typo

_________________
Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

I voted 6 for a number of reasons:

It prevents popcorn.
It fits with the fluff, as Tau work in units of 3 - having 3 digits on each hand.
I have used a big fm of HHs and it provides excellent utility, lastability and a superb BTS and i don't see why this option should be removed just to make the army easier to play (More activations is easier to play well than less).

Er... you'd still be able to make the 6-strong formation under this proposal.

And I don't think a 250+ point formation is anywhere near "popcorn" potential.

It fits with the fluff, as Tau work in units of 3 - having 3 digits on each hand.

_________________
"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

Now living in Boston... any EPIC players want to meet up?

stompzilla: It fits with the fluff, as Tau work in units of 3 - having 3 digits on each hand.

The original size of six came about because of the package size (3).

I voted for standard 6 size because a 4 unit of HHs is too fragile and an argument could be made for popcorn although that could be addressed by making it a non-core choice as E&C has done.

HHs are not that "hard" a unit. We've played them in many different sizes and as Stompzilla posted, it really comes down to survivability and effectiveness in the back half of the game where Tau can have a hard time staying effective.

I've never seen that kind of large Hammerhead formation ever even mentioned before... it's a lot of points and really hurts the Tau "activation curve"... anyone used a "Sledgehammerhead" formation like that before?  *laugh*

_________________
Honda

"Remember Taros? We do"

- 23rd Elysian Drop Regiment

Upgrading the 4 HH formations to 6 could be the defaul upgrade for them unless if their purpose is to be transported in a Manta. I have no problem with this.
HHs could be the only formation which could take the HH upgrade twice, so creating a 8 strong HH formation.

_________________
We are returned!
http://www.epic-wargaming.de/

I finally voted, but not after any testing. I think I have played enough games across the years to make the choice of 4 plus upgrade. It won't break the list in any way and the Manta Transport reasoning is the best argument for the 4 basic. The popcorn reasoning is a bit weak as you can't consider a popcorn at approx. 225 points and the formation is pretty weak at 4 units.

So we're looking at (roughly) two thirds for a 4-strong formation, and one third against.

Despite my own initial belief that 6-strong is better, I will bend to the will of the community and incorporate a 4-strong formation into my proposal.

_________________
Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

I have been told that most of the Tau range will be returning to the online store.

An exception to this appears to be every Hammerhead turret type except the Railgun, which will apparently not return to sale, those variant turret options still on the online store will apparently be allowed to sell out and will not be re-stocked.

Assuming my info is correct, I will remove both the Ion Cannon and also the Twin Fusion Cannon turret options from my 'generic list' proposal, being as there will no longer be a model available for either.

Variant turret options will stay in my Armoured list proposal.

_________________
Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

Less modelling for me in the future then  

_________________
Frogbear is responsible for...
Previous World Eaters
Previous Emperor's Children
Previous Death Guard
Previous Imperial Fists
Previous Chaos Squats

Question: real quickly, what is the real driver for wanting a four strong formation?

My reason for asking is that I am extremely concerned with the brittlness of a four ship formation. Is it to get a formation to fit in a Manta?

I am very strongly leaning towards a 6 count, but am also open to possibly a 4 plus up to 4 more in an upgrade.

I'm really not seeing this one, so please help me out.

Cheers,

_________________
Honda

"Remember Taros? We do"

- 23rd Elysian Drop Regiment

It's the Manta thing, as well, it's a nice "light" tank formation.  I like it as a harassment formation, you can add in a Skyray, some more tanks, etc.  It feels like a "tank patrol" instead of a big tank push.

Why not allow the "Four with upgrades to six/eight" then?  Then everyone is happy!  

_________________
"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

Now living in Boston... any EPIC players want to meet up?

It really should be 4 with an upgrade IMO (or even just 4) so that you can deploy them via Manta. It would be wrong for them not to be able to fit into the crafts that transport them from place to place.

4/2 is a nice split, as if you own 6 tanks (two tank sets purchased from FW) it allows the following:


- Formation of 4 tanks, plus an Upgrade of two tanks somewhere else in the army (attached to some Mech. Fire Warriors perhaps).

- 4 tanks can fit in a Manta.

- You can take a formation of 6 tanks if you want.

- Three Upgrades of 2 tanks a time scattered around your army.


Basically, it's a nice number to match with the pack size sold by Forgeworld, and it also seems to work OK in games.



I would be against "4 tanks, plus 1-4 extra tanks" as that's open to min/maxing ; both initial formation sizes and upgrade sizes should be of fixed quantities wherever practical (this is an ethos I carried out across my entire list proposal and it has raised no objections).


Larger tank formations should be saved for the Armour themed army list, as typical Tau armies don't field such 'tank companies' (it's hard to call an 8-strong tank formation something other than a 'tank company') but instead typically operate in multiple smaller, autonomous groups.

_________________
Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

This is why I feel the "Support Cadre", in the main list,  should be base four, upgradable to six.  While the "Core Cadre" for the tank list should be base six, upgradable to eight.  Hammerheads that is, salt with other upgrades as desited.

_________________
"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

Now living in Boston... any EPIC players want to meet up?