Exactly what the thread says.
This is the current list for the Tau Empire force located in this Project Log
here. That Project Log is devoted to the construction, painting and modelling side of things (and perhaps the Fluff when I don't balls it up spectacularly and git good at Tau names). This is dedicated towards the list as a whole, and maybe some fluff.
The list is the product of a hard day slaving away in Army Builder. I have for eons now been trying to come up with a Tau List that didn't abuse Markerlights, stayed the hell away from Fish of Fury and most certainly was not yet another Tau Gunline. With the rise of the new Codex/Mont'Ka and Kauyon supplements, the end result was the sheer, horrifying derp presented before you.
I recommend setting your Heresy Shields to Maximum, because the Derp is coming hard and heavy.
Disclaimer: I will be posting up the list, fluff where relevant and fully planned out and my justifications for choices, since I am aware I took some weird stuff you don't normally see. Because
I'm batamphetamine parrot insane. I will be representing the average That Guy's reaction to my choices while justifying them in
Italics. This does not (I hope) represent any particular members of 40K Online (and is certainly not intended as such), and is meant more as a jab at people who feverantly believe that an army is worthless without these things (i.e: That Guy's and Meta/Powergamers). Anyway, moving on...
The List
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Hunter Cadre DetachmentX1 Tau Commander
-XV 86 Coldstar Battlesuit, Shield Generator and Stimulant Injector.
X1 Cadre Fireblade
X3 Tau Empire Breacher Teams
-Ten man Squads
-One member upgraded to Shas'ui
-One MV36 Guardian Drone
-One MV7 Marker Drone
X1 XV27-2 Stealth Suit Team
-Three Man Squad
-Shas'vre with Homing Beacon, Markerlight and Target Lock, Drone Controller and two MV7 Marker Drones
- Two Shas'ui with Advanced Targeting System
X3 MV7 Marker Drone Clutches
- Four Drones per Clutch
X1 TX7 Hammerhead Gunship
- Ion Cannon
- Longstrike, Devourer of Guardsmen!
- Disruption Pod and Sensor Spines
Retaliation CadreX1 Tau Commander
-XV 86 Coldstar Battlesuit, Shield Generator and Stimulant Injector.
X3 Monat XV-8 Crisis Suits
-Flamer, Fusion Blaster and Shield Generator
X1 XV-88 Rare Endangered Sniperside
-Shas'vre
-Advanced Targeting System
-Plasma Rifles
-Seeker Missile
X1 XV-104 Cheesetide
-Twin Linked Plasma Rifles
-Ion Accelerator
-Stimulant Injector and Velocity Tracker
Final Total = 1848pts/1850pts
Justifications and Adjustments
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Anti AirFlyers are everywhere, and you're not bringing any AA! I can just sweep you off the board on Turn 1 with my Vendetta Spam!True, but if you look closely, asides the Cheesetide, the two Coldstars in theory can fight enemy fliers on their terms thanks to their Missile Pods. The Burst Cannon might be able to do something as well. Plus with their Shield Generators and Stimulant Injectors, the only way they'd get better saves is Signature Systems...which they can't take. Sadface.
Breach and Clear!Breachers suck! They've got a piddly 15" range and die just as easy as Fire Warriors! Infact, yours die faster since you didn't buy any Devilfishes, herr da derp!The Breacher Teams represent something new - short ranged combat. The idea behind the list was to get as close to the enemy as possible and then punish them. The Guardian Drones provide the squad with some survivability while Cover can take care of the rest. Furthermore, Breachers benefit more than Strike Teams from the "Ambushes and Feints" ability. Being able to Run and then fire their weapons is a huge boon to a normally short ranged squad.
Also, Devilfishes are Fish of Furry and little more than overpriced cardboard boxes. They're 80+pts I'd rather spend elsewhere.
Drone ClutchesYou took Drones over Pathfinders? Lol, fail! They don't hit anywhere near as often and put out less Markerlights than my ten man unit of Pathfinders! My Mathhammer says so!Actually, not so much. In many situations, Marker Drones can be more useful than Pathfinders. Since the army is constantly moving, a squad of Pathfinders would have much difficulty keeping up with the main force as moving for any reason makes them fire their Markerlights as Snap Shots. Drones on the other hand are relentless. This means regardless of what happens, the Drones
always hit on a 5+. The only uncertainty I have with the Drones is if I should take three squads of four, or two squads of six.
Oh, and by the by - I despise Markerlights. I view Markerlights as a whole as dirty filth on par with Fish of Fury when the Tau first appeared. There are no words that can accurately describe how I feel about Markerlights, and how my list is essentially beslubbering amphetamine parrot without them. Which is incidentally, the sole reason I'm even toying with the Drones. If I had my way, those points would be spent on more Battlesuits. And maybe some Vespid.
Tactical Espionage Action: The Name of the GameStealth Suits? In this day and age? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!Stealth Suits serve two purposes. First, they're there to act as a targeting beacon for the Retaliation Cadre. Second, they can lase things with Marker Drones. Third, precision shot Burst Cannons. Hilarious.
Ion Cannon Ready. Select TargetIon Cannons? Over Railguns? Lol n00b.Well this one largely came down to a simple pragmatic choice. I could either spend five points and give the Railgun Pie Plates...or I can upgrade to a woefully overlooked weapon that can throw down Battlecannon Shells or fire MEQ Death. When looking for versatility, swear by the Ion Cannon.
PAINIS JOKE!
Markerlightless List
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Hunter Cadre DetachmentX1 Tau Commander
-XV 86 Coldstar Battlesuit, Shield Generator and Stimulant Injector.
X1 Cadre Fireblade
X2 Tau Empire Breacher Teams
-Ten man Squads
-One member upgraded to Shas'ui
-One MV36 Guardian Drone
X2 Tau Empire Strike Teams
-Twelve man Squads
-One member upgraded to Shas'ui
-One MV36 Guardian Drone
X1 XV27-2 Stealth Suit Team
-Three Man Squad
-Shas'vre with Homing Beacon and Advanced Targeting System
-One Shas'ui with Advanced Targeting System
-One Shas'ui with Fusion Blaster and Target Lock
X1 Vespid Stingwing Squad
- 5 Man Unit
- Strain Leader
X1 TX7 Hammerhead Gunship
- Ion Cannon
- Longstrike, Devourer of Guardsmen!
- Disruption Pod and Sensor Spines
Retaliation CadreX1 Tau Commander
-XV 86 Coldstar Battlesuit, Shield Generator and Stimulant Injector.
X3 Monat XV-8 Crisis Suits
-Flamer, Fusion Blaster and Shield Generator
X1 XV-88 Rare Endangered Sniperside
-Shas'vre
-Advanced Targeting System
X1 XV-104 Cheesetide
-Twin Linked Plasma Rifles
-Heavy Burst Dakka Dakka Cannon
-Stimulant Injector and Velocity Tracker
Final Total = 1848pts/1850pts
Justifications and Adjustments
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Jammin' Slammin' Striker SquadsBut you should be using only Strikers! The Tau have no other Troops!Well Kroot beg to differ, but it does take a very particular player to use Kroot. Anyway, I want to experiment with more of a mixed arms approach, which is why I didn't fully drop the Breachers. Think of the Breachers as Strikers and the Strike Teams as Midfield. Sadly though, it came at great cost...
Buuugs!VESPID SUUUCK!!!As much as I like Pirahna's (the other non-Markerlight option), I didn't quite have the points. I'd like a bigger unit of Vespid, especially since GW *DID* buff these guys and I'd like to experiment with a woefully underused Unit.
DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA DAKKANo Ion Accelerator? Lol!Yeah, this and the removal of some of the Broadside's gear (which was mostly filler points anyway) was the price of the rekaboodled Troops. Still, I *did* at least take the Stimulant Injector...?