Tau Sniper Drones.

[Sonikgav]

Just curious what people thought about these guys.

I mean sure, the Heavy slot has some SERIOUS competition for Tau but a fully equipped unit comes in just shy of 175 points, gives 3 Marker Lights and 9 48" Rapid Fire Snipershots that can duck in and out of cover each turn.

My list has a Longstrike Hammerhead and Salvo-sides already but couldnt fit another of either and I like these guys as an alternative. FAR better than they were last edition.

[ElectricPaladin]

I think that you have basically got the right of it. Sniper drones are now good. However, they compete with many other things that are also very good. Worse, like most snipers, sniper drones are mostly good at killing infantry (and maybe glancing light vehicles if you're lucky). The entire Tau codex is already very good at killing infantry. Our codex is dripping with 5/5 shooting (wounds most GEQs on a 2+, ignores light armor) and most of our big guns (ion accelerator, ion cannon, railgun) have blast options.

So, what do we need sniper drones for?

That's the problem.

I have a team. I'll try using them. I don't think they are going to chase broadsides or hammerheads out of my list, though.

[Sonikgav]

Im personally using them for Marking and unit dissection. That big unit of Terminators huddled around a banner bearer, or the Lords/Crypteks hiding in Warrior units etc. The markers light em up, the drones snipe out those dangerous elements and the massed firepower annihilates the survivors.

Theyre also BS5 which by my maths makes the lights alone as effective as a pathfinder unit before considering the sniping.

[Tynskel]

I think that you have basically got the right of it. Sniper drones are now good. However, they compete with many other things that are also very good. Worse, like most snipers, sniper drones are mostly good at killing infantry (and maybe glancing light vehicles if you're lucky). The entire Tau codex is already very good at killing infantry. Our codex is dripping with 5/5 shooting (wounds most GEQs on a 2+, ignores light armor) and most of our big guns (ion accelerator, ion cannon, railgun) have blast options.

So, what do we need sniper drones for?

That's the problem.

I have a team. I'll try using them. I don't think they are going to chase broadsides or hammerheads out of my list, though.

I disagree. Snipers are good at killing big things. 4+ to wound, rending. That's fantastic. Now, compound that with BS5, and 18 shots at 24". That's ~2 Rends a turn, but ~7 armor saves. That'll put down big things pretty quick.

[ElectricPaladin]

I disagree. Snipers are good at killing big things. 4+ to wound, rending. That's fantastic. Now, compound that with BS5, and 18 shots at 24". That's ~2 Rends a turn, but ~7 armor saves. That'll put down big things pretty quick.

I see your point. However, we're still talking killing things with wounds. GEQ, MEQ, TEQ, and monstrous creatures. Doesn't that remain the sort of thing we don't need sniper drones for, given that when it comes to Heavy Support, we can do all that and more with railheads and ionheads?

[Sonikgav]

Railheads and Railsides do 1 wound each though and most people will take Salvo-sides instead. Would take far too long to deal with something like a Tervigon. Against Nids for example id prefer Submunitions into gaunts and Snipers to deal with the big guys.

[ElectricPaladin]

This is an intriguing conversation. I am very excited to see this role opening up for sniper drones: taking on monstrous creatures. Very, very interesting. I'll have to try this out.

[Tynskel]

Yeah, between Kroot and Sniper Drones, you can have relatively inexpensive units that have generally a lot of moderate firepower. This opens up purchasing the big guns for that absolutely hardest of things.

[Quaade]

Don't forget that sniper drones are buffed by Storm of Fire to 3 shots within 24", that's an obscene amount of BS5 sniper shots.

[Kyban]

I want to try these guys with demons, use the snipers to pick off the chump sarges before sending in the bloodthirster with rampage to steamroll the unit.

[Uncle Nutsy]

I was contemplating where I'd use sniper drones, in larger or smaller point games. I think sniper drones might be a little more useful in the sub 1500 point games. I'll have to try it out to make sure.