Showing posts with label Tau. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tau. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Firewarrior spam test drive

Sup guys, been an age since I posted, sorry about that but with the holidays now in full swing and me getting a new job/position and work which includes a ton of traveling, life has been hectic.  I want to talk about my experience with using the Tau list that I posted about.   Basically the list revolves around spamming strength 5 guns everywhere from running 4 full squads of firewarriors to 2 squads of stealth suits.  For heavy support, 2 squads of broadsides.   I also included 2 remora stealth drones and with their updated rules are really good for their price point.  These added in more strength 5 guns to the list as will as 2 additional marker lights.  A couple of weeks back I was finally able to take the list out for a test run in a couple of games and really liked how the list performed.  My first game was in a 2000 point league against an eldar with necron allies (yup you heard that right) list that included a wraithknight,  2 mini jetseer squads, 2 night scythes,  necron overlord in a douche canoe, and I want to say a couple of Annie barges.  My opponent definitely had an edge on me however through useful application of fire warrior firepower I was able to kill off all of his units threatening my side of the board and using my lone commander battlesuit and riptide to contest the objectives that he didn't have obsec units on.  Needless to say I lost 3 of my 4 firewarrior units but that last one was able to claim an objective on my opponents side due to laying low behind some line of sight blocking terrain and running them the last 2 turns to claim the objective.  I ended up winning the game but it was definitely close with that last firewarrior squad netting me the win with a lucky run roll.  It was a close game but it did show me that my list at least had some legs to stand on.  My second game was during my clubs game day.  I played against a great opponent who was running iron hands space marines with bikes,  centurion dev squad, chapter master of doom on a bike, and a couple of dreads.  First priority in this game was to get rid of the fast movers.  He brilliantly placed the chapter master in front to tank wounds however unless a model has 6 to 8 wounds, I don't care if you have a 2 up save, if I make you take 60 armor saves, you are going to lose the model.  That is exactly what happened as I had 3 full units of fire warriors using the storm of iron power from the ethereal to obliterate both the chapter master and the bike squad.  I then went after his mobile scoring units leaving just the centurions and a devastator squad left which I shot at all game but he kept making his pesky armor and cover saves.   We got to turn 5 before we called it by the score of 10 to 3 in favor of the Tau.   Well the army does have legs to stand on but I can definitely see some of the weak spots.  Blast template heavy armies will absolutely destroy the linchpin which is the ethereal so I might want to add another one to at least make it a little bit harder for my opponents.   I will need to play the list more to see if it's something I will stick with.  As I am a gamer with ADD, in my pics you will see my first squad of crisis suits for my far sight enclave army.   I wanted to have a low model count army that I could take with me during my business trips that is easy to carry with me on planes.  Currently I have about 1000 points which travels wonderful in a small malifaux bag I had sitting around.  The army includes 6 crisis suits, a commander, a riptide, 3 broadsides, and marker drones.  The army has been fun to use even though I have lost more games with it then won.  I hope to finish it in time for next trip and might had several more units to bring it up to 1500 pts.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Concept Tau list - Fire warrior Spam

As my luck would have it, I found myself listening to the latest Independent Characters podcast show of force show talking about everybody's favorite blue aliens, the Tau.   The show was great as the guys dove into the background, sample lists, and themes of the army.   After listening to the show, I was inspired to pick up my Tau once again and have a go at finally completing the paint job that I started over 2 years ago.  My Tau army was my 3rd army that I started.  Back in 4th edition, I had completed about 1500 points worth of models but have since recently bought many of the new models and some more crisis suits as I wanted to build a far sight enclave army.  Listening to the show gave me some ideas that with little effort I would be able to run a list that is different than what you typically see out there.  The list would put a focus on spamming strength 5 shooting, namely firewarriors,  4 maxed out squads complete with EMP grenades to deal with any vehicles, 2 6 man stealth suit squads all with burst cannons, etc.  Rounding out these 6 squads would be 3 missile sides, skyway,  marker drone squadron, and since I own them, 2 Remora stealth drones.  The complete list is below.

+++ New Tau Firewarrior spam list (1849pts) +++

Selections:

Tau Empire: Codex (2013) v19 (Primary Detachment) Selections:

+ HQ + (225pts)

    * Commander (170pts)
        (Independent Character, Supporting Fire, Very Bulky)
        Crisis battlesuit, Drone controller, 2x Missile pod, Neuroweb System Jammer, Onager Gauntlet, Stimulant injector, XV8-02 Crisis 'Iridium' Battlesuit

    * Ethereal (55pts)
        (Failure is Not An Option, Independent Character, Invocation of the Elements, Stubborn)
        Blacksun filter

+ Elites + (396pts)

    * Stealth Team (198pts)
        (Infiltrate, Supporting Fire)
        * Stealth Shas'ui
            Advanced targeting system, Burst cannon, Stealth battlesuit (Shrouded, Stealth)
        * Stealth Shas'ui
            Advanced targeting system, Burst cannon, Stealth battlesuit (Shrouded, Stealth)
        * Stealth Shas'ui
            Advanced targeting system, Burst cannon, Stealth battlesuit (Shrouded, Stealth)
        * Stealth Shas'ui
            Advanced targeting system, Burst cannon, Stealth battlesuit (Shrouded, Stealth)
        * Stealth Shas'ui
            Advanced targeting system, Burst cannon, Stealth battlesuit (Shrouded, Stealth)
        * Stealth Shas'ui
            Advanced targeting system, Burst cannon, Stealth battlesuit (Shrouded, Stealth)

    * Stealth Team (198pts)
        (Infiltrate, Supporting Fire)
        * Stealth Shas'ui
            Advanced targeting system, Burst cannon, Stealth battlesuit (Shrouded, Stealth)
        * Stealth Shas'ui
            Advanced targeting system, Burst cannon, Stealth battlesuit (Shrouded, Stealth)
        * Stealth Shas'ui
            Advanced targeting system, Burst cannon, Stealth battlesuit (Shrouded, Stealth)
        * Stealth Shas'ui
            Advanced targeting system, Burst cannon, Stealth battlesuit (Shrouded, Stealth)
        * Stealth Shas'ui
            Advanced targeting system, Burst cannon, Stealth battlesuit (Shrouded, Stealth)
        * Stealth Shas'ui
            Advanced targeting system, Burst cannon, Stealth battlesuit (Shrouded, Stealth)

+ Troops + (528pts)

    * Fire Warrior Team (132pts)
        (Supporting Fire)
        EMP grenades, 12x Fire Warrior Shas'la with pulse rifle, Photon grenades

    * Fire Warrior Team (132pts)
        (Supporting Fire)
        EMP grenades, 12x Fire Warrior Shas'la with pulse rifle, Photon grenades

    * Fire Warrior Team (132pts)
        (Supporting Fire)
        EMP grenades, 12x Fire Warrior Shas'la with pulse rifle, Photon grenades

    * Fire Warrior Team (132pts)
        (Supporting Fire)
        EMP grenades, 12x Fire Warrior Shas'la with pulse rifle, Photon grenades

+ Fast Attack + (264pts)

    * Drone Squadron (84pts)
        (Supporting Fire)
        * 6x Marker Drone
            6x Markerlight

    * DX-6 'Remora' Drone Fighter Squadron [FW] (90pts)
        * DX-6 'Remora'
            (Deep Strike, Shrouded)
            Blacksun filter (Night Vision), Networked markerlight, 2x Seeker Missile, Twin-linked long-barelled burst cannon

    * DX-6 'Remora' Drone Fighter Squadron [FW] (90pts)
        * DX-6 'Remora'
            (Deep Strike, Shrouded)
            Blacksun filter (Night Vision), Networked markerlight, 2x Seeker Missile, Twin-linked long-barelled burst cannon

+ Heavy Support + (436pts)

    * Sky Ray Missile Defense Gunship (130pts)
        Disruption pod, 2x Networked markerlight, 6x Seeker missile, Twin-linked smart missile system, Velocity tracker

    * XV88 Broadside Team (204pts)
        (Extremely Bulky, Supporting Fire)
        * Broadside Shas'ui
            Broadside battlesuit, Early warning override, Seeker missile, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system
        * Broadside Shas'ui
            Broadside battlesuit, Early warning override, Seeker missile, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system
        * 4x Missile Drone
            4x Missile pod

    * XV88 Broadside Team (102pts)
        (Extremely Bulky, Supporting Fire)
        * Broadside Shas'ui
            Broadside battlesuit, Early warning override, Seeker missile, Twin-linked high-yield missile pod, Twin-linked smart missile system
        * 2x Missile Drone
            2x Missile pod

Yup, no crisis suits other than the commander and no riptides.   It's a purely built list to maximize strength 5 shooting.  Pics are of my almost completed Riptide.  And yes, wont be using it with this list... lol.  Let me know what you guys think.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Side army plans - or what armies to play in a meta full of Chaos

<p>Just like the title states, i'm in the process of finishing a couple of armies to play as the group of players I play with are in the majority playing chaos armies.&#160; And why not, both chaos codexes are great and allow players to play competitive and fun lists.&nbsp; The problem Im having is that I hate playing mirror matches all the time so its time to pull out another army or 2 to get some diversity in our group.  The 2 armies in question are below -

Army 1 = Grey Knights
The original army of cheese, these guys definitely took a hit in 6th edition.  They are still a great army though especially in the shooting department.  During the course of my 40K career, i actually acquired  around 27 grey knight models, 20 of the metal kaskarkin models, and an inquistor set with retinue.  I am planning on playing these guys allied with some sisters to build a fluffy inquistion force My plan also involved using one of my storm ravens for airil support.  The army list is as follows -

+++ Grey Knights/Sisters of Battle Inquisition List (1749pts) +++
+++ 1750pt Grey Knights 5th Edition, Sisters of Battle (White Dwarf) Roster (Primary Detachment, Allied Detachment)) +++

Selections:

Grey Knights 5th Edition (Primary Detachment) Selections:

+ HQ + (100pts)

    * Inquisitor (100pts)
        * Inquisitor Coteaz (100pts)
            (I've Been Expecting You, Independent Character, Psyker (Mastery Level 2), Spy Network, Stubborn)
            Bolt Pistol, Dark Excommunication, Frag, Krak and Psyk-out Grenades, Hammerhand, Master Crafted Nemesis Force Daemonhammer, Psyber Eagle, Sanctuary

+ Elites + (480pts)

    * Paladins (480pts)
        (And They Shall Know No Fear, Brotherhood of Psykers, Combat Squads, Preferred Enemy (Daemons), The Aegis)
        2x Nemesis Daemonhammer, 5x Nemesis Force Halberd, Nemesis Force Sword, 8x Paladins (440pts), 2x Psycannon (40pts), 6x Storm Bolter

+ Troops + (354pts)

    * Formosan Inquisitorial Henchmen Warband (109pts)
        * Acolyte (11pts)
            Carapace Armour (4pts), Chainsword, Storm Bolter (3pts)
        * Acolyte (11pts)
            Carapace Armour (4pts), Chainsword, Storm Bolter (3pts)
        * Acolyte (11pts)
            Carapace Armour (4pts), Chainsword, Storm Bolter (3pts)
        * Acolyte (11pts)
            Carapace Armour (4pts), Chainsword, Storm Bolter (3pts)
        * Acolyte (11pts)
            Carapace Armour (4pts), Chainsword, Storm Bolter (3pts)
        * Acolyte with Special Weapon (18pts)
            Carapace Armour (4pts), Chainsword, Plasmagun (10pts)
        * Acolyte with Special Weapon (18pts)
            Carapace Armour (4pts), Chainsword, Plasmagun (10pts)
        * Acolyte with Special Weapon (18pts)
            Carapace Armour (4pts), Chainsword, Plasmagun (10pts)

    * Grey Knight Strike Squad (245pts)
        (And They Shall Know No Fear, Brotherhood of Psykers, Combat Squads, Deep Strike, Preferred Enemy (Daemons), The Aegis)
        Hammerhand, 2x Psycannon (60pts), 3x Storm Bolter and Nemesis Force Halberd (75pts), 4x Storm Bolter and Nemesis Force Sword (80pts), Warp Quake
        * Justicar (30pts)
            Nemesis Force Daemonhammer (10pts), Storm Bolter

+ Fast Attack + (255pts)

    * Stormraven Gunship (255pts)
        (Assault Vehicle, Deep Strike, Power of the Machine Spirit, Psychic Pilot, Shadow Skies, The Aegis)
        Fortitude, Hurricane Bolters (30pts), Psybolt Ammunition (20pts), Twin Linked Assault Cannons, Twin Linked Multi Meltas

Sisters of Battle (White Dwarf) (Allied Detachment) Selections:

+ HQ + (115pts)

    * Canoness (115pts)
        Inferno Pistol (15pts), Power Sword (10pts), Rosarius (25pts)

+ Troops + (310pts)

    * Battle Sister Squad (175pts)
        9x Battle Sister (108pts), Flamer (5pts), Flamer (5pts)
        * Rhino (40pts)
            Dozer Blade (5pts)
        * Sister Superior (17pts)
            Bolt Pistol, Chainsword

    * Battle Sister Squad (135pts)
        9x Battle Sister (108pts), Flamer (5pts), Flamer (5pts)
        * Sister Superior (17pts)
            Bolt Pistol, Chainsword

+ Fast Attack + (135pts)

    * Dominion Squad (135pts)
        4x Dominion (52pts), 2x Meltagun (20pts), Rhino (35pts)
        * Dominion Superior (28pts)
            Chainsword, Combi-melta (10pts)

Army # 2 - Tau
Ok so these guys just came out with a new a book.  The Tau army was actually my 3rd army that I got into.  I have around 2000 points built and painted but after seeing what new toys they have, I feel like I need to drop some money to bring them up to snuff.  Shadowsun along with a irdim armored commander seem like the way I will be going though I am really excited with the support commander option.  Tooling up a commander with both sensor suites and having him join units and allow the unit to reroll their shots or ignore cover would be just awesome.  Coupling said commander with say a cadre fireblade in a full unitof firewarriors would really make all those strentgh 5 pulse rifles shots super scary.  Of course there is also Farsight whose warlord trait that makes him and his unit not scatter when deepstriking opens up a lot more possibilities as well.  Take a big bodyguard unit armed with fusion blasters and plasma rifles and say bye bye to any armor units on the field.  Throw in a bodyguard with both sensor suite upgrades and you have a really scary unit that ignores cover and re rolls their hits.  And that is just the start of it, the many options that this new book brings is just mindboggling.  In terms of lists, I will put some up during my next posts.  pics are of half painted commander.  Expect more pics of this army up soon..

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

6th edition and Tau.

Whats up everybody? I played several more games in the last couple of weeks to get more of a feel of this edition. I have to say, so far i am loving it, the changes for the most part are all good. In my latest game I used my Tau in a 1500 point game against a Grey Knight Draigo wing. We decided to play an objective game as it would have been an auto win for him if we did kill points. We rolled 3 objectives and decided against the mysterious objectives or terrain just to keep the game going. I rolled inspiring leadership for my warlord trait and my opponent got the scoring warlord trait which meant that Dragio himself was now scoring. Firewarriors not to mention crisis suits have greatly benefited from 6th edition as I could now keep on the move and out range my opponents army. Dragio wing in 6th edition is still devastating especially with the divination school but I must admit what really makes it extremely annoying is the fact that all paladins are considered characters. Unless your packing strength 8 or higher and in abundance, big paladin squads with an Apothocary are just gross when it comes to absorbing small arms fire. For 3 straight turns I shot my entire 1500 pts of Tau into my opponents 10 man squad and I was lucky to get a wound through. Look out sirs, combined with a 2 up save, combined with Feel no pain means a lot of rolls before a wound gets put on a model. My friend rolled unbelievable amounts of 5 up feel no pain which pretty much negatived all of my AP2 plasma shots. With only 3 rail guns (3 separate squads), he would put the one wound I caused on Draigo who due to him being eternal warrior, still gets his feel no pain. The Tau are definitely more mobile now, finally playing more like their fluff and against slower opponents can run circles around them. They aren't Eldar but a heck of lot faster then they were in both 4th and 5th. Wound allocations on squads made up of characters is one of the only downsides I see with 6th so far. The fact that you cant maneuver your squads to avoid the tank as your opponent could call a look out sir from any character means you will be spending most of your game just trying to kill the unit off.
I will continue to use the Tau and will be adding more broadsides and ditching the hammerhead just to get more railguns on the field. Im tempted to try out stealthsuits as well as they have become the eldar pathfinders of the Tau army. With a little terrain and the new changes to Stealth field generators, these guys will be hard to dislodge, I just wish the range of the burst cannons was longer...