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Ok guys I'm still considering starting a tau army and my local store is having a 600point tournament next month so I was considering starting a force for that. The only restrictions to the force are no gargantuan creatures or super heavies but unbound is allowed.

This is the list I was considering although I'm yet to buy a single thing so anything could be changed.

Crisis suit commands. 140
Command and control node
Multi spectrum sensor
Neuroweb system jammer
Advanced targeting system
Stim injectors

Strike team x7. 92
Fire warrior shasul
Fire warriors x6
Shield drone
Bonding knifes

Crisis team x3. 129
3x twin linked plasma carbines
Bonding knife

Crisis team. X2. 106
2x duel missile pods

Broadside battle suit. 66
Twin linked heavy rail rifle
Twin linked smart possible systems

Broadside battle suit. 66
Twin linked heavy rail rifle
Twin linked smart possible systems

Total 596

My idea was to have the strike team and the missile crisis suits deploy towards the back flanked by the two broadsides and use the plasma crisis suits along with the commander to hunt things down either by deploying in cover and moving out or keeping them in reserve and deploying by deep strike ?

I originally tried to squeeze a riptide into the list but that used around a third of my points so thought I would be better going with two broadsides and the strike team ?

My reasoning for taking twin linked weaponry over doubling up on the same weapon was due to the lack of marker light and I hope this would help with the low ballistic skill and costs less points ?

I think you are spending too many points on your Commander for minimal buffs. The Crisis Suits look pretty good, though the Bonding Knife isn't worth the points. Rail Rifles are bad compared to HYMP. If you want to win the tournament then I'd definitely suggest taking a Riptide.

If I were you, I would start by building a formation that I can ally to my other armies or play by itself. The Firebase Support Cadre would be pretty awesome at 600 points:

Riptide 230
-Ion Accelerator, TL Fusion Blaster, Velocity Tracker, Stimulant Injector

A tournament that allows unbound will probably bring Flying Hive Tyrants, Daemon Princes, and Heldrakes... the Velocity Tracker is a bit of insurance.

Broadside Team 150
-2 Shas'ui each with TL HYMP, TL Plasma Rifles, EWO

They only have Plasma Rifles because there was 10 points left. You can give them Rail Rifles because they look cooler but 90% of the time HYMP is the better choice.

Broadside Team 220
-2 Shas'ui with TL HYMP, TL SMS, EWO
-1 Shas'vre with TL HYMP, TL SMS, EWO (your Warlord)

This unit will put out some serious hurt and is pretty self-explanatory. Deepstrikers beware.

600

You can cut upgrades (TL Plasma, EWO, Stims, etc) if you want to squeeze in a 6th broadside. This list will have very few bad matchups at 600 points and will in all likelihood shoot your opponents off the table. Plus it's a great formation to take with existing armies!

Thanks for the reply that list seems like it would be increadibly hard hitting I'm just looking into it now but I think your maths is slightly off, the riptide comes in at 240 points rather than 230 so I wouldn't be able to take the plasma rifles on the first two broadsides but I wouldn't expect this to be a problem.

All the early warning systems seem a good idea as in the last 500point tournament they ran 3 people turned up with gladius formations or centurions in a drop pod.


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I'm assuming the best thing to do with this list would be to try and deploy as far away from my opponent as possible with the best line of sight I can get but try and keep all my broadsides together to make the most of joint over watch and just try and blast the other guy off the table ?

I currently play a very assaults space wolves army so this would be the opposite of what I'm used to doing

I think you're right about the points, I was going from memory so I'm not surprised if something was off! Those Plasma Rifles aren't really needed anyway.

If people are playing Gladius and taking Centurions in 600 points then this list will be appropriate!

You don't necessarily want to deploy as far away as possible, but you want at least 2 turns of shooting before being in assault range if possible. Deploying 30"-36" away is probably your best bet. Make sure you set up overlapping fire lanes with your Broadsides, and don't forget about your formation bonuses!

Not only are you spending to much on the commander, you have atleast one upgrade on him that is useless. The Advance Targeting system affects only the unit with it. Since Commander has no guns he cant use the system.

@Gorgosaurusrex: Mean list, I would make just one change and free up about 10 points. Don't upgrade the 3rd Shaui in the second broadside team. That way you can make the Riptide the Warlord. At 600 pts, getting Slay the Warlord on a Riptide is going to take some work.

Thanks for the reply me guys, iv just order a riptide and 5 broadsides for the list