Shining Spears and Warp Spiders have marine-level armor.  Striking Scorps are 4+ in 40k, probably got bumped to make them useful/survivable in Epic.  Ogryn are just stupidly tough, can take multiple hits from a Heavy Bolter without dying.

Not really sure about drones right now.  I just don't know what to fix.  Their cost is appropriate for the capabilities of the formation, but a 75 point formation is too cheap in multiples.  I'm leaning toward some limitation based on Cadres, but that didn't work too well with the Orca.

I can't really comment about Crisis suits in 40k, as the weaponload I use is completely different than Epic.  The Epic load is about as effective as a Marine Devastator stand, but there are better weapon combinations in 40k.  That said, if a single Multimelta gives a vehicle a MW FF attack, a pair of Fusion Blasters (=Meltaguns) should give a MW FF attack as well.

I'd take a formation of FW+PF+gun drones (plus devilfish).  Add one more upgrade for whatever extra effect I want.

_________________
"For the Lion and the Emperor!"

@LiTS Reduce the point cost of vehicle formations already consisting of purely ML-vehicle by the amount of the ML upgrade cost.

2nd one, any rule more drones being more than grots is really unneccessary. Grot mobs are also independent units in 40k, but in Epic they belong to a warband. Why should this not be possible for drones and the mighty TAU empire? Just becauuse their HAS TO BE a difference?

Would make the things much easier. And nobody will miss 75pts spamming drone formations, same as nobody misses swarms of independent grot formations roaming the battlefield.

my 2 cents

Soren

_________________
Attrition is the proof of absence of Strategy

Hmmm... Point taken.  That would be a VERY simple fix, and would seem to deal with most of the spam issues.

[devil's advocate mode]
But then we're just like the orks, except we build our 'grots' instead of growing them.  
Shouldn't the Tau be different?
[/devil's advocate mode]

_________________
"For the Lion and the Emperor!"

I personally like to see the drones stats change slightly till you could get an upgrade of 2 for 50 points (to fit the pack size and the odd 50 points left over in lists ).

Maybe something like move 25, save 5+, CC-, FF6+, twin pulse carbines, burst cannons etc (to represent a variety of drones) 15cm AP4+ Disrupt. Then expendable, markerlights, hit and run & jump packs or whatever the jetpacks rule is.

Dedicated formation available 6 strong for 150 points (expendable not working as per discussion) for an upgrade to TS squadrons with stats as per suggestion (but still a seperate formation after deployment).

_________________
If using E-Bay use this link to support Tac Com!
'Abolish red trousers?! Never! Red trousers are France!' – Eugene Etienne, War Minister, 1913
"Gentlemen, we may not make history tomorrow, but we shall certainly change the geography."
General Plumer, 191x

That's worth a bit more than 50 points IMHO, more like 75.

Compare to IG 50pt upgrades.


Dedicated formation available 6 strong for 150 points (expendable not working as per discussion) for an upgrade to TS squadrons with stats as per suggestion (but still a seperate formation after deployment).

_________________
Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

This seperate formation thingie for Drones uns imho unneccessary. Keep it simple. Not everything hast to be build 1:1. Look at grots, look at marines (not as flexible as in 40k), look at orcs (many times not as flexible as in 40k). Maybe it´s time to do some cuts also to the TAU list, they are needed for sure. (but not wanted, I know)

_________________
Attrition is the proof of absence of Strategy

Another solution for the drones is just making them available as a separate formation with no special rules for them (other than the jet pack, I mean). Those who "protect" the other Tau units would just be included in the profile of the last ones.

I mean, in Epic scale, one or two drones with some Fire Warriors, Crisis or Broadsides Exoarmors won't really make the difference ; rather include that in the profile of these units than making special rules for drones. The way it works in W40k actually doesn't need to be reprentative in Epic Armaggedon.

I think the trouble with the Tau list is just that there is "too much" at once - units, special rules, "fan made" stuff... (that's also the same for other lists on this board, IMHO). Like Soren says, keep it just simple.

Having fought both with and against the "5 aces", I wholeheartedly agree Hena.

However, as you seem to be getting 2x aircraft in each formation with better firepower and armour than Thunderbolts, I would suggest that increasing the DC would not be a good idea. As it is, the "5 Deuces" strike-craft variant is going to be tempting, especially if mixed with Barracuda to intercept CAP (which is the only thing that can really hurt these aircraft).

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

The points costs ere based on practice games way back when, I make no promises to their effectiveness. Perhaps to avoid spamming they would need to be 225 for normals and whatever for tigersharks.

I would far prefer 1dc though. 2 dc is a nightmare to pick off with ground flak because of the hit allocation rules and the fact some races only fire one flak shot (e.g. hunters). 2dc save 6+ is as a result better than 1dc 4+.

_________________
If using E-Bay use this link to support Tac Com!
'Abolish red trousers?! Never! Red trousers are France!' – Eugene Etienne, War Minister, 1913
"Gentlemen, we may not make history tomorrow, but we shall certainly change the geography."
General Plumer, 191x

I'm a strong proponent of keeping WE aircraft in formations of 1.

_________________
Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

As I understand it, the Tigershark AX-1-0 railgun anti-titan variant is supposed to be rare, so here's a thought:-

Declare this to be an up-armoured variant of the Strike craft making it a 2DC aircraft that flies in singlton formation, possibly with two railguns etc.

Leave the normal Tigershark flying in pairs with 5+ armour

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt