[pink-weasel]

Hi guys,

First of all... nice active forum.
I recently picked up Tau again (after a 1 year break)

I ordered volume 3: the taros campaign from Forge World.

Do any of you use the great Knarloc (with bolt trower) or Knarloc Riders?
If so.... did they deliver? Or do they just look great?

[Boneguard]

Welcome aboard.

Well to be honest i'm not quite sure yet, I'm still on the gluing phase, but on paper the riders seems to be comparable as any other cavalry unit.

[Fate13]

In theory yes, it does. I haven't had a chance to try one out, but puting an explosive bolt in the bolt thrower makes the Knarloc a versatile unit, best suited for taking out light and medium infantry and light vehicles. Since the rend rules have changed to match its rending beak ability it makes an effective tank hunter too, but anti-vehicle weapons can kill it outright. The other big advantage is that it can hold objectives, so it can contest them with enemy infantry... A monsterous creature that can hold objectives is a nice trick to pull out of your sleave. Hope that helps.

[Boneguard]

Originally Posted by Fate13

The other big advantage is that it can hold objectives, so it can contest them with enemy infantry... A monsterous creature that can hold objectives is a nice trick to pull out of your sleave. Hope that helps.

Not quite true.

Knarloc rider are fast attack so are not scoring.
Great knarloc (with or without the bolt thrower) are heavy support so not scoring either.
BUT
Baggage knarloc are Troop choiCe...as long as the kroot goader are alive they are a scoring unit.

[Fate13]

Originally Posted by Boneguard

Not quite true.

Knarloc rider are fast attack so are not scoring.
Great knarloc (with or without the bolt thrower) are heavy support so not scoring either.
BUT
Baggage knarloc are Troop choiCe...as long as the kroot goader are alive they are a scoring unit.

Under the header Heavey Support, it says that for purposes of mission objectives a Great Knarloc can capture table quarters, hold objectives and etc. This counts for both the Knarloc heard and mounted Knarloc, so it can take and hold objectives. Check your IA3, but I will point out that IA3 was made for 4th ed. and is now questionable on how legal it is.

[Boneguard]

Got my IA3 here, let me see:

p.218 Great knarloc: [...] a Great knarloc with no remaining Goad cannot capture table corner, hold objectives or count as survivnig troops in a meat grinder battle.

p.219 Mounted great knarloc: Yes they can hold objectives.

p.220 Baggage knarloc: same a great knarlocs. The goads need to be alive to hold objectives...but Troop choice though

p.222 Knarloc rider only mention they are fast attack choice

Well, yes on one hand you are right, they do state that the 2 heavy support choice (The Great knarloc herd and Mounted knarloc) count as scoring unit under specific condition. But, on the other hand, as you also mentioned it was for 3rd and 4th edition rules where every unit could score unless otherwise noted.

In a 5th edition game, I would play it safe and state that only the Baggage knarloc can score if the goads are still alive...unless your opponent agrees that IA3 supercede the 5th ed rulebooks and that your 2 heavy support choices also counts as scoring units as stated.

[Fate13]

I forgot to address the Knarloc Riders. They are IMHO kinda worthless for their points. In a kroot merc army there are better places to spend the points and in a tau army they beat only the vespids, but that isn't hard. Sorry I know this isn't very helpful, but I haven't found them to ever be useful.