never liked the ethrials dont feel they give you much of a boost in the game

have you seen their new rules????

It's really a hard choice between taking a fireblade or an ethereal as a low points cost HQ now, they're amazing.

Still prefer supream firepower over all

Ok Fire blade offers the following buff:

+1 shot to all pulse weapons in his unit.

Ethereal offers the following:

Failure is not an option: grants his leadership to all friendly models from the Tau codex within 12" but if he dies and the mission uses objectives your opponent gains a bonus victory point

Invocation of the Elements: Affects all friendly non-vehicle units from the codex within 12" chose 1 of the 4 effects.
* units/models gain stubborn
* units/models fire an extra shot when their pulse weapons are shooting within half range, this affects kroot rifles with pulse shots too (can also stack with the fireblade's ability)
* units/models gain Feel no Pain 6+
* units/models can snap fire after completing a 'run' move in the shooting phase


for base costs as well the ethereal is 50 points to the fireblades 60 points and the ethereal gets more wargear options but they can both take 2 drones each. Honestly though, it's a hard choice between them, but if I were playing a 2000 point game, I'd be taking a second mission chart with 2 firewarrior units maxed out with a fireblade and ethereal in one unit each then sit back and pour on the fire.

Speaking of the Tau are you looking for any adtional units, even Human Auxs to use?

not at the moment, I want to get a few games under my belt with the army as it stands before I start adding more units, I only really need another firewarrior unit and a few tanks and a flyer to round off the army. but I've got that covered

Very nice paintjob on both. Kinda cute how Shadowsun's hair curls around the antenna :)

I definitely wanna try an etherial too, but I want to play a few more games first. Only did one with the new rules so far.

on paper it is very hard to get close to Tau now, and if you do it'll hurt, their support fire rules make them a bitch to assault now as well.

reality is a very different thing though. All my old crew back in the UK who have used them have all said the same thing, they're an amazing army so long as you can keep bringing your guns to bear each turn. if you lose your mobility or the advantage of terrain, you're doomed.

*nods* Sounds pretty much like what I've figured. Supporting fire is nice, true, but its only a few more snap shots, not something you can really depend on. I was lucky in my game the other day, having gotten (mostly) high ground and I was able to avoid all close combat. that was countered by my inability to destroy vehicles, despite the presence of 2 railguns :P

Anyway, I think I'll be having plenty of fun :)

best example of supporting fire I've heard to date is this:

one unit of 6 fire warriors supported by a commander with 2 gundrones as the bait, either side were 2 6 man fire warrior teams, and to the rear of the bait unit was a 12 man fire warrior unit supported by an ethereal with shield drones. A 10 man CSM Raptor unit assaulted the bait unit, bring in the supporting fire units... lots of dice rolls later, two raptors make it to combat and get kicked in by the Tau commander.

Heheh, nice :)

Supporting Fire is a great rule, don't get me wrong. Very fitting to the army too. But I just think one shouldn't rely on it too much. Better to just keep the enemy away enough so they won't get a chance to charge at all.

indeed

Beautiful work! Truly a great piece for The Greater Good!

thanks very much