New T'au player - Potential shopping list for ~2.000p

[Cilu]

Okay so after my last topic in regards to the "Battleforce Box" I've been browsing some different forums, looking online at the Xenos Codex and watch some battlereports on tabletoptactics to get a feel for them and to come up with a list that I'd like to try and play, so the list and shopping list would like as followed:

 

2x  XV109 Y'Vahra Battlesuits - Good against vehicles and crowd control - They come in at around 430p a piece

9x XV8 Crisis Suits

30x Fire Warriors - cheap firepower and capture objectives

12-20x drones? - For shields and marker lights

1x Cadre Fireblade - Extra markerlight at a 3

1x Etheral

 

The exact amount of points I am unsure of since I do not own the Codex for Xenos and since the Codex for T'au hasn't come yet.

 

So a potential shopping list would look as follows:

 

2x  XV109 Y'Vahra Battlesuits from FW

3x Start Collecting T'au boxes

1x Cadre Fireblade

1x Ethereal?

 

In regards to the Ethereal I am not sure if I can use the one that comes in the Start Collecting boxes since it's mounted on a hover drone and I do not know if that costs extra points or what the benefits of that is.

 

As to the shopping list my thoughts are that the Start Collecting boxes are the cheapest bang for the buck that I can get. The FW models cost what they do so there is no cheap way to get to those models.

 

I'd highly appreciate thoughts, comments, tips and tricks in regards to this list and I am completely open to suggestions.

 

Thanks already for the help!

[The_Chaplain]

If you're planning on buying 3 start collecting boxes, you'll have 3 ethereals on hover drones.  Just don't mount one on the drone rather than buying a separate ethereal model.

 

30 fire warriors and a cadre fireblade is a solid fire base for your army, though they are not as mobile as breachers in a devilfish for capturing objectives.  

 

You might want to consider some pathfinders in the backlines alongside your fire warriors for more reliable markerlight support.  Drones are hitting on 5+ unless near a drone controller and more shots from a pathfinder unit hitting on 4+ means you will consistently get more markers off on a target you need to eliminate in a given turn. 

 

I'm not a fan of the shield drone personally-- relying on a feel no pain mechanic to save it from savior protocol mortal wounds is not going to net you amazing results.  I think running marker drones and gun drones is a better bet because then you can potentially get some marker hits in, as well as lending to the shooting and overwatch of your army with the gun drones.  (Pretty sure gun drones benefit from proximity to cadre fireblades as well- so think of all the potential pulse shots coming out of your drones in that scenario.)

 

Y'vahras are good, but they have an extremely limited range.  Their ability to leave the table and redeploy via escape thrust is potentially very useful.  Unfortunately they can't use stealth suit homing beacons to reenter the table so if they use that option they will be outside of flamer range.  If you were to have them bodyguard for your commander in a battlesuit, the Y'vahras would benefit from a Mont'ka to advance and fire as if they hadn't moved, which would be a terrifying experience for an opponent.  Also, both weapons on the Y'vahra are heavy so target locks on them are a must!

[Cilu]

I like the Fire Warriors for their ability to lay down some nice fire.

 

Hmm okay I can see your point in regards to the Pathfinders so what I figure is that the cheapest way to get them is to just buy a box of them extra and still keep the 3 Start Collecting boxes due to the prices of a single set of Crisis Suits.

That way I'd be able to change out 10 of the Fire Warriors with 10 Pathfinders.

 

Doesn't the Etheral count as a drone controller?

 

Which commander in a battlesuit would you recommend for this setup?

In regards to the Y'vahras I have no illusion about not running Target Lock. I don't think they would be viable without it. 

[The_Chaplain]

I like the Fire Warriors for their ability to lay down some nice fire.

 

Hmm okay I can see your point in regards to the Pathfinders so what I figure is that the cheapest way to get them is to just buy a box of them extra and still keep the 3 Start Collecting boxes due to the prices of a single set of Crisis Suits.

That way I'd be able to change out 10 of the Fire Warriors with 10 Pathfinders.

 

Doesn't the Etheral count as a drone controller?

 

Which commander in a battlesuit would you recommend for this setup?

In regards to the Y'vahras I have no illusion about not running Target Lock. I don't think they would be viable without it. 

Nothing in the ethereal's data sheet says anything about a drone controller- he does gain fly if hes on a drone though.

 

As for what commander to take- the regular commander in an enforcer suit is always good because of the BS2 and multiple weapons, but another alternative you might not have considered is the commander in an XV84 suit (from forgeworl's index xenos).  While it doesnt have the sheer weight of fire that a regular commander has, it has a networked markerlight integrated into the suit.  So, if you are able to get a hit with his weapon (rather easy to do considering his ballistic skill), you can start a chain of markerlights to take out a crucial target.

[Beerson]

Just a few tips to save on T'au army

 

You can use regular xv8 suits as commanders if you make them stand out (larger base, different paint scheme, "nicer" bits from xv8 sprue-the bodyguard chestpoiece especially makes the suit stand out and the small head helps as well), if you want coldstar tho, you need commander box

 

You can easily convert etheral to fireblade with pieces from fire warrior sprue, I did the same and It looks pretty nice

 

you will get 5 gun drones + 3 other drones from start collecting box which makes amazing gunline with fireblade (3-5 gun drones + shield drone in squad), way better then fire warriors at least till codex comes out

 

also pathfinders or gun drones ale almost allways better choice then strike teams, especially as gun drones can benefit from shield drones in their squads and get double the bonus shots from fireblade, pathfinders get acess to sniper rifles and specialised drones

 

 

y'vahras are amazing, but I wouldn't buy two as we don't know what the codex will bring and we might as well see them nerfed

 

also you should take a look at stealt suits, they ain't too strong by themselves, but the offer great utility for gun drones and especially commanders, allowing you to drop the Quad fusion commander (our best unit atm) to drop right in melta range from their target

 

if you buy 3 start collecting boxes I would convert 2 fireblades from etherals to get reliable markerlighs(easy +1BS with new stratagem)

 

in regards to drone controler, the only way to get it is a suit, imo the best and also most commonly used one is DC on stealt suit, other viable options would be coldstar which would move across the table and buff whatever squad needs it (also doesnt give up weapon for it) or "drone buddy" 3missile pod commander with DC

Edited December 13, 2017 by Beerson

[Panzer]

also pathfinders or gun drones ale almost allways better choice then strike teams, especially as gun drones can benefit from shield drones in their squads and get double the bonus shots from fireblade, pathfinders get acess to sniper rifles and specialised drones

 

Small correction, Pathfinder don't get sniper rifles. They get special rifles with rather long ranger and good punch or with less punch but extremely cheap, but those don't have the Sniper rule.

[Cilu]

You guys most definitively gave a good amount to think about. After having seen the box sets that have come out with the Space Marine chapters I think I'll wait for the T'au codex to drop and see what kind of bundles they will offer with it. But the list with the adaptions from you guys looks like a solid setup.