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Here is my go at a TAC list. The unit of 3 crisis suits will either be missle pods (if deployed) or plasma rifles (if deep strike). Let me know which way you would run.

HQ:
Commander 140
Advanced Targeting System, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Drone Controller, 2x Marker Drone, Target Lock

Elites:
XV104 Riptide 235
EWO, ECPA, HBC, SMS, VT

Troops:
Crisis team 3x suits 174
each suit 2x plasma or missle pod, EWO

Solo Suit 58
2x fusion blaster, EWO

Solo Suit 58
2x fusion blaster, EWO

Solo Suit 58
2x fusion blaster, EWO

Fast Attack:
Drone Squadron (commander goes here) 140
10x marker drone

Heavy Support:
Sky Ray Missle Defense Gunship 136
automated repair system, blacksun filter, disruption pod, sms.

Cyclic Ion Blaster is ... sub-optimal, especially when paired with marker lights since you have to be within 18 to fire it. You've also spent points on target lock and ATS but only have 1 short range crappy weapon. Why bother?

Riptide is good, 3 man missiles are good, though for some metas, plasma might be a better choice, but that's something only you will know.

Not sure why the focus on EWO, especially with the suicide suits? They should be dropping in and meltaing something, not trying to take out 1 deep striker with their crappy BS 3, unless your plan is to shoot them at drop pods and try and explode them?

Do you really need 12 marker drones all firing at 1 unit? Yes, they'll still retain effectiveness after some wounds have been taken, but still, it seems like overkill.

Skyray is good, though I wouldn't bother with the repair system.

As to how it would go, you're going to have to DS those suits otherwise they're going to give up 1st blood very easily unlesss you've got a decent amount of LOS blocking terrain. The drones and commander are going to be hard to hide as a unit even with loads of LOS blockers. Riptide is a riptide, and volume of fire and rending is always good.

Skyrays will be opponent dependant, but another marker source that can skyfire is always a winner, and the ability to rack out all missiles is nice. Or is that what the excess of ML drones is for?

 Drasius wrote:
Cyclic Ion Blaster is ... sub-optimal, especially when paired with marker lights since you have to be within 18 to fire it. You've also spent points on target lock and ATS but only have 1 short range crappy weapon. Why bother?

Riptide is good, 3 man missiles are good, though for some metas, plasma might be a better choice, but that's something only you will know.

Not sure why the focus on EWO, especially with the suicide suits? They should be dropping in and meltaing something, not trying to take out 1 deep striker with their crappy BS 3, unless your plan is to shoot them at drop pods and try and explode them?

Do you really need 12 marker drones all firing at 1 unit? Yes, they'll still retain effectiveness after some wounds have been taken, but still, it seems like overkill.

Skyray is good, though I wouldn't bother with the repair system.

As to how it would go, you're going to have to DS those suits otherwise they're going to give up 1st blood very easily unlesss you've got a decent amount of LOS blocking terrain. The drones and commander are going to be hard to hide as a unit even with loads of LOS blockers. Riptide is a riptide, and volume of fire and rending is always good.

Skyrays will be opponent dependant, but another marker source that can skyfire is always a winner, and the ability to rack out all missiles is nice. Or is that what the excess of ML drones is for?

This advice is VERY helpful. I can do a lot of rearranging things here. I'll save some points from the 3 unnecessary EWOs and give the commander double missiles ( and drop ATS). That should solve a lot of problems there.

I'm still undecided for missiles or plasma for the 3 suit team. I guess the default should go to missiles just because they are a bit more versatile. I do play a lot of MEQ though.

12 marker drones is just a number I picked out of inexperience. (I have not played a game with my tau yet, just finished building.) But like you mention below I did like the idea of lighting a flier up with markers and unloading all 6 missiles into it. If I need to drop points, this will be the first place I go.

Repair system was only on the skyray because of awkward amount of points left over, it can come off as I tweak the list.

Your comment at the end; is that saying that you would deep strike the 3 suit team? I was undecided whether to do that or have them in cover to start the game then use them for JSJ.

Thank you for the very constructive help.

 Drasius wrote:
Cyclic Ion Blaster is ... sub-optimal, especially when paired with marker lights since you have to be within 18 to fire it. You've also spent points on target lock and ATS but only have 1 short range crappy weapon. Why bother?

Riptide is good, 3 man missiles are good, though for some metas, plasma might be a better choice, but that's something only you will know.

Not sure why the focus on EWO, especially with the suicide suits? They should be dropping in and melting something, not trying to take out 1 deep striker with their crappy BS 3, unless your plan is to shoot them at drop pods and try and explode them?

Do you really need 12 marker drones all firing at 1 unit? Yes, they'll still retain effectiveness after some wounds have been taken, but still, it seems like overkill.

Skyray is good, though I wouldn't bother with the repair system.

As to how it would go, you're going to have to DS those suits otherwise they're going to give up 1st blood very easily unlesss you've got a decent amount of LOS blocking terrain. The drones and commander are going to be hard to hide as a unit even with loads of LOS blockers. Riptide is a riptide, and volume of fire and rending is always good.

Skyrays will be opponent dependant, but another marker source that can skyfire is always a winner, and the ability to rack out all missiles is nice. Or is that what the excess of ML drones is for?

Every Tau player in the universe will try and push you toward a Marker Rain Commander. Cyclic Ion Blaster is fine and running it with Marker Drones is fine, too, since the Marker Drones are firing at a different target each turn anyway. However, if you're going to run Cyclic Ion Blaster, you should give him a second weapon like a Plasma Rifle or Fusion Blaster. I also recommend giving your Commander Iridium armour. It's well worth the points and you'll be happy you have it.

As Drasius said, Plasma vs. Missile depends entirely on your meta, but, in general, missiles are more versatile and better in a take-all comers environment. Plus, you don't have any real anti-transport capabilities. In this list, I think you need the Missiles.

12 Marker drones is overkill, especially since you have the Sky Ray. I would run 4-6 Marker Drones in the Commander unit.

Solo Fusion suits are designed for deep-striking and melting tanks, so the early warning override isn't going to do you any good. Also, you can probably get away with just two.

As for Drassius' last comment, you don't have to deep strike the 3 man Crisis team, but if you're going to deploy them, they absolutely need to be in cover or Lascannons and Krak missiles are going to insta-death them off the board before you can blink. Also, if you're going to deploy them, I would give them early warning overrides to gun down Marines spilling out of Drop Pods. In general though, Crisis teams perform better in a deep-striking shock attack role, but deep-striking can also be risky. I would base your deployment on terrain. If there's lots of terrain, I would caution against deep-striking for fear of mishaps, if there are some nice open patches, I would deep strike them 99% of the time.

I was under the impression that Iridium Armor is only available as a Tau Empire signature System, not to the Farsight Enclaves detachment.

Granted I do not have my codexes in front of me to double check that. Am I incorrect?

Suks wrote:
I was under the impression that Iridium Armor is only available as a Tau Empire signature System. Am I incorrect?

Yes, you are. My apologies. In that case, replace my recommendation with either a shield generator, stimulant injector, or both.

You are correct about the iridium armor.

when making a list you need to think about how you want your army to play first. Do you want to have a line that sits back and shoots? do you want to be mechanized and move around the table? do you want to have some solid units like riptides and skyrays on the table and then DS in some suits?

I think for a 1000 point list you should maybe concentrate a little less on single expensive units and try and get some more models on the table which will get you further.

right now your list is basically at 9 models and 10 drones. Markerlights are very important but you by no means need 14 in 1000 points.

the EWO is good but realize for this to work, your suits will all have to start on the table, and then you won't be shooting on your actual turn. which means the interceptor shots you take will all have been at BS3 and you've missed half of your firepower by failing to hit. which also renders your markerlights useless as they have nothing left to boost.

without having access to forgeworld tetras I feel like it really hurts trying to fit markerlights into any tau army. I hate taking expensive commander suits just in order to get marker lights off but I'll post a list that is tailored off of yours and try and be more efficient to give you an example.

HQ
- Commander : Missile pods x2, Drove controller, 2 markerdrones - 147

Elite
-Riptide : IA, EWO, TL Plasma (I don't think you'll need the VT and HBC set up with having a skyray for anti air and this gives you a possible 7 AP2 shots if you nova the plasma)

Troops
- Crisis team x3 : Missile podsx6 Marker dronesx2 - 184 (the commander goes here, you'll be able to keep the whole squad at 36 inch range and get 16 missile shots off and 4 marker lights)
- Crisis team x2: plasma rifles x4 - 106
- Crisis team x2: Plasma rifles x4 - 106
- Crisis team x1: Fusion blasters x2 - 53
- Crisis team x1: Fusion blasters x2 - 53
(now you have 2 plasma squads you can DS in or have in your deployment along with still having the melta suits)

Heavy Support
- Skyray - 115

This is 953 points you can either put target lockets on the missile pod squad and commander so you can markerlight different targets than you shoot, put EWO on some stuff, or put some stuff back onto the riptide like stim injectors. You could also drop the markerlight drones all together and just add in 2 5 man pathfinder teams and separate your markerlight sources from you commander as I don't like tying up too many points in any one thing.

Sheit27 wrote:

HQ
- Commander : Missile pods x2, Drove controller, 2 markerdrones - 147

Elite
-Riptide : IA, EWO, TL Plasma (I don't think you'll need the VT and HBC set up with having a skyray for anti air and this gives you a possible 7 AP2 shots if you nova the plasma)

Troops
- Crisis team x3 : Missile podsx6 Marker dronesx2 - 184 (the commander goes here, you'll be able to keep the whole squad at 36 inch range and get 16 missile shots off and 4 marker lights)
- Crisis team x2: plasma rifles x4 - 106
- Crisis team x2: Plasma rifles x4 - 106
- Crisis team x1: Fusion blasters x2 - 53
- Crisis team x1: Fusion blasters x2 - 53
(now you have 2 plasma squads you can DS in or have in your deployment along with still having the melta suits)

Heavy Support
- Skyray - 115

That's a decent list, and I'm not trying to start a pissing match here, but it's very one-sided with heavy emphasis on anti-Marine, but will have trouble against Eldar Jetbikes, Ork Boyz, Imperial Guard infantry, Tyranid gaunts, etc. My proposed list is as follows:

HQ
Commander : Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Drove controller, Target Lock, 2 Marker Drone - 152

Elite
Riptide: HBC, TL-SMS, Stims - 215

Troops
Crisis Team x3 : Missile Pods - 159

Crisis Team x2: Plasma Rifles, x2 Marker Drones - 130 (Commander goes here taking care of your anti-meg/teq needs)

Crisis Team x1: Fusion Blasters - 53 (You probably only need one of these at 1,000 points, since your opponent will probably only be fielding one heavy support)

Fire Warrior Team x8: Pulse Rifles, Devilfish with Disruption Pod - 175 (Dakka)

Heavy Support
- Skyray: Blacksun Filter - 116

TOTAL - 1,000 points

This gives you a much more flexible force that can throw down against everybody. The choice is yours and will ultimately come down to meta.

Now go roll some dice!

You know with the 175 pts from the fire warriors/ fish you cna almost get another riptide

 counterwavecounter wrote:
[quote=Sheit27 659134 8040111
HQ
Commander : Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Drove controller, Target Lock, 2 Marker Drone - 152

Elite
Riptide: HBC, TL-SMS, Stims - 215

Troops
Crisis Team x3 : Missile Pods - 159

Crisis Team x2: Plasma Rifles, x2 Marker Drones - 130 (Commander goes here taking care of your anti-meg/teq needs)

Crisis Team x1: Fusion Blasters - 53 (You probably only need one of these at 1,000 points, since your opponent will probably only be fielding one heavy support)

Fire Warrior Team x8: Pulse Rifles, Devilfish with Disruption Pod - 175 (Dakka)

Heavy Support
- Skyray: Blacksun Filter - 116

TOTAL - 1,000 points

This gives you a much more flexible force that can throw down against everybody. The choice is yours and will ultimately come down to meta.

Now go roll some dice!

Is there any reason why you are not using twin linked weapon's? They would save you 60 points for other upgrades