Tau Faq V 1.2, Seeker Missiles, and a letter to GW

 By now I'm sure you've heard that Games Workshop has released new FAQ's for numerous armies, including the Tau.  After reviewing the two actual updates in the new FAQ I was dismayed to discover that they decided a seeker missile requires a 6+ to hit a zooming/swooping flyer even after a markerlight hit has been made, effectively giving you a 1/36th chance of scoring a hit on a flyer with a seeker missile.  First I'd like to share with you a few quotes from an Imperial Armor book (3 I believe) that a friend looked up for me:

"It is believed that the Sky Ray was developed ... as direct response to the Imperium's air power."
"In the field, the Sky Ray's twin markerlights sweep the skies to find and lock-on to approaching enemy aircraft, before efficiently guiding their missiles to the target."
"So fast and accurate are the seeker missiles that many enemy pilots are hit and downed before they realise they are under attack or can take evasive manoeuvres."
"During the Taros Campaign such was the Sky Ray's effectiveness that Imperial Navy pilots came to despise it, and any confirmed Sky Ray kill was highly prized amongst Imperial Navy crews. Such was the grav-tank's infamy it has earned the common nickname of 'Stinger' amongst those men who had to face it."
"Summary: AIR DEFENCE VEHICLE, ALSO DEPLOYED FOR GROUND COMBAT"

In the Imperial Armour datasheet for it, it has the special rule "AA Upgrade: One of the Sky Ray's roles is to engage enemy aircraft. The seeker missile and markerlight array may be upgraded to an AA mount for +30 points. "

And now, as a call to action, I will share with you the content of the letter I sent to games workshops FAQ department at:  gamefaqs@games-workshop.co.uk  And I would like to invite anyone who plays Tau, or has any interest in a fair and balanced rule set for 40K to also send them a letter expressing your dissatisfaction with their complete abandonment of their own fluff, and the missed opportunity to give some balance to the Tau vs armies that actually have flyers (and yes I heard the rumor that 4 new flyers are due in February, and that Tau are amongst the recipiants..), so without further ado here is my letter to GW (and yes I also know it's not very tactful, and that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar..  But I'm pissed, and I wanted them to know it):

Dear Game Workshop Faq department,

I just reviewed the new FAQ V1.2 for the Tau and can't help but feel that yet again, you've allowed someone with no knowledge of the Tau to write their FAQ (remember that whole target lock fiasco?).

Specifically I am referring to this Q and A:

Q: If Seeker Missiles are fired at a Zooming Flyer or Swooping Flying Monstrous Creature, what To Hit roll do they require? (p31)
A: 6+

Now, I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but on page 41 of the Tau Codex under the entry for Sky Ray Missile Defense Gunship, you will find the following flavor text (aka fluff):

"The Sky Ray is a variant of the more common Hammerhead gunship, and provides a dedicated missile platform that is used by the Fire caste to provide point attack fire support for Fire Warrior teams, who lack their own heavy weaponry.  When guided by the markerlights of Pathfinder teams, the Sky Ray makes an exceptional perimeter and air defence (sic) missile system."

Now lets compare the flavor text for the Sky Ray whose primary weapon system is said Seeker Missiles, to the result of your FAQ ruling:

An "exceptional air defence missile system" would be in my opinion one which possessed the skyfire special rule, and as such would hit at full ballistic skill.

Your interpretation seems to be that a 1/36th chance to hit is exceptional, and I must say I agree to a point.  It is exceptionally bad.  In fact, it is the worst AA weapon in the game according to your FAQ.  1/36th you ask?  How do I get 1/36th chance to hit?  Because a Seeker missile can not be fired without a markerlight hit being generated first.  As no unit in the Tau Codex/FAQ or Errata have skyfire, any unit attempting to mark a flyer can only hit on a 6+ ie 1/6th chance to hit.  Once a Markerlight hit is scored on said flyer, the seeker missile can then be fired, but according to you also requires a 6+ to hit for a 1/6th chance.  That's two consecutive 6's that are required or 1/6 x 1/6 = 1/36th chance to hit.  Now considering that a seeker missile is a one shot weapon, that costs 10 pts each on regular vehicles, or comes 6 to a skyray for 130pts (as a dpod is all but required) that makes them not only the worst AA weapon system in the game, but likely the most expensive, in fact statistically you can't even include enough seeker missiles in a 1500 pt list to guarantee a single hit.

Might I request that you review and reconsider your ruling in this regard? 

Another point that was brought to my attention is the Q and A immediately proceeding the seeker missile question:

Q. If a Tau character is involved in a challenge, can any Drones they have strike blows, have Wounds allocated to them, or offer moral support? (p31)
A. No

Now, I can understand the ruling that they can not participate in the challenge, that makes perfect sense.  However, since the drones count as squad members when determining the results of an assault, and for determining when a moral check must be taken do to casualties from shooting, it makes absolutely no sense that they would not contribute towards offering Moral to the character.  If I attached an IC to a gun drone squad, and subsequently engaged in an assault/challenge I would assume that the gun drones being a unit of their own would contribute moral support? 

What makes the Characters drones any different?

Also, on the topic of drones:

If I detach the 2 drones from a devil fish, they create their own 2 model strong unit, and may move about autonomously.  If the devilfish is later destroyed, they continue to function.  So why is it, that if a Character with two drones is slain, that the drones are destroyed at the end of the phase?  You've already established that two drones can function with no controller. 

I feel like you guys really need to go back and take a good look at the rules on Drones, and figure out just what they are.  Are they wargear, or are they upgrade characters to an IC/Squad?  If they are just wargear, then they should be allowed in a challenge, just like a space marine can use all his wargear in said challenge.  If they are upgrade characters and not wargear, then they should contribute towards moral, and or participate in the assault going on outside of the challenge, and should the Character/Independent Character be slain, they should continue on as their own unit.  You seem inclined to treat them as both, but only in so far as it allows you to make the least advantageous ruling for the Tau player. (yes, that would be me)

 So there you have it.  By itself it is not likely to garner much in the way of results (other than to allow me to vent and take out my frustration on its source).  But what if you wrote a letter to Games Workshop as well, and shared this post on your blog, so your readers saw it, and they wrote letters to Games Workshop.  What if games workshop FAQ department were suddenly inundated with 100's of emails on this topic?..  Could we get them to change their minds?  Or as I suggested on another forum, is this ruling simply a thinly veiled attempt by GW to force us to buy their new flyer models if we want any chance of competing against flyer heavy lists?