This is a battle report from a series of tests of the new Vior'la Tau list (version 0.6 user here). This is an army that incorporates all the newly released models from the 40K Tau book, including the Riptide, Cadre Fireblade, Sunshark bomber and Razorshark Strike Squadron.
More about the list here: http://www.taccmd.tacticalwargames.net/ ... 23&t=24822 Tau vs Emperor's ChildrenThe next battle report for the experimental Tau Vior'la list features the new Sun Shark Bomber, Cadre Fireblade (Firewarriors upgrade to FF4+), Riptides and Razorshark Fighter Squadrons thrown into battle against yet another twisted Chaos Marine variant capable of summoning Daemons on the front line. Brett's Emperor's Children.
Tau deploy conservatively behind a tetra scout screen, while EC deploy agressively in preparation for storming across the field. This is an extremely fast moving army, and it plans to get into assault with the followers of the Greater Good as soon as possible.
One of EC's mechanised formations preparing to make a push forward into the no-man's land.
A close up of the army's leader shows how good this force will look when fully painted. This is part of a month long campaign, so expect to see it improve over the coming weeks.
The Tau Hammerhead formations shoot out the enemy rhinos of two enemy formations to slow them down down, and in retaliation Jump troops prepare to assault and annihilate half of them.
The end of a turn
And the start of the next
Armies that summon daemons seem very popular locally - which isn't great news for the Tau who like their foes at arms length!
The BTS formation is quickly beaten and broken, with a few ragtag survivors surviving the hack down to get away. Things are starting to look grim for the Tau.
And more summoned Daemons on the other flank ensure that things won't get better soon.
But damaged as the army may be, the Tau will not go quietly into the night.
The first of the airsupport arrives, firing a 3BP weapon at the foul enemies on the ground
After a brief respite, the EC begin to launch a second wave of assaults
Tragedy strikes as the crisis suits are beaten and cut down. They had used their overwatch to destroy one formation, only to be hit by the much larger one that came after it.
This fight would prove close to even, with Fire Support and a lucky combat result roll giving Tau their first assault win.
Things have looked desperate for the Tau from the very first engagements of turn 2, but the few remaining units take or contest objectives to prevent an early loss, while air support kills and breaks some key enemy units.
A few carefully chosen surgical strikes later, and the EC are evicted from objectives.
The hammerheads swoop in to contest the enemy blitz, and the EC unit on the friendly blitz is broken. With that and the desruction of their BTS formation, the Emperor's Children's threat is negated, and we call the game early for the Tau.
This was another game where the Tay army got really badly mauled, only to pull the game back gradually by a combination of luck and pure unadulterated focus on scoring the points at whatever the cost.
I'd say the Vior'la list is coming along well, and is probably reaching the stage where it is a matter of making minor tweaks and points adjustments rather than revolutionary changes.
Compared to the Tau army it is based on, it does not appear overpowered - the biggest innovation to the existing list is the upgrade to allow Firewarriors FF4+, which hasn't stopped them being beaten and broken in the last few games. The army does have the ability to bounce back though, and the comparitive resilience of Riptides and the Pulse bomb armed Sun Shark have helped with that. Having a Blast weapon available on the bomber has a far greater effect than its stats would indicate as it punishes enemy formations that don't spread out at least little.
