|
OK... Here I go... To restate some items in one of my previous posts:
Some basic tenants:
- the Tau list is pretty close to OK, but if anything it is too strong and I dont think that it needs up-gunning.
- the Fire Warriors seem to be fine, and the problem is that they dont present a good option compared to other formations in the list, either because of specialisation or points cost.
So...
Restrict the number of auxiliaries to one per Fire Warrior Cadre.
Decrease the number of human auxiliary units in the formation to 7+1, with the ungrade going to +4. This brings it in line with the other formation sizes. I am thinking costing it then at around 150 points.
For now, the Crisis and AMHC Cadres remain unchanged. To reiterate, we will not be dropping either of these as Cadres from the list.
There was an addition point about reducing the speed on the Hammerhead chassis to 25cm. Looking at this for a moment, I would probably prefer to round up the cost of the formation to 400 instead. This would make Hammerheads the same cost as a Leman Russ.
For focus:
Most of the list is working fine. The largest problem, as I see it, is that players are reluctant to take Fire Warriors.
There is, in addition, a general concensus that the Tau list is not underpowered. I am a little dubious about such statements, but accept that is can be powerful in certain situations, and in addition is a relatively forgiving list. That does not mean that I will sanction mass cuts across the list, but that this should be kept in mind. I suspect that a lot of this effect is due to the central role of the Hammerhead - being a relatively powerful tank, available in good numbers and a skimmer. I do not think that major changes are required to this unit.
It was also suggested that Hammerheads be changed to:
RailHead - 75cm - AT3+/AP5+
IonHead - 60cm - AT4+/AP4+
I also find this an interesting idea.
So, my proposition is that the following aspects should be addressed:
- Fire Warrior Cadres
- examine the Hammerhead
OK, now to look at a few comments that have come up...
There was a suggestion that a Human formation be reduced to 7+1 (accepted) but that it should also cost the same as a Fire Warrior formation. I think that this would over price the formation, and swing things the other way.
There is an additional suggestion that the human formation be limited to the core units and no upgrades be available for it. This seems a good idea to me. The human formation should remain a fairly fragile one, and an ability to add a further 6 units to the initial 12 makes it very durable - more than other Tau formations. This would make the humans 7+1 at 150 points with no upgrades.
However from my experience yesterday and from using them previously (I admit this is limited) the job FW's are designed for just doesn't need doing in the current Tau list largely due to the amount of firepower that Battle suit and steakth suit formations have combined with the special rule which allows them to hit and not be hit in return.
This is an interesting point. If we accept that the Fire Warriors are there as an anti-iinfantry unit we can do a pure comparrison of the hitting power.
FW (25 points) - 30cm 2xAP5+
Crisis (62.5 points) - 3 lots of AP4+ (or equivalent) at three ranges
IonHead (62.5 points) - 60cm 2xAP4+
Yes, I know, there is more to a unit than what they are carrying. But just considering offensive ability, the FW do fairly well for the points.
Oh, and one more time... Tau will not get their FF values increased. 
Another option was to limit the inclusion of the Ethereal to FW Cadres only. This would be a relatively minor change, and would be consistant with the background.
So... where are we... The thing that keeps coming up is that the FW are good at anti-infantry, but that this is a limited niche in the current force list. The problem, as I see it, is that while the FW are very good at this, this is the only thing that they currently do, and looking through the Tau stats pretty much every other unit also has the ability to hit infantry. Even though I dont think that there is another unit that does it quite as well as the FW, other units are more tactically flexible. In addition, I think that to make a FW formation more flexible, you have to add stuff to it - taking its cost up considerably and questioning why not get something else that started more expensive in the first place.
Possibly the biggest change that I have seen and I am thinking about is the reduction of the weapons on the Crisis teams, dropping the Plasma Rifles. My view on the Crisis units is that they should be the 'melta weapon' of the list - relatively short ranged MW, but able to take our heavier targets. This, combined with their movement ability, would make them good assasins of enemy heavy infantry and tanks, leaving the FW to throw out more ammo en masse and the tanks to shoot around the battlefield in a more co-ordinated manner.
I do think that we need to allocate a specific battlefield role with the regards to these three core units in the game.
---
So, to sum up:
Fire Warriors
Probably restrict Ethereals to Fire Warrior CADRES only.
HammerHeads: speed unchanged at 30cm, 400 points for a formation of 6.
Probably new stats as
RailHead - 75cm - AT3+/AP5+
IonHead - 60cm - AT4+/AP4+
Crisis Suits
Possibly drop the Plasma Rifle stats, although I would also be interested in reducing the range of the Missile Pods to 30cm as well. (Also, without wanting to go too far, is the MW small arms justified as well?)
Human Formations: 7+1 units, 150 points, no upgrades.
Any auxiliary formations limited to one per Fire Warrior Cadre.
---
OK... braced for feedback! 
_________________ https://www.cybershadow.ninja - A brief look into my twisted world, including wargames and beyond. https://www.net-armageddon.org - The official NetEA (Epic Armageddon) site and resource.
|
