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Been playing around with the idea of trying a non-Imperium force, came up with this during my lunch break.

+ HQ +

Cadre Fireblade [2 PL, 42pts]: Markerlight

Cadre Fireblade [2 PL, 42pts]: Markerlight

Commander in XV86 Coldstar Battlesuit [8 PL, 174pts]: 4x Fusion blaster

+ Troops +

Strike Team [4 PL, 70pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [4 PL, 70pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [4 PL, 70pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [4 PL, 70pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

+ Elites +

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

XV95 Ghostkeel Battlesuit [10 PL, 179pts]: 2x Fusion blaster, Fusion collider, 2x MV5 Stealth Drone

+ Fast Attack +

Pathfinder Team [4 PL, 64pts]: 2x MV1 Gun Drone
. 5x Pathfinder: 5x Markerlight

Pathfinder Team [4 PL, 64pts]: 2x MV1 Gun Drone
. 5x Pathfinder: 5x Markerlight

Tactical Drones [4 PL, 50pts]: 5x MV7 Marker Drone

+ Heavy Support +

XV88 Broadside Battlesuits [8 PL, 157pts]: 2x MV7 Marker Drone
. Broadside Shas'ui: 2x High-yield missile pod, 2x Plasma rifle, Drone controller

XV88 Broadside Battlesuits [8 PL, 157pts]: 2x MV7 Marker Drone
. Broadside Shas'ui: 2x High-yield missile pod, 2x Plasma rifle, Drone controller

++ Total: [80 PL, 1489pts] ++


Thoughts? I can put the Pathfinders, a Fireblade and the Drones in a Vanguard det for an extra CP, giving me 9 in total. Not sure on which Sept would be the best choice, plan would to form a gunline essentially. Pathfinders and Drones for Markerlight support, Riptide and Ghostkeel to harass particular units while Broadsides focus on the heavier things.

Haven't played yet... but.... (I'm getting close, built my kitbashed, Cadre Fireblade, Marksman, and Darkstrider, gonna have to buy a riptide or two, maybe kitbash a coldstar suit)

I would add...
Firesight Marksman (cheap + markerlight)
Replace a Cadre Fireblade with Darkstrider
Replace all drones with as many sheild drones as you can.

Faction Borkan looks good - all heavy and rapid fire weapons are +6"

Ghostkeel, very short ranged.... which translates as hard to use.

I am not sure I understand why you'd want to using the high yeild missle pod over a heavy rail rifle (I'm sure someone will explain that to me).

If you can figure a way to fill out the entire force organization chart, you can do a brigade formation and have 12 or is it 15 cps.

What relic are you going to go for? And which trait?

I was thinking of Borkan, the range bonus to the weapons is nice, but also T'au. 5+ on Overwatch is sweet, and while their strat is 3CP, it could come in handy against things like Knights.

HYMPs are generally pretty good, it's 8x S7 Ap-1 shots with D3 damage a piece. I'm thinking the increased shot output may mitigate the reduced strength.

Dropping the Ghostkeel may be beneficial as it'll free up some points to build it to a Brigade.

 Valkyrie wrote:
HYMPs are generally pretty good, it's 8x S7 Ap-1 shots with D3 damage a piece. I'm thinking the increased shot output may mitigate the reduced strength.

HYMP seem alright, I misread how many shots it was outputting. Its expensive so you need shield drones for protection.

Looking forward to your revised list.

So I've done some tweaking with the list and I've managed to fit in a Brigade detachment.


+ HQ +

Cadre Fireblade [2 PL, 42pts]: Markerlight

Commander in XV86 Coldstar Battlesuit [8 PL, 174pts]: 4x Fusion blaster

Darkstrider [3 PL, 45pts]

+ Troops +

Strike Team [4 PL, 70pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [4 PL, 70pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [4 PL, 70pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [2 PL, 35pts]: 5x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [2 PL, 35pts]: 5x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [2 PL, 35pts]: 5x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

+ Elites +

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

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

XV95 Ghostkeel Battlesuit [10 PL, 191pts]: 2x Fusion blaster, Fusion collider, 2x MV5 Stealth Drone, Target lock

+ Fast Attack +

Pathfinder Team [4 PL, 64pts]: 2x MV1 Gun Drone
. 5x Pathfinder: 5x Markerlight

Pathfinder Team [4 PL, 64pts]: 2x MV1 Gun Drone
. 5x Pathfinder: 5x Markerlight

Tactical Drones [4 PL, 50pts]: 5x MV7 Marker Drone

+ Heavy Support +

XV88 Broadside Battlesuits [8 PL, 160pts]: 2x MV4 Shield Drone
. Broadside Shas'ui: 2x High-yield missile pod, 2x Smart missile system

XV88 Broadside Battlesuits [8 PL, 160pts]: 2x MV4 Shield Drone
. Broadside Shas'ui: 2x High-yield missile pod, 2x Smart missile system

XV88 Broadside Battlesuits [8 PL, 160pts]: 2x MV4 Shield Drone
. Broadside Shas'ui: 2x High-yield missile pod, 2x Smart missile system

++ Total: [79 PL, 1475pts] ++


I'm a bit happy with it but I still have a couple of reservations.

1 - Is this enough Markerlights? I know you have to get 5 tokens before you get that lovely +1BS, I'm dubious that this is enough to get the bonuses I'll need,

2 - The HYMPs on the Broadsides are nice, but I'm still on the fence about wherever Railguns will be better suited.

Overkill on markerlights.

BTW there's a strategem that says... 1cp... instead of placing 1 markerlight, place d3+1. ' Use that once each turn and you will have plenty of lit targets.

You have 2 accurate markerlight shots in the hq slots, 2 more in the elite, also accurate. I don't think you need any marker drones at all. work in some ion rilfes and maybe a stealth suit team and you are done.


Railguns vs HYMP... you are ready to playtest... that's how you answer that question

The ghost keep NEEDS to have a shield generator. The 4++ is more than worth the 8pts.

You may also want to think about combining the broadsides into a single unit for strategem/commander buff reasons.

I like how many fire warrior squads you have.

Thanks again for the feedback.

Markerlights, I'm still looking into how many would be viable for 1.5k, the number I have is a bit offset by the crappy BS on the Drones.

Good point about the Ghostkeel, I'll add a Shield Generator.

The Broadsides are separate so I can get the Brigade bonuses.

I think what fisheyes is trying to say is, command and control node is the best stratagem to tau. the down side is that it requires a buffmander and a high volume of shot unit. Normally combined with either a unit of missile side broad sides or a riptide.

For markerlight support. redundancy is key, that being said the tax is real. Fireblades and darkstrider are value picks (them being characters and they buff nearby infantry) pathfinders give access to pulse accelerator drones (which I suggest the extra range allows for ease of play to get into rapidfire) firesight marksmen are good. even better in a sacea vanguard detachment, I don't like them. I used to use a broadside with a drone controller buffing 12 marker drones instead of pathfinders. I found that marker drones fulfilled two rolls and excelled at neither. For markerlight support, be in the mindset and play as if you don't need them opponents know that markerlights buff tau, and they kill markerlights. ideally you get two to three critical targets up to the 3+. but they will die. after the low down faq ignoring cover is critical. I take pathfinders bc they add to the number of bodies I take, opponents target them allowing my firewarriors to be holding objectives or more of my shield drones to live. I used to like marksmen, but pathfinders are the way to go! the increased ballistic skill is nice, but several late game situations have included most of my army dead except ethereal buffmander and marksmen. marksmen have no value late game when most of your army is dead. All in all it is better to have minor buffs from markerlight support on many targets (3-5) than have major buff on only (1-2).


Why limit yourself to a brigade? You are easily have the drops to run a two battalion + vanguard/outrider/Heavy support one (lol). Giving one less command point increasing your HQ tax but allowing for more flexibility. There is a reason the commander limit and the rule of three was put in place. Commanders are OP. would suggest taking them in higher point games. Ask yourself what playstyle you are going for and build your list to complement that playstyle. with this list . . . . I see that you NEED to go first making the many drops that you have a negative.

List looks overall solid. I like the first list better. second list is missing anti tank and is running a brigade for the sake of running one for cps. suggest a buffmander with CNC strat used every turn you can on a broadside unit or a Riptide supported by 8 shield drones. Pulse accelerator drones instead of gun drones, that frees up points to take a shield generator on a ghostkeel. No marker drones. Marker drones need a controller using up a valuable support system slot and need to be in LOS to mark targets. Shield drones want to be out of LOS and are much more survivable. Make opponents jump through hoops to kill your CNC deathstar. I also like howmany fire warriors you have. darkstrider is value and an auto include in every game. An ethereal is needed bc of terrible leadership. ( it also helps maintain good play for the FGG bubble)

Your list will put in work. play test and see what you like. Let us know how it did or what you are having trouble with

Ok thanks for the feedback everyone.

I totally understand the point about multiple detachments, and I agree that going for a Brigade just for the sake of it is a bit of a stretch when I could go for 2x Battalions instead + whatever I cna fit in.

One thing that has spurred my interest also is Remora Drones. They're an often overlooked unit but I think they could be very useful as a bodyguard unit for the Coldstar Commanders. 91pts gets you a Drone flyer with +1BS, 2x Burst Cannons and 2x Seeker Missiles. While they can't take wounds for the Commander in the same way that Shield Drones can they can prevent him being targeted alltogether, and with a Drone Controller on the Coldstar they're putting out at BS3+. This means giving up a Fusion Blaster, but he already has 3 of them, would this be a decent trade-off?


I've swapped out the Broadsides' HYMPs for Railguns, and condensed them into 1x2 instead of 3x1. I've squeezed in a couple extra HQs to make the detachments legit. I think the main ideas for this list would be to castle up and form a Fire Warrior gunline buffed by the Ethereal and Fireblade. The Coldstars do their typical business supported by the Remoras. The Broadsides are hanging back with their Railguns with the Pathfinders and Drones providing the Markerlights. I've put a Drone Controller on the Broadsides to help the Marker Drones.


++ Battalion 1 ++

+ HQ +

Cadre Fireblade [2 PL, 42pts]: Markerlight

Commander in XV86 Coldstar Battlesuit [8 PL, 174pts]: 4x Fusion blaster


+ Troops +

Strike Team [4 PL, 70pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [2 PL, 35pts]: 5x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [2 PL, 35pts]: 5x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

+ Elites +

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

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

+ Heavy Support +

XV88 Broadside Battlesuits [16 PL, 295pts]: 4x MV4 Shield Drone
. Broadside Shas'ui: 2x Smart missile system, Heavy rail rifle, Drone Controller
. Broadside Shas'ui: 2x Smart missile system, Heavy rail rifle

+ Flyer +

DX6 Remora Stealth Drone Squadron [6 PL, 182pts]
. 2x DX6 'Remora' Stealth Drone w/ 2x Seeker missile: 4x Long-barelled burst cannon, 4x Seeker missile



++ Battalion 2 ++

+ HQ +

Commander in XV86 Coldstar Battlesuit [8 PL, 174pts]: 4x Fusion blaster

Darkstrider [3 PL, 45pts]

+ Troops +

Strike Team [4 PL, 70pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [4 PL, 70pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [4 PL, 70pts]: 10x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle


++ Outrider Detachment ++

+ HQ +

Ethereal [2 PL, 45pts]: Honour Blade

+ Fast Attack +

Pathfinder Team [4 PL, 64pts]: 2x MV1 Gun Drone
. 5x Pathfinder: 5x Markerlight

Pathfinder Team [4 PL, 64pts]: 2x MV1 Gun Drone
. 5x Pathfinder: 5x Markerlight

Tactical Drones [4 PL, 50pts]: 5x MV7 Marker Drone



++ Total: [77 PL, 1487pts] ++

Nothing?

Hey man, I got a couple of questions to ask so im better informed to help.
1 what tau units do you currently own. this is all hypothetical at the moment?
2 What style of games are you normally playing competitive or casual?
3 Do you want the most optimized list possible or do you play by rule of cool?
4 What are your gameplay tactics your prefer? Tau only play in 3 phases, which in turn makes gameplay very similar (gunline every game)

Those questions aside i have a couple of first impressions to share
1 Love the changeup from a bridage
2 Too many markerlights every 40k player knows kill markerlights weaken tau, but looking at your list you have too many supporting units and not enough units to benifit from the support
3 Broadsides are not as effiecient when compare to a riptide. you also want to take the HYMP, bs 4 really hurts, you want volume of fire to compensate
4 Never used a remora so i dont know how effective they work, Seem fragile but idk (i use a ghostkeel) seeker misslies though
5 Command and Control Node is what make riptides strong, you need a cheap buffmander not just for CNC but to MASTER OF WAR ability (works well with broadsides too!)
6 If you are taking Marksmen, consider Sacea sept, rerolls are insane!
7 Larger units of Firewarrior suffer losses to moral (units of 5 next to an ethereal cannont fail!)
8 Never take makrer drones ( i tried to make them work myself) they perform 2 roles and excel at neither. Go with sheild drones Make opponents jump through hoops to kill your valueable stuff

For a 1500 point list seems solid.