[NegativeNad]

Hello, I'm relatively new, been bouncing around reading articles for awhile. I am sorta new to Tau, been playing them for about 2 months now. I got 2 battle forces and a commander so far, and am looking to expand.

I have a squad of Broadsides on order, and I think the next thing I am going to go after is some Pathfinders, but my question is this. Is it worth getting the rail rifles or not? It doesn't seem like it, but I may be missing something.

What is the thought?

[Jedibean]

They're not that great. It's nice to have strength 6 AP 3 pinning but you're never going to get enough shots for them to matter. And dont even bother with pinning. Everything is either too high leadership (9 or 10 if not re-rollable) or their fearless.

I wouldn't waste the points.

[knightperson]

I usually mix in a few, but you don't want to forget that the pathfinders' job is to light things for other units to kill, not to kill it themselves. Tau have a shortage of AP3 fire, and I face a lot of marine equivalents, but it's best not to get carried away. It's legal to take one pathfinder shas'ui and three guys with rail rifles, but it's not a good idea. If that's what you want, bring a sniper team or two.

[PacoQuerak]

It's not whether or not the rail rifles will kill anything, it's more about keeping your 100+ point unit of stormtroopers alive long enough to keep markerlighting turn after turn
Rail rifles simply make pathfinders more expensive and more easy and not so stable of a target of shooting and assault...
I would flank the pathfinders in with their devilfish on turn three and then rail rifles could be good if they will help to remove any amount of return fire. Then again so would normal pathfinders which don't pose an immediate threat? These are cheap and going after them and just running away can waste the precious time of things like assault marines if done properly which likely cost 300 points for the unit and will be made to bleed my mass daka from the awesome bs 5. So devilfish arives, seems doomed but is behind cover and drops pathfinders. Next turn helios +2 bs drop on assault marines + rail gun submunition + 30 str 5 shots bs 5/4tl +2 bs stealth team with 12 gun drones
this is assuming you get the average 4 hits.
no way no how anything with a 3+ armor save can survive this unless they can re-roll
4 terminators will die to the stealths, 4-5 to the helios 2 a turn vs large squad with burst cannon and submunitions railgun
Toss in kroot to screen flank meat shield with units of 10 for shooting and a unit or two with 10 kroot hound for close combat to tear up termies in hand to hand with cheap units that always make back their points

[Tausand sun]

Originally Posted by knightperson

I usually mix in a few, but you don't want to forget that the pathfinders' job is to light things for other units to kill, not to kill it themselves. Tau have a shortage of AP3 fire, and I face a lot of marine equivalents, but it's best not to get carried away. It's legal to take one pathfinder shas'ui and three guys with rail rifles, but it's not a good idea. If that's what you want, bring a sniper team or two.

Ion cannon? Plasma rifle, RAILGUNS!? I believe that makes up for it.

[Jedibean]

Plasma Rifles are the best for dealing with Marines. Also, Pulse Rifles with Marker lights are a good way to deal with Marines. ballistic skill 5 fire warriors work great.

[Zaius]

Originally Posted by Jedibean

Plasma Rifles are the best for dealing with Marines. Also, Pulse Rifles with Marker lights are a good way to deal with Marines. ballistic skill 5 fire warriors work great.

Agreed, and A couple of squads of deathrains with BS 5, STR 7, thank you very much. Ive decided that after two games playing deathrain heavy armies that I like them alot. Pathfinders, are maybe the best suport aspect of the Tau army (in my opinion). Skip the rail rifles, and keep the markers. Then again I am a self proclaimed noob.

[ranzin927]

Keep the markerlights, and skip the Rail Rifles. I am not a self proclaimed noob! 8)

In bigger games, like close to 6K, I want to field as much *** kicking as I can put out. It is only then that I start to look to the rail rifle and peppering them into my army. I will also have four full pathfinder teams, with one rifle maybe a piece.

[Tausand sun]

Originally Posted by ranzin927

Keep the markerlights, and skip the Rail Rifles. I am not a self proclaimed noob! 8)

In bigger games, like close to 6K, I want to field as much *** kicking as I can put out. It is only then that I start to look to the rail rifle and peppering them into my army. I will also have four full pathfinder teams, with one rifle maybe a piece.

What no broadside or hammerheads? I take at least 1 side even in 500 point games...

[NegativeNad]

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm going to skip the rail rifles, getting broadsides this weekend, then a couple hammerheads!