This is an editing error that can be corrected before we go final.

As far as the rest of the comments go Hena, what you are mostly expressing is preferences vs. list issues, i.e. something is broken. The "turret" comments are not consistent considering other lists. We also have to take into account that to support the various vehicle needs, that for the most part, the Tau use one chassis differentiated by the turret armament. Given that fact, I do believe that we have not gone crazy on the various turrent configurations and that they fit into well defined roles (AT, AA, etc.).

The whole purpose of testing is to identify problems to address. We test to balance. Too many times in the past, the list has been driven by opinions and wants vs. testing evidence after a design has been frozen. I've stated right from the beginning that testing evidence carries weight, personal opinions do not.

The general framework of the list has been set. We are in the process of refining the list where needed and focusing on identifying list imbalances. I would greatly appreciate your efforts to support the testing and help make the list better.

Are you willing to help?

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Honda

"Remember Taros? We do"

- 23rd Elysian Drop Regiment

The dreadnaught is another example of a multiple weapon armed hull.

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Epic: Hive Development Thread

A Razorback has only ever been a single unit and it can have two options in epic. For the Tau's MBT to have 3 options rather the previous 2 seems fine to me, as others have said IG have 3 MBT choices too and it seems fine to me and seemingly most people here. Lets see what playtesting of the unit brings.

Because in the IG list, you only get 2 support formations per core formation, and each core formation tends to be expensive.  I suppose you could try to go crazy with Sentinels, but not nearly to the degree that you could with the Drones and you would end up with a very odd list.

They are apples and oranges.

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author of Syncing Forward and other stories...

It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I've got my Milkbone underwear on.

I believe this is a stupid question however I'm asking anyways...

If I read it correctly, guided missiles can only be fired if there target is lit by markerlights? So they can't just shoot on there own? Seems a bit odd and the way the rule is worded it seems your getting a bonus of not needing LOF/LOS but really that's the only way they can shoot?

Btw I now have to the urge to build not only Nec's, Nid's and AM but now Tau...

EDIT: What/Where are the rules for support craft as listed in the manta notes???

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That is correct, the background for Guided Missiles is that they are not fired by the vehicle they are carried on; only the markerlight operator can fire them. The mechanism is completely remote.

The Support Craft rule is near the start of the document iirc; it counts as a skimmer in all respects except that it is always "popped up".

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Epic: Hive Development Thread

Should really be moved to the 'Special Rules' section, not the designer's notes section.

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Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

Actually, the Manta should be given the skimmer rule and the "always popped up" verbiage included in the unit's Notes.

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"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

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

Either way, we agree it shouldn't be as it is now.

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Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

Yep... it's certainly *NOT* a "Design Note".  *laugh*

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"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

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

Just got into a discussion with TRC regarding effectiveness of Stealth Suits.

After multiple points of disagreement, on which he is wrong on all counts   we found a disparity.

Are the weapons of the Stealth 30cm (obviously not 30m), or 15cm? Makes a big difference in relative usefulness.

Morgan Vening

I thought they've always been 15cm...?

Played another game today against Marines.

I took:
FireWarriors (Mech) + Pathfinders - 350
FireWarriors (Mech) - 225
Crisi Suits + 1x Crisis Suit + Supremmme Commander - 400
Pathfinder Group - 175
Skysweep Support Group - 250
Hammerhead (3x Fusion/1x Rail) Support Group + Skyray - 350
Hammerhead (4x Rail) Support Group - 250
Recon Skimmer Group (3 of each) - 150
Recon Skimmer Group (3 of each) - 150
Manta - 700 (BTS)

Marines (from memory):
Tactical + Supreme Commander
Tactical + Hunter
Devastator + Hunter
Assault Marines + Chaplain
Bikes
Predators + Hunter
Landspeeders
Thunderbolts
Reaver

Things of note during the game.
The Reaver was fair game from the first turn. Having the Manta on the board meant that BTS was going to be hard for the Marines (they never fired a shot at the Support Craft all game). I used a co-ordinated fire with Recon Group, Skysweep and the Manta. After all that the Reaver still had 4 DC left (no crits). The Reaver evetually feel in the 2nd turn to the Manta (reduced to 1 DC) and then the Skysweep Group finished it off.

T/Bolts managed to stay out of AA range for the first turn. 2nd turn, they faced fire from 2 of the 3 Skyrays in the Skysweep Group. 1 was shot down.

I used Coordinated Fire twice during the game.

The Fusion-Heads were quite effective until they were broken in the 2nd turn (they shot up a Tactical detachment and killed the Predators using a crossfire).

The Crisis Suits fought off an assault from the bikes (thanks to difficult terrain for the bikes and good rolling for saves).

The Marines failed at least 3 Difficult Terrain tests during the game.

The Tau had above average luck during the game (at one stage, they had 7 attacks needing 5 or more and I rolled 5 hits   ).

The Manta spent 2 turns shooting up the Reaver and the last turn, it fired on a Devastator  formation (breaking it). I liked having a really tough BTS (although against TK weapons this would be different) and it did good damage. I'm not sure if I'd use it often in a 3000pt game though. My opponent (Chris) had some good ideas for it in our after game chat though (planetfalling formation of death). We'll see.

The game ended on turn 3.
Tau:3 (BTS, TNH, Blitzkrieg)
Marines:0

Both players enjoyed the game. This was Chris' 2nd game against the new Tau list and his main comment was that Tau are a different opponent but still lots of fun to play against. He did not feel that anything was overpowered (although he did say that the Manta could rarely be worth going after for a Marine army).

On another note, we played at a local club (with about 25-30 people in attendance) and had many people wandering over to watch (with one guy following the whole game and talking about buying a Marine army as soon as he could)... WIN!

Cheers.

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