New tau codex / strider

[overwatch0clock]

www.warhammer-community.com/2021/12/13/the-greatest-covert-operator-in-the-tau-empire-is-stepping-in-from-the-shadows/

I know they aren't loved and I don't have my army anymore but that new darkstrider model looks like a clean joy to paint. Hopefully they get some love from the codex.

[Jack Shrapnel]

new darkstrider is pretty sweet!

glad to see tau is getting some love soon.

[dave]

I'm interested to see how the rest of the rules shake out. I've run darkstrider quite a few times, but I don't think he has ever actually fired his carbine. Now he gets a fancy 24" s5 -2ap 2d version, but are people going to actually want to use that over a markerlight with a reliable chance to hit?

That said, I still haven't even bought the new shadowsun. I'm not a huge fan of named characters in general, and I'm looking for every excuse to run something other than a t'au sept 5+ overwatching castle.

The model is fine, but it doesn't knock my socks off.

Bring on more rules leaks.

[Frosty the Pirate]

Dec 13, 2021 11:59:18 GMT -5 dave said:

I'm interested to see how the rest of the rules shake out. I've run darkstrider quite a few times, but I don't think he has ever actually fired his carbine. Now he gets a fancy 24" s5 -2ap 2d version, but are people going to actually want to use that over a markerlight with a reliable chance to hit?

I've been speculating since the GSC rule bomb for Crossfire that Markerlights may work similarly. Instead of being a gun you fire out-of-sequence, they become a wargear option for certain units. When those units score hits on a target with their regular weapons, the markerlight "activates" automatically and you place the marker, then other units get a boost when shooting at the marker-lit unit (perhaps only if they also have a markerlight?)

For the record, that's pure bull-s*** grade speculation. But it would line up with GW's "streamlining" approach to make the game keep moving instead of having a "marker light phase" and also indirectly solves the problem where Tau players are always cursing their rules when someone targets all their markerlight bearing units first (as we all know to do).

[dave]

Wouldn't be too shocking, and I would love to see a markerlight rework. As implemented, they're more handicap than help.

GSC did give me hope that GW was at least interested in writing some rules to hightlight an army's method of war, beyond simple stat adjustments.

[VaUkos]

good thing I didn't get a darkstrider yet and i like this model quite a bit more my self I like the basing it has and some of the finer face detail, but the eye scanner looks like it will be a pain to paint. one thing im not a fan of is the lack of is the pauldron,

[overwatch0clock]

Dec 13, 2021 15:50:35 GMT -5 VaUkos said:

good thing I didn't get a darkstrider yet and i like this model quite a bit more my self I like the basing it has and some of the finer face detail, but the eye scanner looks like it will be a pain to paint. one thing im not a fan of is the lack of is the pauldron,

The old darkstrider was my first fine cast and I thought I got scammed, this is so much nicer lol

[cmcd]

I would love to see Rail guns turn into Mortal wound giver. Any units in a straight line take 1 mortal wound, up to the max range.

[LizardTau]

www.warhammer-community.com/2021/12/14/master-the-ways-of-montka-and-kauyon-with-codex-tau-empires-new-tactical-philosophies/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=tau+codex,+Dec+14

[lightcavalier]

Interesting, I like the flexibility of being able to choose after you know who is going first.

[Jack Shrapnel]

This is a pretty cool mechanic

[raceygaming]

I wonder if shadow sun or farsight will get some sort of bonus to thier preferred call. Like farsight get 2x turn 1 18" and shadow sun get x2 turn 5 double hits.
Would make them very interesting choices as named commanders.

[VaUkos]

It's interesting way to do it I'm not sure how I feel about the 1-3, 3-6 battle rounds though because I normally don't get to 5 and six and I like the fall back and shoot.

[Frosty the Pirate]

Dec 14, 2021 10:20:06 GMT -5 lightcavalier said:

Interesting, I like the flexibility of being able to choose after you know who is going first.

this is the key threat of it.

Tau need to choose after they know whose going first or second if they are going to play a cagey castle-game or if they are going to balls-to-the-wall alpha strike you before you cross the table.

Because the game no longer allows the player to choose first or second turn, this mechanic makes a TON of sense.

The correct way to approach it I suspect will be to build/deploy for both, then if your opponent is vulnerable and you hit the coinflip to go first, you can Montka them in the face and play from your toes, or if the reverse happens and you can't afford to close the distance (or you have a slow opponent who has to come to you) then you can go Kauyon and play cagey and close the scoring gap on Turn 4 and 5 with big spike damage swings.

[dave]

Is it just me, or do these seem incredibly restrictive?

The shooting buffs only apply if shooting the closest enemy unit within a relatively short range. And of course they only apply for 3 of 5 turns. Not getting to use kau'yon until turn 3, when the game may have already been decided, makes me wonder if it will ever actually be the right choice.