Goatboy’s Warhammer 40K Hot Mess – Tidewall Droneport
The Tidewall Droneport is a weird fortification for the Tau army. It is some kind of transport that has Drones and can move – It needs help!
Did you know the T’au Empire have 2 Fortifications you can purchase still with rules? The one kind of Unit that never felt truly realized in 40K – and in the Tau book these things don’t make a ton of sense still. Is it supposed to be a true Drone support unit? Is it supposed to be a weird Star Wars like thing where the rider can vote to win the Galactic Senate? Is it a convertible and does it have some cool upgrades that I can buy from my dad’s Droneport dealership?
Well enough nonsense – let’s try to make it more interesting.
First Let’s Just Call It a Floating Vehicle
Remove the whole fortification thing and just makethe Tidewall Droneport an actual vehicle. It can house some infantry models, float them around, and give some ability for those inside to be protected. This means it should also be some kind of amplification for those inside too. This could be from some kind of Tau Engineer for Drones or say an Ethereal and its “prayers” that are not Prayers. Heck give it the ability to have some weird other hero like things ride in it and let their auras go out farther too.
Amp Up Its Rider Or Die
Could you imagine these things letting the guys in side shoot better? All this floating technology and one of the cool things is just amping up some damage or ability to hit things. It can tell you where to hit the enemy or give you other cool things based on what you pick while inside the Tidewall Droneport. Call it XXX protocols and let you pick one to give to the unit riding in it. Make it a weird “boost” option for the army that isn’t just a guy in a suit.
Or Let the Tidewall Droneport Be a Mobile Healing Unit!
Doesn’t this feel like something that could have some healing options? You can place units inside of it and when they leave they heal d3 models from the unit? Heck you could make this also a way to ”regrow” some of the Drones that detached too as the unit itself goes bonkers rebuilding its friends.
Make the Tidewall Droneport Cool!
It’s a unique looking model that still looks pretty good and is in plastic. There is no reason to not make it neat and something Tau players can mess with. It isn’t a guy in a suit and I love the idea of these floating discs rolling around the tabletop helping the Tau bring their brand of fight to the enemy that isn’t just a weird blocky ship or massive anime robot blasting things. It doesn’t need to do damage itself but can be a boost option to bring something unique to the Tau army.
Let’s go for a Ride on the T’au Disc of Love!
