Heya guys, and gals, first off i'm new to this site. Though i have been a 'lurker' for quite a while now. Mainly reading all the varying articles on BFG. (always makes me think of Big Friendly Giant that abreviation!)

As the title suggests i have recently started with the Tau. I ordered some FW models as i personally HATE the Games Workshop models. Were possible i plan to either use a CPF Fan based version of the rules (adapts the FW rules) or the Forge world rules. Failing that i will use the God awful rules that GW came up with and really don't epitomise the Tau method of war in any way shape or form. That and the models are awful.

I have started with a Custodian because i love the model and the ship itself certainly seems capable. I bought a pack of Wardens so that it could be accompanied by its relevant gunships as they seem a complete steal for the points they are worth (in either list).
Granted the Custodian probs has some points factored in but the do enable me to use their weapons more aggressively and hopefully when the inevitable broadside comes to i can use them more in line of the pawn role and thus allow my Custodian to make a bee line out of that (covered by Squadrons if needs be)

Besides that i also purchased two protectors. While viewed by many as not as capable as the Hero class warships i do think the Protectors have a nice range of weapons, lovely ordnance capabilities and not all together shabby protection. Yeah they have 6 HP but with 2 shields and also 3 turrets they can hopefully even the odds in normal combat to begin with.


So my next question is what models should i look at expanding my fleet with once i have these painted up. What lists do most people use around here. Has anyone come across the missile light cruiser that Fanatic (or maybe it was the BFG magazine) made for the Nemesis booklet (Also included there was a Tau appeals chart!)

Also what tactics do people use? Cruiser Heavy, escort heavy? A nice mix of both? Is the Custodian going to end up biting the dust in almost every match i play...


Thanks for reading,
Ant

Heya guys, and gals, first off i'm new to this site. Though i have been a 'lurker' for quite a while now. Mainly reading all the varying articles on BFG. (always makes me think of Big Friendly Giant that abreviation!)

_________________
Light at the Horizon.

Warp Rift
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Eldar MMS

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http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=19176

I) The SG/GW models aren't that bad.
II) The Forgeworld rules are good and widely accepted.

The original rules in Armada and the FW rules and stats do not differ very much and that is the FW set mistake in my idea. Such a different ships should see much different rules, but alas. The most known fan-set (Andrew Park) doesn't adress this completely either.

If you want a real tastiness you should check out Project Distant Darkness (shameless self promotion.   ). Fluff based and a distinct feel to the flee.

On the Protector and Ion Cannons: I mailed FW at one point asking what weapon represented what. And the answer was that the large turrets on top where Ion Cannons and the stubs Railguns. Hence 2 IC on the model.

Thanks you like PDD.

edit: shields do protect against Nova Cannon shots. And normally they are more psychological weapons then real danger weapons. But a battleship with 2 shields is so juicy to not fire at it.

_________________
Light at the Horizon.

Warp Rift
Project Distant Darkness
Eldar MMS

GothiComp Hall of Fame
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=19176

Well i think its the potential D6 automatic hits. That can really spell doom for ships tbh. However when you look at the scatter etc it's not always soo bad.

I played the best of 3 games the other day, will need to put a report up but i have no pictures . Perhaps i should finish adding the details to my fleet and get some pictures up... first time painting BFG ships though so not sure they are the best painted.

It was just an introductory game for us both. I used my 4 wardens as Castellans, and my 2 Protectors. I had Kor'el with a single re-roll. (He allowed me to use the CPF fan list)

He took two imperial cruisers and 4 Sword class frigates. The Cruisers were Lunar class but with the Nova Cannon upgrades. He had a standard Admiral (LD8) with 2 re-rolls (made the points pretty even)

Now when two nova cannons fired at the same target i couldn't help but notice that they started to become far more deadly weapons. Capable of easily wiping out multiple escorts in a single hit. Given the Lunars more capable broadside as well this caused some problems in all but my last game.

I think people see the D6 on a Nova Cannon and think "Can cripple a Capital ship!" I see them as more useful against squadrons where the scatter isn't as damaging and where two of them firing together (espec if ships are squadroned) can tear through escorts with ease.

This was certainly what my oponent did and it caused me no end of grief in the first and second games. When i lost Castellans pretty quickly in the second game it allowed the sword escorts to swing behind my Protectors on AHF and trap them between the Lunar class.... Only my frontal fire power allowed me to reclaim some honour so to speak. My opponent hadn't played Tau and didn't realise how fast their torpedos travelled. 12 Torps into a Lunar class followed by 2 Manta bombers really does tend to cause some worry and i got lucky with a critical roll.

This was a great write-up. I won some FW Tau spaceship models on eBay and was confused when they didn't look like the drawings in the rules. Now I'm crystal clear.

Say, nobody mentions the Nicassar Dhows. Are they any good? If so, how could i get some? It appears neither FW nor the GW website offer them for sale. Are there any good proxies?

Hi,

don't know if they'll be back anytime. Guess bad selling items.

As for proxies check out GZG models, Cold Navy or Ninja Magic.

Ruleswise: neat, but surpassed by Orca/Warden I think.