Topic: 1500 Tau. Adeptus Mechanicus theme

[Koval, Master Verispex]

So, based on a PM conversation with Wyddr, a game against Benis, and a shiny e-copy of the Lathe Worlds supplement for Dark Heresy, I've decided to use the Tau Codex to put an Adeptus Mechanicus themed list together. In the interest of sanity, however, I'm retaining the terminology from Codex: Tau Empire, as you guys probably have better things to do than work out what a catalytic mass driver is meant to be.

Unusually for me, I couldn't justify having more than three tanks.


HQ
Magos Militant (Commander): cyclic ion blaster, plasma rifle, advanced targeting system, early warning override, Puretide Engram Neurochip, two shield drones 162pts
(With Myrmidon Auxilia)    I know, I could've represented the Magos Militant, or a Skitarii Centurion, with either a Fireblade for a lead-from-the-front battlefield commander, or an Ethereal for Storm Of Fire related "overclocking", but I rather like the image of a Magos in an exo-suit testing out some weird experimental tech. I would've bought Iridium Armour, but I couldn't find the points -- probably my fault for buying all the weird experimental tech!

TROOPS
Skitarii (Fire Warriors, 4x10): pulse rifles 360pts    Four identikit units of rank-and-file Tech-Guard are basically going to be my objective grabbers and anti-infantry fire support. I was going to buy pulse carbines for one or two units, but figured I'd hold off on that until one of you guys had something to say about rifles versus carbines.

ELITES
Myrmidon Auxilia (Crisis Team, 3): each with plasma rifles and twin-linked fusion blasters 201pts (With Magos Militant)    The plasma rifles, thematically speaking, should really stay as the Lathe Worlds gave us "phased plasma rifles" and I wanted to represent them somehow. Functionally, these guys are here for anti-tank and anti-TEQ work, and to give the Magos Militant some buddies.

Reductor Siege Engine (Riptide): ion accelerator, twin-linked smart missile system, early warning override 190pts    BIG STOMPY MECHA! There's a branch of the Adeptus Mechanicus called the Ordo Reductor, who specialise in siege warfare and giant guns, so I figured I'd try to squeeze in an Ordo Reductor representative, and the Riptide -- with all that cool techy gubbins -- was the most obvious fit.

FAST ATTACK
Sagitarii (Pathfinders, 2x6): each with three rail rifles 222pts    Sagitarii are supposed to be heavy weapons teams -- the chosen unit size being a parallel with the Guard HWS structure. I'm representing the aforementioned "catalytic mass drivers" with rail rifles, as the ion rifle didn't fit the description of a long-ranged armour-piercing heavy-infantry-killer sufficiently well. Having said that, ion rifles do look rather tasty. Possible solutions, please?

HEAVY SUPPORT
Cataphractii Grav-Tank (Hammerhead): Railgun, twin-linked smart missile system CDXpts    Shame I can't justify the points for Longstrike.
Cataphractii Grav-Tank (Hammerhead): Ion cannon, twin-linked smart missile system CDXpts    Cataphractii are Skitarii tank-drivers. Ultimately I'd convert these using the Land Speeder Vengeance kit, apply appropriate weapon-swaps and techie gubbins, and basically go crazy for the sheer hell of it. There's actually a part of me that wants to doll that thing up as, erm, a Hammerhead (from Mass Effect 2), thus bringing it all full circle.

Cataphractii Grav-Tank (Sky Ray): twin-linked smart missile system CDXpts    Basically, flyer defence, though it's a pity about the lack of Interceptor. This'll be another LSV-conversion.

TOTAL: 1500pts


C&C naturally very welcome.

[Wyddr]

My opinion on Rifles Vs Carbines are thus:

Carbines are good on Pathfinders and Drones. On Firewarriors, they are only really handy in one instance: a Fish of Fury team that doesn't use/need an Ethereal. On foot, rifles have the range. Mounted with an Ethereal, the Storm of Fire gives better mileage to the Rifle over the carbine.

Oh, carbines also mix well with EMPs, but who they hell takes those?

Anyway, I'd keep the rifles.

[Plastikente]

Oh, carbines also mix well with EMPs, but who they hell takes those?

I had quite a successful time with 2x8 FWs in Fish with carbines and EMPs against IG last week.  I found the number of pinning weapons quite useful against a moderate Ld enemy like guard, and I had great time dismantling Chimeras in assault.

That said, I do agree that Rifles are generally better, particularly against higher Ld foes.

[Shas'Oink]

Just a couple of items to consider, nothing really major...

The ionhead is unfortunately not as good a deal as the railhead these days. Thankfully it can still be quite a beefy tank, particularly against marines. However, you need to b sure where your anti-tank is coming from. You have a good mix of coverage but I would consider that your crisis suit set up is really more suited for hunting monstrous creatures and TEQs and doesn't really want to be (not) using its plasma weapons against tanks it cannot hurt (remember ours are not as strong as imperial equivalent).

Depending on how many tanks or marines you come against, I may suggest then thinking about two railheads rather than one of each. As your elite units can then concentrate on infantry killing.

Another item to consider is that the riptide is an interesting anti air unit, though again, give this chap plasma rifles to cement his use against heavy enemy infantry in the main.

For true AA alternative to the sky ray, I've recently been using a hammerhead with FW missile turret as a pretty good defence. Again, no interceptor, but it makes up for it by having a multitude of twin linked shots.

Overall, I think a pretty solid list which should be able to counts as its way pretty smoothly.

[Koval, Master Verispex]

Just a couple of items to consider, nothing really major...

Hi there Oink.

The ionhead is unfortunately not as good a deal as the railhead these days.

My plan was basically to convert a whole range of different things in the interest of brainstorming the weird and wonderful things the Adeptus Mechanicus might offer. For example, that's not a railgun, it's a mass accelerator cannon. Consider also that I am not likely to convert two exact copies of the same thing

I would consider that your crisis suit set up is really more suited for hunting monstrous creatures and TEQs and doesn't really want to be (not) using its plasma weapons against tanks it cannot hurt (remember ours are not as strong as imperial equivalent).

Paired up with the Magos Militant, the PEN can mitigate (even enhance) that, while also giving the Magos himself something very useful to do with that CIB*.

Basically, I just don't like the idea of the Magos running around on his own, and yet leaving myself short on anti-armour capabilities. Yes, having a second Fake Railhead will help with that, but that leaves me with just two railguns to take on enemy armour. This leaves me in a bit of a weird situation as I don't see missile pods being hugely useful at the sorts of ranges where the CIB and plasma rifles would be most effective.

*Which I now need to rename; originally I was going to call it a "grav-fusil", but then Codex: Space Marines had to come along and introduce actual grav weapons (which still don't match up properly with earlier fluff, rabble rabble).

Another item to consider is that the riptide is an interesting anti air unit, though again, give this chap plasma rifles to cement his use against heavy enemy infantry in the main.

That is indeed an option. I didn't initially consider it, though, on the basis that getting close enough to use those plasma rifles most effectively also leaves me wide open to a plasma-flavoured return volley, or at the very least retribution from anything else short ranged and horrendously powerful.

And no, I am not basing that in any way on how I dealt with Benis' Riptide last month (though I am certainly basing it on how I wanted to deal with Benis' Riptide).

For true AA alternative to the sky ray, I've recently been using a hammerhead with FW missile turret as a pretty good defence. Again, no interceptor, but it makes up for it by having a multitude of twin linked shots.

See, the thing is that I want the Fake Sky Ray on the basis that A) converting it wouldn't be a huge problem**, B) it offers me an actual AA platform with a giant FIRE ZE MISSILES! button, and C) I don't have whichever IA rules let you use the different Hammerhead turrets (to say nothing for actually converting the buggers).

**Given the number of hunter-killer missiles I didn't use when building my Guard army, I've got more or less all the parts I need!