Topic: Regengade Space Marine Elites unite with Tau Army?

[Alan McFarlane]

Purists will probably shoot me to hell for this but I thought I would air an idea I was discussing  with my nephew.

The army I am going to go with is Tyranid and my nephew is going to play Tau.

He asked if he could use the Macragge marines as a conversion to elite group of renegade marines that have joined forces with the Tau.

We just don't want to have those models go to waste and it would be cool if anyone has any imput as to what rules set we should use Tau/Space Marine when dealing with them.

I'd be open to some penalties for their use especially with regard to the Tau's army view of this unit? It could be both good and bad?? He had a view of them being a tactical unit under the command of the Tau forces,  wearing Tau colors, for  honor ...for the greater good  etc.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. 

[LoGrei]

Their characteristics would still remain, perhaps just no heavy weapons. You;d probably need to check the SM codex to see what other upgrades they wouldn't have. I'd say the only heavy weapon option they could have would be the missile launcher and say only 1 per team. I believe the McCragge set does have one marine with a launcher

As they are renegades it would mean lack in resources but surely not lacking in their skills like ballistics and weapons skill

Try running it like an o'shovah list. After all they are renegades and running an O'shovah similar list would seem reasonable.

[Spider-King]

Hmm, if you wanted to convert them to having pulse rifles/carbines, you might want to increase their points.
Personally, an entire squad of marines with tau guns, i would say around 20 points.

Pretty cool idea. Their stats would not change at all i think, if anything their BS would get better, but their points would be even higher.

would be fun in friendly games i reckon.

[Chuckles, The Space Marine Clown]

Yeah sure why not. Of course, said Marines would cost 30 points per model, but by all means, knock yourselves out. Literally. With like, balsa wood or something

[The GrimSqueaker]

Using Marines in a Tau list is somewhat irregular in the same manner as an old folks home thats run out of prune juice. While there's nothing to stop you doing so for friendly games it's still just not a good idea. Equipping the Marines with Tau weapons is also not even close to a good idea.

Using Marines with the Tau will mean you don't get a good feel for either army and perhaps a very misguided sense of them instead.

[wper34]

IMHO, I don't think it would be such a good idea either...

Using 2 forces (Tau & Space Marines) together as in 2 separate FOC sounds reasonable enough for gaming. But to go further with mixing 2 totally different armies with their stats & weaponry... Please no, that could ruin the balance of WAR 40K game.

But of course, that cannot stop you from doing it in a friendly game. But again, I just don't think it will really work.

[chaos0xomega]

Have you considered telling him to convert them into stealth suits? just stick burst cannons on them, and it's all good.

[Alan McFarlane]

Not sure what we'll do as yet.

I originally said to him that if he was going to use that unit he would have to play them as space marines under tau colors and command.

It we be good to give them access to some of the Tau weapons thats why I was ask for some imput as to a penalty of some kind for being able to use a unit like this.

The point cost was a pretty good idea...

Any other alternatives?