Quote: (Honda @ 05 Jan. 2009, 23:11 )
However, what this all revolves around is what the "vision" of the Tau should be. Chroma sees an infantry list, I am a strong proponent for a modern verions of an Armored Cavalry list, others see other things.
Actually, I see Tua as a mechanized infantry/combined arms list... and I think my variant delivers that... I don't think the "basic" Tau list should allow a completely "armoured" force as an option: with the v4.4.3 list, I can take an army that is only tanks... no Fire Warriors, no Crisis Suits, no infantry at all... that doesn't seem essentially Tau to me.
I *do* think that's a valid army for a "Armoured Cadre" variant list, which would be the "grav-head" list for Tau. Actually, I believe thinking about variant lists while developing the "core" list is a very good thing as it allows you to focus a list while realizing you can do other things in later lists; you're not "figuring out" variant lists, you're leaving options open for them.
Example: if the Tank Cadre stays as a "core" formation in the basic list, there's essentially no need to develop a "tank" list for Tau, as it can easily be done by the main list.
Does that make sense as to why I believe one should consider possible variant lists while designing the "core"?