1k Tau Army List

[nutty]

Next Thursday I'm playing either Guard/Scions or Orks with my Farsight Enclaves and decided to build a list around the vehicles of the Tau Empire.

This is hardly meant to be a super-competitive army, but I figured I'd post it up here to... To show not all Tau armies have to be about spamming Riptides and Broadsides, I guess. The idea is to bring an army that is fun to play with/against, and I think I achieved that.


--HQ--

Cadre Fireblade (60)


--Troops--


Strike Team (210)
- 11 Fire Warriors w/ Pulse Rifles
- Bonding Knife Ritual
- Devilfish w/ Smart Missiles and Point Defense Targeting System.


Strike Team (230)
- 12 Fire Warriors w/ Shas'ui & Pulse Rifles
- Bonding Knife Ritual
- Devilfish w/ Smart Missiles and Point Defense Targeting System


--Fast Attack--

Tetra Scout Speeder Team (70) (FW)
- 2 Tetras

Tetra Scout Speeder Team (70) (FW)
- 2 Tetras

Piranhas (100)
- 2 Piranha w/ Fusion Blaster


--Heavy Support--

Hammerhead Gunship (130)
- 2 twin-linked Missile pods & velocity Tracker (FW)
- Smart Missile System
- Sensor Spines

Hammerhead Gunship (130)
- Ion Cannon
- Smart Missiles System
- Sensor Spines


--total-- 1000 points



Because I'm not using any suits at all, I could simply play them as regular Tau and save 23 points on Bonding Knives. But that just feels like a cheap move to me.

For those that are not familiar with the Tetras; they are fast av10 speeders with markerlights and the scout USR.

The Firewarriors and their transports will hopefully secure an objective or two, but are mainly there to hurl 30+ str5 shots at stuff. Mainly Ork bikers, but mobility, str5 and the high volume of fire means they can put the hurt on a lot of things. The 'point defense relay' allows vehicles to fire overwatch and use the supporting fire special rule.

The FW Hammerhead could just as easily be replaced by a Skyray, but it's a new addition to my army and I haven't used it yet.

Anyway.. what do you think: A fun list to play against? Or did I create an army that doesn't stand a chance?

[emptyhat]

Orks will typically struggle against vehicles at range, though they can spam hits on light vehicles AV10-12 if they have the units for it. Guard are typically quite good at shooting and can drop scions on you to bring the pain to Tau in close quarters. I think as long as your opponent hasn't heavily beefed up their list or tailored it against you then you'll have a decent match. If you are playing Maelstrom then you have a great bit of mobility for it. I haven't played against Tau or read the most up to date dex for them but I super approve of your philosophy of not trying to ruin the other player's day and going to the table hoping you'll both have fun.

[cheminhaler]

So for the 1st Hammerhead you replaced the rail cannon with a forge world weapon system?
Is the normal rail cannon a better AT option or does the FW missile weapon have AP2 or any nice special rules?

[nutty]

Thanks Empty; I rarely play otherwise to be honest. Unless someone brings something like a knight without telling me in advance, then I get the nasty out.

Cheminhaler: The forgeworld missile turret consists of a pair of twinlinked missilepods (essentially autocannons) with a velocity tracker that allows the tank to skyfire if I want it to. As far as firepower is concerned it is equal to a single broadside with HYMP, although you do get to: move and fire, jink, and be a floating tank. It is mainly there as Anti-Air, and not so much as anti-tank.

The railgun hammerheads rarely do anything for me, although I haven't really used them since 5th edition.. I usually go for fusion blaster on suits or, in this case, piranhas.