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Some of the veterans around here might remember me. Though it looks like it might have been 8 or 9 years since I last posted. I quit 40K around the infancy of 6th edition, but after moving to Delaware and back, getting remarried and becoming widowed, I just bought the 9th Edition Core Book and Codex T'au Empire on a whim.

I'm not even sure if I understand how army structures even work anymore, apparently there's something called Power Level now, which is like points, but not? And it looks like the old "1-2 HQ, 2-6 Troops, 0-3 Elites, Fast Attack, Heavy Support" things are now different detachment types.

I think I've understood it enough to put together the following 500pt (Combat Patrol?) List:

HQ
Commander in Crisis Battlesuit (Burst Cannon, Plasma Rifle, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Shield Generator)
Power Level 7, 140pts

2 Crisis Bodyguards (Burst Cannon, Plasma Rifle, Cyclic Ion Blaster)
Power Level 6, 130pts

TROOPS
Fire Warrior Strike Team (9 Fire Warriors w/Pulse Rifles, 1 Fire Warrior Shas'ui w/Pulse Rifle & Markerlight)
Power Level 4, 85pts

HEAVY SUPPORT
Hammerhead Gunship (Railgun, 2 Gun Drones w/Pulse Carbines)
Power Level 8, 145pts

TOTAL Power Level 25, 500pts

I think this either has or costs 3 Command Points, not sure which.

Is this a valid army? If so, is it a viable one? I want to add more troops, more Crisis Battlesuits, and possibly some Broadsides to bring it up to 1,000pts eventually. Thoughts?

Yeah, that's an actual list. Looks like you're up to date on the current points changes too.

The difference between Points and PL is that points are for matched/competitive and give you a more exact match (in theory) whereas PL is just a general guideline and used for Crusade/casual play.

In 500pts, you might have a bit of trouble. Both the fire warriors and the Crisis suits are solid, however, the play area for 500pt games is rather small and it's easy for an opponent to close with you fast. If they get a weak unit into combat with your Hammerhead, it's going to invalidate that monster of a gun it's got.

However, if you're just going to toss some dice with some pals for an afternoon, you'll do just fine.

I would personally drop the Hammerhead, replace it with a Broadside. At 500pts there isn't much a Hammerhead can do that a Broadside can't.

You'd have some points free then, I would get rid of the Plasma Rifles and see if you can fit another FW squad in there somehow.