John McClane’s Feet Are More Dramatic Than An Eldar Wraithknight.

[Jewelfox]

I personally love the tension of playing Tau against something that can clean your clock in melee. Whether it's from desperately working the gun line, trying to put a dent in some kind of gue'ron'sha precursor weapon, or using high-risk high-reward tactics by getting in close with models like breachers.

Everyone says that they suck. But I love the idea of not-quite-melee Tau who have to get right up in your face, and are rewarded by being able to shred power armour with AP3 shotguns. Want a job that's even more dangerous than a fusion Crisis suit pilot's? Run towards the nine-foot monstrosity, on foot. And try to aim for the head.

[CoffeeGrunt]

People think Breachers suck? I love Breachers, they're MVPs in every game I've ran them in, and they suit my view of Tau as a high-risk, high-reward army with close-range shooting and much dakka.

[Mr Mystery]

Breachers are ace. They create deadly perimeter your opponent would rather avoid than risk - and against an already highly mobile army like the Tau, that can be a right pain.

[Path Walker]

I think people don't rate them because they don't slot in to their existing view of a Tau army, the "internet consensus" takes a while to latch on to new ideas unless they can be used to win a big important tournament.

I like any unit that potentially creates a dramatic moment, that's what the game should be about, those "do or die" times when a plucky units shoots the head off a Bloodthirster or 5 Grey Hunters kill a Daemon Prince of Khorne in melee.

5 Scatter Jetbikes aren't dramatic, they're not plucky, they're "efficient", the Wraith Knight is the same, its just very good with no real weaknesses, they do exactly what you'd expect them to do and they do it well. You can make some really fun Eldar armies that really fit the fluff and are great to play and play against, its not a problem with the codex, its a problem with player expectation, players thinking the best thing to do is batter their opponent.

[CoffeeGrunt]

Bleh. The internet view of Tau is a boring-AF gunline that sits and shoots. My Tau all end up on my opponent's side of the board by the end of the game. With so many Deep Strike, Outflank, Scout and Infiltrate options, why wouldn't you?

[Path Walker]

Bleh. The internet view of Tau is a boring-AF gunline that sits and shoots. My Tau all end up on my opponent's side of the board by the end of the game. With so many Deep Strike, Outflank, Scout and Infiltrate options, why wouldn't you?

People online tend to care more about winning than your average player, they don't read the Tau fluff and so only approach it as a static gunline because that's what they were good at in most editions. They're mobile and a lot of fun, the internet ruins everything, but then, its hard to communicate the feelings of exhilaration when a risky plan works, much easier to fall back on an old reliable strategy that wins more often because that's what's important for tournaments.

[YorkNecromancer]

Personally, I think Tau Breachers are an excellent example of how to game design. They're absolutely deadly at very close range, but just as worthless as any other Tau when it comes to assault, which is just superb. They give the Tau a sort-of assault unit, but without being an assault unit, meaning the army's harmartia isn't remotely compromised, despite getting a unit that can scare the crap out of dedicated assault specialists because of the absurdly close range hurt they can lay down.

And as for the Internet consensus... Meh.



That's the internet consensus right there: there's only one right way to play, and a couple of variations you're allowed which are apparently equally powerful but not quite and that's it.

Then along comes someone with a completely out-of-left-field idea that no-one knows how to counter (like that Lictor list from a few years back, that took a supposedly dreadful unit and destroyed every man and his dog with them) and suddenly everyone's complaining but they're not sure what exactly it is they're complaining about.

[Kirsten]

yup, love the breachers for the same reason, a close assault option that isn't actually a melee unit, perfect design.

[CoffeeGrunt]

I had a fun moment with them where they didn't quite kill the unit they were shooting at, and my opponent moved an Assault unit right up into their faces to get a guaranteed charge off. I smiled and asked them if they really wanted to be within the 6" range band when the Breachers fired their Overwatch, and they pulled them back to about 7".

They then failed the charge. ^_^

[Jewelfox]

I had a fun moment with them where they didn't quite kill the unit they were shooting at, and my opponent moved an Assault unit right up into their faces to get a guaranteed charge off. I smiled and asked them if they really wanted to be within the 6" range band when the Breachers fired their Overwatch, and they pulled them back to about 7".

They then failed the charge. ^_^

That's awesome. <3

My only experience with breachers so far has been getting not quite close enough to shred Necron destroyers. Who then proceeded to waste everyone with a template weapon. I need a lot more practice. >_<

Thanks everyone for the commentary, btw, is it just me or is this place a lot more civil towards Tau players (and players in general) then some forums I've seen ^^;