Topic: 650 Battleforce Challenge

[Shas'La robo]

Playing a battleforce challenge at the end of year, buy, build and play with a battleforce over a weekend, points limit is set for 650 points with no force organisation chart (I just happen to be following it...). Possible opponents include Imperial Guard and Marines, probably no objectives just a fight to the death.

If anyone's interested we could turn this into a list building exercise, and vote for the best list and I'll play with that. 
On second thoughts let's do that (assuming the mods are ok with it) and try to build up some community spirit!!

HQ
Commander: 153
- Iridium armour, Missile pod x2, Target lock, Drone controller
Provides super accurate Markerlights, and some high strength pot shots
The lack of an invulnerable save worries me, but can't see any way to fix that with out dropping a weapon (making the target lock useless) or taking shield drones, which I'm against doing at the moment.

ELITES
3 Stealth suits: 90
Shoots stuff and annoys people
Crises team: 104
- Twin Burst Cannon, Plasma rifle
- Twin Burst Cannon, Plasma rifle
Utilities Markerlights to nuke a squad a turn

TROOPS
6 Fire warriors: 70
- Shas'Ui
6 Fire warriors: 70
- Shas'Ui
Hides in cover providing fire support, split up for more target saturation

FAST ATTACK
Piranha: 50
- Fusion blaster
Anti-transport and harassment (I know a Burst cannon would probably be better, but I need more Fusion Piranhas in my army, and I don't have any magnets )
Drone Squadron: 84
- 6 Marker drones
Markerlights stuff up for suits to destroy

Total: 621
What to to with 29 extra points??
I can't help but think I have too many Marker drones, 4 would probably be enough, but I'm not sure.

robo

[Plastikente]

I like the idea of a list-building comp, but I think the Battleforce is too limited to offer you many options, even ignoring force org.

Assuming that you're playing standard missions, you will want as many scoring units as you can wring out of the box set.  That makes 2 x 6 FW far more attractive (IMHO) than 1x12, or using some of them to be Pathfinders.  I suppose you could convert one to be a Fireblade, but then you are restricted to one scoring unit, due to the min size.

The Piranha is a Piranha, and the stealth team is at minimum size, so the only options with those are what weapons / upgrades to give them.  I think the setup you've chosen is what I would go for.

So the only areas where there are real choices are the drones (FA squadron, or spread between the units?) and the XV8s.  As you would have loads of spare points otherwise it would be foolish not to make one of the suits a Commander.  I personally think that loading him with a DC and an escort of marker drones like you have done is the best way forward for your army as a whole. I do reckon 4 drones will be enough though at this point value.  Turn the spare 2 back into Gun Drones and use them to support the FWs or as ablative wounds for the Crisis Team.

So those are my opinions, for what they're worth.  I would be really interested to hear what Oink would do with this new Battle Force, having seen the list he made out of the previous box set.

[Wyddr]

Definitely too many marker drones. In a game this small, you want more guns, not more lights. The two on the commander are all you'll need.

I would agree that, if you've got the points hanging around, making another suit a Commander makes perfect sense. You really don't need to kit those commanders out with all the defensive toys. Your primary objective should be offense, not defense. You will probably have the numbers advantage in a lot of these fights (IG excepted, but you're tougher than them) and the Jetpack should be defense enough.

Of note, is this tourney limited to only one battleforce? If so, the IG players are royally screwed--their battleforce can't even make 650 points, I don't think. Expect some weird stuff from them.

Additionally, very few armies will be mounting vehicles with AVs higher than 11, so the Fusion Piranha is going to kill things easily (assuming it hits). I expect you'll do very well in this tournament. The Tau Battleforce is one of the best in the game.

[GaleRazorwind]

Here's a good question, are you limited to the weapons that are actually in the battleforce kit or can you bum some weapons from elsewhere? The point being that the three Crisis suit sprues you get from the battleforce will only give you three of each weapon total, so you wouldn't have 4 Burst Cannons to equip your suits with.

[Slick Samos]

Solid question. Although in this case it comes from the Piranha. However if you're right then my suggestion of Twin-Linking the Plasma Rifles would only work for one of the suits...

Slick Samos

[Shas'La robo]

Here's a good question, are you limited to the weapons that are actually in the battleforce kit or can you bum some weapons from elsewhere? The point being that the three Crisis suit sprues you get from the battleforce will only give you three of each weapon total, so you wouldn't have 4 Burst Cannons to equip your suits with.

Hmmmmmm. need to check this, but could just use a normal burst cannon and tech it up to represent twin-linked.

robo