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Its clearly to play whack a whole with the enemy snipers.

Or maybe the Tau wanted to continue the tradition of deaf artillerymen with mister "I'm too cool to wear a helmet" over there.

I think if your 1ft high plastic model is hit by a real-life mortar, that open-topped crew compartment is going to be the least of your worries

People don't like the open top because it ruins the illusion that the suit is some kind of cybernetic monster.

Yoyoyo wrote:
I think if your 1ft high plastic model is hit by a real-life mortar, that open-topped crew compartment is going to be the least of your worries

Hey now the only Tau suit deserving of a mortaring is the Ta'una.

 Dozer Blades wrote:
People don't like the open top because it ruins the illusion that the suit is some kind of cybernetic monster.

It definitely does make it harder to conceptualize as a Gargantuan Creature rather than a Superheavy Walker.

 TheCustomLime wrote:

 Vaktathi wrote:

 TheCustomLime wrote:
Why on earth is it open topped like that? What, so the pilots can stand up and have a peek? Wanted to shave a few space bucks off of each suit?

EDIT: Nvm, it says you can glue on an armored plate onto it. Though why you would want to paint the crew if you can never see them again is a mystery to me.

Same reason Rhino's and Land Raiders have interior pieces with stowed bolters and screens and the like. It's a bone GW can toss to the people who just want another feature to paint (though I think the placement of that cockpit, from a design perspective, is insane and *very* thinly armored) and can use to accentuate the price a bit more upward. For most people, it's not something they'll bother with.

I actually paint the interior of my rhinos myself . Though that's different because you can open the back hatch and have a peek. Front in the case of the Land Raider.

O_o

Wow, yeah I never bothered, for the additional effort and headache I just never found it worth it

Hehe, it looks like it's squatting down to "dump its reactor waste" on the ground. : D

 Savageconvoy wrote:
I just wish they made either aircraft worth taking, with flight stands that can hold them, and better priced.

Bwahaha, functional GW flight stands? Please. Never gonna happen.

I think they're simply showing off interior detail, because it was sculpted and produced. The idea that the actual model takes the field looking like as an open-topped superheavy walker, but is rules-wise a GC is kinda silly.

 TheCustomLime wrote:

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:

 TheCustomLime wrote:
They had Tigersharks and Mantas. Both Titankillers that are far more practical that the Tuna suit.

Both of which are aircraft, and as such are subject to weather conditions and AA. Not to mention there are places where aircraft can't go.
There's a reason why we still have ground forces today.

So it does make sense that the Tau would want a land-based alternative.
However, at S10 I'm not sure GW successfully conveyed its titan-killing role.

Yeah but Titans are massive, colorful, slow and have no anti-air defenses. If Tau have air superiority then Titans are pretty much sitting ducks. It's the problem Germany ran into during the Western front from '44 on. Sure, a King Tiger is a nice tank and can blow the crap out of any Sherman that had the gall to show it's face from even 1km away but that doesn't matter much when the Allies had free reign of the skies. Those big, slow tanks sure made for nice targets for Allied Fighter-bombers.

I understand the reasoning for a land based Titan killer as there could be some fights that can happen with Titans being involved but no air support available but why not just stick a Titan killer gun on a hover tank? That would be far more practical that a huge mecha-suit. But nope GW just has to have their big stompy blammy battle bots.

Additionally, the American long 76mm could penetrate a Tiger from the front with AP and close range. This fact is little known, because most of the AP ammo was with the tank destroyers. They already have what should be a titan killer: the Hammerhead.

It should be, but with the anti-armour rules, strong single shots are far less effective than medium power, high RoF. Although I certainly wouldn't say no to a baneblade-like tau tank. A giant skimmer with a TL Heavy railgun as it's main weapon. You could probably balance it like how the LR and HH are balanced, with he baneblade being tougher, but the tau tank more moible, with stronger weapons. And fluff-wise it would make more sense.

The way I would do it is simple:
Create a Vehicle Weapon list, and a form of signature system list and a support system list for Vehicles
Make Vehicles along the same line as crisis suits, with a number of available 'slots' to be filled

 Vaktathi wrote:

 Dozer Blades wrote:
People don't like the open top because it ruins the illusion that the suit is some kind of cybernetic monster.

It definitely does make it harder to conceptualize as a Gargantuan Creature rather than a Superheavy Walker.

 TheCustomLime wrote:

 Vaktathi wrote:

 TheCustomLime wrote:
Why on earth is it open topped like that? What, so the pilots can stand up and have a peek? Wanted to shave a few space bucks off of each suit?

EDIT: Nvm, it says you can glue on an armored plate onto it. Though why you would want to paint the crew if you can never see them again is a mystery to me.

Same reason Rhino's and Land Raiders have interior pieces with stowed bolters and screens and the like. It's a bone GW can toss to the people who just want another feature to paint (though I think the placement of that cockpit, from a design perspective, is insane and *very* thinly armored) and can use to accentuate the price a bit more upward. For most people, it's not something they'll bother with.

I actually paint the interior of my rhinos myself . Though that's different because you can open the back hatch and have a peek. Front in the case of the Land Raider.

O_o

Wow, yeah I never bothered, for the additional effort and headache I just never found it worth it

It really isn't it. It's one of those things you kind of have to point out to some looking at it. But for marine crap I find myself going an extra mile for whatever reason.

Not familiar with the Fluff but do Tau have some kind of automation? That if the crew were killed it would run on a subroutine or someone could remote in and pilot it?

Maybe thats the case for it being a GC?

I mean the wraithknight is a bunch of spirit stones yes?

At this point it isn't what is fluffy/toeing-the-line it is just acknowledging walkers SUCK and making the model have playable rules. I mean it can't be a superheavy walker now, the Riptide would have to be rolled back.

WK made sense fluff-wise because it was made out of wraithbone and had a spirit in it. Tau DO have a way to make things have acceptable A.I. but... it is still metal, why the feth does fleshbane work on it.

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
It should be, but with the anti-armour rules, strong single shots are far less effective than medium power, high RoF. Although I certainly wouldn't say no to a baneblade-like tau tank. A giant skimmer with a TL Heavy railgun as it's main weapon. You could probably balance it like how the LR and HH are balanced, with he baneblade being tougher, but the tau tank more moible, with stronger weapons. And fluff-wise it would make more sense.

Like a Tau version of the Eldar Cobra almost? I could get behind that. I'm a fan of big robots and big tanks.

 ImAGeek wrote:

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
It should be, but with the anti-armour rules, strong single shots are far less effective than medium power, high RoF. Although I certainly wouldn't say no to a baneblade-like tau tank. A giant skimmer with a TL Heavy railgun as it's main weapon. You could probably balance it like how the LR and HH are balanced, with he baneblade being tougher, but the tau tank more moible, with stronger weapons. And fluff-wise it would make more sense.

Like a Tau version of the Eldar Cobra almost? I could get behind that. I'm a fan of big robots and big tanks.

Pretty much hear

RandomNoob wrote:
Not familiar with the Fluff but do Tau have some kind of automation? That if the crew were killed it would run on a subroutine or someone could remote in and pilot it?

Maybe thats the case for it being a GC?

I mean the wraithknight is a bunch of spirit stones yes?

They have AI, as well as "engrams" that are sort of like a copy of a living tau's mind. Tehy could probebly use those. But I would think just sticking some armour on top would be simpler.

See, the problem you guys have, is you think the Tau pilots are doing all the work.

The suit is automated. The "crew" just chill up there with a cooler and throw empties and heckle if anyone gets too close.

They also provide a -1 LD debuff to all units who get stuck in assault against the mini tuna.

Basically, they are the two old guys from the balcony on The Muppet Show

Yoyoyo wrote:
See, the problem you guys have, is you think the Tau pilots are doing all the work.

The suit is automated. The "crew" just chill up there with a cooler and throw empties and heckle if anyone gets too close.

They also provide a -1 LD debuff to all units who get stuck in assault against the mini tuna.

Basically, they are the two old guys from the balcony on The Muppet Show

That is the best description.

Yoyoyo wrote:
See, the problem you guys have, is you think the Tau pilots are doing all the work.

The suit is automated. The "crew" just chill up there with a cooler and throw empties and heckle if anyone gets too close.

They also provide a -1 LD debuff to all units who get stuck in assault against the mini tuna.

Basically, they are the two old guys from the balcony on The Muppet Show

Great, now I'm thinking of Monty Python.
"You're father was an ork and your mother smelt of Tyranid gak! I fart in your general directions!"

Statler and Waldorf are definitely needed in the 40K world.

Martel732 wrote:
Statler and Waldorf are definitely needed in the 40K world.

They're far more desperately needed on the Muppet Show, because that show sucks.

I can't wait for FW to provide a lid for the thing.

I'm guessing there's a hatch piece that you just can't see in the assembled photos and they were just showing interior detail for coolness' sake.

Yoyoyo wrote:
See, the problem you guys have, is you think the Tau pilots are doing all the work.

The suit is automated. The "crew" just chill up there with a cooler and throw empties and heckle if anyone gets too close.

They also provide a -1 LD debuff to all units who get stuck in assault against the mini tuna.

Basically, they are the two old guys from the balcony on The Muppet Show

Tau 1: I'd call that charge medium.

Tau 2: Why's that?

Tau 1: Cause it's not rare or well done!

Both: Dohohohohoho!

 TheCustomLime wrote:
Tau 1: I'd call that charge medium.

Tau 2: Why's that?

Tau 1: Cause it's not rare or well done!

Both: Dohohohohoho!

This thing looks GOD AWFUL. And I don't just mean that it looks totally slowed. 360 points? I'd MUCH rather have 2 fully loaded riptides for that. Extra wounds, an invuln, a 2+Sv and FnP for less pts? Yes please. I suppose you get more firepower but at what cost? 2 Riptides can be in 2 places at once. It's none too mobile and one of its weapons wants to be within 10" to be effective... That's just bad news. Tau do NOT get that close with their big shinies. And who was the genius that strapped a flamer to this thing? Who would ever not take the burst cannons or airbursting frag? Just for the range if not for anything else, since there's no way you'd fire anything but the cluster rockets for overwatch. I think this thing will end up being a giant broadside in every list. The 72" ordnance pie plates of doom are too good not to pass up as a ridiculous alpha strike of rape.

Ok but can we talk about how DUMB this thing looks for a second guys? Its default pose is it taking a dump on the battlefield, which is fitting considering it will be pooping on your opponents most likely, but come on. And why can't it have ARMS?! Mechs look better with arms. The broadside has arms for its giant missile pods. This thing could have gotten arms. And why the hell is the PILOT VISIBLE?! WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A PILOT WHO CAN BE SHOT AT BUT NOT SEE OUT OF HIS GIANT ROBOT?

WHY THE HELL CAN YOU TAKE 3 OF THEM IN A SQUAD?! What kind of moron would take more than one of these when they have Ld8? That is just asking for 400 pts to run off the table on you.

Aren't GMCs fearless?

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
Aren't GMCs fearless?

Yes, they are Fearless. However, this does not protect them from abilities that wound or test Leadership, such as Psychic Shriek.

My mistake, apologies. I actually faced an army with an enclave today they psychic shrieked the drek out of my guys. It could be an effective counter to this creature with its low Ld it could REALLY hurt you, up to 10 wounds is alot. I was playing Tau of course, that spell can be just brutal on low Ld units like my poor sniper drones... I was against ravenwing and his enclave was running around on bikes of course, so they were able to get in my face.