[noahfidanque]

Hi,
New to the forums, though I've been playing 40k (and Tau) for a few years now. I had been a Necromunda and Fantasy player years back, and gave up the hobby for a while when they dropped Necromunda from the supported games. But the Tau finally pulled me back in...
Between a two-year old at home and working for Boeing, I don't have nearly enough time to play games, but I have become an avid collector / builder (and now painter)... I am working on 4 armies these days, though my Tau still are my main focus. I've got enough Tau to field one side of a BIG apocalypse game on my own...
I live in the Seattle area (Mukilteo, to be precise). I'm finishing up a modular 12' x 6' table for big games (three 4'x6' tables), so if there are folks in my area, drop me a note...
I'm prepping myself for the Seattle GT in January (my first GT), so if there is anyone that would like to help by playing a few games, let me know...

Thanks,
Noah

[etheareal15]

hi! i've been playing tau for about a year now but this is my first forum. I was wondering if you could give me some tips on tactics?

[noahfidanque]

Originally Posted by etheareal15

hi! i've been playing tau for about a year now but this is my first forum. I was wondering if you could give me some tips on tactics?

Some things that seem to work really well for me (some standard, some may question) are (these are for an all-comers army):

• I use Broadsides, not Hammerheads, for my Railguns. The fact that they are twin-linked over-rides the pie plate in my opinion.
• I use Ion Cannons on my Hammerheads. Great for MEq killing, three shots, and 35 points cheaper (or 70, as I run 2). Those points can be used better elsewhere.
• Most of the time, I use the Burst Cannons on my Hammerheads. They are 10 points cheaper, and 6 Str5 AP5 shots hurt. Take them with a Target Lock, so you can target multiple units, useful when you want to shoot the big gun at a different unit or when you want to keep your tank facing one way, and that limits who the Burst guns could shoot at (i.e. they can't both target the same unit). Plus, they count as TWO weapons. So the tank has three to loose, not two. Just keeps it useful that much longer.
• I run pairs of Crisis Suits with twin-linked fusion guns. Great for dropping in and killing the high AV things. I equip them slightly slightly differently (allows for wound allocation, and better use of points). One has the guns and a target lock, so the unit can target two different targets if the opportunity is there. The other has a flamer. One, it's cheap, and two, it gives you a cover-save negating attack that is also good at very short range. In a 2K game, I run 2 of these units.
• Don't underestimate Kroot. I run a 14 strong unit with 10 hounds. The size (24 models) helps keep them around, and the number of attacks they get is amazing. Plus the hounds have high initiative. This unit has killed a 6-strong unit of Terminators while only loosing a few models. They don't always work, but the intimidation factor can also work in your favor. Just keep them in cover!
• Markerlights. Sometimes I use them, sometimes I don't. Many people use them to increase ballistic skill, I use them to lower cover saves and leadership. Especially useful against Orks, and the 4+ cover saves their bikes always get.
• Always take a Devilfish for your Fire Warriors, if you can swing the points and have the models. I run three units of 10, all in Devilfish. I skip things like photon grenades and a Shas'ui. Keep them in the Devilfish, and you won't need these. Saves you a lot of points. I have to thank fellow TO members for that idea.
• Always use cover/terrain when you can. And don't forget, our tanks can sit on top of cover (if you can put the model there, that is). This keeps them safe from such things as Ork Bikes squads assaulting them. Broad sides should be places in a similar position, high off the ground, and where they can see most of the battle field.
• Blacksun filters can win a game with night-fight rules. In games that will start at night, I typically go second, to let my opponent give me more targets. Key units for this upgrade are Broadsides and Hammerheads, and Crisis Suits with missile pods.
• Never take a tank without a Disruption Pod. 4+ cover save has saved my tanks more times than I can count. And if your tank is sitting up on the third floor of a building, 12" may not be as far away as you think table-wise. The 3rd floor puts you 6" off the table, at least. This means a any one just over 10" away (on the flat) gives you the cover save.
• Use your tanks as mobile cover for your suits. The suits can jump out, shoot, and jump back behind them, helping keep them alive. The 3+ armor save is nice, but can be failed. Better to lower the number of saves you have to make.
• Shield Drones keep your Command unit alive. I run 4 on my command unit (2 on the Shas, 1 on each of the guards).

Those are a few things I've found help win me games. Some of these are things that some people like, other don't. They work for me

[Warsmith Tyranus]

Heya there, noahfidanque, and welcome to the boards!

First off, your formatting is giving me a headache :P. You'll save members and yourself trouble if you post in a little bit more organized fashion. Plus, bad formatting can turn members off from your posts, and that's never a good thing .

Here is how I like to see posts.

Originally Posted by noahfidanque

Some things that seem to work really well for me are...

• I use Broadsides, not Hammerheads, for my Railguns. The fact that they are twin-linked over-rides the pie plate in my opinion.
• I use Ion Cannons on my Hammerheads. Great for MEq killing, three shots, and 35 points cheaper (or 70, as I run 2). Those points can be used better elsewhere.
• Most of the time, I use the Burst Cannons on my Hammerheads. They are 10 points cheaper, and 6 Str5 AP5 shots hurt. Take them with a Target Lock, so you can target multiple units, useful when you want to shoot the big gun at a different unit or when you want to keep your tank facing one way, and that limits who the Burst guns could shoot at (i.e. they can't both target the same unit). Plus, they count as TWO weapons. So the tank has three to loose, not two. Just keeps it useful that much longer.
• I run pairs of Crisis Suits with twin-linked fusion guns. Great for dropping in and killing the high AV things. I equip them slightly slightly differently (allows for wound allocation, and better use of points). One has the guns and a target lock, so the unit can target two different targets if the opportunity is there. The other has a flamer. One, it's cheap, and two, it gives you a cover-save negating attack that is also good at very short range. In a 2K game, I run 2 of these units.
• Don't underestimate Kroot. I run a 14 strong unit with 10 hounds. The size (24 models) helps keep them around, and the number of attacks they get is amazing. Plus the hounds have high initiative. This unit has killed a 6-strong unit of Terminators while only loosing a few models. They don't always work, but the intimidation factor can also work in your favor. Just keep them in cover!
• Markerlights. Sometimes I use them, sometimes I don't. Many people use them to increase ballistic skill, I use them to lower cover saves and leadership. Especially useful against Orks, and the 4+ cover saves their bikes always get.
• Always take a Devilfish for your Fire Warriors, if you can swing the points and have the models. I run three units of 10, all in Devilfish. I skip things like photon grenades and a Shas'ui. Keep them in the Devilfish, and you won't need these. Saves you a lot of points. I have to thank fellow TO members for that idea.
• Always use cover/terrain when you can. And don't forget, our tanks can sit on top of cover (if you can put the model there, that is). This keeps them safe from such things as Ork Bikes squads assaulting them. Broad sides should be places in a similar position, high off the ground, and where they can see most of the battle field.
• Blacksun filters can win a game with night-fight rules. In games that will start at night, I typically go second, to let my opponent give me more targets. Key units for this upgrade are Broadsides and Hammerheads, and Crisis Suits with missile pods.
• Never take a tank without a Disruption Pod. 4+ cover save has saved my tanks more times than I can count. And if your tank is sitting up on the third floor of a building, 12" may not be as far away as you think table-wise. The 3rd floor puts you 6" off the table, at least. This means a any one just over 10" away (on the flat) gives you the cover save.
• Use your tanks as mobile cover for your suits. The suits can jump out, shoot, and jump back behind them, helping keep them alive. The 3+ armor save is nice, but can be failed. Better to lower the number of saves you have to make.
• Shield Drones keep your Command unit alive. I run 4 on my command unit (2 on the Shas, 1 on each of the guards).

Those are a few things I've found help win me games. Some of these are things that some people like, other don't. They work for me

There we go, that's a bit easier on the eyes . Coding is your friend.

Other then that, be sure to take a gander over to the Announcements section. There are a ton of useful posts there to help you mesh into this forum. You seem like you give sound advice and I'm sure you'll be a great asset to this forum in the future. And if you have any problems or questions about the forums, my inbox is always open to you. Just shoot me a PM .

Have fun exploring this great forum!

[noahfidanque]

Thanks I will make sure to post a litle cleaner


[quote=¡Rastafari Is!]
Heya there, noahfidanque, and welcome to the boards!

First off, your formatting is giving me a headache :P. You'll save members and yourself trouble if you post in a little bit more organized fashion. Plus, bad formatting can turn members off from your posts, and that's never a good thing .

[Warsmith Tyranus]

Its not necessarily the cleanliness of the post, just the formatting .

Have fun on the forums!

[noahfidanque]

If anyone can think of anything I've missed, please let me / us know 8)