[Col.Angus]

Ive been peering over the unit costs and Ive noticed a pretty crappy thing.

For every unit type, there is a chance to upgrade to a Shas'ui or equivilant for +10 points. In every case the only thing this grants you over the normal squad leader for +5 points is a +1 to WS or in some cases a one higher LD.

Why Why why why, in an army that the last thing you need to do is to get into hand-to-hand, do they upgrade the squad leader's WS by 1, and not his BS by 1??? He cant even take a close combat weapon? I dont think Tau have a word in their language for a close combat weapon, except for whatever terms they use to refer to the things other races use to beat them about the head and shoulders. How does it make any sence to even offer me this upgrade of WS?

[Amaliel]

ah don't forget that innititive upgrade too. You know.... so you can swing before......... dirt

just a lil note, i dont see anyone that can take a team leader and shas'ui upgrade. Suits can take a shas'vre upgrade however

[VerjigormDeExile]

Shas'ui for Pathfinders/Fire warriors: Higher Leadership and Wargear(bonding Knife!).

Shas'vre for Crisis: Special Issue Wargear!

[Col.Angus]

ah yes a one higher WS and initiative. So you can flail your blue fist at the marine with the chainsword and powerfist before he knocks the unit down like bowling pins. :P

I guess what Im on about is why is the unit leader better at something the unit is never applied to like melee, when he should be a better shot after a longer length of service in a tau infantry role? If there was even the chance of taking an even mediocre melee weapon Id say OK. Understanding that its a shootie army not a punchie army, I cant see paying more points for higher stats, when a cheaper squad leader upgrade still gets me weargear options.

[majonga]

i've never fought a battle where it didn't come to CC at some point. if CC is inevitable for a Tau army, then i usually find i fall back on the team leaders who actually have a chance of killing some guys before he goes, At the end of the day, i would prefer to have a little CC to fall back on, rather than increase my BS. Duly the BS might help, but its useless once your in the inevitable CC stage

[Bubgum]

Well, those 5 points have a chance of saving your butt when it eventually draws to CC, so 5 points are pretty good... Mind you, you should try to avoid CC in the first place. (Duh)

[Harlequin2]

Well, yes, in the case of battlesuits, it's good to allow them to hold their own against enemies, especially as their your elites and can pretty much change the whole course of the battle for you. However, if you feel that they won't be getting into CC, a simple Team Leader will do.
On the other hand, with the Shas'uis in Fire Warrior/Pathfinder teams allow access to vital gear, Drones can given much needed protection and fire support, and Bonding Knives can make sure that your team stay in there just abit longer. As for the extra attack, it's the same as above, and it can give your squad a chance (even if it's a small one!).

[Shaso Wanax]

If we are talking FW and PF, the 'ui gives you access to a target lock hard wired and a markerlight (for FW). This allows with FW, for example, the squad to shoot at an infantry target within 30" and the squad leader to markerlight a different target for another unit to target. I find this exceedingly confusing for the enemy who traditionally look for and hunt down pathfinders to kill the markerlights. With PF, the HWTL allow the 'ui to markerlight a different target so that your PF team can potentially light two targets in one turn.

If we are talking suits, access to the wargear gives HWTL to a team leader so that a team of 2 deathrains, for example, can target two separate targets in the same turn. Very handy when facing rhino or walker heavy armies, armies with nid warriors, bikes, and other Str7 targets. So now a team of 2 deathrains with twin linked missile pod, a target array and a team leader with a HWTL can effectively take out two of the above sort of thing per turn rather than overkilling one with 4 missiles.

And bonding is essential if using suit teams of 3 or static FW and PF. In fact, I bond everyone with a squad/team of more than 2 models.

[crisis_vyper]

I always take the Shas'ui on the Fire Warriors for the increased leadership and with it a bonding knife. I prefer my troops to be able to hold their ground for a while more before they are obliterated. For that I say I invested my 15 points wisely.

As for the Crisis suits however, I do not bother to upgrade them to Shas'vre, as you do not need that upgrade unless you want Special Wargears, which in my opinion are sup-par as compared with the other wargears. A team Leader upgrade is all that you ever needed if you want Hard-wired equipment.

[VerjigormDeExile]

I was confused, arn't all battlesuit pilots automatically shas'uis?