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The updated rules for Markerlights in the new Codex: Tau Empire make
them a must-have for Tau players. The versatility they offer your
army is unbelievable. They can call in Seeker Missiles, boost
Ballistic Skill repeatedly, allow the shooter to ignore Target
Priority and Night Fighting rules, impose repeatedly a -1 Leadership
penalty for Pinning checks, and reduce Cover Saves by -1 repeatedly.
If you help Fire Warriors with a pair of Markerlights, you can
raise their BS to 5. Instead of hitting 50% of the time, your Fire
Warriors will now hit 84% of the time. With the potency of your
Pulse Rifles, no infantry can stand against that kind of accurate
barrage, especially inside Rapid Fire range. This concept applies
to your anti-vehicle and anti-power armor weapons, too. Markerlights
can magnify each one at the right moment against the right kind
of targets, which creates a flexibility that will make other non-Tau
armies drool.
Plus, the new Networked Markerlight option allows the operator's
own unit to benefit from its use, which can come in handy for units
you expect to be isolated (Stealthsuits come to mind). Plus, the
Networked Markerlight also comes into play for the Sky Ray Gunship,
as you'll see later.
The drawback, like usual, is that Markerlights are not cheap
and they are Heavy Weapons, which requires stationary shooting.
The stationary part can be dealt with by planning your placement
carefully or using vehicles. The cost-to-benefit ratios of different
Markerlight holders, however, are calculations that you must evaluate
for yourself. Pathfinders are
the traditional
approach, but the new Marker Drones
offer new
possibilities.
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