[sarnas]

hey y'all! O0 im a new eager commander who likes shooting stuff (tau) but also bashing stuff up close (tyranids) what do you think would be best for me? i understand that tyranids have ranged weapons and the tau have kroot, but i just want your opinion chow!

[Black Behemoth]

Well, since you posted on a TAU forum, you know what I'm going to say. :

[sarnas]

well yes that was my bad, but i couldnt find a suitable forum :-\

[SaturN]

Well both these armies really operate on different sides of the spectrum. Of course when it comes to playing an army... you should consider more than just what it does best... But it's athestic and overall satisfaction it gives you to play. Tau can be shooty and Bugs can rip stuff up in hand to hand. But if you don't like how they look or don't enjoy the aspect of how they play, it doesn't matter how good an army they are on the battlefield.

When I started, I just looked at all the White Dwarfs my friend had, and looked for the coolest army that appealed to me.

Good Luck.

-SaturN

[Fireblade]

Originally Posted by sarnas

Hey y'all! I’m a new eager commander who likes shooting stuff (tau) but also bashing stuff up close (tyranids). What do you think would be best for me? I understand that tyranids have ranged weapons and the tau have kroot, but i just want your opinion chow!

The Tyranids codex was just revised and with it they got updated rules and new models. Tyranid ranged weapons got a significant boost in the new codex (though they are still not on the same level as the Tau ranged weapons). You can play them as anything from a horde army (120+ models at 1500 pts) to the so-called Godzilla army with mostly monstrous creatures (with as few as 15 or 20 models). With their rules still being relatively new, there is still a lot of discussion as to the optimal army lists (which to me means that GW did OK with the new codex).


The Tau also have some variety in their play style: Static, Mechanized, Hybrid (combination of the previous two). You can find much info on this site detailing each of these styles. They are a fun army to play and look great on the field.

Tau are next in line after the Black Templars for a new codex (spring-ish ’06). The new codex holds the promise of some minor and major tweaks to existing units and wargear, new units, new options, and new models. Currently it does not appear as though the Tau will have any close combat unit better than the Kroot (though the final list may change this), however it does look as though their shooting and suit options will be getting better.


IMO, the Tau are even more of a finesse army than the Tyranids, though neither of them are very forgiving if you make some tactical mistakes or have some bad dice rolls.


Which models do you like better?
I ask because if you get the models you like better, it may be easier to keep motivated in building and painting them.


Later,
Fireblade

[sarnas]

okay guys thanks! :-\ i hate when this happens, im not trying to be difficult, but i LOVE armour, but i also like bitter hand to hand, like in the movie ALIEN so i think im going to get the battle for macarage starter set, and play with the bugs for a bit, if i odnt like em, im getting tau.

[DireStrike]

That's probably a good idea, you also get the nice portable rulebook and some other crap. ;D

[Feeple]

Speaking as a guy who went from 'Nids to Tau...

For me, it came to fluff and looks. The 'Nids have this great biological feel to them, and the idea of these teeming masses running twoards you faster than you can imagine was pretty cool. Plus, watching my Tyrant lay waste to two IG tanks and a walker was fun. ;D While the 'Nids are fun and very assaulty, I hated the fact that there was virtually no fluff, and while they had some shooty options, they really excel in assault. So I jumped to teh other end of the spectrum; the Tau. Now I have this mechanical sci-fi feel, plenty of fluff space, and an army that fires with everything they've got.

You sound like you want Tyranids, but I suggest you read through both Codices before you commit to a force.

[Shaso Wanax]

As a Tau player, I face two regular nid players. One uses masses of gaunts and warriors. The other like masses of gaunts and genestealers. I regularly shoot the crap out of them. I've never lost to nids with Tau. I'm not a big expert, or anything near it in fact, I just can relate my experiences. Nids are fickle. If they can't make a big impact right away, they are doomed. Tau make little impact until the next thing you know, the enemy has little left to fight with.

Issues I see with both:

Nids have large speed differentials between your assult troops and synapse. Carnifex, Biovores, warriors are all kinda slow. Lichtors, genestealers and gaunts are rather fast. the secret to beating the nid is to separate the two groups and defeating each separately.

Tau have no way to win in the assault without major luck. They sucumb to being in base contact quicker than a prostittute touching a grand. Even static Tau have to move move move and can run out of room. Preplanning is essential to survival. Know the avenues of enemy approach, cover and concealment, and avenues of escape. Just setting up across from an enemy is the quickest way to fail with Tau.

Wanax

[mattz]

if i was u i would wait a bit if you don't have alot of cash $100-300 then i would wait for the new tau codex but if you fitly rich 300-anything than u should try both(only like 100 point army though