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I have just gone through all 12 pages of this thread... again! Just to pick up on a few points here and bring this thread together:
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BLAST MARKERS AND LEADERS
Suggestion - make the Shas'El and Shas'O characters complete units. These could then be added to formations fairly cheaply and spread throughout the list.
Suggestion - some kind of command tank. For this, I prefer the 'communications' upgrade; the same effects of 'leader' without going into the details of a new type of character for armour.
Where is the hurt currently felt most? Are the infantry units the ones suffering from a being under blasts too much, or is it (as I suspect) mainly the armour and in particular Armoured Hunter Cadres which have this problem?
Suggestion - allow current leaders (Crisis suit leaders) a command radius, with all formations within this radius benefitting from the 'leader' ability.
This is probably my favourite option so far. It avoids the need to additional characters, and strengthens the combined arms doctrine of the Tau.
Suggestion - the Sir Robin rule; allowing the Tau to have a benefit to blast management on Hold actions.
My Proposal - Change the Shas'o and Shas'el to units (rather than character upgrades) and purchasable as an upgrade. Allow formations with at least one unit within 15cm to count as if that formation had the 'leader' ability (one for each 'Leader' unit within 15cm of any unit in the target formation). (This would also apply to the Dragonfish.)
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BONDING
Suggestion - The Tau benefit from a 'Spirit Stone' rule. Personally, I dont like this idea so much. It is an ability used to represent the unique nature of the Eldar.
[I would not object to calling the above 'leader with a radius' rule 'bonded', but it would affect all Tau units, including armour.]
Suggestion - Crisis suits given an Initiative of 1+ [this works towards blast marker reduction, primarily]. However, this would not address the issue as it presents itself to the armoured formations.
This would work well for the Crisis suits, but I am not convinced that they are the main issue here, and this change would not affect other formations at all.
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IN CONCLUSION
Bonding - I am not a fan of adding a rule to cover this right now, as there does not seem to be a real need right now and I am not keen on adding a rule just to simulate the Bonding affect.
Blast Management - I would like to put this to bed and ask for playtesting experience on the following:
Shas'o (+150 points)
Type: Infantry - Speed: 25cm - Armour: 3+ - Close Combat: 6+ - Firefight: 5+
Twin-linked Missile Pods - 45cm - AP4+/AT4+
Twin-linked Plasma Rifles - 30cm - AP4+
Twin-linked Fusion Blasters - 15cm - MW4+ and (15cm) Small Arms - Macro Weapon
Commander Plasma Rifle - 30cm - AP4+
Notes: Tau Jet Packs, Invulvnerable Save, Tau Supreme Commander (Bonded Leader instead of Leader, Coordinated Fire instead of Commander)
Shas'el (+100 points)
Type: Infantry - Speed: 25cm - Armour: 3+ - Close Combat: 6+ - Firefight: 5+
Twin-linked Missile Pods - 45cm - AP4+/AT4+
Twin-linked Plasma Rifles - 30cm - AP4+
Twin-linked Fusion Blasters - 15cm - MW4+ and (15cm) Small Arms - Macro WeaponCommander Plasma Rifle - 30cm - AP4+
Notes: Tau Jet Packs, Invulvnerable Save, Coordinated Fire, Bonded Leader
Bonded Leader - Any formation with at least one unit within 15cm of a unit with the Bonded Leader ability may count that 'leader' unit as part of its formation for the purposes of the 'leader' ability.
Dragonfish - The Tau Supreme Commander ability would be changed to match the one described for the Shas'o.
Adding these to the force - The points values are approximations right now, and possibly a little undervalued. These two upgrades would be available anywhere that the Crisis upgrade is available (in addition to it), and still count towards the maximum number of upgrades permitted for formations.
*Deep breath* OK, I realise that this is a departure but I do feel that it will help to address the blast marker issue which is clearly something that is a problem. It relies on mostly existing mechanics and rewards a combined arms style, not just when selecting the Tau force but also on the battlefield.
I nervously await your comments, but I would like this playtested to see if it flies.
Thanks.
_________________ https://www.cybershadow.ninja - A brief look into my twisted world, including wargames and beyond. https://www.net-armageddon.org - The official NetEA (Epic Armageddon) site and resource.
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