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Hi,

Just getting back into the hobby and I’m trying to plan out my list(s) for the future. I have everything on this list bar FSM, the HBC Riptide (thanks eBay for the cheap other one) and 2 Broadsides.

Broadly speaking the IA Riptide would sit back with some marker drones and the Broadsides whilst HBC and the others would act as a more mobile force. I’d expand this to 2k with a Ghostkeel, some Pathfinders and some more drones.

++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (T'au Empire) [70 PL, 1,380pts, 8CP] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Battle-forged CP [3CP]

Detachment CP [5CP]

Gametype

T'au Empire Sept Choice: Bork'an Sept

+ HQ +

Cadre Fireblade [2 PL, 42pts]: 2. Through Unity, Devastation, Markerlight, Puretide engram neurochip, Warlord

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [7 PL, 136pts]: Advanced targeting system, 3x Cyclic ion blaster

+ Troops +

Strike Team [2 PL, 38pts]
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui: Markerlight, Pulse rifle
. 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [2 PL, 38pts]
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui: Markerlight, Pulse rifle
. 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [2 PL, 38pts]
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui: Markerlight, Pulse rifle
. 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

+ Elites +

XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [14 PL, 280pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Drone controller, Ion accelerator, Velocity tracker

XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [14 PL, 280pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Advanced targeting system, Heavy burst cannon, Target lock

+ Fast Attack +

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 60pts]
. 4x MV4 Shield Drone
. 2x MV7 Marker Drone

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 60pts]
. 4x MV4 Shield Drone
. 2x MV7 Marker Drone

+ Heavy Support +

XV88 Broadside Battlesuits [23 PL, 408pts]
. Broadside Shas'ui: 2x High-yield missile pod, 2x Smart missile system, Advanced targeting system, Seeker missile
. Broadside Shas'ui: 2x High-yield missile pod, 2x Smart missile system, Advanced targeting system, Seeker missile
. Broadside Shas'vre: 2x High-yield missile pod, 2x Smart missile system, Advanced targeting system, Seeker missile
. 3x MV4 Shield Drone

++ Vanguard Detachment +1CP (T'au Empire) [5 PL, 120pts, 1CP] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Detachment CP [1CP]

T'au Empire Sept Choice: Sa'cea Sept

+ HQ +

Ethereal [2 PL, 45pts]: Honour blade

+ Elites +

Firesight Marksman [1 PL, 25pts]: Markerlight, Pulse pistol

Firesight Marksman [1 PL, 25pts]: Markerlight, Pulse pistol

Firesight Marksman [1 PL, 25pts]: Markerlight, Pulse pistol

++ Total: [75 PL, 9CP, 1,500pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe

There's not much to say really. It's pretty standard T'au fare. I mean, it's boring, but does give you a solid core to build around. The one thing I question is using Bork'an Sept. An additional six inches seems good, but the deployment map and/or mission can negate that real quick. I also find that by turn two your opponent is in what your regular range would have been anyway, so you're only getting your sub-faction bonus for one turn. You're taking pretty standard unit choices, so might as well take the standard T'au Sept to go with them. The only type of list where I feel Bork'an is worth it is in a Fire Warrior heavy castle with Pulse Accelerator Drones for a pretty nasty 21" double-tap on your rifles and a Stormsurge to take advantage of the Bork'an Stratagem. Even then, T'au Sept is probably still better.

 counterwavecounter wrote:
There's not much to say really. It's pretty standard T'au fare. I mean, it's boring, but does give you a solid core to build around. The one thing I question is using Bork'an Sept. An additional six inches seems good, but the deployment map and/or mission can negate that real quick. I also find that by turn two your opponent is in what your regular range would have been anyway, so you're only getting your sub-faction bonus for one turn. You're taking pretty standard unit choices, so might as well take the standard T'au Sept to go with them. The only type of list where I feel Bork'an is worth it is in a Fire Warrior heavy castle with Pulse Accelerator Drones for a pretty nasty 21" double-tap on your rifles and a Stormsurge to take advantage of the Bork'an Stratagem. Even then, T'au Sept is probably still better.

Actually if you do that make sure you have fireblade cadre, so thats a nasty 21" triple tap :-)

Otherwise the OP list is standard fare, slightly un-optimized riptides and tiny bit light on drones.

Thanks both. What is rule of thumb for drones? I’ve always tried 1 per 100 points, but looking at some of the competitive lists for all intents and purposes it seems to be 2 per 100 for ~40 in a 2k list. Is that a fair rule of thumb?

Legal-e-tea wrote:
Thanks both. What is rule of thumb for drones? I’ve always tried 1 per 100 points, but looking at some of the competitive lists for all intents and purposes it seems to be 2 per 100 for ~40 in a 2k list. Is that a fair rule of thumb?

There is no rule of thumb I don't think. You've entitled this post "semi" competitive, so I would probably aim for 18. 6 for each Riptide and 6 for the Broadsides. If you want a competitive list, as many as you can take, so 2 per Commander/Ethereal/Fireblade, 2 per FW team and 3 squads of 6 or 8 in Fast Attack.

 counterwavecounter wrote:

Legal-e-tea wrote:
Thanks both. What is rule of thumb for drones? I’ve always tried 1 per 100 points, but looking at some of the competitive lists for all intents and purposes it seems to be 2 per 100 for ~40 in a 2k list. Is that a fair rule of thumb?

There is no rule of thumb I don't think. You've entitled this post "semi" competitive, so I would probably aim for 18. 6 for each Riptide and 6 for the Broadsides. If you want a competitive list, as many as you can take, so 2 per Commander/Ethereal/Fireblade, 2 per FW team and 3 squads of 6 or 8 in Fast Attack.

Well depends on your gaming enviroment. If ITC games, generally you want less units for kill more... so at 2k 3 x 12 drones and call it done. Other enviroments don't have that victory point condition, so max drones on any unit that can take them. 25% of drones could be markerdrones if you are using a drone controller. But... thats full competative. In casual games, I can get away depending on who I am playing with as few as just 5 drones in the entire army.

Your list as is.... qualifies as semi-competative. once you optimize your riptides and get around 24 drones at 1500pts, you are competative