Months of little to no gaming, punctuated only by a select few enraging games with some of the worst rules-lawyers I know, left me with the feeling that 40k wasn't fun anymore. And it honestly wasn't. Stuck away from a real shop, I entertained myself with pen-and-paper games when I could, but my army sat alone and unused. My link to the 40k community, this blog, went with it.
Now, with a break from the year's activities just around the corner, I believe it is time for the Tau to step back up to the field of battle. Not without some changes though. Gone will be the Cadre of old. The Heartseeker Cadre will now step up to the field of battle.
Heartseeker Cadre
“These creatures believe that they are safe behind their champions, behind their walls of iron vehicles. Let's see if they would like to open channels after their
(Tau Empire Codex)
Headquarters
Shas'el -96
Heartseeker Shas'els have two roles. The first, and most familiar of these roles is that of the leader, leading his army's attack on the enemy, embodying the virtues of tactical prowess. These Commanders lead from the front, often accompanying an auxiliary scouting force or a Pathfinder team once battle begins.
-Crisis Battlesuit
--Air-Bursting Fragmentation Projector
--Twin-linked Missile Pods
--Hard-wired Target Lock
--Hard-wired Blacksun Filter
Shas'el, and Two Shas'vre Bodyguards -251
The latter role of the a Heartseeker Shas'el is to inspire in a different way. Burning short but bright, Heartseekers Shas'els select the most passionate bodyguards and launch into the fray, closing on the enemy's champions or thundering war machines, and crushing them along with the morale of the enemy.
(Shas'el)
-Crisis Suit
--Plasma Rifle
--Fusion Blaster
--Multitracker
(Shas'vres)
-Crisis Battlesuit
--Plasma Rifle
--Fusion Blaster
--Targeting Array
--Hard-wired Multitracker
Total Headquarters Expenditure: 347pts
Elites
Three Deathrain Shas'uis -141
Deathrain pattern suits and their embody the virtue of death from afar. Striking out with their missile pods, they see to eliminate the enemy's larger threats, moor them in wreckage, or outright eliminate them. If enemy hordes seek to close the distance, their flamethrowers can show them fear.
-Crisis Battlesuit
--Twin-linked Missile Pods
--Flamer
Three Deathrain Shas'uis -141
-Crisis Battlesuit
--Twin-linked Missile Pods
--Flamer
Three Deathrain Shas'uis -141
-Crisis Battlesuit
--Twin-linked Missile Pods
--Flamer
Total Elite Expenditure: 423 pts
Troops
Six Mounted Shas'la -145
Shas'la, the backbone of static cadres and retrieval missions, are not of mush use to a cadre such as the Heartseeker Cadre, as they simply do not bring enough firepower to bear to fit the Cadre's standard missions. That said, a handful of Shas'la remain, serving roles as field engineers and medics, whilst being able to effectively hold areas with Cadre support.
-Pulse Rifle
Devilfish APC
The Devilfish, normally anywhere from a low-orbit dropship to a light gunship, serves a purpose as a caravan to the Heartseekers; bringing medics, engineers, and their equipment. These Devilfish still are battle-ready, and can function on any role needed of them.
-Burst Cannon
-Gun Drones
--Disruption Pods
Six Shas'la -60
-Pulse Rifle
10 Kroot Auxiliaries with 5 Hounds -100
Kroot Auxiliaries serve the Heartseeker Cadre by scouting out weaknesses of the opposing force, and hunting them if they move to flee. When battle arrives, they form the frontline, deterring enemy forces from close quarters combat. When needed, these auxiliary units can act as an impromptu retrieval unit.
(Kroot)
-Kroot Rifles
(Hounds)
-Fangs and claws
Total Troop Expenditure: 305pts
Fast Attack
Piranha Light Assault Skimmer -75
As the Heartseeker Cadre moves to engage the enemy, their Piranhas move into position. Ejecting repair drones that remain with the rest of the Cadre, they swiftly move up the battlefield, flanking the enemy before moving into range with their melta weapons.
--Fusion Blaster
-Gun Drones
--Disruption Pods
Piranha Light Assault Skimmer -75
--Fusion Blaster
-Gun Drones
--Disruption Pods
Eight Pathfinder Scouts and Beacon Devilfish APC -181
Whilst standard Pathfinders use their vehicles to scout ahead of the force, Heartseeker Pathfinders move forward as rearguards to the auxiliary scouting forces. When battle begins, they set up excellent marking positions in forward positions, accompanied by the Kroot.
-Pulse Carbines
-Markerlights
Beacon Devilfish
The Beacon Devilfish is a standard piece of equipment for Pathfinder squads, holding additional equipment, from a wide array of scanners, a comms interface, and the Marker Beacon, which is capable of beaming their position (or that of the enemy) to support units.
-Burst Cannon
-Gun Drones
--Disruption Pods
-Marker Beacon
Total Fast Attack Expenditure: 331
Heavy Support
Two Broadside Shas'uis -148
As the main force of the Heartseeker Cadre engages the enemy in mobile combat, the Broadsides, having set up in key firing lanes, begin their onslaught. Utilizing Markerlight guided Railgun shots, these behemoths blast at enemy formations, reducing battletanks to wreckage and walkers to scraps. The strongest monstrosities cannot stand up to the battering of Railguns, and the Heartseeked Cadre takes advantage of this.
(Suit 1)
-Broadside Battlesuit
-Twin-linked Railgun
-Smart Missile System
--Target Lock
(Suit 2)
-Broadside Battlesuit
-Twin-linked Railgun
-Smart Missile System
--Blacksun Filter
Two Broadside Shas'uis -148
(Suit 1)
-Broadside Battlesuit
-Twin-linked Railgun
-Smart Missile System
--Target Lock
(Suit 2)
-Broadside Battlesuit
-Twin-linked Railgun
-Smart Missile System
--Blacksun Filter
Two Broadside Shas'uis -148
(Suit 1)
-Broadside Battlesuit
-Twin-linked Railgun
-Smart Missile System
--Target Lock
(Suit 2)
-Broadside Battlesuit
-Twin-linked Railgun
-Smart Missile System
--Blacksun Filter
Total Heavy Support Expenditure: 444pts
-TOTAL CADRE EXPENDITURE-
1850
This list still maintains the ability to use all of the tactics listed in this blog, albeit with a more offensive approach. I sacrifice a line of Kroot to bring along more devastating firepower, more anti-tank, etc. I fill the list almost to the brim with Crisis Suits, allowing a very mobile army not as tied down as my former; the Kroot simply run whenever possible to keep up with the army's speed.
This list has a few static components, namely the Broadsides and Pathfinders, and these will be positioned centrally. The suits can move with vehicle escort (cover) and harass with more ease. Most importantly, this army allows me to place my attacking units in multiple spots across the board, without having to worry about moving them all away from a single point of attack.
This is the closest combination of my tough, Kauyon style army and the fast, Mont'ka army that I was originally enamored with in the fluff. Let's hope it serves me well.
Articles should begin flowing within the week.
