As you all know, I rushed out and purchased this a couple of weeks ago, primarily because I wanted the new Broadside models and this effectively gave me two for free (at US $290 this kit is about $100 less than retail for the individual kits, and broadsides are $50 each...)
The kit gives us a Riptide and six broadsides battlesuits. But it also aligns with the new dataslate product GW has available on the iBookstore. This dataslate outlines rules for using these units as a formation or detachment in regular games of 40k.
You have to run all six Broadsides AND the Riptide in your army, and in return you get the "tank hunters" and "preferred enemy: Space Marines" special rules.
May not seem like much, but preferred enemy gives them all the ability to re-roll failed to hit rolls of 1 (against Space Marine units), and tank hunters allows you to re-roll armor penetration rolls (either for fails or to try and bump a glance up to a pen) against vehicles (not just Space Marines on this one).
Downside, it gives Space Marines hatred against the unit. This means they can re-roll failed to hit rolls against units in this formation during the first round of close combat. That could be ugly, but let's be honest, Tau in close combat is always going to be ugly. That's why our definition of close combat is "30 inches."
SO, you can download the dataslate for less than five bucks (I think it's US $3.99 in the Apple iBookstore) or you can get the info out of the new Escalation book (at least that's what the guys in my local store tell me).
My first thoughts? Yay for Tau. Nice to be on the receiving end of gifts like these. People don't seem to remember our challenges in 5th edition Tau...
1) These detachments can be taken by anyone using the allies matrix (I do need to verify this when I get my escalation book). I do not like this, in fact, I am a prude. I do not like looking across the table at Tau allies and detachments. I tend to avoid these games, and as only one or two other players at my local shop run any Tau at all, there are plenty of other players for me.
2) Mmmmm... tank hunters. And without having to waste a crisis commander in the unit.
3) They do not fill regular FOC slots. again, I need to verify, but this may mean I can bring two hammerheads, some sniper drones, and this formation with six broadsides. It's gonna rain flaming frogs...
4) Mmmmm... tank hunters.
5) I could run a Farsight army with O'Vesa and bring this detachment. Elites would be three other riptides, giving me five of these puppies on the table. With crisis suits as troops and an HQ Farsight bomb as my hammer... scads of marker, gun, and shield drones in Fast Attack, and more Broadsides and a Forgeworld R'Varna in HS, that is my suit army.
Might be weak against some of the heavier armor like land raiders and monoliths, but not all armies have that, and this would be one hell of a fun list.
I do not seem to have the Farsight update in my Army builder... so I don't know the points for this, but I will update this later when I verify the rest.
BTW, I do not own five riptides, but this gives me one more reason to starve my kids...
6) Mmmmm... tank hunters.
Hey, write me and let me know what you think!
I play Tau.