Batrep
Cadian vs Vior'la Tau
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=84&t=32206Comments:
So I played my first game against Vior’La Tau. That being said I played just under a dozen games against Dobbsy’s Tau back in 2014/2015 when he was doing army list development (I played IG and SM against him then). Played Cadian for the first time against Atension’s Vior’la Tau (his second game with the Tau). A bit of a learning curve for both of us (although Atension’s was steeper as I play IG normally).
One thing about Tau is that they are not an easy list to master. There are a lot of synergies that need to happen to truly play to the Tau lists strengths. At face value, the list should appear weak. It truly shines when in the hands of a skilled player that can maximize the markerlight ability, leverage the Tau mobility to gain crossfire bonuses and focus/coordinated fire on key enemy formations to break them with massed firepower before they even get a chance to activate.
Having played about ~9 games against Tau (Dobbsy) many moons ago using Imperial Guard I can say that the play style of the Vior’la Tau bring several significant changes to the Tau play style that they did not have before.
In this game they were:
- Barrage templates (this is a big one) (Supremacy)
- Significant indirect accurate fire (3+) that reached from deployment zone to deployment zone (Supremacy)
- Cheaper Recon formations with markerlights
- LOTS of toys (I was surprised at all the exotic units that are typically restricted to the 1/3 of points allies/air force section), in this battle there was a Manta, Orca, Tiger Shark, Riptides and 2 Supremacy formations
- Orca did not make an appearance but would have been decisive especially in conjunction with Supremacy prep for assault.
Some thoughts
Supremacy
Cool unit that feels really too good right now and breaks some of the core Tau principals (that being that when Tau were designed they were not to have any barrage weapons, poor engagement, but lots of shooting).
Issue is the Supremacy DC3 WE with armor 3+ being able to shoot 120cm indirect barrages where the army list did not have this capability before. Biggest concern is the barrage (design concept of Tau was to not have any barrage and have lots of fire power) and ability to target from deployment zone to deployment zone.
Suggestion: change the Pulse Ordnance Multi-driver stats to 2 fire modes:
75cm 3x AP5+/AT4+ lance or 75cm 3x AP6+/AT5+ guided missile
With markerlit target and sustain fire action this looks like:
75cm 3x AP3+/AT2+ lance or indirect 75cm 3x AP4+/AT3+ guided missile
So still very powerful, with the emphasis still on direct firepower.
Addresses the barrage capability and the deployment zone to deployment zone range capability (although you will admit this is still a lot of board control with a double move plus range).
Can hit a markerlit target out to 105cm 3x AP5+/AT4+ lance or indirect 105cm 3x AP6+/AT5+ guided missile on a double move. Plus the Supremacy has seeker missiles (90cm 2x AT6+ guided missile) so indirect 120cm 2x AT6+ guided missile at a markerlit target on a double move.
Cader Fireblade
This is a no brainer updgrade for 25 pts (give FF4+ to entire formation) with no downside.
Suggestions: Collapse/combine this ability into the Shas’el Commander upgrade and increase the cost to 100pts or remove Cader Fireblade from list completely.
Orca
The upgrade of Invulnerable 5+save takes this unit to a whole new level game and adds a very significant new meta to the Tau’s arsenal of tricks. In a Vior’el list, and Orca ground assaulting with a Warrior Group upgraded with Cader Fireblade becomes a very scary proposition by itself (as compared to what the current Tau list can do). Additionally this alpha strike can be greatly aided by the Supremacy 120cm indirect fire prepping barrage and/or AA suppression.
Suggestion: Keep Orcas the same as currently found in base Tau list.
Flyers
Sun Bomber have barrage capabilities which was never the theme of the Tau (Tau were designed to have lots of direct fire capability and no barrage capability). Additionally this unit does not take into consideration the multiplier effect of markerlights on its capabilities and points.
Razorshark Strike Fighter seem like list bloat and there role is fulfilled by the Barracuda.
Suggestion: remove both Sun Bomber and Razorshark from list.
Tau have very good AA. The Skyray (60cm 2xAA5+) can be imbedded into Warrior or Armor Groups to make them very hard to be suppressed. Tau already have good AA and adding additional air capabilities would take this army up several notches in level of air power.
Recon Group
Concern that the drop in points for the formation could make this spamable and affect the Tau build list meta. Not sure why the change in unit stats from the Tau list to the Vior’el list.
Suggestion: Personally I would keep the same stats and formation size/point value as in the Tau base list.
Allies/Flyers
Typically this limit is 1/3. In the Vior’la Tau list there are a lot of new toys that should be considered restricted. Suggestion: Supremacy formation should be in this category.
Core/Support Ratio
1 Core formation unlocking 3 support formations MAY need to be looked at once unit cost/capabilities have been tweaked and playtesting has occurred.
Suggestion: No immediate change but possibly something to look at down the line to bring this list closer to approval status.
Caveat on all of the above is that I realize that this is my first game against the Vior’el so I am reporting my first impressions. Also I am aware that this is a development list and therefore things can and will change. I am not commenting on point value, just on unit capabilities and list meta as I feel that is a good place to start.
I look forward to getting this list approved and I think there are some good elements to the list that will enhance the playing experience for Tau players and opponents alike.