Moscovian and E&C have proposed splitting the list up in another thread.  I think it was an idea with some merit and wanted to start up a thread to talk about what that might look like.  I don't necessarily want to talk about whether we should split the list or not initially.  So, even if you don't favor splitting the list up, please contribute any ideas of how you think it might work or what would be a good way to do it.  I know that CS prefers an all inclusive list, so this is really just an academic exercise, but well, I am snowed in and have nothing better to do.

So then, with that out of the way.  Here's my thoughts on what it could look like (many of them borrowed from other posts).

Main/Basic List - This could be called a Taros Campaign list or whatever.  I think the goal here would be to make it look like a 'normal' Tau force.  If a new player wanted to start up Tau and was familiar with them from 40k, this list should look very familiar to them.  It should use existing models to make it easily accessible.  Try to use the units found in the Tau Empire codex, w/ air support.

Armored List - This list could have an earth Caste theme to it or be from an Earth Caste dominated Sept world.  It could feature full mobility and lots of tanks.  This would be a good place for HH variants and the Moray, etc.

Garrison List - This list could be more static in nature and include drone sentry turrets and plenty of auxiliary troops.

To put it in more concrete terms here is how the Basic List would compare to the 4.4.3 list.

Basic List Units Removed  

- Heavy Drones
- Kroot Hounds & Krootox  (only basic Kroot)
- Vespid
- Tetra
- ML Sentry Turret
- Swordfish
- Stingray
- Scorpionfish
- Moray

Formations Removed

- AMHC  (reserved for Armored LIst)
- Support groups and upgrades relevant to removed units.

I am on the fence on the removal of Gue’vesa Auxiliary Company and Tetra.  Neither are in the Tau Empire codex, but both are in IA3 and/or Apocalypse or exist in 40k in some way.  That would leave the basic Tau w/

22 unit entries - down from 35  (if you remove Humans & Tetra, otherwise 25 units)
12 Upgrades - down from 16
16 Formations - Down from 24

Which would actually be a little below average rather than among the highest.  So, maybe the Tetra and Gue’vesa should be in this list.

But, with about 1/3 less units and formation, it should be easier to balance the list.

The armored list could then look like this (relative to the Basic List)

- Piranha  (these are described as filling the void when tanks aren't around, not the case here)
- Kroot (& Humans)
- Broadsides (too slow to keep up, plenty of other railguns in the list.)
- Tigershark
+ Swordfish  (TL Railguns)
+ Stingray
+ Moray
+ Tetra
+  some other new unit?  or maybe the TL Fusion HH?

- Battlesuit Cadre
+ AMHC
  change Firewarrior Cadre to 6 stands w/ compulsory transport.  (less ground troops, but they have to be mechanized)
+ other relevant groups & formations

So, this list would play differently than the Basic list for sure, but allow those that want them some other new toys, while bringing in the units taken out of the Basic list.  One thing it would lack is an SC upgrade, so perhaps some kind of command tank would be needed.

The Garrison List could go something like:

- Pathfinders
- Stealthsuits   (These guys scout ahead of an advance and wouldn't hang around a garrison)
- Tigershark
- Orca
- Barracudas
- Devilfish
limited HHs
+ Kroot Subtypes
+ Human options
+ Vespid
+ Tigershrak AX-2-2
+ Remoras  (fighter relacement for barracudas)
+ Heavy Drones
+ Sentry Turrets
+ Scorpionfish  (seems like a good defensive unit)

- Battlesuit Cadre
+ Auxiliary Cadre (one flavor only.  Other Aux units are support)
 make FW Cadre a 1+ choice
+ other relevant groups & formations




Anyway, that would give 3 unique lists, with the option for the 2 'new' lists to grow or have some units added to them.  The Basic Tau lists would have known units with available models and I think be a good opening to the Tau army for a new player.  Not just a new player to the Tau army, but a new player to Epic facing Tau for the first time.  I think these lists are similar to what has been done with other armies (SM, IG, Eldar, etc) and show that the Tau have the same variety of units and army possibilities that the other armies do.

So, Moscovian, E&C is this what you had in mind?

I had initially suggested four lists:

1. The core list
2. Armored variant
3. Drone variant
4. Auxillia variant

I'll try to edit this response with the threads that I originally brought this up under so I am not regurgitating old info.

_________________
author of Syncing Forward and other stories...

It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I've got my Milkbone underwear on.

shmitty : That's pretty much how I'd envisioned a spliting of the list, yes, except that a few extra unit types could probably be added to each list from the available unused FW models.

_________________
http://www.troublemakergames.co.uk/
Epic: Hive Development Thread

And I just have to jump in and muddy things...  

Isn't there only two actual lists?
With and without Kroot?

Apart from that there's nothing foot slogging about the Tau.


In other words... If we want Epic to be alive and a viable alternative,isn't it time to concentrate on "tournament balanced" lists?
No, not because that's the ultimate in TTG, but it's by far the best way to introduce new and incorporate others.
Each time you do something "odd" you turn someone away.And you can be damn sure that one will talk with someone that will not try because what the first one says!

_________________
It would be nice to get lightspeed,
so far we can only reach slight speed.- Erik M
092b85658e746a91d343e53509d357744e56f641

I have been enjoying the discussion on Chroma's Tau list and some of his ideas. So,  I spent some downtime over the last day or two working up what the Basic Tau list could look like.  It incorporates some of my other ideas on the Tau as well, mostly as I wanted to try them out.  I will try to come up with some battle reports on them, although I am typically pretty bad at that.

Having finished it, I think this much simplified Tau list would be viable, easy to balance, and a great starting point for variant lists.

Also, one thing that came out of Chroma's list, which emphasizes higher FF values would be the possibility of a Farsight Enclave variant list.  There is a Tau list that would excel in fire-fights.  By having a structure setup for variants, you could easily have a Farsight Enclave list.  Tis would allow those who want their Tau to avoid assaults to have their list and those that think they should excel at close-in fighting to have a list too.

If you have the time, take a look at the list and let em know what you think of it.