[maaksel]

I consider myself a good 40k player. I play against large tournament winners on a regular basis, with usually a good turn out =)

I've never ran Tau before, but this is the list I have come up with. It has redundancy, and lots of shooting. I know it has little/no CC potential, but I assume/hope/wish that I'll be able to tie up/block units with kroot, and keep 2 squads back. Not pretty, not bad - but I feel the plasma is not worth it for the points upgrades.

Command, TL Missile Pod, Flamer, Drone Controller
2 Body Guards, TL Missile Pod, Flamer
1 Gun Drone

Command, TL Missile Pod, Flamer, Drone Controller
2 Body Guards, TL Missile Pod, Flamer
1 Gun Drone

Crisis Suit, TL Missile Pod, Flamer, Drone Controller
2 Crisis Suits, TL Missile Pod, Flamer
1 Gun Drone

Crisis Suit, TL Missile Pod, Flamer, Drone Controller
2 Crisis Suits, TL Missile Pod, Flamer
1 Gun Drone

Crisis Suit, TL Missile Pod, Flamer, Drone Controller
2 Crisis Suits, TL Missile Pod, Flamer
1 Gun Drone

10 Kroot

10 Kroot

10 Kroot

7 Fire Warriors

Piranha, Fusion

Piranha, Fusion

Broadside, Railguns, Smart Missile, Black Sun Filter, advanced stabilization
2 Broadsides, Railguns, Smart Missile
1 Gun Drone

Broadside, Railguns, Smart Missile, Black Sun Filter, advanced stabilization
2 Broadsides, Railguns, Smart Missile
1 Gun Drone

Broadside, Railguns, Smart Missile, Black Sun Filter, advanced stabilization
2 Broadsides, Railguns, Smart Missile
1 Gun Drone

Long Range Shots:
30 TL S7 Shots
9 TL S10 AP 1 Shots

Mid Range:

(see long range)
30 Kroot Rifles
7 FW

Short Range:
(See long/medium)
15 Flamers

[Exigency102]

Well, you can't be a bad 40k player because your list building skills are above par for someone creating a Tau list for the first time. This is pretty good, very similar to what I run, and I have only a few suggestions.

First, you're going to want plasma somewhere. Extra volume of crisis suits is nice, but you may want to consider cutting the second HQ and giving the remaining Plasma rifles and missile pods with multi-trackers. HQ and broadsides also are going to want a shield drone each in addition to the gun drone, as they are going to be high priority targets.

I would also suggest you take the blacksun filters and advanced stabilization systems off the broadsides. Blacksun filters are needed that often and you shouldn't really need to move your broadsides if you deploy them correctly.

Your piranhas are going to want disruption pods, always put those on your vehicles, and maybe targeting arrays. While we're on the topic of vehicles, you need a devilfish for those Fire Warriors or they won't survive. Also, that seventh FW isn't really necessary (I'm assuming points filler).

A few notes. You said that this list has little CC potential, but that's to be expected with Tau and you need to plan around it. I don't typically run as many units of Kroot as you are, usually 2 for blocking/screening that I infiltrate, but that's not to say how you're running it is bad. The problem you may run into is survivable Troops. Kroot are not survivable and neither are they meant to be, but like I said, the Fire Warriors need transport or they won't be either.

I think that just about covers it, Carrelio may come in and give you some sound advice as well, and if you need clarification on anything let me know.

[Carrelio]

I both agree and disagree with above. Exigency has outlined several very good points.
Plasma - over priced? You bet. Best mech killer in your army? No doubt. You will want those plasma rifles. Marines will melt like butter against them. Nothing like telling a marine player he doesn't get an armour save or FNP.
Likewise, disruption pods. Every vehicle. No questions asked. 5 points for doubling your survivability? YES!
Like Exigency said, you have one extra fire warrior, that's 10 point right there. 2 pirhanas now have double the survivability instead of a 1 wound 4+ fire warrior.
As for those 6 remaining fire warriors... Devilfish. Exigency has that exactly right. On their own... worst troop in the game, they are a free kill point to the other player.

And now the part where I disagree.

While I agree black sun filter is waste of a slot, advanced stabalization systems are anything but a waste. If you go second and you have the option to have your enemy get a turn of shooting up your broadsides... or having them hidden behind a building and then have them walk into view on your turn. Or you are playing dawn of war and have them walk on and get to shoot... just for 10 points a pop? sounds pretty good to me. That said, the target array upgrade is also killer. I just prefer the option the A.S.S. gives me. Do note though, you don't state a team leader upgrade on your broadsides, in which case, your current list is illegal since you have a B.S.F.and A.S.S. on one broadside and nothing equiped on the other ones, for each unit (correct me if I am reading that wrong)

Also...

Your 2 hqs, they are BS 4... you are wasting that by using a flamer. Flamers don't use BS. You are paying for BS 4, so don't waste that.
And your battlesuits in general. Wound allocation! You have 2 identical battlesuits in each squad. You are asking for them to die quick. The slightest variation will make them live twice as long. Maybe a TA instead of the flamer on one of them?
As a side note... no team leader... maybe a typo... but something you should include if you mean to include it (if not... I would suggest it, especially at 2K).
One last thing... shield drone > gun drone.

It's actually really late where I live, and I just got home for the bar... so I am not fully focused... I will look again tomorrow, but that should cover just about everything.

[GAngeldb]

I agree with the stabilizing system as a plus. There are the few times that you will need to reposition and shoot, but it is a need that can win a battle. With this many broadsides however I don't see the need. If they are positioned properly they should be able to hit something.

I do agree you should re-equip the commander with something other than a flamer. Only time I do that is when he is alone with retro - thrusters with ion cannon. Up close and personal type. Also I get all the flamers on the suits as well. Incase they get close or you want to get close and flame on, but lets face it, you don't want CC. You need other options than MP.

Changing units so they are equiped differently is a key to wound allocation. Lets your mech, of what ever choice, stay alive longer.

Solid list though. Lot of punch, but will make opponent hardly have to choose what to shoot at. As long as you keep his troops tied up with kroot while you annihilate their tanks you are all set.

[Exigency102]

If you read my thread on the Broadside vs Railhead debate you'll see why I advocate against A.S.S.

As far as wound allocation, there's not much you can do with those crisis suits in that configuration; however, that's not to say I disapprove. In fact, that is the EXACT configuration I use for my crisis units because they're cheap and extremely reliable.

[GAngeldb]

That is true if you are keeping the costs down and just relying on the MP. I like the options of long and medium range instead of long and short.

For the Broadsides I agree in the debate for games over a 1000 pnts. You shouldn't need to move the broasides if you are positioning them properly. In lower cost games it is hard to cover all that terrain with such few troops. In which case you may want the hammer head instead.

[Emberkahn]

Good list, i see what you are trying to do here
Have you considered at all the use of Tetras in this list? just one or two can hugely increase the effectiveness of your shooting, and more importantly, let you re-roll deep strike scatter!
Have you considered also mixing up the weapons on the suits? i take the same as you do normally, but perhaps the use of Helios pattern might aid in the killing of terminators. Or else a squad of the Broadsides with plasma rifles for the purpose of destroying any high armour drop squad that appears in front of you to charge next turn, combined with multi trackers?
Finally, i often find that the kroot can neither tie up enemies for more than their own combat, nor weather the shooting required for them to get there. It's 2000 points. Thats a lot of firepower ranged against you; stern guard and lasgun hoards to say the least. Maybe this is just me being overcautious, but it's still food for thought.
Either way, awesome list, tell us how it goes.