Hena, there is a big distinction between Drones and Robot Sentry Turrets (as I think you are aware)

So, do you mean that we should drop RST, Drones or both, (as I think you mean that we should drop RST, which seems to be the general call)

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Sir Hemry Newbolt

Well, the thinking was to provide a means for the Tau to benefit at short range from their technology without changing the existing stats - - as people seem to be having difficulties with the Tau surviving at short ranges.

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Sir Hemry Newbolt

I don't think drones needs more special rules really.

On a side note, the FW list has an interesting rule for drones. Each drone base killed is worth half a BM, and half a kill in an assault. They aren't totally disposable, but provide some protection in an assault because of that.

Just throwing it out there.

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Note that it also has the essential caveat that fully drone formations act as normal, which the current drone rule excludes for some unknown reason.

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First of all I always favored removing the turrets. (Discussion about a year from now back)

Second, I would prefer a simplification of the rules regarding drones: maybe something like this:

+25(50)pts markerlight drone upgrade. (Every enemy formation in 30cm of the formatiuon bought this upgrade counts as markerlighted. No unit added every base gets the special rule "Markerlight")

remove all other markerlights from unit stats exept pathfinders.

I also do not see a reason to let a TAU player spam out independend Drone formations for cheap. Keep them as upgrades in small numbers (not more than 2 units per formation), make them disposable and finish the discussion. Gives some protection, not too much and solves at least two unneeded and annoying special rules. (I am pretty sure the TAU fraction will cry loudly about altering their rules, but hey, only my 0.002 cent)

Soren

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Regarding Drones and turrets, just where do people see them fitting into this general Tau strategy?

From what I have read it seems they are sent out ahead of the main body to 'light up' incoming targets, or to act as a screen to protect the infantry from assaults.

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Thanks LiTS, in general it seems that most people agree that Turrets should be removed either because they do not fit in with the ethos, or because of imbalances (ML and GMs)

The "wacky" thought on Drones was a 'brainstorming' suggestion intended to allow the Tau to use their technology to better effect, allowing them to use their Drones a bit like Grots:-

The Drone formation is treated in all respects as a separate formation (so it is moved separately and provides supporting fire etc), except for the hit allocation step in shooting or assaults. During hit allocation, hits may be allocated to Drone formations that are within 5cms of the 'main' Tau formation as though they were part of the 'main' formation following the normal 'Front-to-back' approach. The 'main' Tau formation only takes a BM for being shot at if any hits are allocated to it. In the resolution step, once hits have been allocated and resolved, the Drones and the 'main' formation test separately to see if they have become broken etc.

Does that make more sense?

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Like I said, I love the idea behind the ML sentrys, but they are an active "minefield," which doesn't fit with the tournament scenario.  Attacking any position the Tau want to keep you away from should be fatal.  (put me in the Balance camp, not the ethos of the Tau army camp)

The Drone formation is treated in all respects as a separate formation (so it is moved separately and provides supporting fire etc), except for the hit allocation step in shooting or assaults. During hit allocation, hits may be allocated to Drone formations that are within 5cms of the 'main' Tau formation as though they were part of the 'main' formation following the normal 'Front-to-back' approach. The 'main' Tau formation only takes a BM for being shot at if any hits are allocated to it. In the resolution step, once hits have been allocated and resolved, the Drones and the 'main' formation test separately to see if they have become broken etc.

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Not sue I follow you there LiTS. Isn't 'spamming' a function of the number of formations available rather than their use? Tau lists can already take silly numbers of Drone formations as TRC has already pointed out, and I think there is also a general call to restrict them in some way (perhaps 1 per infantry formation??).

Keeping the Drone formations separate means that the Tau player has to take more time to set up co-ordinated attacks or defense in order to gain this benefit. Equally, the Drones are relatively easy to break because of their small formation sizes.

Like I said, this was only a "wacky" thought on a way to overcome the relatively weak Tau infantry armour values allowing the Tau to operate better at the 15cms 'short range' end of the spectrum without changing the existing stats etc.

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Sir Hemry Newbolt

Replace 'allows' with 'encourages'.  

I need to quit posting after a long day in classes, it kills my brain.

?? Relatively weak armor values?  Tau infantry (both PF and FW) have the same armor as a Stormtrooper unit.  That's the best non-powered armor in the game.  Do you mean BM handling?

Since we can't change FF values, getting within 30cm of the enemy (which allows the survivors to charge next activation) is really dangerous.  Just as dangerous as closing to 12" is in 40k.

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5+ is weak relative to say Eldar Shining Spears, Warp Spiders and Striking scorpions, or Ogryns - - - but is a whole lot better than Imperial guard, Support squads or Guardians. But I guess we are on the same wavelength here.

You made a very valid point that the Tau should be moderately effective at long-range, good at medium range and "death incarnate" at short range (15-30 cms). However, even at 5+, unprotected infantry tend not to survive well at short range, needing some form of additional protection (and usually transport). I was thinking about using the Drones as a slightly more distant kind of defence for the infantry, and allowing them a little more flexibility.


Ok, point taken about 'spamming'. Do you have any views on how to limit this?

Also, does the current rule (or replacing this with 'expendable') make independant Drone formations too strong?

And finally, what do you think about giving Drones 'scout'?

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