly more expensive..... There will be much rage.

Fixed that for you.

 master of ordinance wrote:
If the Riptide doesnt end up as a LOW..... There will be much rage.

I'm personally excited to see the LoW Riptide get a buff, become a GMC, and still be able to take 3-5 in an 1850pts list.

Stranger things have happened

It wouldn't make much sense to go to LoW and still have a FA and HS variants.

Doesn't the IoM get the option to bring several IK?

 Savageconvoy wrote:
Doesn't the IoM get the option to bring several IK?

It's a Knight detachment and not a FOC thing I believe.

I could be wrong tho

Yoyoyo wrote:

 Savageconvoy wrote:
Doesn't the IoM get the option to bring several IK?

It's a Knight detachment and not a FOC thing I believe.

I could be wrong tho

We dont talk about Knights. Those things are just broken.

Wait. So IK get a free pass but Tau deserve a lead pipe to the knee cap?

 master of ordinance wrote:

Yoyoyo wrote:

 Savageconvoy wrote:
Doesn't the IoM get the option to bring several IK?

It's a Knight detachment and not a FOC thing I believe.

I could be wrong tho

We dont talk about Knights. Those things are just broken.

They are actually pitiful compared to WKs.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Savageconvoy wrote:
Wait. So IK get a free pass but Tau deserve a lead pipe to the knee cap?

Riptides need to somehow be better against crap like WK and IK and not insta-rape every elite infantry it looks at.

Honestly I'd prefer them to not get a template with the IA.
I love the HBC when it's nova charged and honestly think the IA should just be made to rapid fire as well, maybe doubling the shots from 3-6 S8 AP2 with gets hot. Increasing the cost on it as well.