It's time to breathe some life back into this Tau list, and the recent release of new models for its 40K version should be a get the conversation going again. Some very exciting models have been unleashed on the Imperium, and I've picked the two most significant of them as possible inclusions in the army list; the Stormsurge and the KX139 Ta’unar Supremacy Armour.
KV128 Stormsurge
An absolute colossus of a machine, piloted by graduates of the Ves’oni’Vash, the KV128 Stormsurge is designed as an extreme heavy-weapons platform. Not as manoeuvrable as a Riptide, instead relying on thick armour and devastating loadouts, these hulking, squat ballistic suits are capable of changing the course of a battle in seconds with a decisive volley of astonishing firepower. Fitted with thrusters to counter recoil, bristling with pulse weaponry and missile pods, the Stormsurge is the Tau Empire’s Titan-killer.Proposed statline.
KV128 Stormsurge - DC2
- 20cm move 3+ 5+ 4+
- Pulse Driver Cannon 75cm Macro 3+
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OR Destroyer Missile Macro 75cm 3+ (One-shot)
- Cluster Rocket System 2x 45cm AP4/AT5
Special Rules: Destroyer Missiles fired at a Markerlit target become TK(1).
Tau Deflector Field, Walker
3 KV128 Stormsurge for 375
- Add Shas'el (leader) for 25pts
Notes: This is a similar profile to the Knight Castellan. Despite being currently set at the same price, the Pulse Driver Cannon weapon is clearly not as good as the Knight Quake Cannon. The Quake Cannon is better (90cm longer range and the formation can switch to firing Blast Templates). This is conscious choice because IMHO the Quake Cannon is probably a bit overpowered at the moment.
The Destroyer Missile is one shot (as per the 40K model), but reduced to 1 per model (instead of 4) for balance purposes. Its rule is intended to emulate those of the 40K model: Destroyer Missiles carried on the Stormsurge go from strength 8 to strength D if responding to a markerlight.
The player currently has to choose between firing PDC and DM, rather than both at once. This is for balance reasons, since even with it being one-shot, firing both at once would be awesome.
Thoughts/comments/critiques welcome.