Hey guys.

Vespids have been a part of the 40k Tau list for some years by now, and I'd love to field some in my EA game.
However, there seem to be a certain resistance to having quality assault troopers in the Tau list here.

Therefore I propose the following profile:

Vespid Stingwings
Type: INF
Speed: 20cm
Armor: 5+
CC: 6+
FF: 5+
Weapons: 2x Neutron Blasters 15cm AP4+
Notes: Jump packs

They should be small formations; say 3-4 stands; I'm thinking such a formation might be worth something like 100 points?


Thoughts?

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Let there be code.

Most Jump Pack equipped troops are 30cm move in EA (Assault Marines, Stormboyz, Swooping Hawks). A 40k Save of 5+ usually doesn't translate into an EA save, but with T4 you could file them in with Ork Boyz with a 6+. Also, 12" weapons in 40k don't normally get a shot, Bolt Pistols, Death Spinners and the like are purely FF.

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Dave

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Squats 2019-10-17

Tau break those guidelines, don't they. More shooting and less FF than other armies get for the same stats?

The eldar lists have at least two examples of troops with 15cm range weapons that are not FF only: Firedragons and Wraithguard.
Also, Crisis suits have 15cm macro weapon Twin Fusion Blasters.

The intent of the current Tau lists, as far as I see it, is to create an army that shoots and doesn't assault, and that has a distinctly hi-tech feel to it.
And in that, I feel it succeeds.

My intent with this is to find a way to let Vespids support that, and still have a unique part to play in the army.

_________________
Let there be code.

All those examples are of high strength (or equivalent) weapons. Assuming 3-4 models per stand it would amount to little more than a heavy bolter at 12" range, Death Spinners are the closest thing to them and they're pure FF.

_________________
Dave

Blog

NetEA Tournament Pack Website

Squats 2019-10-17

I honestly don't see how that is even an argument against it.

It's wrong because it's new??

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Let there be code.

...Argument against what? Vespids at all? That's not what's happening. Vespids getting a shooting attack? It's wrong because it's inconsistent with past examples without much reason, not because it's new. There's a difference.

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I think the issue is that most people see the design concept of the Tau auxiliaries as generally acting "normal" in terms of how other forces behave. Kroot and human auxiliaries (when they were in the list) have normal treatment of their weapons v assault abilities (and fill a gap in Tau capabilities with respect to assault).

It would make sense that Vespids would work the same way, rather than being "Tau with wings."

Not bad stats and would certainly be reasonable if following the standards that have been applied to Tau troops. But Vespids and other alien auxillaries have generally been treated in a more standard way for determining stats.

Something like the following is probably a better representation of Vespids

Vespid Stingwings
Type: INF
Speed: 30 cm
Armor: 6+
CC: 5+
FF: 4+
Weapons: Neutron Blasters (15cms) Small Arms
Notes: Jump packs

Nothing wrong with something like the above being added to a variant list of some sort - perhaps

0-1 Vespid Swarm 150pts
6 Vespid Stingwing units

Thanks Yme-Loc (o:

That would work too I guess, and take them further from being cheaper, less powerful Crisis suits ..

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Let there be code.

Interesting question would be where to put them, since they're apparently directly integrated into Tau cadres rather than being auxiliaries like the Kroot.

By where do you mean in what list, or as seperate units or upgrades?

The first is perfectly obvious: They should be in the main list.

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Let there be code.

They used to be in the main list but were removed for several reasons; Lack of models, lack of usage and the feeling that they plugged a gap that shouldn't be plugged.

They won't go back into the now finalised main list, but they'd be a good unit for an auxiliaries themed variant list.

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They could, and should, be in the next version of the tau list.

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Let there be code.

They should technically be upgrades, they aren't auxiliaries or mercenaries who are hired when needed but fully integrated members of the cadre. However this raises a whole kettle of fish when it comes to deciding what their role should be - do they counted as Tau when it comes to working out weapon stats and FF values, or auxiliaries? Would adding a couple of stands with a decent FF value break the Firewarrior cadre, or should they be considered a cheap numbers upgrade to Firewarrior cadres as they can keep pace with a Devilfish?

Or do we just have a support formation, which kind of just exists to provide a role for a unit that exists in the background but has no model and is currently pretty unpopular in 40K?

Rather than the main list, I could definitely see a place for them in the Armoured list and a potential post-3rd sphere drone list where Firewarriors are a support formation. In the armoured list, a unit that can keep pace with the tanks without needing transport would certainly be desirable from a background perspective and would let the Firewarrior cadres there be slightly more aggressive.