[achancesw]

In 5th (read Warhammer:cover save) it seems like the marker light is a valuable piece of kit.

So I am thinking people leave off rail rifles?

I like stealth suits so I only want 1 squad of pathfinders.

[knightperson]

All the griping about cover saves is a bit misleading. You can now shoot through area terrain by giving the targeted squad a cover save, of course, but remember how it was in 4th. You couldn't shoot the units behind area terrain at all, so that's a gain not a loss for shooting armies like Tau. Shooting at a back rank now grants a cover save, which is new. This is a consideration for rail rifles, as they have the range to reach a unit in the back.

I still use rail rifles, but I don't rely on them quite so much. I actually like to use two pathfinder squads in a lot of my lists so the markerlights from one can remove the cover save for the rail rifles in the second. It's a lot of points, but if it drops 2 or 3 marines it can be worth it.

[runer60000]

With the new 5th edition rules and what i have been hearing about how they compare to 4th edition(i started 40k during 5th), markerlights are priceless. You must be retarded not to have any markerlights in a tau army of any size. By using markerlights with rail rifles, you have probably the most deadly snipers in the Warhammer 40k universe. with enough markerlights, you can shoot a volley of lethal rail rifle at 2+ 4+. and with AP2 S6, there is no, and i mean NO argue against it.
A good way to max out this effect is to not have any rail rifles in your pathfinder squad at all, but instead have a team or 2 of sniper drones move by them, so not only do you have a full 8 markerlights going at an enemy, u have a 9th from the spotter. So, if all goes perfectly, u can eliminate a 4+ cover save, shoot at 2+, and pin with -3 leadership penalty. This strategy can really hurt marines, but also assassinate important targets without forcing an entire stealth or crisis squad from having to deep-strike behind, kill the target, and pray to god that they make it out at least 1% alive. :'(
Rail rifles and markerlights are the best hard-hitting shooting combo in the game, and we T'au players should be very lucky to have it. So before Games Workshop figures out that they gave a race other than the marines a great weapon and remove it next edition, take advantage of this killer sniper attack.

[achancesw]

So instead of using 3 rail rifles in the pathfinder squad, use 8 markerlights for the sniper drones?

[runer60000]

yes. makes the chance of hitting nearly 100%. plus with S6, you'll be rolling 2+ most of the time to wound. and AP2 so all amour saves will be ignored. 8) 8) 8)

[pepsi]

well all but the feel no pain SOBs.

Rail rifles no negate feel no pain...

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by runer60000

yes. makes the chance of hitting nearly 100%. plus with S6, you'll be rolling 2+ most of the time to wound. and AP2 so all amour saves will be ignored. 8) 8) 8)

Common mistake, you're switching Plasma and Rail Rifles. Rail rifles are one less on the AP value.

[runer60000]

Originally Posted by Nuke

Common mistake, you're switching Plasma and Rail Rifles. Rail rifles are one less on the AP value.

ok, AP3, i made a mistake.

Originally Posted by pepsi

Rail rifles no negate feel no pain...

But still, u cant have feel no pain if u don't have amour save in the first place. ;D ;D ;D

[pepsi]

I would rather have no save, then a save <shrug>

Guess it helps against death company and nob bikers, 4+ saves are nothing to write home about.

[runer60000]

Yeah, Rail Rifles are very versitile and can be used against almost any enemy unit to great effect, even without markerlights.