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Hi,

I'm just recently getting back into 40k for 8th edition. I'm quite out of touch with the game (although I've always enjoyed the modeling/painting side of things) so would appreciate any thoughts on this army list! I don't know any of the set detachments etc, so I'm basing the structure off some old rulebooks codexes.


++ Unbound Army (Faction) (T'au Empire) [67 PL, 1250pts] ++

+ HQ +

Cadre Fireblade [2 PL, 42pts]: Markerlight

Ethereal [2 PL, 45pts]: Honour blade

Longstrike [11 PL, 225pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Railgun, 2x Seeker missile

+ Troops +

Strike Team [5 PL, 80pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [5 PL, 80pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [6 PL, 88pts]: 11x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

+ Elites +

XV95 Ghostkeel Battlesuit [10 PL, 238pts]: 2x Fusion blaster, Fusion collider, Multi-tracker, 2x MV5 Stealth Drone, Shield generator

+ Fast Attack +

Pathfinder Team [4 PL, 48pts]: MV31 Pulse Accelerator Drone
. 5x Pathfinder: 5x Markerlight

Tactical Drones [6 PL, 96pts]: 12x MV1 Gun Drone

Tactical Drones [6 PL, 96pts]: 12x MV1 Gun Drone

+ Heavy Support +

TX7 Hammerhead Gunship [10 PL, 212pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Ion cannon

++ Total: [67 PL, 1250pts] ++

Made with Battlescribe.


My general tactic is for the troops to all be grouped with the Fireblade, Ethereal, and pulse accelerator drone - with the Ethereal allowing them to reroll ones, and the fireblade giving them 3 shots within 18 inches (increased because of the Pulse Accelerator Drone) they should be a pain. One of the drone squadrons will also stay with them, to add some more firepower, and to be a squish shield thanks to savior protocols.

The pathfinders will hide somewhere near the troop blob, providing markerlights, most of the time on a cascade started by the Fireblade.

The other drone squadron will stay with the ghostkeel for the same savior protocol reasons, and that team will go and harass vehicles and elites. I have played with the Ghostkeel in 7th, and was really impressed with its resilience/survivability - I'm hoping that hasn't changed!

Whats left is the two hammerheads - they will target vehicles, and then move onto whatever logical. Different target types based on their weaponry. Seekers on Longstrikes will be fired at targets with 2 or more markerlights active (for obvious reasons).



So.... any thoughts? Have I missed anything? Having looked through other recent army lists they all seemed rather unbalanced in one way or another, and didn't stick to the traditional army structures that I'm more comfortable thinking about - but I'd be happy to consider one of those if this list is considered weaker than I thought.

Bump

Well, I m not a fan of drone units with more than four models, but its just me. Good looking start anyways, do you have chapter approved already? Tau has a new stratagem that gives more markerlight hits, which is good as your Pathfinder units are going to be shooting targets very soon. Consider also Commander in Cold-star suite as his 20inch move gives you mobility to go for objectives.

 Spreelock wrote:
Well, I m not a fan of drone units with more than four models, but its just me. Good looking start anyways, do you have chapter approved already? Tau has a new stratagem that gives more markerlight hits, which is good as your Pathfinder units are going to be shooting targets very soon. Consider also Commander in Cold-star suite as his 20inch move gives you mobility to go for objectives.

No, I don't have chapter approved... whats that That sounds like a useful strategy though. And I could be tempeted by a colstar commander very easily - but feel he'd need good protection too, and Im not sure where I could free up the points for him. I do realise I'm lacking people to go for the objectives though.

Chapter approved is definately a must-have supplement for any serious gamer. It has open play rules for apocalypse games and rules to create your own land raider. As for narrative play, theres tempting scenarios for both, planet strike and stronghold assault, with special Detachment for both. But biggest thing are 12 new missions for matched play, new points cost and faction rules. so theres tau relic, stratagem and warlord trait. As for the list, I would reduce those drones to markerlight, and smaller unit size. And instead take Commander in Cold-star suite. He is not so big threat as Commander with 4x fusion blaster, so he can move quite freely.

I'm more of a suit tau player but I think your list is good. Few suggestions though:

1 - As spreelock said, change those drones to marker lights as they really make a lot of difference, especially for your ghostkeel who will only hit on 5s when moving without good markerlights. Maybe only keep 6 with the ghostkeel, 12 seems a bit much
2 - Ion Raker is a better weapon choice for ghostkeel unless he's dedicated to killing things with toughness 7/8. Other than that, Ion Raker will have more wounds on average. Also I don't know if I'd bother with a shield generator on him, there's better and cheaper wargear
3 - Second hammerhead, I'd keep it with a railgun. From games I've played railgun always does more damage. The submunition round can be really good

Spreelock wrote:Chapter approved is definately a must-have supplement for any serious gamer. It has open play rules for apocalypse games and rules to create your own land raider. As for narrative play, theres tempting scenarios for both, planet strike and stronghold assault, with special Detachment for both. But biggest thing are 12 new missions for matched play, new points cost and faction rules. so theres tau relic, stratagem and warlord trait. As for the list, I would reduce those drones to markerlight, and smaller unit size. And instead take Commander in Cold-star suite. He is not so big threat as Commander with 4x fusion blaster, so he can move quite freely.

I will look into chapter approved, thanks!

And that sounds like a good plan for the Coldstar commander, I will move some things around and see if I can get him. Should I leave him unattended or try and protect him somehow? He can outrun any chaperones is the issue.

boundless08 wrote:I'm more of a suit tau player but I think your list is good. Few suggestions though:

1 - As spreelock said, change those drones to marker lights as they really make a lot of difference, especially for your ghostkeel who will only hit on 5s when moving without good markerlights. Maybe only keep 6 with the ghostkeel, 12 seems a bit much
2 - Ion Raker is a better weapon choice for ghostkeel unless he's dedicated to killing things with toughness 7/8. Other than that, Ion Raker will have more wounds on average. Also I don't know if I'd bother with a shield generator on him, there's better and cheaper wargear
3 - Second hammerhead, I'd keep it with a railgun. From games I've played railgun always does more damage. The submunition round can be really good

1) don't markerlights need a lot more hits to improve BS now though? or were you thinking of the advantage you get with 3 markerlights?
2) Ok - Thats fair enough. I think my ghostkeel has an Ion Raker anyways What other wargear would you suggest for him? Originally he was meant to be harassing armour close up, so needed protection, but I suppose a couple of hammerheads will also do that very effectively.
3) Im not sure... It seems that one of each will complement each other quite a bit, being able to team up on things but also having their niches. I will consider it though, thanks!

On the marker light thing, with the new stratagem in chapter approved once one marker hits you get to add an extra D3 so chances are you can get to the higher values. Also the ghostkeel will be hitting on 5s when moving unless his target has a few marker lights on it, can't remember if it was 2 or 3 needed, but I'd switch out the shield for a target lock to not take the penalty