Hi guys, I recently re-started playing E:A regularly after a many-years-long hiatus caused by real life stuff and such. In one of my first games, a large multi-player affair, I joined the Tau side and (after drooling on my friend's awesome forgeworld miniatures, which annoyed him a bit) I proceeded to help him choose an army list, and then to be decisive in our spectacular defeat by the local imperial guard player... OK, but that's another story. First of all, let me say that I had only seen the very first draft of the tau rules, penned by Jervis himself IIRC, so I'm very pleased to see that the list progressed a lot, and in the right direction I'd say.

Now, I have perhaps a blatantly stupid proposal for the developers of the list. Maybe this was discussed ad nauseam and I don't know it, so please be patient with this old grognard, who became a newbie again due to long inactivity.

OK, on with the proposal. I know that the controversy about the "artificially low" tau FF values is as old as the list itself, but... consider this: the FF values are low in order to discourage assaults, even if this also makes certain tau units perhaps a tad too vulnerable in firefights, and certainly has some counter-intuitive implications (wot crisis suits do not have the MW ability in FFs?).

So my question is... why don't just forbid tau to use the engage order? Yes, plainly forbid it. (Kroots shouldn't obviously be included). In this way, you could give some punch to, say, fire warriors in FF, but they would only be good *defending* vs firefights, and not charging with guns blazing.

I don't know, right now I cannot see blatant disadvantages in prohibiting tau units to assault and then give them the "logical" FF values, but I could be very wrong, who knows. I'd like to hear your opinion on this!

PS - It's nice to be back!!! :-)

all the best

coram

PM Dobbsy ... he's the Tau expert !

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Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

Apparently not. No one listens to me    

A sane man in an insane world appears insane ...    

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Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

@Coram,

This is not necessarily a bad idea, the simplicity of it is intriguing. I think the challenge is that we are given a design parameter in the list that basically says, "Tau do not have a FF+4".

Which is why we are jumping through some hoops to provide a reasonable alternative. This does bear mulling over though, mostly from a "What are the unintended consequences" of the proposal.

Have you thought over as an opponent, what that might let you do to the Tau?

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Honda

"Remember Taros? We do"

- 23rd Elysian Drop Regiment

I think this is a very interesting (good) idea.

In my (older) tau Codex, it tells the story of Aun'shi and the defence of Fio'vash. The Tau were attacked by Orks. They were using defensive positions (shock/horror,Tau valueing terrain) and they were cutting the orks down "in their hundreds".

This little story also backs up the Tau Ethereal having a MW CC attack. The Feral Orks became afraid of Aun'shi "this warrior who could not be killed".

Fire Warriors should be able to defend themselves in a FF assault but should not be ordered into throwing themselves at a defended position for an unacceptable loss of life.

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Just call me Steve.

NetEA Rules Chair
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Want to play Iron Warriors in Epic Armageddon? Click HERE
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Interesting proposal.

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Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

I think forbidding the Engage order is a bit extreme as, occasionally, Tau will need to shift enemies from positions.

Back in v3.0 they suffered a penalty to their Action Test if given the Engage order; I think that would be a better approach:

T1.2 Discretion Over Valour
The Tau rely on their firepower to deal with enemy forces, and actively avoid hand to hand
combat where possible. To reflect this, Tau formations (but not Kroot) gain a +1 initiative bonus
when taking Overwatch or Sustained Fire actions, but suffer a –2 initiative penalty when
attempting to take an Engage action.

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"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

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

As long as any modifications of this sort have a 4+ FF for Fire Warriors (or similar increase in ability) then I'd support it.

_________________
Just call me Steve.

NetEA Rules Chair
NetEA FAQ

Want to play Iron Warriors in Epic Armageddon? Click HERE
Some of my Armies.
My Hobby site.

Back in v3.0 they suffered a penalty to their Action Test

Very interesting, something worth looking at.