new codex, wot id like to see.

[snoopholly]

Get rid of Targeting Arrays as an upgrade, if they are so technologically advanced they would have them in their helmets and vehicles anyway.
Fire Warriors: BS4 & WS2, If they can have Acute Senses in there helmets they should be able to have a targeting array in there, after all they are supposed to be “technologically advanced” and it’s a lot more useful, Id also give them the “Hit and Run” special rule, if they don’t like getting into CC (they’ve got a WS of 2!) they should be able to get out of it.
Pathfinders: Give them the “Move through Cover” rule, they are elite scouts after all. Also they should get a +1 to there cover save, again they are elite scouts who’s primary task is to get behind enemy lines and mark up targets with there ML’s. They would of course have the Heavy 1 Marker light variation.
Battle Suits: BS4 & WS3, (WS4 for Shas'vre) again targeting arrays in the helmets and as they are the elite warriors they should be able to fight better than a Fire Warrior. Also give them a blast template weapon option. Plasma cannon anyone?
Stealth Suits: BS4 & WS3, also give them something that lets them Deep Strike more accurately, ( they are the elite infiltrating unit) maybe getting a re-roll on the scatter dice or only rolling 1 D6 not 2.
Marker lights: 2 different variations. 1st, a man portable version which would be an “Assault 1” profile weapon, but it would only give either a -1 to cover saves or the +1 to BS, but it could be used by the unit carrying the marker light, unlike the one used in the present codex. The second type would be a “Heavy 1” profile, it would do the same as the above but also could be used with Seeker missiles and could also be used to guide deep striking units in, meaning the unit wouldn’t have to roll the scatter dice (or only rolls 1 D6 instead of 2).
Hammer Heads: Should make the Ion Cannon a blast weapon similar to a Plasma Cannon. Makes it a much more viable weapon option.
Sky Ray: Make it a transport as well, after all, its only carrying missiles on top of its hull, its not like a Railgun which needs large pieces of equipment in the hull to power it.

[Angelofblades]

Get rid of Targeting Arrays as an upgrade, if they are so technologically advanced they would have them in their helmets and vehicles anyway.

They already have this upgrade on their main tank, the Hammerhead. I think it should stay they way it is imho.

Fire Warriors: BS4 & WS2, If they can have Acute Senses in there helmets they should be able to have a targeting array in there, after all they are supposed to be “technologically advanced” and it’s a lot more useful, Id also give them the “Hit and Run” special rule, if they don’t like getting into CC (they’ve got a WS of 2!) they should be able to get out of it.

Actually, I would keep Fire Warriors at BS3, but make the Sgt BS4, and come equipped with a networked marker light that the squad can use. This way they can be BS4 OR if your unlucky, BS3. Tau are supposed to be tech savvy, so they should show it. Also Hit and Run on tau fire warriors is a pipe dream and unrealistic. If they had H&R, they would cost 18 pts a model, so no. It would make more sense to make to keep them at 10pts a model, 5 pts for a Sgt upgrade who comes with a ML and +1 LD and +1A.

Pathfinders: Give them the “Move through Cover” rule, they are elite scouts after all. Also they should get a +1 to there cover save, again they are elite scouts who’s primary task is to get behind enemy lines and mark up targets with there ML’s. They would of course have the Heavy 1 Marker light variation.

I agree with move through cover for Pathfinders, but disagree with the comment on them being elite scouts. They are simply scouts. Nothing elite about them, the elite scouts are stealth suits. Also disagree with the +1 cover save. I would give them a variable ML, one that's assault 1 30" or heavy 1 48". I would like to see them swap their markerlight weapons for rail rifles for free.

Battle Suits: BS4 & WS3, (WS4 for Shas'vre) again targeting arrays in the helmets and as they are the elite warriors they should be able to fight better than a Fire Warrior. Also give them a blast template weapon option. Plasma cannon anyone?

I agree with making suits all BS4, but no increase in WS. They shoot better, not fight better. They already have a blast template weapon, however few ever use it. What they need are more varied weaponry. I would also change their movement. Jet suits to 12" in movement phase, 6" in assault phase. The weapons that are more varied. I would revise the rules for the ionic gun, to Template, S5, AP5, every to wound roll of a 6, causes another hit. Also the Frag launcher they have should be S5, AP5 Blast, no cover saves, Assault 2. Range 24.

I would also add a rule to missile pods to give them the smart missile system rule, where, regardles of LoS, they can engage any enemy target in their range.

Stealth Suits: BS4 & WS3, also give them something that lets them Deep Strike more accurately, ( they are the elite infiltrating unit) maybe getting a re-roll on the scatter dice or only rolling 1 D6 not 2.
Marker lights: 2 different variations. 1st, a man portable version which would be an “Assault 1” profile weapon, but it would only give either a -1 to cover saves or the +1 to BS, but it could be used by the unit carrying the marker light, unlike the one used in the present codex. The second type would be a “Heavy 1” profile, it would do the same as the above but also could be used with Seeker missiles and could also be used to guide deep striking units in, meaning the unit wouldn’t have to roll the scatter dice (or only rolls 1 D6 instead of 2).
Hammer Heads: Should make the Ion Cannon a blast weapon similar to a Plasma Cannon. Makes it a much more viable weapon option.
Sky Ray: Make it a transport as well, after all, its only carrying missiles on top of its hull, its not like a Railgun which needs large pieces of equipment in the hull to power it.

All you'r wishing seems very fan boy'ish. Pathfinder devilfish, already allow for a more accurate DS. The ion cannon was meant as a more shots option vs the rail gun, and giving a troops capacity to a skyray seems to defeat it's purpose as a gunship, if you make it a blast option, then to coutner balance, I would say, take away the submunition round from the Railgun.

With Tau, I think they need to start with wargear first and units second. I think it should be an army that can either pump out a lot of shots, or pump out quality shots, but not necessarily both. It should be an army that has good focus on ignoring cover saves, either though marker lights or just because they can.

One rule I think would be awesome, is to modify the Rail gun, and incule a "Rail" rule.

After rolling to hit, draw a line from the initial target, upto the weapons max range. Any enemy units on the line take a single hit. However, if this line passes thorugh any vehicles, the strength of the rail shot will be reduced, by the armor value hit against the target vs the current strength of the rail shot. The rail shot can only continue in this manner if it scored a penetrating hit. So for example: Rail shot on Land raider, scores a peneterating hit, adjacent to the LR is a Land Speeder. Land Raider is AV14 minus S10 Rail shot, difference of 4, so the rail shot that hits the Land speeder is now S6. If the rail shot at S6 penetrates the land speeder, it would be then reduced to S2 (av10-S6=4, reduce S6 by 4).

Obviously, if the rail rifle started the shot against an AV10 vehicle at S10, there would be no reduction in S, the armor is simply to brittle to weaken the shot! If the shot passes through an infantry unit, they cannot weaken the strength of the shot either.

For Ion cannons, I would make them fit their science fiction cause. Like Necrons with their Guass and Tesla weaponry, Tau have Ion, pulse and Rail tech, so with Ion, I would have it that it disables any non weapon wargear/ rule the vehicle has (IE power of the machine spirit, deffrollas, Fortitude, living metal etc) for a turn, and automatically "shakes" enemy vehicles in addition to other effects. If a vehicle has mutliple abilties, the shooting player may only pick 1, per ion shot. Against MC's it reduces movment by D3" per shot in their movement phase, if the MC has wings, they cannot fly that turn.

The ion cannon on a hammer head would be Heavy 4. I would also introduce more ion weaponry, especially for the suits. Like having an Ion rifle or ion blaster, would be S7 AP3 Ion, Range 18. while pulse weaponry would all be S5 Ap5, range 30.

[Deception]

tau dreadknight battlesuit. nuff said.

[edmundblack]

*what

I think Necrons give a fairly good indication as to what Tau might be like as it is - very much a shooting army, but little in the way of resilience in combat en-masse.

[Leonix]

I want a codex where all options are viable, and work as intended... I'd like o go into more detail, but being so close to 6th, and no clue as to what will be in it I wont bother.

[snoopholly]

For a race that spends all its time with ranged weapons I think BS3 is poor, yes they have the ML's but they still have to hit with them, and for a "technologically advanced race" they should be better, aren't the Necrons BS4! And blast template weapon is, correct me if I'm wrong, a special issue one which means only 1 can be fielded in the whole army. Why does it defeat its purpose? thrs plenty of gun platforms that can carry troops as well. PF DF is the only way to get a better deep strike ability and for an army that obviously is supposed to use deep striking as a tactic it seems pretty poor. I agree about the wargear but still think it has to do more damage in the shooting phase due to it being so weak in the CC phase. With the new Necron army Tau are in danger of being out classed by everyone. I like the idea of the Rail and Ion *rules, it would make for much better weapons.

[Leonix]

For a race that spends all its time with ranged weapons I think BS3 is poor, yes they have the ML's but they still have to hit with them, and for a "technologically advanced race" they should be better, aren't the Necrons BS4! And blast template weapon is, correct me if I'm wrong, a special issue one which means only 1 can be fielded in the whole army. Why does it defeat its purpose? thrs plenty of gun platforms that can carry troops as well. PF DF is the only way to get a better deep strike ability and for an army that obviously is supposed to use deep striking as a tactic it seems pretty poor. I agree about the wargear but still think it has to do more damage in the shooting phase due to it being so weak in the CC phase. With the new Necron army Tau are in danger of being out classed by everyone. I like the idea of the Rail and Ion *rules, it would make for much better weapons.

There is a fluff reason for BS3... Also we want Markerlights as an option, if everything magically jumped up in BS it would then require a hit to the MLs for game balance... No TAs Vs MLs should be a choice.

Also Crons are very shooty, always have been, but Tau bring class to the shooting game, and thats the way it should be in the next codex... IMO... Also bare in mind that we Tau have far more natural mobility than the Crons do.

As for the DS options all they have to do is make the PR a normal upgrade, and not a PF only thing, and problem solved.

[Strassa]

if tau were bs 4 base that would be ridiculus they have sure they are not hitting on 3s like crons, but the are wounding t4 on 3s and t3 on 2s o yeah and that is thier basic guns! they are plenty balanced on that end tau just takes alot of finesse to use i really dont think they even need an update.

[Leonix]

i really dont think they even need an update.

Except we have half working rules written for 4th edition, and point costs to match... No, Tau do need an update, but what they dont need is a redesign.

[GAngeldb]

Except we have half working rules written for 4th edition, and point costs to match... No, Tau do need an update, but what they dont need is a redesign.

I agree, their armory is in fine shape, but they need to change some points around.

Also do something else with the kroot;fearless would be nice. It only seems fitting for such a savage, uniquely evolved, Beast. I don't like a LD of 7 and no bonus for outnumbering or flanking. They loose CC more than they win.

[Stalker21]

I wouldn't go so far as Fearless for Kroot. Stubborn with purchase of a Shaper, maybe. Possibly a few extra options for the unit as a whole.

[TAUuser]

I personally would like to see markerlight tokens go bye-bye. Have ml's stay the restof the game. And the Tau need a heavily armoured tank transport that can carry more then a devilfish. IMHO.

[Leonix]

Fearless sucks, but a Stubborn Shaper would be perfect... As for Persistent Markerlights that would be OP, and cost through the nose.

[Leonix]

I want to see a better layout of where units are found... For example Ive always wished Stealth Suits. and Skyrays were fast attack.

[dankdrummer]

Except we have half working rules written for 4th edition, and point costs to match... No, Tau do need an update, but what they dont need is a redesign.

a redesign would be nice maybe a large walker, like the ultimate battlesuit ha ha

[thins]

I want to see a better layout of where units are found... For example Ive always wished Stealth Suits. and Skyrays were fast attack.

I completely agree with Stealth suits being fast attack. It's annoying having to choose XV8 over them.

I wouldn't mind being able to take one unit of XV8's as a troop choice.

Overall though I enjoy Tau the way they are- I should say I haven't played in two years. But I remember feeling pretty good overall about them. I never felt like my army was the reason I lost.

[VoxDei]

Make farside get a XV8 as a troop choice and shadowsun get a stealthsuit as a troop choice. Shadowsun needs to be reworked at it is. So does the ethereal. Make C&C moduals allow rerolls for fallback and regroup.