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I've had good results in the past with deepstriking crisis suits (commanders and regular elites), and was curious how players think the new codex will affect deepstriking for the Tau. 

Normally, I deepstrike my suits when appropriate targets are otherwise lacking (my TL plasma/fusion commander against a shooty IG army), or there is a major threat to reach (basilisk).  This can be fairly risky, but on the whole it's been fairly successful, allowing my suits to kill tanks and things from the rear while my hammerheads can focus on systematically blasting static infantry elements.

The new pathfinder devilfish allows all deepstrike scatter rolls to be rerolled if in LOS.  Coupled with cheaper (much cheaper, possibly) crisis suits, I'm wondering if a force centered around a large number of crisis suits is feasible?  With some of the new wargear (stim injectors, useful shield drones, some new weapons), it might work.

My gut says it's still too costly, and suits won't put out enough fire in one turn to protect themselves against assaults, but I'm curious if anyone else has considered this approach, or had experience trying it out.

I've had a lot of success deep-striking my command suits (Helios with SG's). One game they came in on turns 2 and 4-- the one on 2 blew up a Leman Russ and withstood the fire of a mechanized Stormtrooper group. Next turn, as they embarked to advance into rapid-fire range, the second one dropped and pen 6'd the Chimera they were riding in. I also really enjoy the flexibility that deepstriking allows-- especially on my "in-your-face" Crisis suit style. I enjoy high risk/high reward tactics (while recognizing what "high risk" entails).

In my new Codex army, I am strongly considering a unit of Broadsides packing a Shas'vre with the Positional Relay so I can really control my reserves rolls. Combined with the Pathfinders, I think that this really increases the utility of a drop cadre. With just a throw-away unit or two of Drones, you can totally control the phase (for example, using the Relay to roll for just a worthless unit of drones if you want to hold off).

I believe a list like this can mitigate a lot of the weaknesses of the Tau (drop pods, etc). The main issue is keeping the advance elements (the Pathfinders, etc) alive and making sure they don't get overwhelmed before the deepstriking reserves arrive.

Broadsides, even team leader shas'vre, cannot take special issue wargear. It hurts, but it's true.

Now try to come up with a use for the Positional relay... Gamma games?

Too bad, it was a good idea using the Broadside. I guess it all depends on how bad you want to deepstrike, do you really need the positional relay? Is it worth keeping a lone suit back that can have it such as a Shas'el/O/Vre? To me it might be worth the one suit back with some long distance- deathwind? equipment and positional relay/command node to keep your fire warriors around.

 

Its a good idea either way.