[monocleman]

For those of you who don't know, a Swordwind drone is basically a Crisis suit in drone form (big, shooty gun drone... >). Check out the tutorial here: http://forums.tauonline.org/index.php?topic=68200.0.
After viewing this tutorial and/or knowing what I'm talking about already, you will most likely think something like "Wow. Talk about behind...this conversion was posted months ago". Cut me a break. I just joined the forums, and I was looking around and thought that Swordwinds deserve rules of their own. So without further ado, I present to you:

Swordwind Class Crisis Drone

[table]
[tr][td] Points WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv
[table][tr][td]Kor'Vesa'ui 28 3 2(3) 3(5) 4 2 4 1(3) 7 3+
Kor'Vesa'ui Command Drone +5 3 2(3) 3(5) 4 2 4 1(3) 7 3+[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

Team: A team consists of a Kor'vesa'ui Command Drone and 1-2 Kor'vesa'ui.

Equipment: Each Swordwind Drone has three hardpoints which must be filled with Battlesuit weapons or support systems. In addition, each drone has a targetting array (bonus included in profile), and a short-barreled burst cannon (see below).

Character: One drone must be upgraded to a Kor'vesa'ui Command Drone. The Command Drone has access to the battlesuit armory; however, the following items may not be taken: targetting array, drone controller, hardwired drone controller (for all of you who love loopholes ), all special issue wargear.

Jetpacks: Swordwind Drones are equipped with Tau jetpacks, and therefore may deepstrike if the mission allows it.

Special Rules

Command Drone: The command drone contains sophisticated hardware, allowing it to not only function without a Drone Controller, but to direct the actions of other drones as well. If the Command Drone is destroyed, any remaining Swordwind Drones have their leadership reduced to 4, and may not fire at separate targets, regardless of whether they have bought a target lock or not. However, if the drones are within 12" of a model with a drone controller, their leadership is returned to 7 and they may make use of target locks.

Short-Barreled Burst Cannon: The short barreled burst cannon is a variation of the standard burst cannon, designed specifically for use by Swordwind Drones. Its compact size allows it to be used in close combat to great effect, but also limits its use in ranged combat. The short barreled burst cannon gives the Swordwind strength 5 in close combat, along with +2 attacks (bonuses included in profile). It may not be used in the shooting phase.

Adaptive Programming: Swordwind Drones are programmed to be able to adapt to changing situations on the battlefield. It a unit of Swordwind Drones is reduced to one model, the remaining model counts as an independent character.







Comments, concerns, suggestions, etc...all welcome.[/td][/tr][/table]

[Pseudomancer]

Originally Posted by monocleman

drone controller, hardwired drone controller (for all of you who love loopholes )

Bwahahahaaaa, I spotted this one yesterday. Are we talking about the same loophole? a suit with both DCs, and 4 drones ^_^

I might critique this properly tomorrow. Goodnight!

[Wargamer]

Wrong as hell in many cases.

Adaptive Programming is just plain broken. Are you suggesting a Shas'vre who spent his entire life training for battle, and has been personally mentored by the Cadre's Shas'El / Shas'O, is less "adaptive" in battle than a Drone? The rule has to go.

Your Command Drone rule is both messy and confusing. I would use the same rules every other Drone Controller does - if the Command Drone dies, the unit is removed. Yes, it means the unit is very fragile, but that's why you bring Crisis Suits, not Drones.

[monocleman]

Originally Posted by Wargamer

Wrong as hell in many cases.

Adaptive Programming is just plain broken. Are you suggesting a Shas'vre who spent his entire life training for battle, and has been personally mentored by the Cadre's Shas'El / Shas'O, is less "adaptive" in battle than a Drone? The rule has to go.

Your Command Drone rule is both messy and confusing. I would use the same rules every other Drone Controller does - if the Command Drone dies, the unit is removed. Yes, it means the unit is very fragile, but that's why you bring Crisis Suits, not Drones.

Looking back, I agree with you on both cases :P. The Command Drone rule could be edited, but I believe that they should have something to set them apart from Crisis Suits other than different stats. The command drone rule was really born in the entry in Codex: Tau Empire (new or old?...I lent my codex to a friend so I'm stuck with my old one ) for Gun Drone squads: if the amount of models in the squad is less than 4, their leadership drops to 4.
But yes, you are mostly right.