Tau Rules Questions |
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Tactica
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Post subject: Tau Rules Questions  Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:45 pm |
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Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:12 am
Posts: 2241
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Crisis suits - fine. They are about the size of Terminators (aren't they on 40mm bases?). Sounds like infantry to me. I have no problem with that.
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Excellent, we agree on this one then! Yes, they are on 40mm rounds.
Broadsides - no. They are almost the size of SM Dreadnoughts, larger than a Wraithlord. |
Ahh, this helps tremendously. I see the problem. You thought the Crisis and Broadsides were different sizes. That would be incorrect.
Broadsides are also on 40mm rounds.
Broadsides are not larger than a wraithlord - their not even the same hieght.
Crisis and broadsides are the exact same suit _in that_ they have the same head, chasis, arms, and legs. The models are 100% the same in this regard. Addmittingly, their are asthetic and weapon differences. The differences are feet (stronger looking, not taller) and railguns in place of jump packs. Both crisis and broadsides can have the same secondary weapon systems twin-linked SMS or twin-linked plasma.
If you like, I can take a picture of 40K model plastics to show you that they are the exact same suit.
Glad we shed some light on this - I think this will help non-Tau players a lot!
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Lion in the Stars
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Post subject: Tau Rules Questions Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:13 pm |
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Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 11:01 pm
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Ah. I see where you're getting confused. A Broadside suit kit is a Crisis suit with 2 big railguns, new arms, two metal pieces that look like heat sinks that cover the jetpack exhausts, and beefier, more stable-looking feet. A broadside suit is a bit shorter to the top of the head than a crisis suit.
If you mount weapons on the jetpack hardpoints (any weapons) the suit is much taller. The 'heat sink' parts don't add to any dimension (height/width/breadth), but they make the 'backpack' look bigger. The only piece that is notably bigger is the SMS arms, and I don't even use the Smart Missiles in 40k anymore (it's more useful to have a rapid fire gun and still be able to shoot if I have to move the suits, or for 'final defensive fire' against stuff trying to assault my broadsides).
I'll have to post some pictures of my converted Broadside suits, next to a Crisis, next to a Termie. I'll borrow a camera this weekend and see if I can get some decently lit pics (crappy weather forecast this weekend).
FWIW, I see battlesuits of all types as being infantry, especially after watching the new Appleseed movie, even though the Landmates are almost 3.5 meters tall in that movie (they're roughly twice man-height).
Based on the FW stats, isn't a Crisis suit the same size as a Terminator-armored Marine? 2.8m ~ 8'3" tall.
While AT fire is the primary way of killing battlesuits in 40k (in fact, I may need to add some vehicles to help protect my crisis suits), it's also the primary means of killing Termies.
I used to be in the LV camp, but based on the FW stats versus my mental image of them being twice man-height, I have changed my mind to battlesuits being INF.
_________________
"For the Lion and the Emperor!"
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asaura
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Post subject: Tau Rules Questions Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 8:25 pm |
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Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2003 11:34 am
Posts: 481
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| Quote (Lion in the Stars @ 04 Nov. 2005 (18:13)) | While AT fire is the primary way of killing battlesuits in 40k (in fact, I may need to add some vehicles to help protect my crisis suits), it's also the primary means of killing Termies.
I used to be in the LV camp, but based on the FW stats versus my mental image of them being twice man-height, I have changed my mind to battlesuits being INF. |
Note that Terminator stats are not based on an assumption of 2-3 models per base, but on 5 models per base. Even though both Termies and Crisis suits are frequently killed with AT weapons, an AT hit on a Crisis unit of 2 models has a much bigger effect on that unit than on a Terminator unit of 5 models.
We can certainly start modelling Crisis (and maybe Broadsides) as infantry, but that means getting rid of the 2-3 models per unit assumption. Units composed of 3 Crisis suits and 2 drones could certainly be represented with Infantry rules. This does have implications on the guidelines for physically basing the figures, which will probably pose problems, since the Crisis suit models are pretty large. Single Broadsides on 20 mm washers look good.
Other options include at least:
- modelling Crisis and Broadside suits as single LVs. One unit = one model = one LV.
- modelling battlesuits and drones separately. A formation could always contain crisis units and drone units. This would also allow for a "no drones" option, although I don't know if it is meaningful from a fluff point-of-view.
Obviously, messing with the concept of unit may lead to radical changes in the unit rules. I think the current Crisis rules are pretty ok, be they LV or Infantry. The units are shooty, with an interesting range/firepower profile, and they are fast.
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Tactica
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Post subject: Tau Rules Questions Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 9:32 pm |
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Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:12 am
Posts: 2241
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Asaura,
I'm not going to echo my early battlesuit compositions per epic base thoughts as requested by other members... but, modelling feasabilities are a new point.
If desired, its very possible to use all 5 slots on the standard epic infantry base that ships with the models. Have you ordered any and given it a go? What was your experience?
I find that Forgeworld has done a great job on dimmensions and posing. Clean up and fragile models are another topic though... oh, and first straigtening and then gluing those railguns on broadsides can make one's vocubulary diminish rapidly! 
I have modeled both broadsides and crisis to include drones on the stands with them. One can easily fill all 5 slots on the Epic:A bases.
I have done both of these - from a feasability perspective, no problem at all, and looks quite nice actually:
Example 1:
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Base slots 1 - 5
Battlesuit, Drone, Battlesuit, Drone, Battlesuit
-- I find example 1 works good to distinguish a character stand.
Example 2:
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Base slots 1-5
Drone, Battlesuit, Drone, Battlesuit, Drone
-- I find this works good to distinguish a trooper stand
Cheers,
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Rob
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Now there's some truth to that! Forgeworld goods are not sensative to pocket book concerns!
I have several drone stands that I only put 3 models per base because I needed to 'stretch' the investment! Anyone that's purchased Forgeworld Epic army probably has their own tricks of the modelling trade!
