Hi all,
the Emissary model does not have Ion Cannons.
Long time ago I exchanged mails with the model designer. Specifically on the Protector:
* Stubs along the prow are railgun batteries (1 on each wing tip, 5 in the middle) All Fixed Forward.
* Large turrets on top = Ion Cannon = flexible mount (LF / RF)
* Small turrets = anti ordnance (all angles covered like fluff says)
* Large bay underneath = Manta bay
* Small square holes along wing = bays which fit the Orca drop pod (= larger then Barracuda, thus these are fighter bays.
* Small holes round in prow = missiles
Going from that the Warden does have railguns & 1 ion cannon, never 2. The Castellan railguns and missiles. The Emissary no Ion cannon but fixed railguns, missiles and 2 launch bays. Custodian 4 Manta Bays. Not 8.
On the aun'el for a Protector. I guess my mind refused to registrate that,,,
I fail to understand why some of you do not see the wrongness of this Tau fleet. I mean, background wise and statwise I do not agree with the Forgeworld list as it has little imagination. But through all it is a mighty playable and well balanced list.
So I would only change this into a total different fleet, not an upgraded fleet. With different I mean a fleet with 90* turns on the Emissary & Protector. 25cm speed on Emissary, Castellen and Warden. All Railguns fixed forward, some at 45cm. Ion Cannon only 30cm (this was specifically stated by Bob Henderson in the past: Tau should not get 45cm ion cannon, maybe only on a Custodian). Much less launch bay. Custodian classified as a grand cruiser.
But now this Tau list sees an upgraded Custodian & Protector. These two are the problem, not the other three.
This list can outshoot & out ordnance every other fleet. Even the weak broadsides and boarding weakness is gone. What remains is the lower hits (like Eldar).
Only Chaos has longer ranged weapons. The IN only a select few vessels plus an unreliable nova cannon. Nids can do some 45cm as the odd Ork vessel and a Marine barge.
(Also Strike Cruisers, Dark/Craftworld/Corsair Eldar, IN light cruisers are ships with 6 hits which can be crippled in one shot or less).
On speed. 20cm overall plus an escort on 25cm (negating the Emissary as I won't use this variant) is average in the game. Not the best but also not the worst. The speed missiles make up for a lot of that.
I ran this list along my opponents (one plays Eldar, Ork, IN, Chaos, the other Chaos and Tau FW) and the inititial reaction is that is just unbalanced fleet.
The fleet list itself is marred with noodles. Kor'o & aun on a Protector is just a no go. The Protector limit pfft. The mixing with the SG list needless.
We need to face the fact that there are only a very few players with mixed fleets, most with a Forgeworld only fleet and another part with the GW only fleet.