Need help with a Tau list

[irishbarse]

Hi all. I am looking at a small tau force but I do not know where to start. I want a gun line anti tank & anti air capability. Where should I start? Whay will I get first? I have an eternal and about 30 fire warriors and x3 stealth guys. I actually want to do some research into an army before going off and buying loads of (please do not swear) that will just sit on shelf.

Are hammerheads worth it? As I think they look cool.

[WestRider]

If you have other med-high AV Tanks in the Army, a Hammerhead with Longstrike can be excellent, especially against IG. Railheads and Ion Riptides are pretty much the only long-ranged answer to truly heavy Armour, but Crisis or Broadside suits loaded up with Missiles can do well against the AV10-12 stuff, especially with a PEN Chip attached to give Tank Hunter.

Broadside or Crisis suits with Velocity Trackers and tons of Missiles are also the typical solution I see to Anti-Air.

[irishbarse]

Cheers mate. What is the best hq to go for then?

[baconslice]

Missile pod broadsides put out sooo much S7 shots they can just glance even tough flyers off the board.
For a small force an ethereal is good as a buff for your fire warriors. But you've also got the versatility of the crisis commander. He's gets expensive in point though.

[WestRider]

The Ethereal seems like more of a liability unless you're running a big Tau Allied Force. I'd either go with the Fireblade (cheap and good in a big Unit of Fire Warriors), or the Crisis Commander if you really want a powerhouse. The Crisis Commander can also be nice as a Buff Unit in a bigger Tau Detachment, since he can jump around between your various Units depending on who needs his boosts more that Turn.

[Moontyranid]

HQ
Commander Farsight - 165 pts

Elites
3 XV8 Crisis Battlesuits -
Shas'vre: Fusion Blaster x2,
Shas'ui: Fusion Blaster x2, Shield Drone
Shas'ui: Fusion Blaster x2, Shield Drone

Troops
8 Fire Warriors: Bonding Knife Ritual, Shas'ui -
8 Fire Warriors: Bonding Knife Ritual, Shas'ui -
8 Fire Warriors: Bonding Knife Ritual, Shas'ui -

Fast Attack
7 Pathfinders: Bonding Knife Ritual, Shas'ui w/ Blacksun Filter -
7 Pathfinders: Bonding Knife Ritual, Shas'ui w/ Blacksun Filter -

Heavy Support
XV88 Broadside: High-yield Missile Pod, 2 Missile Drones -
XV88 Broadside: High-yield Missile Pod, 2 Missile Drones -

this is around 1000 points