[em_en_oh_pee]

Well, to be open, I wanted to toss together some more lists (instead of going down just the path of 8+ XV8s).

Here is another list and do tear it to shreds, so I can learn what is what with the Tau!

HQ:
Commander Shas'el w/ TL Missile, Plasma Rifle, HW Target Lock, HW Multi-Tracker, HW Drone Controller, 2x Shield Drone, Stimulant Injector

Elites:
Monat XV8 Team Leader w/ TL Missile, Plasma Rifle, HW Multi-Tracker, HW Target Lock, HW Drone Controller, 2x Shield Drone

Monat XV8 Team Leader w/ TL Missile, Plasma Rifle, HW Multi-Tracker, HW Target Lock, HW Drone Controller, 2x Shield Drone

Troops:
12x Fire Warriors
Devilfish w/ Disruption Pods

12x Fire Warriors
Devilfish w/ Disruption Pods

12x Fire Warriors
Devilfish w/ Disruption Pods

Heavy:
Hammerhead w/ Railgun, 2x Burst Cannons, Flechette Discharger, Multi-Tracker, Disruption Pod

Hammerhead w/ Railgun, 2x Burst Cannons, Flechette Discharger, Multi-Tracker, Disruption Pod

Hammerhead w/ Railgun, 2x Burst Cannons, Flechette Discharger, Multi-Tracker, Disruption Pod

[1494]

The idea of a trio of Railheads is probably hard for noob Tau players to resist, I am sure. Their flexibility to take out hard targets and use templates for hordes is just awesome. Basic, cheap troops for objectives and fire lines and a few suits to pop in and out of cover, tossing out multiple shots at multiple targets.

C&C?

[flamedrag]

This is a good list, but, I think it just looks a little to generic.
I would change some of the Hammerheads/Fire Warriors/Crisis Suits so that you cover more bases, rather than having ALL Suits doing one thing, ALL Fire Warriors doing one thing and ALL Hammerheads doing one thing.
Besides that all I can say is that any deepstriking/outflanking is going to rip this apart.

[em_en_oh_pee]

Hmm. I agree, so I will need to compensate for that flaw by what means? The first thing that pops in my head is castling. Put a ring of Fire Warriors around my Railheads, maybe? With the suits nearby to interdict?

I don't mind a generic list, because I will make it unique in fluff and painting (this may wind up a campaign army).

[knightperson]

As 57 said, it's pretty standard fare, but standards are there because they work! I would change the suits to single missile pod, plasma rifle, and targeting array rather than twin missile pod and plasma rifle. The plasma is such an expensive weapon you don't want it to miss. I would trade one of those railheads in for a skyray or ionhead if you're likely to face Space Marines or Necrons, but to each his own. The railhead is a solid tank and there are few things more intimidating for an opponent than seeing three of those monstrous railguns facing him across the table! "THREE railheads? Why didn't somebody tell me we were playing Apocalypse today?"

[em_en_oh_pee]

Well, I am an Ork player originally, so anything BS3 or higher seems like magic to me. Then again, I won't be rolling ~40 shots at a time, either, so that BS matter more with Tau.

What is the most versatile XV8 for this list, in everyone's opinion?

Updated List:

HQ:
Commander Shas'el XV8 "Fireknife-7"
w/ TL Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, HW Multi-Tracker, HW Drone Controller w/ 2x Shield Drone

Elites:
Monat Team Leader XV8 "Fireknife-7"
w/ TL Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, HW Multi-Tracker, HW Drone Controller w/ 2x Shield Drone

Monat Team Leader XV8 "Fireknife-7"
w/ TL Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, HW Multi-Tracker, HW Drone Controller w/ 2x Shield Drone

Troops:
12x Fire Warriors
Devilfish w/ Disruption Pod

12x Fire Warriors
Devilfish w/ Disruption Pod

12x Fire Warriors
Devilfish w/ Disruption Pod

Heavy:
1x Hammerhead
w/ Railgun, SMS, Disruption Pod, Flechette Discharger, Multi-tracker

1x Hammerhead
w/ Railgun, SMS, Disruption Pod, Flechette Discharger, Multi-tracker

1x Hammerhead
w/ Railgun, SMS, Disruption Pod, Flechette Discharger, Multi-tracker

Alternate Option:
1x Hammerhead
w/ Ion Cannon, SMS, Disruption Pod, Flechette Discharger, Multi-tracker

1x Hammerhead
w/ Ion Cannon, SMS, Disruption Pod, Flechette Discharger, Multi-tracker

1x Hammerhead
w/ Railgun, SMS, Disruption Pod, Flechette Discharger, Multi-tracker

Add to Elites
Monat XV-8 Team Leader "Sunforge"
w/ TL Fusion Blaster, Flamer, HW Multi-tracker, HW Drone Controller, 1x Shield Drone

[1499] or [1502]

The first list is a tourney-oriented "all-comers" style, while the second is a bit more oriented towards MEQs, etc. At least, I hope. Again C&C is much appreciated.