Kelharis

19 minutes ago, paxmiles said:

Granted, as a plan, it might not survive contact with the enemy...

Tau rarely do :D

24 minutes ago, Dark Trainer said:

I have a buddy starting up Tau. Got some tips about the start collecting box. I was advised to get 2 of those starter boxes, then look at 2 broadsides, and a hammerhead as a solid starting force for tau? Any other thoughts? He's starting from zero (well he has 1 starter box and 1 box of pathfinders so far).

If getting 2 starter boxes, I'd recommend converting one ethereal into a cadre fireblade. Its a very easy conversion, lots of pictures online.  Missilesides are definitely meta at the moment, as are Riptides.  I love the stealthies and Ghostkeel myself, have done very well with them.  Hammerhead as Longstrike is also meta, and a great choice.

Here's the best advice any Tau player can get: Magnetize everything bigger than a Fire Warrior (I even magnetized 6 pathfinders), Magnetize drones at the flight stick at least.

1 hour ago, paxmiles said:

Sorry, I'm not asking my questions very well.

Question is specific to Fire Warriors (Strikes or breachers) that are embarked in a devilfish, are part of the FARSIGHT ENCLAVES, and have a Cadre Fireblade in tow. 

The trick to the question is that the Cadre Fireblade doesn't boost Blasters with the volley fire ability, just Carbines, Pistols, and Rifles. So I have 2 shots with pistols (at 6"), 2 shots with blasters (5", 10", or 15"), 3 shots with carbines (at 9"), 3 shots with rifles (at 15"). With moving added in, pistols and rifles can move 6" prior to shooting (9" with disembark). Blasters and Carbines are assault weapons, so there could be a 7-12" move prior to shooting (10-15" with disembark).

The other trick here is that FARSIGHT ENCLAVES re-roll 1s to wound within 6". So ideally, I'll be within 6" when I shoot.

I'm guessing this is one of those situations where it depends on if you're within the 5" blaster range or not. and whether you're within 9" carbine range or not. If <5 then use blasters, if not then use carbines, unless you're more than 9" then use rifles.  The question is, how close do you want to be?

Probably better idea is to make your FW/Breachers into a Tau Sept battalion with Cadre Fireblade and Darkstrider.

1 hour ago, apathy ales said:

I will be a WOW on sunday at 3 lookin for a 750 point game.

Same

I will try to be there Sunday as close to 3 as possible.

2 hours ago, Lord Hanaur said:

They reduced Shadowsun.  So i dunno.  she seems a lot more takable than before.

True, and I will be taking her, but we have that whole 45-110 point mark where we really dont have any options.

1 hour ago, paxmiles said:

I get it. Just amused that GW didn't see that as something they'd need to fix with regards to adding more HQ units. TAU really needs a 4th generic HQ anyway, but especially if they are going to include Sept that can't even field one of those 3.

I feel that TAU is really missing an HQ that exists between the BS2+/WS3+ of the Battlesuit commanders and the BS4+/WS5+ of everything else. Like a Battlesuit sub-commander.

 

I would LOVE to see a generic stealth suit HQ.

11 hours ago, Dark Trainer said:

Since most will be playing their 750, and I'm the filler. I could field 500 and play ya with what I have. What time you getting there? 430 to 5pm quick 500 game, then you get your 750? Don't wait for me either, if someone is there earlier to get a game get started 😎

I appreciate the offer, this was in regards to Sunday's game night. I was able to get my 500 point game done, so I'll be looking for 750 this upcoming weekend, as I'm unable to do Tuesdays.

My big takeaway is that Stealth suits and Ghostkeels were able to last due to difficulty in hitting them, much like I hoped.  Things would have been much different if Orks had made their charges...

Week one escalation match complete, both sides fought hard and died hard. A big thanks to @Lyraeus for giving me a match with his Ork meany heads. 😁

My list:

++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (T'au Empire) [32 PL, 500pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

T'au Empire Sept Choice: Vior'la Sept

+ HQ +

Cadre Fireblade [2 PL, 42pts]: Academy Luminary (Vior'la Sept), Markerlight, Seismic destabiliser, Warlord

Ethereal [2 PL, 45pts]: Honour blade

+ Troops +

Strike Team [2 PL, 35pts]
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui: Pulse rifle
. 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [2 PL, 35pts]
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui: Pulse rifle
. 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

Strike Team [2 PL, 35pts]
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui: Pulse rifle
. 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

+ Elites +

XV25 Stealth Battlesuits [12 PL, 142pts]
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon: Burst cannon
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon: Burst cannon
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon: Burst cannon
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon: Burst cannon
. Stealth Shas'vre: Burst cannon, Velocity tracker

XV95 Ghostkeel Battlesuit [10 PL, 166pts]: 2x Fusion blaster, Cyclic ion raker, 2x MV5 Stealth Drone, Shield generator

++ Total: [32 PL, 500pts] ++

His list:

Orks....many, many orks.....so many orks...and some gretchin.

The flow of battle was controlled by the Ork side, but their inability to complete a charge until turn 3? kept the game close.  Late in the match a heroic last stand by a trio of stealth suits delayed the Ork victory, allowing a satisfying (like kissing your sister?) draw.  At the end of turn 6, a lone Ghostkeel stood against (was able to run away from) a 30 strong unit of Orks who...just....won't....die...

Score was 7 points to 7 points

Tau:

First Blood - 1

Slay The Warlord - 1

No Quarter Given - 5

Linebreaker - 1

Orks:

Slay The Warlord - 1

No Quarter Given - 7

Kelharis had the full 5 points for painted models and craves a rematch (with flamers perhaps...) for a total of 9 points. 

I will have both my 500 and 750 point list if theres time to get both games in.

Dont think it matters at all, especially since many people paint the skimmer bottom to match their other bases.

I'll be at Wow on Sunday also. I might try to get 500 and 750 games in if possible.

5 minutes ago, paxmiles said:

Hey, is there a good 3rd party Vespid model?

GW models don't look great, are finecast, and are really expensive for what they are. I'd consider metal ones if someone has extras for trade.

http://www.reddogminis.com/catalog/item/9023820/10336153.htm

Just now, Ish said:

They're the Ultramarines of the fish-people. 

I prefer to think of Ultramarines as the Tau Sept of the people-people. 😁

53 minutes ago, paxmiles said:

Okay, so the T'au Sept has a Stratagem called "Focused Fire" which adds +1 to wound. It requires first dealing an unsaved wound to the target, but allows all <Sept> units to gain the +1 to wound against that target. This is also the faction that has the one special character (Longstrike who should be able to stack it for +2 to wound).

And so that's why, at GG the other night, all of the TAU players (other than me) were running the T'au Sept (one also had allied TAU of another faction). 

All of the best special characters are Tau sept also IMO

Stealth Suits with Markerdrones, you can deploy them anywhere not in your opponent's deployment zone and more than 12" away from an opponent. I think that's your best option,.

7 minutes ago, paxmiles said:

So the best solutions are Sept Specific.

-Bork'an adds 6" to rapid and heavy weapon range. So 42" markerlights. 

-Sac'rea's stratagem allows markers to be place on a choosen visible target, and on all targets within 6".

 

Without switching Septs, there are two feasible mobile marker units:

-Markerdrones ignore the penalty for moving and shooting heavy weapons, can move 8", and can easily have their BS improved to reasonable levels (4+) via Drone Controllers.

-Skyray Gunships have 2x BS3+ markers (BS2+ vs targets with FLY) and have 12" of move. They'd still have a penalty while moving, but they'd still be at BS4+ with 2 shots (4+ vs FLY). 

What is your markerlight goal (how many are you aiming to hit with on a unit)? If it's just 1, then Cadre Fireblades are the best choice, 36" range can reach most of the board with 2 CF on the roster.

2 minutes ago, paxmiles said:

Tetras are BS4+. If they "set up" they count as moving, as they would if they moved normally. So Their markers hit on 5+...even if each hit becomes 3, hitting on 5s sucks.

 

I agree. We have only a few reliable units that don't require other units.

I've been thinking of picking up some Tetras for the HIM, plus they do move 18" and can "deepstrike" with their "Shadow Strike" arrival option.  It honestly feels to me like the best option for markerlights that are mobile, durable, and able to be placed where I need them when I need them.  That said, I'm trying like crazy to find something workable without markerlight reliance. I keep coming back to special characters for that.  Tau have a heavy reliance on synergy of abilities, that could mean markerlights and seeker missles, or it could mean Longstrike and hammerheads, or Shadowsun and stealth suits.

I like to think if Tau simplistically. Tau have 2 options IMO

1. Gunline

2. Mobile Gunline

We have no real melee, we have no psykers. Basically that leaves movement phase and shooting phase, so they must be embraced and welcomed as if the Ethereals themselves created them for us. 

I know the Orks are famous for more dakka is best, but for Tau, more dakka is life and death.  This is why it's so hard to build a "fun to play against" Tau list. Trying to hit the sweet spot between "I cant hurt your army" and "sorry I tabled you" is not easy.

I'm exploring the stealthy side if Tau with the escalation league with all of the infiltration suits I'm bringing. I hope it provides both fun and challenge to my opponent and me. We will see.

Got it. Consensus is to mount him on a 3 inch plinth with a Superman cape, Samurai banner and a Chaos Dwarf big hat. 😂 Thanks for the input guys.

I'll probably try and make a piece of cloth thingy for his back, or just treat him like a cool Shas'ui.

8 minutes ago, Lyraeus said:

O. O that's an amazing conversion. Needs a cloak or something to mark him

 

Yeah, I thought that was going to be the consensus, I suck with green stuff... Thank You though!

So I converted a Tau Firewarrior, see link to images.  Question is, would you object to this conversion representing a Cadre Fireblade? Thanks for input!

https://imgur.com/a/dEt3DUM

I am always inclined to let people do their "Can I do this?" stuff, unless I'm sure they can't.  Only thing keeping me from saying 100% yes is the "as if it were the Movement phase" part. It all depends on how one interprets that I suppose, do you take all associated movement phase rules, or only ones associated with stuff like terrain?