Topic: Tau Wayfinder

[faitherun (Fay-ith-er-run)]

Been looking over the Tau codex, and really looking for a way to help them deal with characters, and by extent, psychic powers...

My answer is a Wayfinder - an HQ choice representing a pathfinder leader.

A Wayfinder was once a bonded pathfinder. During a single battle, all but they were slain. Unable to integrate into a new squad, they travel as escorts for the water caste and scouts for the main army. Those that survive dedicate themselves to guiding their fellow pathfinders, eventually becoming their mentor.


Wayfinder  - 85 pts including all wargear

M   WS  BS  S   T   W   A   LD  SV
6    5+   3+    3   3   4    2   8    4+

Wargear:

Longshot Pulse Rifle: as per codex
Markerlight: as per codex
Photon Grenades: as per codex


Special Rules:

Vanguard: as per codex
Recon Suite: as per codex
For the Greater Good: per Codex
Fire on my Target: When selecting a target to fire at, that target counts as having one additional marker light than they do for all shooting attacks directed at them. Furthermore, if this Wayfarer successfully hits a character, then a single unit of pathfinders within 6" may also fire on the same target, regardless of normal character rules.
Dismemberment Disbursement field: A wayfarer and any units of pathfinders within 6" are -1 to hit provided they are in cover and did not move in their previous movement phase


So, first things first - this character is expensive. I am not sure by how much, but I figured better to go a tad high and then scales it down.

The only three real differences are the two special rules and the fact s/he has a 3+ bs. It has always bothered me that the Tau army seems to jump from mediocre ballistic skill to amazing, with little progression between...

The first rule, Fire on my target, is designed to allows more and varied snipers to the Tau forces. The 2nd is to help those same new-fangled-sniper-wannabes to live just a tad longer...

C&C appreciated

[The GrimSqueaker]

You have got to change the name dismemberment field  It has somewhat unfortunate connotations.

[faitherun (Fay-ith-er-run)]

You have got to change the name dismemberment field  It has somewhat unfortunate connotations.

Oh my... that's what I get for posting at 2am...

Other than that, any other thoughts?

[Blazinghand]

This unit should have For the Greater Good.

I'd actually consider that this guy should have better WS and BS than he currently has, as well as more wounds and attacks. To be more compliant with how we see other elite Fire Caste HQs look, I'd make a statline like this:


M   WS  BS  S   T   W   A   LD  SV
6    3+   2+    3   3   5    3   8    4+


While I respect you wanted something a bit less elite in the BS department, I think almost every Tau HQ sports a very good Ballistic Skill, even the cheap and weak ones, and at the very least this guy should outperform a Pathfinder Shas'ui in terms of attacks. I think this would be more in line with a Pathfinder hero.

2 Attacks feels a lot like "Shas'ui" or "Firesight Marskman" tier rather than an HQ.

[faitherun (Fay-ith-er-run)]

 

I forgot all about the greater good.... 

I wanted him a tad higher than a Marksman, but not quite commander level. Perhaps 3+ BS with an innate re-roll of 1's to hit?

[Blazinghand]

I forgot all about the greater good.... 

I wanted him a tad higher than a Marksman, but not quite commander level. Perhaps 3+ BS with an innate re-roll of 1's to hit?

That could be a good choice. Another option could be to just have him always count as having one more markerlight than whatever he would normally have when shooting at a target, which would give a similar benefit that is useful even after you have a couple markerlights on a target

[faitherun (Fay-ith-er-run)]

Very well, I have updated her and I think she is ready to move to the play test stage....

Now to convince my mate who actually plays Tau to run her against me a few times