I think that the point revolves more about why it is seen so much that Tau need a barrage weapon in Epic but i never heard any reasons in that regard.
kyussinchains wrote:
m_folais wrote:
I am one of the no BP in epic Tau. It’s the way it is.
but it just isn't though..... saying 'thats the way it is' goes against what is clearly stated in 40k, both in rules and in background.....I'm pretty sure that the whole 'tau don't have barrage weapons' argument is based on the time when tau didn't have them, now with the advent of the supremacy suit they clearly do, which is yet another example of how the Tau adapt their style of warfare to face new threats....
But it is not in the actual WH40k either: A template in WH40k is not the same as a template in Epic as they are barrages of shoots spread over an area, not a single powerful explosion, even if it is indirect. If we were to follow that logic half the weapons in Epic would be barrages. Pulse Ordinance Multi Driver feels more like a mix between a 2xTK (1) and a 3-4x AP2+/AT2+ or MW3+.
Apart FW clearly states that it is a TK/MW one not a wide area weapon less a rapid-fire or a barrage weapon.
Quote:
Encountering increasing numbers of enemy heavy assault elements, from Imperial Knights to the towering alien monstrosities of the Tyranid Hive Fleets, T'au heavy flyers were often outclassed. Earth Caste engineer Fio'o Ke'lshan Sho'aun developed the KX139 to mount a dynamic yet stoic defence against such foes.
Armed with a pair of Tri-axis Ion Cannon and a Pulse Ordnance Multi-driver, this KX139 Ta'unar Supremacy Armour Battlesuit is ready to engage enemies at range and dominate the battlefield.
And even if looking at the rules, the more spread version of that weapon, is intended to kill infantry Death Stars or middle menaces in groups (Strength 8, AP 3 it has) which would be more like 3xMW, instead of big infantry groups. It has a template because of the size of the weapon it uses and that it causes an explosion instead of penetrative shots (would be like talking of HEAT or HESH ammo in real life terms which are used even in light cannons of short range tanks and sometimes in heavy rifles).
The only thing that changed in Tau is changed the usual Tau tactics for a more Guard/Squat static approach with big suits. So the question is, where did you see that the Supremacy and its weapons are for big infantry groups? It is a honest question, because i struggle to see where did you see that on the books i am looking at and i pass on reading again everything. So far, only the fact that it uses a template and has Ind Fire I can see, but there are others that do in WH40k and not in Epic.
kyussinchains wrote:
I've played half a dozen test games using the supremacy suit as an artillery piece, it's never been flagged as remotely OP by my opponents, and I'm struggling to see why it's such a sticking point for some....
Well, while it is not OP for the points, it is still one of the best artillery units in the game, if not the best, but that is a different issue.
And what is discussed recently mainly it is that it is an auto-take because it is an artillery unit in a race that does not have any. You say it yourself, you played half a dozen test games with it. How many have been played in the last three years WITHOUT it, at least reported on TacCom? I can account them with one hand.
CarlixTomix wrote:
I'm completely on the side of letting Tau have BP as long as it gamewise balanced, and I completely agree with what kyussinchains posted.
However, for me the current stat line of 3BP 60cm indirect fire feels a little subpar and bland, so I voted for the other version, just because it feels less wasteful for a 275 points body.
Not exactly. It has less power than the second option, indeed, but while i think that the power for the first option is right for the cost or even cheap, compared with almost any other artillery unit in the game, you have to take into account what it offers to a Tau list as it is a weapon that offers three things that Tau do not have (Ind Fire, template and alpha strike capability with no risks). Due to that and other motives that you can find in Matt-Shadowlord list's thread it was an auto-take in any game since it was added to the list 2-3 years ago.