That dynamic has changed now though with ML changes.

The unit can now double and still fire at full effectiveness which IMO is a major bonus and solves the maneuverability issue marvellously - providing you synergise your list properly and have markerlight cover.

I had no problems with fish and heads staying at 25cm.

My list development style is always cautious, and so I will always go with the (perhaps) slightly underpowered option if there is one, safe in the knowlege that an upgrade can come along later... on the other hand, knowingly going with the (perhaps) slightly overpowered option is IMHO not a good development strategy.

Interesting.

Apart from the AT stats of the Ion Cannon (your AT5+ compared to my AT6+), that the Twin Fusion Blaster has a shooting attack and your TwinMissilePod resembles my single MissilePod, your changes match my Wh40k-Weapons-to-Epic conversion table  

Is this a good or a bad sign?

_________________
We are returned!
http://www.epic-wargaming.de/

It's terrible, I shall abandon working on this proposal immediately in shame.

_________________
Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

Spitballing:

Heavy Gun Drone formation:
4 Heavy Gun Drones - 150pts

Upgrades: Gun Drones


Stats would be the same as the collector's stats, except with -1 to-hit on the Burst Cannons in line with the change to Stealths.

Conversion suggestion would be to use Ramora Drone Fighters with the wings removed. Although technically Infantry I'd suggest 2-to-a-base as acceptable considering the size of the model (regrettably they're just not big and tough enough to be Light Vehicles).

This would give the army another Markerlight-bearing formation choice, with a unique niche, in this case the ability to be deployed anywhere on the board via Orca air drop, or alternatively simply another interesting Markerlight formation choice.

In other words, this formation would be another way to enhance synergetic possiblities in the army list, rather than just adding another variant unit type which brings little to the synergetic style of the list).


Thoughts?

_________________
Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

I'd like to see Heavy Gun Drones. Is the assumption the epic stats represent the Markerlight carrying one as standard rather than some with and some with twin Burst Cannons?

Should they really be able to be upgraded with Gun Drones? I'm against it personally as by the Taros book they're separate sorts of units and used for different roles in their armies.

Can I just ask a question.

We have drones mixed into various units in background to give the Tau enhanced saves. Then we have gun drones as add-ons and formations. Now we may get Heavier drones as a formation.

Now the question, Are there any Tau left to fight or are they all building little flying disks  

Drones fine, but at the epic scale do we really need so many different types?

I believe that drones are the key to the "Tau Difference" on the table top. Intelligent use of EXPENDABLE mechanical troopers in FEBA as the eyes and ears of a highly mobile strike force is for my mind the doctrine for the Tau to follow. I sight no unit specifics, though I have played my drone formations,heavy and light mixed mostly, with similar stats. I had no limitation to models as all of mine are scratch built. (something about my 'genetic inability to spend money': says my wife)
Perhaps some of us have been reading Aviation Week or Popular Science? The US military is moving to this currently. Enough please join me on the Tau doctrine thread to compare notes as to your vision of Tau over all operation.

Bear

I would assume that each unit would have a Markerlight as with the Collector's stats, representing at least one of the Heavy Gun Drones in the formation having a Markerlight.

Should they really be able to be upgraded with Gun Drones? I'm against it personally as by the Taros book they're separate sorts of units and used for different roles in their armies.

_________________
Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

Certainly a worthy point, every unit must be able to justify its existence in the list, especially if a conversion is required to make the model.

My proposed niche for this formation type is 'Markerlight formation that can be deployed via Orca', which is certainly a unique niche.

Whether that niche actually needs filling is of course up for debate.

_________________
Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

Just to clear this up.

In the "Taros Campaign" rules, both Crisis Suits and Broadsides are Light Vehicles and are not "teams", but "Battlesuit" units.

_________________
"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

Now living in Boston... any EPIC players want to meet up?

Tau do like Drones in their armies, but your average Tau army is still likely be composed of 75% ish living Tau.

The Drones mixed into units are 0-2 per battlesuit (with the average of around 1) and Fire Warriors having 10 Fire Warriors with 0-2 Drones. You then get separate units of Gun Drones and Heavy Gun Drones which go off and do

Drones fine, but at the epic scale do we really need so many different types?

And just to un-clear it up

Page 287 under Basing Tau says suits are based 2-4 to a base with the stats based on 4 for Stealths and 2 for Broadsides. I was wrong about Crisis being 3 though; apparently they're 2 too.

That's a modelling suggestion/guide rather than a "rule" though.

The unit type for Crisis and Broadside Battlesuits is "Light Vehicle" in the Forge World book while the Stealth Battlesuits are "Infantry".

And, personally, I *still* think Crisis should be LVs... they're freaking huge!  *laugh*  (I'll shut up now.    )

_________________
"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

Now living in Boston... any EPIC players want to meet up?

I can see the drones being part of the cadres to represent the enhanced save. But then you get to add more drones. It may make sense at 40k level but does it make sense at epic scale?

I can see the heavy drones as a formation.

In the background written for Drones in Imperial Armour 3, standard Gun Drones are described as operating alongside troops in the line of battle in limited numbers (ie: As an upgrade to a formation), and also if there are enough of them to 'network' together and form a collective conciousness as independent formations (as a Support Formation then).

Heavy Gun Drones are described as exclusively operating in seperate formations, and never in terms we would recognize as 'upgrades'.


---

In the game of Epic, each (in potentia) serves a different niche:

Gun Drone Upgrades - Ablative armour/padding for a formation, plus respectable firepower boost.

Gun Drone Formation - Cheap, fast formation, capable of being air-dropped by Tigershark. Can be used to claim objectives cheaply, or fight on the main lines if the need is great.

Heavy Gun Drone Formaiton - Cheap Markerlight formation, able to be air-dropped by Orca to lay Markerlights. Very respectable quality (if not quantity) of AP shooting.


---

Note that Fire Warriors and Storm Troopers both have 4+ armour saves in Warhammer 40,000, and both have 5+ armour saves in Epic.

So although the ERC list might claim that Gun Drone stats are incorporated into the 'boosted' armour saves of Tau units, this is clearly a mistaken statement.

_________________
Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter