The TAU Questions (Sebab Aku Tak 'Tau')

To the usual Tau Commander suspects, feel free pls comment.

Battlesuits Armoury

Q1. If a Commander takes 2 of the same weapons system by paying their original pt cost (not the discounted pt cost), then the weapons are not twin-linked weapons right?

Example: 2 Missile Pods (24pts) - thus he can make 4 S7 shots, but not 2 T/L S7 shots


Q2. Can the Commander benefits from his own Marker Drones' markerlight effects?

A1. Whenever a weapon system is taken twice, it is counted as twin-linked. Refer to the Twin Linked Battlesuit Weapon Systems right under the Battlesuit Armoury.

A2. Marker Drones have "Networked Markerlights", so yes, their owner and/or his unit can benefit from the markerlights.

Well, I was looking at Shadowsun's weapons - 2 Fushion Blasters that she can use to shoot at 2 different targets & not as a single t/l weapons. So I thought the same can be applied to the other Crisis Battlesuits.

Q3: So, with the new FAQ, between a Rail-Head & a Broadside sqd, which is better? Aesthetically, the Rail-Head looks better. Broadsides are damn ugly, unless we get the FW versions. But gaming wise? Survivability?

shadow sun is different tho... its same like cypher with his bolt pistol and plasma pistol

CikguDin wrote:

Q3: So, with the new FAQ, between a Rail-Head & a Broadside sqd, which is better? Aesthetically, the Rail-Head looks better. Broadsides are damn ugly, unless we get the FW versions. But gaming wise? Survivability?

Broadside are always better choice than hammerheads. Their twinlinked railgun have better odds of hitting something than hammerhead.

I suggest going to http://www.paulsongames.com/mecha_parts___54mm.html for altenative broadside parts.

Shadowsun's specifically says two fusion blasters, not twin-linked fusion blaster. Coupled with her advance target lock which is the only wargear that lets you shoot two weapons at two different targets.

Broadsides are better at anti-tank; Hammerheads are good at anti-tank and anti-infantry but people usually look at the anti-infantry capability in hammerheads.

Tau BS is only low if you never want to utilise markerlights or targetting array.

The deciding factor is whether you want mobility. With disruption pods giving Shrouded, hammerheads are equally survivable with 3+ cover save on the move, except when meltaguns are in your face. With multi trackers, you can move 12" and still shoot the big gun where else broadsides need Slow And Purposeful.

Never consider getting into close combat or be caught in one, Tau should keep away from assaulting units and die ASAP if they get assaulted.

With the current meta, there's rarely alot of vehicles on the table to deal with now, but 2+ armour infantries with fancy special rules. So plasma rifles all the way.

However, there's always the problem of flyers. If you're not taking 6-9 broadsides in your army, don't hope for twin-linked railguns hitting at 6 to go through. Better to take fortification or flyers from allies.

PS: I just realised it's Din asking Tau questions. *GASP*

Hehehe..even I need to learn a few new tricks up my runic armour sleeves. I'm not too keen into Broadsides mainly due to several factors:

1. They are too expensive to collect
2. The models are ugly unless the ones from FW, which cost even worse
3. I'll only use Tau as my Secondary Detachment army, so there won't be enough pts to be spent on them
4. Gaming wise, the Broadside Team is a very static unit. I'd prefer the much faster & mobile Hammerhead.
4. Hammerhead looks very sleek & cool. PLUS, they fit my mech-Eldar army theme quite nicely rather than the Broadsides.

With the way how you can get GW broadsides, their price are not so far from the FW ones.

If you're saying they are ugly, crisis suits aren't that different from them. That said, we Tau players will always modify them to some extent, though I don't think it's worth the effort if you really have no use for it.

Well, just keep in mind you will always have to put 1 Crisis Suit Commander and 1 Firewarrior Team. It's just my opinion though, why not just ally with DE? Since it's much more competitive than Tau.

Tau.. it's been years since I last fought Tau.. the Glory days of Markerlight Boy! Looking forward to fight them!!

Why Tau & not DE? Its not because I don't want DE detachment, but mainly because at the moment Tau has sths that work well with Eldar...

...such the humble Blacksun Filter, potential 2+/4++ shield drone as meat shield for my Firedragons, Markerlights to remove enemy cover svs, & long range S10 AP1 shots..etc..etc.. !

Simple example: A Tau commander, if properly kitted & joins my Firedragons manning the Bastion with Quad-Guns will benefit the whole unit & thus will not suffer from Night Fighting, especially if Night Fighting happens in late game turns. He can also contribute 2 x T/L S7 AP4 shots at 48" range (not sure if he can benefit from the Tank Hunter skills though). At 76pts, its a steal .


I find that a Hammerhead fully kitted to my specs will cost around 165pts. A 2-men Broadside Team upgraded with Multi-Trackers & a Team Leader with HW-Blacksun Filter & HW-Target-Lock is around 163pts.

Both have their pro's & cons. The Hammerhead being fast & more versatile but with fewer Railgun shot. The Broadside Team is very slow/static but with good armour-sv & more Railgun shots. Its all depends on your preference & how they'll complement your army really.

I'm eager to see how your synergy with Tau is like. I can't really comment much without looking at your whole army list though.

Regardless, I would like to point out a few errors you're having in your ideas.

1. Under Forces of the Eldar (p21), Exarch powers benefit aspect warriors and autarchs only.

2. Markerlights only benefit units that are actually "Tau".

3. Missile pods are 36".

The nightfighting for the quad gun IMHO.. is not necessary, you have 2-3 turns to destroy flyers before the chance of night fight even happens and if it happens on the first turn, there won't be after the following turns.
Also I would prefer the lascannon after seeing it fail so many times to destroy Dann's stormravens.

Aisey, markerlights are only for Tau, while missile pods are 36" only. And yes, I've suspected as much regarding the Exarch powers.

Still, its ok since BS-Filter is still usable, & the Commander + Shield Drones can still become the shield for my Firedragons.

Q4). If an Eldar IC joins a Broadside Team & he is within 12" of the Avatar's Fearless bubble (thus making the Eldar IC Fearless), does that make the whole unit Fearless as well?

CikguDin wrote:

Q4). If an Eldar IC joins a Broadside Team & he is within 12" of the Avatar's Fearless bubble (thus making the Eldar IC Fearless), does that make the whole unit Fearless as well?

I think that's correct. But do you really wanna buy an Avatar and an Autrach/Farseer just for Fearless Broadsides?

Nope. I want Avatar not only because of that. I want my Firedragons in the bastion manning the Quad-Guns to be Fearless as well !!

From my exp playing Eldar in 6th Ed, they lack back-up close combat specialist if & when an enemy close combat unit breach their line. Although Eldrad can hold his own against any enemy unit, his offense capability is minimal at best.

An Avatar can fill-in that role quite well. His stats is that of a greater daemon, so he should do just fine. At 155pts, he's quite cheap for what he does.

I just noticed, why not an aegis defence line? Last time I shot one with my railgun, I got the highest result on the damage table, wasn't pretty. At least people can't target an aegis defence line to effectively remove any threat from it.

I wouldn't really recommend you using the commander as a meatshield..

However, I think your experience on the table far exceeds mine since you are like the veteran among veterans. If you can I like to see some play testing.

Q5). If a model has several weapons and an ability to fire more than one weapon in the shooting phase, could he fire the Quad-gun and another weapon? Quad-gun rules "instead of firing a weapon.." refers to a single weapon.

So, in his own shooting phase, could a Tau Broadside suit team leader with multi-tracker and target lock fire the Quad-gun at one target and his Railun at another target?

Sorry mite.. Rules clearly stated..

One model in base contact with the gun emplacement can fire it instead of his own weapon,following the normal rules for shooting Pg 105.

Meaning your Broadside have to give up his railgun or sms in order to man the AA turret.

Edit: Note also in Tau Dex for multitracker entry

It enable the model to fire two battle suit weapon system in the same turn.

In short no.. both weapons must come from battlesuit it self..

Lol.. Attempted cheese fail..

cheese god indeed. lol

Beside target lock is for the model to shoot a different target from the rest of the squad. Not for 1 battlesuit to shoot multiple target . This is 40K not Gundam..

Hahaha..just asking, would be great if such a thing is allowed.


off topic: my broadband modem is going crazy, can't link/read broadband signals. What should i do?

[quote]Sorry mite.. Rules clearly stated..

One model in base contact with the gun emplacement can fire it instead of his own weapon,following the normal rules for shooting Pg 105.

Meaning your Broadside have to give up his railgun or sms in order to man the AA turret.[quote]


Actually Redeye, what you said here will support my argument because that entry clearly refers to a singular weapon that the model has. If the model has two weapons & he can use/fire both in the same turn, this wouldn't be a problem.

Quote :

Edit: Note also in Tau Dex for multitracker entry

It enable the model to fire two battle suit weapon system in the same turn.

In short no.. both weapons must come from battlesuit it self..

Here is where you are mistaken Redeye. What you have quoted in an out-dated data. That entry in the Tau Codex has an errata in the 6th Ed Tau FAQ which states:

Page 26 Multi-tracker: "Change the last sentence to: “It enables the model to fire two weapons in the same turn."

This means that Tau Battle-suit models of any kind taking the multitracker is no longer limited to only firing their own Tau Battlesuit Weapon Systems.

Remember, the model firing the gun emplacement still retains all special rules that he has (BRB pg 96 under Manual Fire).

Thus, my arguments has valid supporting details. Its cheezy, but hey, it is plausible.

After re-reading.. and checking around forums..

Here a thread that related to the query above.
http://www.wargamerau.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t141509.html

Holy crap.. its actually legit. However cannot split AA fire and its own railgun tho..

C-mon guys..say it! I can't hear you! MMUAHAHAHAHAGH !!!!!