|
Where'd this idea come from?
The mobile infantry concept came up out of a series of discussions on Advanced Tau Tactica. I won't pretend that I was one of the originators of the concept, but I did immediately think that it would be a great way to play. It sprang from a variety of factors. One was that since 4th edition changed some of the ways that vehicles work, more lists were incorporating them. This led to more lists featuring multiple skimmers, and thus more lists were prepared to deal with them. This meant that standard Mechanized Tau lists were struggling a bit. In addition, several of the innovators of the Mobile Infantry concept felt a lack of firepower from Mechanized Tau in the new tournament environment. Finally, a number of people were interested in being able to move up and hold objectives in a more forceful way than a standard Mechanized Tau list can.
Tau Heavy Infantry deployed aggressively.
What's the Big Idea?
This concept revolves around a heavy-hitting core of well-protected infantry. Even more, it relies on the infantry to move up under fire. Unlike standard static Tau lists that have a lot of firepower but don't move much, this list is designed to take that firepower and bring the fight to the enemy. Unlike standard Mechanized Tau lists that work through a combination of concentrated firepower and difficult-to-damage skimmers that play hide and seek with the enemy, a Mobile Infantry list confronts the enemy directly and brings more firepower to the party.
Survivability and firepower along with mobility. (Not my model, I believe I got this image from the Black Gobbo issue shortly after the Tau Empires Codex came out.)
What units would be good for this
Well, the most obvious choice for this list would be the Broadside, for it's high firepower and armor save and equipped with the Advanced Stabilization System so they can move and fire. Their staying power by themselves isn't really enough, but if you add in some Shield Drones, they are very formidable. A large part of the heavy firepower available to static Tau lists comes in the form of large blocks of Firewarriors. 12 S5 weapons firing out to 30" make a pretty good dent. Adding 2 or 3 more teams really lets them thunder. Some favor standard Pulse Rifles for their long range, while others favor Pulse Carbines for the ability to move and shoot, which follows well with the Mobile Infantry concept. Crisis Suits jumping out from behind the line of Broadsides add their firepower as well. A great addition to this would be the Ninja 'O. (This is a Shas 'O commander with at least Vectored Retro Thrusters and Stimulant Injectors.) The Ninja 'O is designed to close in on a dangerous enemy unit, fire at short range and then assault. The Ninja 'O relies on the Stimulant Injector to keep alive through both his assault phase and the enemy assault phase, keeping the unit in place during their next turn. Then the Ninja 'O uses the Vectored Retro Thrusters to jump away, usually repeating the procedure on the same unit, potentially with some firepower assistance from a few other units. It's a great way to keep fast assaulters away from your lines. It allows you to tie up one such unit while your army focuses on the other such units with their firepower.
Having a commander that can get in close and disrupt the enemy's plans is priceless.
The List itself
132 Shas 'O Commander: Vectored retro-thrusters, Plasma Rifle, Shield Generator, Stimulant injector.
112 Shas 'El Commander: Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod, Target Array, HWMultitracker, HWDrone Controller, 1 Shield Drone.
140 12xFirewarrior w/Pulse Carbines, Team Leader has Markerlight.
140 12xFirewarrior w/Pulse Carbines, Team Leader has Markerlight.
140 12xFirewarrior w/Pulse Carbines, Team Leader has Markerlight.
275 3xBroadside w/Advanced Stabilization, Team Leader w/HWTarget Lock, HWDrone Controller, 2xShield Drones.
275 3xBroadside w/Advanced Stabilization, Team Leader w/HWTarget Lock, HWDrone Controller, 2xShield Drones.
275 3xBroadside w/Advanced Stabilization, Team Leader w/HWTarget Lock, HWDrone Controller, 2xShield Drones.
1489pts
Have gun, will travel.
What models do I already have for the list?
Well, I've already got 2 Broadsides, so I'd need 7 more of those. I've already got two Commander models, though I'd need to switch out some of the equipment. I also have 12 Firewarriors, but I'd need 24 more, which would be a pretty big chunk.
If you enjoyed this, email me and let me know
Return to
Warpstorm!
|