Mech Tau 2000 Please Rate

974 Views 18 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Phase Out, Feb 5, 2006

squall14

Discussion Starter · Jan 27, 2006

Shas'o & 2 Shas'vre w/ Plasma=+missile+fusion+HW Multi 311
Shas'o & 2 Shas'vre w/ Plasma=+missile+fusion+HW Multi 311
2 units of 6 Stealth 360
Shas'vre w/ TL Missile+Plasma+HW Multi, 2 Shas'ui w/ TL Missile+Multi 199
12 Fire warriors 120
'Fish w/Multi+Target+Decoys 100
3 Units of 8 Drones 288
Railhead w/BC+Decoys+Multi 165
Ionhead w/BC+Decoys+Multi 145

Total = 1999

this is my first fully Mech list, which is aimed to be able to take all comers, but expect to face marines and a VERY good Necron player with a Monolith.
I thought of swapping out the Os for ELs, but i decided for you to decide. feel free to show no mercy to the list if you want.
(P.S. the Bodyguards are there for being able to field more crisis)

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

Warboss BigNutz

· #2 · Jan 29, 2006

You only have one unit of fire warriors

Phase Out

· #3 · Jan 29, 2006 (Edited)

1. BigNutz said it

2. The Elite crisis squads 2 Shas'ui's don't need multitrackers w/ only 1 weapon system. These could have target locks instead for the same points.

3. The HQ squads are expensive. I'm not saying change them (I personally have been using a Shas'el squad just like it), but you better know how to keep them alive and get the most out of them. Crisis suits die very easy if you aren't carefull, and these two squads are almost 1/3 of your army.

4. IMO, nothing takes down monoliths better than EMP's. They always find their way into my lists somewhere. If I think I'm facing a monolith I load up on 'em. I'd much rather shoot my big guns at the infantry as even railguns can struggle against armour 14.

To get another Firewarrior/Fish squad I would make both HQ's Shas'els and drop a stealth squad. This frees up 230 pts. You will have enough STR 5 shots w/ 2 FW squads and 3 GD squads so the stealths won't be missed. Then split your remaining Stealth squad into two 3 man units. 3 man XV15 squads are a cinch to hide w/ J-S-J and they work great together. As the enemy chases one the other shoots at thier rear, and if he turns to get at these the other squad jumps out to shoot thier backs. I can keep units busy all game long w/ this tactic. If I haven't already killed them, that is.

Phase Out....

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Lost Nemesis

· #4 · Jan 29, 2006

Here we go.. pardon if I repeat anything, but I'm just going down through the list:

squall14 said:
Shas'o & 2 Shas'vre w/ Plasma=+missile+fusion+HW Multi 311
Shas'o & 2 Shas'vre w/ Plasma=+missile+fusion+HW Multi 311

Too many points spent on your HQ here - that's a good 622 points on six models. Youch. I would recommend dropping the Shas'vre Bodyguards because they get rid of the Shas'Os' Independent Character status, which is invaluable for staying away from the enemy shooting.

squall14 said:
Shas'vre w/ TL Missile+Plasma+HW Multi, 2 Shas'ui w/ TL Missile+Multi 199

The Stealths were fine. This, however, is illegal. You must fill all three hard points - so, that Shas'vre is illegal. Then, you don't need Multi-Trackers because you only have a single weapon. As said, a Target Lock would be a better investment. You don't need the Shas'vre upgrade for this.. nor even a Team Leader upgrade. Make sure you read your codex thoroughly for the rules on this.

squall14 said:
12 Fire warriors 120
'Fish w/Multi+Target+Decoys 100

As said, again, this is an illegal list because you need at least two Troops choices - you only have one, which is this Fire Warriors squad. The squad itself is fine (keep them with Pulse Rifles for max effectiveness), but the Target Lock on that Devilfish is un-needed, as it only has a single weapon.

As for the rest of the list, it's reasonable, but I would recommend dropping some of those Drones in favour of more anti-tank. You're playing at a points limit where there will be plenty of vehicles, and a single Railhead will be taxed to keep up with them without getting itself shot down.

Again, read your codex thoroughly before you make a list. :yes: Hope this helps!

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Phase Out

· #5 · Jan 29, 2006

Nemesis seems to know his stuff too, so I won't contradict him.

BUT....I believe his Fish had a TARGETING ARRAY, not a TARGET LOCK, in which case this is a good investment. I always take every develfish exactly like this.

Also, I hate using Independent Character status as it just doesn't make sense to me (what do you mean he can't be shot at? HE'S RIGHT THERE!:angry

. However, It is legal and extremely usefull and almost every other player I know uses it at times. So if you don't have a lot of experience I would definitely go w/ his suggestions for the HQ's. As we both said they are about 1/3 of your points and this is a BIG investment at 2000 pts.

Phase Out....

Lost Nemesis

· #6 · Jan 29, 2006

Phase Out said:
Nemesis seems to know his stuff too, so I won't contradict him.

BUT....I believe his Fish had a TARGETING ARRAY, not a TARGET LOCK, in which case this is a good investment. I always take every develfish exactly like this.

Also, I hate using Independent Character status as it just doesn't make sense to me (what do you mean he can't be shot at? HE'S RIGHT THERE!:angry. However, It is legal and extremely usefull and almost every other player I know uses it at times. So if you don't have a lot of experience I would definitely go w/ his suggestions for the HQ's. As we both said they are about 1/3 of your points and this is a BIG investment at 2000 pts.

Phase Out....

It could be a Target Lock...

However, I personally feel that it's too many upgrades on that Fishie. I like my Fishies with just Decoy Launchers... but to each his own, and if it works, it works. :yes:

Phase Out

· #7 · Jan 29, 2006

Yep. If I gotta really scimp on points, just decoys doesn't bother me one bit. I hope that when the fish gets shot it will be a roll of 1-4 and in all these cases it can't shoot anyway so Who cares. I use them very aggresively though so it's a small edge.

Phase Out....

squall14

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 30, 2006

ok...thanks for your suggestions and corrections. i would now like to explain my list further.

phase out is right, they were supposed to be target locks, that was a typo
the idea with taking many stealths was to replace the Fire warriors, as they are quite mobile and need no fishs to be mobile.
with having my elites taken up by stealth, i needed more room for crisis. the only and not the most point efficient way to do this was Commanders.
i DO have two troop choices: a)Fire warriors and b)a devilfish
i realised my HQs were over priced after i finished writing the list, but i couldn't be bothered to change them after all that work...that's where you come in to advise... i was thinking about just having an El & 2Vre w/ Helios to free up points for more FWs
as i remember, a TL weapon fills two hard points...
i will take the Multi & Targetting array off the Fish to free up points (i really don't need them)
if there is spare points, i will drop one squad of drones for a Railhead

thanks for all your help, and i hope these points explain your queries.

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Lost Nemesis

· #9 · Jan 30, 2006

squall14 said:
ok...thanks for your suggestions and corrections. i would now like to explain my list further.

phase out is right, they were supposed to be target locks, that was a typo

the idea with taking many stealths was to replace the Fire warriors, as they are quite mobile and need no fishs to be mobile.

with having my elites taken up by stealth, i needed more room for crisis. the only and not the most point efficient way to do this was Commanders.

i DO have two troop choices: a)Fire warriors and b)a devilfish

i realised my HQs were over priced after i finished writing the list, but i couldn't be bothered to change them after all that work...that's where you come in to advise... i was thinking about just having an El & 2Vre w/ Helios to free up points for more FWs

as i remember, a TL weapon fills two hard points...

i will take the Multi & Targetting array off the Fish to free up points (i really don't need them)

if there is spare points, i will drop one squad of drones for a Railhead

thanks for all your help, and i hope these points explain your queries.

The Devilfish, firstly, does not count as a Troops choice. It is a dedicated Transport and, to keep things simple, it counts as a single Troops choice, combined with the squad it was bought for. So, you still only have one Troops choice.

A TL weapon does fill two hardpoints, but where does that many any difference? It still only fires the same as a single weapon, so Multi Trackers are, still, useless with it.

squall14

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 31, 2006 (Edited)

don't argue unless you want to be really annoying.

my crisis were not illegal, as even with a pointless milti-tracker, they have three hard points.

as i said before and will say again for your benefit: the multi-trackers were a typo, i meant to put target locks (force of habit).

the devilfish really looks like a seperate troop choice in the codex. in the marines codex the transports were in the transport section if i remember rightly...my mistake...

anyway, i DID say i was going to add more firewarriors...

squall14

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 2, 2006

ok, thanks for all your help, here is the reformed list

ethereal 50
Shas'el & 2x Sahs'vre all helios 229
3x Shas'ui crisis Helios 189
3x Shas'ui crisis Deathrain 168
6x Stealth shas'ui 180
2 squads of Fire warriors w/pulse rifles in a devilfish(with decoys)each 410
2 squads of 8 drones 192
1 squad of 4 drones (for the ethereal) 48
2 railheads W/ Decoys & Multi-trackers 330
1 Ionhead w/ Decoys & Multi-trackers 145

Total: 1941pts
so I now have a spare 59 Pts. what do I get?

P.S. Sorry about the double post it's been a few days

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Phase Out

· #12 · Feb 2, 2006

That's a pretty nice list. 59 points left, huh? Well, I would:

1. equip both Develfish w/ target array (+5) and multi tracker (+10). This will allow your fish to play offensively instead of just a fast trnsport. It is worth it. You can drop firewarriors out, form a firing line, and use the fish to shoot up the enemy's flanks.
(30 total pts added to list)

2. The deathrain squad excells at taking down light tarnsports, true, but after this it begins to fall short. I would make this squad a fireknife unit instead. They will still take out any light transports they target, but will now be much more deadly against heavy infantry.
(totol for x3 fireknife squad=195 for 27 pts added to list)

This will bring your list up to 1998 and you then equip a drone controller on the HQ so you can say you used up all your points.

Phase Out....

Undead Bonzi

· #13 · Feb 2, 2006

I would agree, you need some fireknifes in their. You can't beat their versatility, fireknives=an all comers list.

squall14

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 3, 2006 (Edited)

Here is the final list:

ethereal 50
Shas'el & 2x Sahs'vre all helios 229
3x Shas'ui crisis Helios 189
3x Shas'ui crisis Fireknife 195
6x Stealth shas'ui 180
2 squads of Fire warriors w/pulse rifles in a devilfish(with decoys, Multi & Targetting array)each 440
2 squads of 8 drones 192
1 squad of 4 drones (for the ethereal) 48
2 railheads w/ Decoys & Multi-trackers 330
1 Ionhead w/ Decoys & Multi-trackers 145

Total 1998

of course this is going to change as soon as i can get my hands on some of those vespid models (PLEASE no comments on looks, each to his own)

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Phase Out

· #15 · Feb 3, 2006 (Edited)

Bingo! Thats solid.

Phase Out....

One extra thing though. I would make the two Firewarrior teams 11 strong so that if the Ethereal is threatened they can pick him up in the fish. This frees up 20 pts that I would use for target locks on the Railheads. Then w/ the remaining 12 points you can up that drone squad to 5.

squall14

Discussion Starter · #16 · Feb 3, 2006

ok, one question, although your advice is as golden as ever, why do I need target locks on the railheads? it's not as if i'll ever use them. if it's an all-comers list, i can add blacksun filters where needed.

Phase Out

· #17 · Feb 4, 2006

Blacksuns are usefull in nightfights, yes, but the target locks will allow you to shoot your secondary weapons at closing infantry while tageting tanks w/ the rails. Its not as necessary on an Ionhead as they most often just target infantry.

How often do you play nightfights? How often does Dusk and Dawn effect you? Now, how often do you have both infantry and tanks as available targets? Consider these and make your choice.

Phase Out....

squall14

Discussion Starter · #18 · Feb 4, 2006

ok, but considering that by the time i have infantry within 18" of me there probably won't be any tanks left (i do have two Railheads). the most i can see for the 20pts is upgrading the Ionhead to have SMS and target lock.

Phase Out

· #19 · Feb 5, 2006

Thats a good choice too. Good luck and let me know how it does.

Phase Out....

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