New Tau Army

[Mucka]

Hi all,

I have played 40k a couple of times about 10 years or so ago and recently found an old Ork army I had been given and I began looking on GW site thinking about getting back into it, however I really don't like the Orks look or play style. The Tau really jumped out at me because they contrast completely with the Orks in both respects.

After looking on a few forums and GW etc I have a few questions about starting a Tau Army.

1. I've seen in a few places that a new Tau codex is rumoured, so basically would it be worth starting an army now? Will a new codex make that much difference to my starter force?

2. Obviously I know I need to start with a codex and rulebook (i have an old edition to re-read the basics) and a Battleforce. The thing I wanted to ask is how many points is a Tau Battleforce actually worth? Therefore how many more models I will have to buy to have a competitive army?

3. I want a ranged army so would there be any other army than the Tau that people would recommend for me?

Thats about all I can think of asking atm so thanks in advance guys!!

[jmg202]

well lets be honest here, i love the tau, something about alot of robot looking figures running around blowing stuff up is cool. but as a first army or starter army this going to be a steep learning curve. they are not very forgiving. the codex is old but i still feel it can give people a good fight if played properly. someone will correct me if im wrong but from what ive been hearing and reading, the rumors are that the majority of the "tau" models will stay the same. that means your suits, firewarriors, and vehicles should be ok to buy.

With the battleforce you can field a 500pt army. i started my tau a month ago, so will be up to you whether or not to wait for the new dex, im impulsive and couldnt wait ha ha

[Mucka]

Thanks for the reply and im quite impulsive tbh don't think that I could wait not knowing a release date for all the new stuff. If that is the case about most of the models staying the same then I think I will start my army now but just build it slowly, waiting for the new models and codex to come out.
I've seen a few battle reports on youtube and noticed that the tau can be quite fragile, especially against horde armies like the Tyranids. The thing is though looking for a ranged army there was nothing else that jumped out at me, I really don't want a SM army and aren't the Eldar/Dark Eldar even more fragile than Tau?

[jmg202]

i play dark eldar as well with great success, the dark eldar can at least fight in close combat and still
a have mobility and good shooting. but yes they are very fragile also, but the tau are a different play style. i like them both.

[Shining Finger]

The new Tau and Sisters codices are likely to be released this year, so I think it's worth the wait.
I could be wrong but I heard that the battlesuits are getting redone, but everything else are going to be the same.
You can just start buying the models and paint them, so you will have a decent army by the time the new codex comes out.

Other shooty armies would be the Imperial Guard and Necrons. But I would recommend the Eldar since you seem to like hi-tech looking stuff. The Eldar can be tailored for shooting as they can field Rangers as Troops, supported by warwalkers and fire prisms. Just put them behind cover and they can be really hard to kill.

[Immortal]

Just IMO Eldar are probablly the hardest army to play well atm, since every single unit has a dedicated role, and if not used correctly can really cost you. More so than other armies since Eldar are so fragile, and fairly exspensive. An awesome army though, in my top 3, but if your just getting back into 40k you might want to start with a slightly more forgiving army. As you like the Tau go for it, there a nice army to play with. I used to run a Suit themed army in 4th edition, back when area terrain was popular, though in 5th its harder to maximise some of the Tau's units sometimes. There either a gunline army, again in 5th edition i've found it pretty hard/near impossiable to get the decent results, since everyone seems to spam fast moving/drop podding/deep striking armies that can simply get into your lines really early on, and as you may know, Tau don't like close combat. Kroot can help here by screening your main force, since there actually rather good in combat. But yea pure gun line style Tau armies are hard to play. meching your army up probably works best for Tau in the current dex. Since they have decent transports and other vehicals with decent options.

I'd personally wait for the new codex, but ofc its totally upto you

Awesome army in general though, so if you choose Tau good luck!