Tau

[Folken]

And Zzapper comes in for the kill!

Now Elysian, do you see waht I'm talking about now? To use Markerlights you have to create something of a static gun line. Sure you can move your FireWarriors but you can't move ANY of your MarkerLight squads of you intend them to be of any help. So really it boils down to, do I whant Markerlights or not?

[elysian]

Marklerlights are best used on pathfinders. NO RAIL RIFLES! Just sit back and paint em dead.

You could also use a Skyray for the 2 markerlights.

EDIT: sit em back with your broadsides if you want. Firewarriors should be zooming around in their fishys and, your suits hiding like pansys behing cover popping out to shoot a vollet of high str low ap or high volume of medium str shots.

[Folken]

I gess you could hide your Markerlight behind your Broadsides, but then all it would take is one assult and you have lost both units. FireWarriors in fishies...hehe I don't know why but that makes me laugh a little. And you can't really hide your suits behind cover all of the time, because it would make them less effictive as the main stopping powers of troops and ligh vehicles.

[zzapper]

72" Str 10 AP1...Good Bye

[Enigma]

folken, you talked (yelled is more like it) about how tau are (please do not swear) as hell in close combat. That's the point. You also talked about how kroot aren't very good in close combat. They aren't supposed to be. You keep them behind or in front of the warriors, then counter charge anyone who gets too close. They aren't to kill. They are to stall the attack. That way, firewarriors can get the hell away from those assault marines/gagoyles/bikers.

Now, for the bigger term. In the 40k universe, there are four basic types of armies. The shooty army, the choppy army, the speed army, and the elite army. Now, you can boil down the universe into 8 armies with this. Space Marines/Chaos, Necrons, IG, Tau, Orks, Nids, Eldar, Dark Eldar.

Now, each section has 2 of the above armies. 1 moderate, and one extreme. For example, the Space marines are the moderate elites, and the Necrons are the extreme elites. IG are moderate shooty, Tau are extreme shooty. Eldar are moderate speed, Dark Eldar are extreme speed. Nids are moderate choppy, Orks are extreme choppy.

Now, you may notice that tyranids are somewhat okay at range, as are IG in CC, SM with non-elites (scout army) and Eldar with Slowish armies. However, the Necrons will always be expensive, Orks will always be the worst shooters in the universe, Tau will always be the worst in Close Combat.

Simple as that

[Folken]

@ Zzaper
Congrats, your Str. 10 AP 1 shot just killed one gaunt. Next please.

hive Fleet Enigma

Wow....your post holds such relevance to the topic here....Regradless I admit that my hatred for Tau knows now bounds and that I have yelled and ranted on the topic but I have always, ALWAYS presented my argument first and given facts to back it up. Also, I do believe that your recent comment on me yelling holds any grounds as I have been civil in my discussing the Tau on this thread. Please revise your statement.

I couldn't give a rat's a$$ about "elite" armies that you have talked about. And, as I have stated before, know that the Tau's extreme lack of CC ability is meant to be their fatal flaw, and have accepted it.

But what really annoyed the living mess out of me was the extremity of it. The Tau are supposed to be just about as advanced, if not more, than the Imperium. Yet, they don't have power weapons, which on their own could really help the Tau out in CC, their HQ's are terrible, example a: Ethereal, and their meat Shields, the Kroot, die for too easily to effectively stall the enemy.

Also on that note, I adore the use of meatsheild tactics. To willing give your enemy VP's, IMO, is stupid. But I do understand the tactics behind it. Hell, without gaunts I don't know if Tyranids could have conquered as much as they have. Also, you mentioned that Kroot should be used as counter charging units.

I agree, that is just about their only popuse in life, but if that squad of bikers,hormies,whtever's are all ready in your front lines then whats the point? Sure, okay, you charge in and kill a couple, three or four even ( talking SM's here cause they kinda set the bar) but then what? You have just dedicated two units to certain death. The squad of FireWarriors that was initially charged is probably all but gone, and once the SM's/Orks/whtevers are done murdering them their going to turn their attention to the meal thats right in front of them. A nice large space chicken buffet. That WS 4 isn't going to help you when you are faced with power weapons and SM that get like 4 attacks in CC. Then the whole 3+ save thing going on.....

I could go on more, and I am tempted to, but I will restrain myself because I don't think it would be worth it. For all I know I could just be preaching to the choir here....Simple as that.

[CylonDorado]

Easy, just have a a couple static marker lights, and keep everything else mobile. I feel bad saying Tau suck, because my Tau playing friend doesn't want to play with me anymore since the last time I crushed him. Then I dissed Tau every time I was around him, to try and goad him into playing me, but it just made him think I was picking on him or something.

And I don't even think they do suck, he's done pretty good
against me with them before.

EDIT: Dang, didn't notice the 2nd page AGAIN. I'm the worst poster ever .

[Enigma]

Em, what I meant was charging them before they charged the fire warriors. That way, all warriors escape to reform a firing line.

As for markerlights, there's a reason they have scout. Deploy far up near some cover, then move them up with scout so that they are in a good position to light 'em up from turn 1. 36" is pretty good. Do a little math hammer to figure out what to reduce (unless they do it all at the same time, I don't know) and then fire away. BS4 is as good as marines except with stronger and longer ranged weapons. Against orks, reduce their numbers to stop them from being fearless (11 or more orks to a squad does that) and then reduce their leadership and pin 'em down. Combined with submunitions and missile strikes, those guys don't stand a chance. Tau require strategy and careful maneuvering.

[ginawa]

www.advancedtautactica.com/academy/MTT/Heavy.html

95% of what you need to know for mech tau.

[ginawa]

Tau have a large learning curve besides just spamming railguns that wont get you too far. Mech Tau requires alot of movement and range guessing practice something something a lot of people don't have the patience to master.

[Folken]

Hey...we all have gone on and on about how great the Hammerhead is..and well dammit it is. But has anyone ever had any luck with a Skyray? When I first saw it I was..."intreged" by it but after closer examination I think its just a short term point sink. Sure 8 Seeker missles are great but a good player could prob. burn threw those pretty fast. Thoughts?

[zzapper]

ginawa: Nice find

Folken: Don't forget I am Tau and I was aiming at your Hive Tyrant

I'm attempting to pilfer a codex off of one of my buddies, but it isn't going so well.

[myrmidon]

Congrats, your Str. 10 AP 1 shot just killed one gaunt. Next please.

Id slap any Tau player who didnt use a subs round on gaunts so hard they'd not be able to sit down till a month of sundays!

If you're unaware of the strength of the Tau army (outside the broken fish of fury that is) here is a generalised army list you might want to check out:

HQ: Suit commander + 2 bodyguards
HQ: Suit commander + 2 bodyguards
Elite: 5 man suit team
Elite: 5 man suit team
Elite: 5 man suit team
Troops: Firewarrior Squad (mounted in...)
Troops: Devilfish
Heavy: Hammerhead
Heavy: Hammerhead

Weapon wise, stick burst cannons if youre against a swarm, plasma cannons if youre on MEqs, and missile launchers if theres a bit of a mix. DO NOT DEEPSTRIKE as this slows you down immensely, its much faster to manouver into cover to commense JSJ tactics. Take twin-linked weaponry where possible to ensure your hits land, and as was mentioned previously do not take shield generators ever (shield drones if you're expecting to be hit, at a push).

A mate of mine plays something similar to the above, basically suit heavy. Most players will giggle at your lack of fish of fury or solid Firewarrior line. Most people who do this, by about turn 3, are incredibly frustrated about not being able to get clear shots at the suits and having very little effective cover from them. Tau arnt uber uber strong (read, tau that dont use fish of fury) but theyre by far and away the easiest army to make mobile. Doing so with practice can take out the Tau's glaring weakness.

Not to mention you get robot suits! Robot suits!

[Folken]

@ Zzaper

Congrats! You just put one wound on my Hive Tyrant. Who also has the chance of saving it. Oh well, I gess its time to charge you now....

myrmidon
I played Tau for one full year. I am VERY aware of thier strenghts and weakness's. Following my year of play with them they left me with a sick taste in my mouth, and now I go around telling people just how bad I think they are. They can take my advice and chose a differnt army, or better yet become a better Tau player then me and show me that they might have some merit( doubt it).

I have run both the suit heavy list, the Farsights list, the FW list, and the every damn thing in the codex list. Well minus the Skyray, never got my hands on that model...meh.

But no one answered my question, are Skyrays any good?

[Enigma]

folken. You forgot that the range on that thing is 72 inches. He can shoot you from pretty much anywhere as long as he has sight. Can you charge 72"? Didn't think so.

Skyrays are horrible, I'll give you that. Might as well get a bunch of hammerheads and give them missiles.

I played Tau for one full year. I am VERY aware of thier strenghts and weakness's. Following my year of play with them they left me with a sick taste in my mouth, and now I go around telling people just how bad I think they are. They can take my advice and chose a differnt army, or better yet become a better Tau player then me and show me that they might have some merit( doubt it).

People have already done that. Lot's of people. On this site too, I'm pretty sure.