I’m also working on a Tau list, though I’m looking at 3k. I’m rusty at this, so I’m taking on advice as i go. The plan is to pair both FW Cadres with a Pathfinder Group each, and have the rest of the army drop or teleport in.

Fire Warrior Cadre (Broadside, Skyray, Bonded Team) - 500 (BTS)
8 Fire Warrior
3 Broadside
1 Skyray

Fire Warrior Cadre (Broadside, Skyray) - 475
8 Fire Warrior
3 Broadside
1 Skyray

Crisis Suit Cadre (Crisis Suits, Shas’o) - 425
6 Crisis Suit
1 Shas’o

Crisis Suit Cadre (Crisis Suits) - 350
6 Crisis Suit
1 Shas’el

Pathfinder Group - 200
4 Pathfinder
2 Devilfish

Pathfinder Group - 200
4 Pathfinder
2 Devilfish

Stealth Group - 225
6 Stealth Suit

Orca Dropship - 150
1 Orca

Orca Dropship - 150
1 Orca

Barracuda Squadron - 150
2 Barracuda

Barracuda Squadron - 150
2 Barracuda

Eleven activations seems plenty for my purposes. However, I’m worried about whether my FW can stick around long enough, particularly against armor, to allow the drop to proceed successfully. On the one hand my Broadsides have reliable shots, but on the other there are only three of those shots per formation. Also, the guard player in me is screaming about how few bodies I have in general.

Another question: What is the general consensus, if any, on Recon Groups vs. Pathfinder Groups for ML duty?

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Personally I prefer Pathfinders for the coolness and sniper, but the Tau player in my group is really fond on Tetras+Piranhas, he's got very good using those units to their full potencial: extreme mobility and speed to get the ML right where he needs them (+ a few extra guided missiles )

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At what ratio is he using them? 3:3 Piranhas to Tetras? 4:2?

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We managed to secure a slight buff for the Crisis Suits, extra AT6+ attack on the Plasma Rifle,
but more importantly for your list, upgrades at: up to 4 extra suits, 1 for 50 points, pairs for 75 points.
That would free up 50 points!!

I'd definitely have an Ethereal in my BTS (50 points). Hiding the Ethereal sufficiently has become
at theme in our recent games, including betting hunted with MW Barrage attacks and the dreaded
Volcano Cannon sniper efforts. Adding a couple of Gun Drones (25 points) adds to the resilience.

The Orca is a relatively light air assault platform. I'd probably want the option to planetfall them
to avoid really heavy AA. Although their 45 cm missiles, with no fire arc restrictions, make them
good BM placing platforms if you are running them empty. Planetfall obviously requires a spacecraft
in this context so perhaps dilutes the theme slightly - but gives some pin-point TK action.

I currently am leaning towards Pathfinders as the preferred option. The two Devilfish hidden
somewhere as Guided Missile platforms and the Pathfinders doing their thing. The Tetras and
Piranhas option are certainly more useful if you are going for a more mobile approach. Needing
that extra reach to MarkerLight for long range attacks and perhaps less obviously to establish
crossfire positions as part of a Coordinated Fire activation. With your list I'd be on the Pathfinders.

Personally I'd have my second Fire Warrior formation mechanised without the Broadsides. That
would provide more mobile ground based AA, initially in the backfield, offer a heavier Guided Missile
fire group (5 GMs on sustain fire is useful) and free up 150 points for something else.

Having a Shas'o in an air assault role always gets under my skin, in terms of the re-roll. If they
are in the Orca then you don't get the re-roll for the initial assault (Orca activating not the Crisis
Suits). If Planetfalling then same but with the Spacecraft. If you pick the formation up to air
assault in the next turn you don't have the re-roll for the end Phase. Having the Shas'o on the
table in a small-ish not Fearless formation is pretty vulnerable to being broken and then killed by
blast markers. Hence trimming back on the 2nd FW Cadre and just having Shas'el Crisis Cadres
makes formations less costly and reduces the relative impact of not having a re-roll.

I mostly use Recon formations at 4 Tetras, 2 Piranhas. Can still fire at long range if carrying a
single marker. Always have to have at least 2 stands within 5 cm if you have any Piranhas so
can't make the formation less vulnerable to blast templates. Usually seem to have some markerlight
capacity after initial casualties.

Usually 3:3

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I originally ran my recons at 4:2 (piranhas to tetras) but I've started flipping that to 2:4 for more assured ML availability plus the scouting let's you stretch them further. I've also had success with 5:1 as a GM fire base, especially when used with coordinated fire, and 0:6. Those last two are much more specific roles and aren't as flexible so that's more list dependent.

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I also started using 5:1 and 1:5 - stole the idea from Steve54 after reading some of his posts a while back. I garrison the 1:5 (Piranha:Tetra) so the ML are up forward. The Piranha FM sits back and sustains using coordinated fire as gunslinger notes. If I need it to grab objectives, it's available, as well as its lone tetra for backup ML duty. I've had those formations just sit in my deployment zone and sustain for three turns, with generally good results.

I generally try to fit in an independent pathfinder formation for survivable ML. I also go heavy on the Skyrays so that my fire warrior and hammerhead FMs have organic ML. This is expensive and maybe a little redundant though. We have a particularly air-heavy meta so that might be an overreaction on my part.

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I typically leave the Pathfinders of my lists, just because of the utility I feel I get from the skyrays and recon. At 3k points, I'll typically have 3 recon, and three skyrays, usually two in with fire warriors and one in a fusion head formation. That side, I do think Pathfinders garrisoned in terrain make a great ML hub.

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In the right circumstances, they make great bait for landing craft full of space marine infantry and tanks... once.

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Okay. Second try here, and hopefully I’ve got the points right this time. I’ve tried to take on advice as best my current collection allows.

Crisis Cadre (Shas’o, Crisis Suits) 400
Crisis Cadre (Crisis Suits) 325
Fire Warrior Cadre/Foot (Broadsides, Skyray, Bonded Team) 500
Fire Warrior Cadre/Mounted (Pathfinders, Skyray, Bonded Team) 450
Stealth Suit Group 225
Recon Skimmer Group (4 Tetra, 2 Piranha) 175
Recon Skimmer Group (4 Tetra, 2 Piranha) 175
Armor Support Group (7 5 Railgun) 275
Orca 150
Orca 150
Barracuda Squadron 150

Total 2975

There’s a few things that are compromise solutions, but overall I’m okay with it.

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SG

Ghost's Paint Blog, where everything goes that isn't something else.

Let us know how you get on with the crisis.

By the way for the avoidance of doubt you only get 5 railheads for 275 points

With the spare 25 points why no ethereal for the BTS? Would take fearless over leader any day.

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Whoops. Mixed up the Broadside numbers into the Hammerhead formation. As for the Ethereal, I don’t have the model.

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SG

Ghost's Paint Blog, where everything goes that isn't something else.

A few thoughts:
- I typically don't bring bonded team. I think the points are better spent in other places;
- the pathfinder and skyray upgrades in the fire warrior formation are a bit redundant. For me, I would drop the PFs to free up points;
- 7 rail heads for 275 isn't right, maybe this is a typo. 4 cost 225. The most you can take is 6 at 325;
- if nothing else, find a way to use that last 25 points! Even if it's just adding drones to a formation.

Crisis suits in orcas can be a lot of fun, albeit putting your fragile eggs in a fragile basket, but they can hit like a truck! Welcome to the greater good!


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I think drones are the best upgrade for Crisis formations. Same speed, extremely cheap, and add a lot of survivability (meat shields).

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I’m pretty sure that a Marine player would take that bait every time