Woha long mail kelvin! :)
Some comments:
When I wrote these rules I didn't know that GW would produce the 6mm drone
minis. So I had to plan without them. Now that they are here, I thing your
idea is better than mine.
As for the manta it's Rail Cannon Artillery, should have similar stats as th
eldar pulse artillerey (or pulsars) Remember tat it is also capable of
carrying an entire mechanized fire warrior combany as well.
I think we should keep the detachment size for the battlesuits, 4 stands in
a detachment of infantry is a minimum I think!
Nils
-----Original Message-----
From: Kelvin Henderson [mailto:kx.henderson_at_...]
Sent: 12. april 2002 03:37
To: netepic_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NetEpic ML] Tau review
Hi everyone!
I've been pretty quiet on the list lately but I thought I might make my
presence felt again by reviewing the Tau list placed in the Files section of
the Yahoo site. Here goes (warning, its pretty long!):
ARMY COMPOSITION
Like other armies the TAU army is limited to 5 Support Cards and one Special
Card per company level card fielded. However, you may not combine TAU and
KROOT units. Only TAU support cards may be added to TAU company cards and
vice versa.
Comments- With this, I'm not so sure. The Tau and Kroot work very closely
together and I could see it as perfectly reasonable to have a Tau company
card that includes a single detachment of Kroot for CC support. I also see
it as possible that the Tau would buy Kroot also as support cards. Perhaps
purely Tau companies can only buy Kroot Carnivores, Kroot Hounds and Kroot
Ox as support (and only the latter if the company has a detachement of Kroot
Carnivores first).
The KROOT have a slightly different army structure. When a KROOT Support
Card is added to the company, instead of having a separate break point the
total company break point and victory points are increased. These formations
make all break tests and morale checks as a group and not separately.
Comments- I like this rule. Same idea as the Orks. In the Tau 40K codex,
the Kroot Ox and Kroot Hounds can only attach to a unit of Kroot Carnivores
and I think this idea should extend to Epic. If you buy a support card of
Ox or Hounds, then they should attach to a single Carnivore detachment,
becoming part of it.
UNITS:
DRONE UPPGRADES
The Tau fire warriors rely on drones to boast their firepower or to give
them extra protection. For each Fire Warrior detachment in your army, you
may purchase one drone upgrade. Note that you may not select to give any one
detachment more than one upgrade! The Drones are counted as support cards.
Comments- I really don't like this idea. It seems clunky and awkward. GW
is producing minis for the Drones and I think people should be able to use
them on the battlefield. Here's what I propose:
Shield Drones: Simply incorporate them into the command stands. Give the
Battlesuited Commander (Shas'El or Shas'O) and the Ethereal fixed 4+ or 5+
saves based on the Shield Drones. There's no need to give lowly Fire
Warriors the option of using them.
Gun Drones: Move 20cm, 6+ save, 0 CAF, Pulse Carbines: 35cm, 2 dice, 4+, 0
SM Special Rules: Skimmer, Pinning. (Pinning special rule: any detachment
that is hit by a pinning unit must pass a morale check or lose its orders
counter and do nothing for the rest of the turn). *NB- the pinning rules is
simply an addition to represent the ability of the Pulse Carbines to pin
units in 40K. If people don't like it, we can easily ignore it.*
The Gun drones come in two types of detachment: as a Support detachment for
a Fire Warriors or Crisis Battlesuit detachment (75pts, 2 stands, +1 to
parent detachment's BP, same morale as parent detachment and must remain in
coherency with parent detachment) or as an Independent Squadron (200 pts, 6
stands, BP 3, Morale 4+).
This way, the Gun Drones can be used as support for a Fire Warriors or
Crisis Battlesuit unit, adding some firepower, or independently and used to
take objectives and deploy from Tiger Sharks. This fits with the 40K style
of Gun Drones. I think it would work better and be that something different
for the Tau.
FIRE WARRIORS
Comment- Like them as they are. No worries here.
TAU PATHFINDERS
These troops are the eyes and ears of the TAU army. They move onto the
battlefield in front of the main army. They are armed with Pulse
Carbines/markerlights. The pathfinders can chose to either fire at an enemy
unit or to use the markerlight. If they use the markerlight chose a target
and fire as normal. If you score a hit place an
order marker (upside down) beside that unit. For the remainder of that turn,
any other TAU (NOT Kroot) unit firing at the marked enemy unit may add +1 to
their to hit roll.
Comments- I think the range of the Markerlight needs to go from 35cm up to
50cm to make it more useful. In addition, if the Pinning rule is accepted
for the Gun Drones, the Pathfinders should get it as well, but only if they
use their Pulse Carbines.
XV8 CRISIS BATTLESUITS
Comments- Like them as they are. They should an all-purpose unit. I don't
think having different types like the SM dreadnought will make them any
better, it will just get confusing.
XV15 STEALTHSUITS
These troopers are regarded as loners and eccentrics by the TAU. They
operate in small squads behind the enemy line. Stealth battlesuits are
equipped with a burst cannon or a markerlight. The markerlight has the same
stats as for the Pathfinders. Stealth troupers can infiltrate.
Comments- I think we should can the Markerlight for the Stealthsuits. The
basic Stealthsuit trooper doesn't have one in 40K, so they shouldn't in
Epic. The Stealthsuits should also get the "can't be targeted over 25cm"
rule that other stealth troopers have (like Ratlings and Eldar Guardians).
This is in keeping with their 40K background. Bump the move up to 20cm
(they are just as fast as the Crisis Suits) and they'll be fine.
XV88 BROADSIDE BATTLESUIT
These are the heavy support units of the TAU army, the Broadside is equipped
with a pair of very powerful Rail Guns and a smart missile rack.
Comments: They're too fast. They should only have a move of 10cm. No jump
pack on the Broadsides, they're slow. Push the Smart Missiles up to 35cm
range and 2 dice (remember in 40K each Smart Missile system can fire up to 3
shots per unit, with 3 broadsides, that's a lot of firepower!). Railgun
save should be at least -3. Its a mighty powerful gun. More powerful than
a Battlecannon.
TAU ETHEREAL
The Ethereal are the ruling caste of the TAU society. They command the utter
devotion, loyalty and sacrifice of the TAU.
Powers: All TAU (Not Kroot) units within 10cm of the TAU Ethereal are
completely immune to all types of morale tests, and never receive fallback
orders. All other TAU units within LOS may add +1 to their moral rolls.
However, if the TAU Ethereal is killed, all TAU units within LOS must make
an immediate morale check or go on fallback orders.
Comments- Lose the Pulse Pistol. They don't have any ranged weapons. Leave
them withe the +2 CAF and give him a 4+ or 5+ fixed save for Shield Drones
and he'll be fine. Like the power. Max of one per 4000pts (not many
Ethereals get about on the battlefield)
DEVILFISH
This is the workhorse of the TAU army Skimmer, may carry 2 stands.
Comments- Fine. Like 'em.
HAMMERHEAD
This is the TAU MBT. Built on the succsessfull Devilfish Concept exchanging
the carrying capacity for more heavy Armour/weaponry.
Comments- With the MK1 and MK2, give the MK1 smart missiles in addition
(like the Broadside suits) and push the railgun save up to at least -3; and
give the MK2 additional Burst Cannon (like on the Devilfish). This brings
them more in-line with their 40K equivalent.
TAU Commanders
Comments- They are fine as they are, but I would make the following
addition. Firstly there is the Shas' El, your basic commander. He is the
command stand for every Tau company card. As a special card, add in the
Shas'O, a very experienced commander. They exact same stats as the Shas'El,
but has the commnder ability like the Space Marine commander or IG colonel
special card :
This unit represents the commander of the Tau Battle Force. Due to the vast
tactical experience accumulated by the Shas'O a player can select one of two
special abilities (one at a time, once per turn):
Forced March: All Tau units (NOT Kroot) within 10cm of the commander receive
a +5 cm to the base move (+10 cm if the unit has Charge Orders).
Tactical Genius: All unmoved Tau units (NOT Kroot) within 10cm may shift
their given orders one "category" in either direction along the following
progression:
Charge--Advance--First Fire
Example: If a nearby unit is on Advance Orders, the unit may shift to either
First Fire or Charge Orders (units on Charge orders and First Fire orders,
of course, can only shift in one direction, thus Charge does not wrap around
to First Fire).
This is identical to the SM commander ability. Make him a special card with
two stands of Crisis Suits as a bodyguard, BP of the commander only, VP 4,
350pts. Very respectable commander there.
BARRACUDA FIGHTER
Comments: Like the Tiger Shark, the Barracuda's missiles are Seeker
missiles, which are anti-armour missiles.
Its stats should be: Move 80cm, 3+ save, +2 CAF Weapons: Ion Cannon (as per
Hammerhead MK2), Burst Cannon (as per current rules), Seeker Missiles 150cm,
1die, 3+ to hit, -2 TSM. Special- Thruster
KILLER WHALE SHV
This looks fine, I'd just change the name to Orca rather then Killer Whale
;-).
MANTA MISSILE CRUISER
These are actually Space ships, may times the size of a Thunderhawk. It is
armed with extremely long range Rail Guns and use Ion Cannon batteries for
medium range attacks. It is a praetorian size skimmer, and may carry a full
company of TAU Fire warriors and their Devilfish transports.
Comments- note I've called it the MANTA (as it is called in the 40K Codex),
not the MANTIS as in the NetEpic draft document. Remember, all the Tau
vehicles are named after aquatic life, so the MANTA is the correct name. I
like the stats listed in the Document better than the stats listed on the
Damage location Template. The Manta should be bloody scary by all accounts.
Its a Starship for heaven's sake and so should be very, very scary.
Personally I think it should be able to take on a Colossus or Warlord and
win. My suggestions are push the range on the Hvy Railguns up to 150cm
(they're a spacecraft weapon after all) and give them at least a -4TSM but
lose the "Target must save D6 times, may fire Barrage" ability (why should
it do this? They're just Railgun shots). It should have 6 Railgun shots,
10 Ion Cannon shots and 12 Defensive Burst Cannon shots, with the defensive
shots always shooting on First Fire. Its price should come in at around
900points with the transport capability and 4 shields. Scary vehicle, but
then it IS a starship!
KROOT UNITS:
Comments- They all seems fine, but for a Tau army, I think we should only
have Carnivore, Ox and Hound formations available and leave the other kroot
units (vultures, hunters, etc) to a special Kroot Mercenaries list. The
stats and cards for the Kroot units seem fine, but it might be worth
reducing the number on the Ox card down to 2 KrootOx stands rather than 4
and making them cheaper. As I have stated earlier, all Hound and Ox cards
should attach to a Carnivore detachment, becoming part of that detachment.
TAU ARMY AND SUPPORT CARDS
Comments- Mostly they are all fine except for the Ethereal (it should be
just the Ethereal stand at 75points, VP2) and the suggestions I have made
above for the Gun Drones and Shas'O supreme commander Special Card. Oh, I
think the Battlesuit detachments should only have 3 stands per detachment
not 4 (Crisis suits: 3 stands, 200pts; Stealthsuits: 3 stands, 150pts and
Broadsides: 3 stands, 250pts). Call me fussy, I just think it fits better
with the way the detachments run in the 40K codex (plus its cheaper if
you're buying the official GW minis ;-).
Plus the Tau companies should have the Tau Commander detachment consist only
of the Battlesuited commander and NOT of 4 Battle suit stands. In the 40K
codex, the commander consists only of the Commander and his two bodyguards
which translates to only one stand in Epic. This would be better, I think,
than 4 battlesuit stands and in addition, it saves on buying too many minis
for your army.
Also add in a new company called the Tau Hunter Cadre which has a Battlesuit
Commander (command detachment), 2 detachments of Fire Warriors (6 stands per
detachment) and one detachment of Kroot Carnivores (8 stands of Kroot
Carnivore warriors); BP:11, Morale 3+, VP 7, Cost= 700pts.
Lastly, Hammerhead tanks should only come in pure detachments of either all
MK1s or all MK2s. Its just easier for bookeeping on the battlefield.
Oh and we should add in the Tiger Shark Carrier as follows:
TIGER SHARK DRONE CARRIER
Move - 90, Save - 3+ (all around), CAF - +1
Weapons
- Ion Cannon (75cm 2 5+ -2)
- Burst Cannons (35cm 4 5+ 0)
- Seeker missiles. (150cm, 1, 3+, -2).
Notes - Thruster, transport (3, Gun Drones only)
Tiger Shark Carrier Squadron
2 Tiger Shark Drone Carriers; BP 1; VP 2; Morale 3+; Cost= 200pts
Well, that's my take on the Tau army. Comments anyone?
-Kelvin....
"Oh no! Waspinator is pinned
like Iron Butterfly!"
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Received on Fri Apr 12 2002 - 06:54:15 UTC