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Title: Tau
Description: A summary of Rumours


Deth - October 14, 2005 06:48 AM (GMT)
QUOTE
Tau Rumour summary

A compilation of known rumours surrounding the new Tau Empire codex. I’ll try and add to it as more details become known.

Release date – February/March/April 2006

HQ

Crisis Suit Commander
HQ choice remain pretty much the same except the Commander (XV8 battle suit) and his Shas’vre bodyguard have access to a range of ‘special issue’ wargear (you can only take one of each type of special issue).

Ethereals
Remains pretty much the same except they can take an honour guard of veteran fire warriors (you can upgrade some of their stats for a points cost).



Elites

No rules changes currently known about but Crisis suits are now cheaper


Troops

Fire warriors – No changes known about or rumoured. (Except Devilfish may take a SMS instead of drones)

Kroot – Kroot hounds & Krootox are now part of the general Kroot entry and are purchased as upgrades for the squad.


Fast Attack

Gun Drones – No changes currently known about

Pathfinders
– Now have the ‘Scout’ USR
– Now have access to Rail rifles (they no longer get hot)
– The pathfinders Devilfish comes equipped with a marker beacon helping with deep strike (details TBC)

Piranha
No details yet but rules assumed to be similar to the FW rules.

Vespid
- Line troops are called Stingwings and they are led by a ‘Strain Leader’ equipped with communication helmet allowing contact with the Tau.
- Jump Infantry
- Fleet of Wing
- Skilled flyers
- Better than Tau Fire warriors in hth but still not great.
- Armed with a Neutron Blaster (short ranged) – Exact details are pretty much TBC but generally assumed to be either S3 or S5, AP3 Assault1.


Heavy Support

Broadsides – May purchase an ‘advanced stabilisation system’ giving them the Slow & Purposeful USR.

Sniper Drone Teams
- One spotter and three sniper drones (armed with rail rifles)
- Multiple teams can be taken as part of the same Heavy Support choice.
- May have other special rules but they are TBC

Hammerhead – No changes known or rumoured.

Sky-Ray – Rumoured addition to the codex, assumed to be generally similar to the entry in IA3 (The Taros Campaign).



Special Characters

Aun’va’denta – The oldest & wisest of the Ethereals
Comes on a drone Zimmer frame :P (unknown if there are rules for it).
Highly inspiring to the Tau but don’t let him be killed
Comes with an honour guard of very tough Tau.

Commander Farsight – As per the original Tau codex unknown if there are any rules changes but there is a little more insight into his motivations.

Commander Shadowsun
- The new female commander of the Tau armed forces and student of Aun'va'denta.
- Wears a highly advanced battle suit
- Armed with twin fusion blasters able to fire at different targets
- Accompanied by a unique drone.


This is from Brimstone on 40kforums. Thought I'd share, as I'm sure some of you are excited about the Tau updates. :)

Griss VigaSkald - October 14, 2005 07:59 PM (GMT)
Finally, Ethereals get a bodyguard, instead of being stuck as independant charactors... About f*ing time... :lol:

Sounds interesting, but not enough of an update ro justify it coming out before a few others, in my opinion.

Kaerg_Reborn - October 15, 2005 10:18 PM (GMT)
THat's....that's absurd...

The Love Duck - October 16, 2005 07:46 PM (GMT)
Another ploy to get more cash? shock horror! ;)

basically a repackaging and update, to try and get tau players to fork out more for it.

Griss VigaSkald - October 17, 2005 02:26 AM (GMT)
It's Games Workshop. You expected an altruistic motive? :rolleyes: ;)

Sephiroth - October 17, 2005 05:18 AM (GMT)
*Grins* Griss, you left out the new Markerlight system I've been telling Frans about...

*Evilliest grin, EVER.* :lol:

Frans - October 17, 2005 03:10 PM (GMT)
tell him Sephy, make my day :devil:

Lord Dante - October 17, 2005 03:14 PM (GMT)
I have to disagree here with the majority I'm afraid. The Tau do need an update. I have played many Tau players of varying experience and have not lost once.

The Love Duck - October 17, 2005 07:18 PM (GMT)
QUOTE (Lord Dante @ Oct 17 2005, 03:14 PM)
I have to disagree here with the majority I'm afraid. The Tau do need an update. I have played many Tau players of varying experience and have not lost once.

If used right they are a totally nasty army, They dont need an update, and i have seen them used very effectvely, the problem is, 95 percent of tau players are not aggressive enough.

they are a highly mobile shooty army, that has cheap (10 pts is cheap for a 4+ save model) troops, and specialized units capable of doing hideous things.


Griss VigaSkald - October 18, 2005 12:14 AM (GMT)
I know, they can be an EXTREMELY effective army if played aggressively enough, but as a Space Marine player, I have trouble getting over the alleged "weakness" of a 4+ save, magnified by the fact that I fail in inordinate ammount of saves on a 3+. I beleive that I have gotten a lot closer, but I'm far from there.

QUOTE (Seph)
*Grins* Griss, you left out the new Markerlight system I've been telling Frans about...

*Evilliest grin, EVER.*  :lol:


Yes, but I don't know anything about that yet. Could you enlighten me, Master?

Morray - October 18, 2005 12:26 AM (GMT)
Well I have played my Tau against numerous space marine opponents that are heavy in infantry and they just keep walking all over me so annoying!

I mean yea the pulse rifles are great but the fact that marines get a 3+ save and have BS4 they just dominate!

Deth - October 18, 2005 01:10 AM (GMT)
QUOTE (Morray @ Oct 18 2005, 01:26 AM)
I mean yea the pulse rifles are great but the fact that marines get a 3+ save and have BS4 they just dominate!

Hence why they're the Emperor's finest. :)

Sephiroth - October 18, 2005 06:41 AM (GMT)
QUOTE (Griss VigaSkald @ Oct 18 2005, 01:14 AM)
QUOTE (Seph)
*Grins* Griss, you left out the new Markerlight system I've been telling Frans about...

*Evilliest grin, EVER.*  :lol:


Yes, but I don't know anything about that yet. Could you enlighten me, Master?

QUOTE (Frans @ Oct 17 2005, 04:10 PM)
tell him Sephy, make my day :devil:


Ok, for you guys, but I warn you, non-Tau players might wanna sit down for this. ;)

Okay, the old way a Markerlight worked, was if you scored a hit, a single weapon of your choice from another unit could fire at the 'lit up' enemy squad, hitting on a 2+.

Well, here's the new way. B)

Each time you hit an enemy squad with a markerlight, you place a counter next to that unit (use pennies, etc), during the shooting phase you may expend a counter to allow Tau & Vespid units (If the strain leader is alive) to take a variety of actions:

* Fire a single Seeker missile.

* Allow a unit to increase it’s BS by 1 (multiple counters may be expended allowing a max increase to BS5

* Allow a firing unit to automatically pass a target priority test.

* Impose a -1 to the leadership score when taking pinning tests (multiple counters may be expended allowing a cumulative effect).

* -1 to cover saves (multiple counters may be expended allowing a cumulative effect).

Example:

If my Pathfinder Team of 8 shot thir markerlights as approaching Space Marine Tactical Squad of 10, and scored 4 hits, they may use those 4 hits to allowing the Fire Warrior unit of 12 nearby to shoot at BS5, and call in 2 Seeker Missile strikes.

If the Fire Warrior squad hadn't moved, they'd be rapid-firing a S5 weapon, hitting on 2+, with 24 shots. But that would just be mean. :D

Tor_Libram - October 18, 2005 07:59 AM (GMT)
...eep. :unsure:

Thorin - October 18, 2005 08:43 AM (GMT)
Kill Pathfinders. must kill all pathfinders :D

Griss VigaSkald - October 18, 2005 10:10 AM (GMT)
I really like this... Might actually get me to use pathfinders...

Stu - October 18, 2005 01:37 PM (GMT)
I know a lot of you APer's are already into 8 bit theatre, but for those unenlightend fools who aren't take a look at this:

http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=051015

Not the comic (although it is most excellent), but the Tau recruitment posters.

Don't they RAAAWWWWK!!!?

Frans - October 19, 2005 07:04 PM (GMT)
Tau propaganda, very OT but cool to see anyway :D

Griss VigaSkald - October 20, 2005 02:13 AM (GMT)
Those are beautiful... They make me want to pull my Tau back out and have a game. Kaerg, you game this weekend? ;)




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