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I've been wanting to create a walker for the Tau army. At last I've found an inspiration to base it off of....the original rifleman dread, the Robotech Defender.



He look's Tau-ish enough for me. Just replace his 2 autocannon arms with 2 railguns or 2 ion cannons and now you have my new Tau Walker.



Also, here's another picture of another walker that could be used for my Tau Walker, courtesy of Your Friend Doctor Robert.

It's the Cyclops from Battletech:


Here is yet another picture of a possible Tau Walker, courtesy of Just Dave, made by Fil Dunn (of 'eavy metal):


All I can just say is....wow.


BTW, I haven't thought up a name for this new unit yet and would welcome any suggestions. There are 2 incarnations of this walker, the light Tau Walker and the heavy Tau Walker.



Tau Walker


The Tau Walker is a technology new to the Tau. They actually took the idea from Imperial dreadnoughts that they fought against and look at it as the next step of evolution from the broadsides. While Imperial dreads are powered by the geneseeds of valorous marines, Tau Walkers are run by only the most decorated of warriors who where among the most successful pilots of the broadsides. It is an honor where maybe only 1 in a 100 broadside pilots are chosen for.

A handful of walkers were first used in the Wars of the Third Spear at the battle of Fi'rios. There they managed to take down the ork Stompa Mega'Deff as well as many ork dreads and some battlewagons. The battle was a success, though it is only within the last century that the Tau have started incorporating these walkers as a regular in their forces. Still, they have yet to be widespread and only a few hundred of these walkers have been deployed as of date.


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The Tau Walker is a Heavy Support choice for a Tau army.



Tau Walker

Light Walker: WS2...BS3(4)...S6...F11...S11...R10...I2...A2...115 points

The Tau Light Walker was designed as a mobile firing platform.



Heavy Walker: WS2...BS3(4)...S6...F13...S12...R10...I2...A2...135 points

The Tau Heavy Walkers was designed as a heavily-armoured firing bunker with also the ability to deal with hordes.


UNIT: 1 Dreadnought

TYPE: Vehicle (Walker)


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WARGEAR:

Must take 2 of the same “arm” weapons from the following. These weapons are separate and do not count as 1 twin-linked gun.

Incendiary Cannon.....+25 pts each

Incendiary Cannon: Range Template, S6, AP4, Heavy 1 *

* To fire the Incendiary Cannon, place the template so that the narrow end is within 12" of the weapon and the large end is no closer to the weapon than the narrow end. The Incendiary Cannon is then treated like any other template weapon.

Ion Cannon…..+15 pts each

Railgun…..+35 pts each (Light) / +50 pts each (Heavy) **

** Because Light Tau Walkers need mobility and stability, their railguns were designed without the Submunition shots in order to allow them to function properly. Heavy Tau Walkers, on the other hand, do not have this requirement. Thus, their railguns are loaded with submunition shots as well.

Twin-linked Heavy Burst Cannons (TL-HBC's).....+20 pts each

Heavy Burst Cannons: Range 36", S6, AP5, Heavy 6

Targeting Array (already added into the walker's BS)


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SPECIAL RULES:

Acute Senses

Iridium Armored Juggernaut: (Heavy Walkers only)
Heavy Walkers are fitted with additional protection in the form of iridium armor plates. These armor plates are ultra-resilient and designed to resist even the most extreme of punishment.

Iridium Armored Juggernaut reduces the effects of all rolls on the damage chart made against the Heavy Walker (other than by Destroyer type weaponry) by -1.

Jump Thrusters: (Light Walkers only)
Light Walkers were outfitted with thrusters allowing them to "jump" short distances. These thrusters were based on an enhanced version of their very own Crisis jumpsuits.

Light Walkers move as jump infantry subject to the Jetpack special rules. They may also deploy using the Deep Strike rules, but if they do so, they may not make the additional 6" move in the Assault phase on the turn they deepstrike.

Scout (Light Walkers only)


OPTIONS:

Blacksun Filter…..+5 pts

Disruption Pods…..+5 pts

Flechette Discharger…..+10 pts

Seeker Missiles…..+10 pts each (maximum of 2)

Target Lock…..+5 pts




Well, what do you guys think? Comments and criticism welcomed.

More railguns you say, more? I'll take two!

The picture is perfect, what FOC slot do they go in? As for a name, just call it the XZL88 or something like that.

Alternate appearance: The Cyclops from Battletech is very Tau looking.

http://www.mechwarrior3.org/wforum/files/cyclops_162.jpg

VERY NICE.
How did you aquire this? I must know.

NamTaey wrote:More railguns you say, more? I'll take two!

Yeah, I'd take 2 also...2 walkers, that is!

loota boy wrote:The picture is perfect, what FOC slot do they go in? As for a name, just call it the XZL88 or something like that.

They take up a Heavy Support slot. I may well use a designated number as well as a nickname for it. Haven't decided exactly yet.

Your Friend Doctor Robert wrote:Alternate appearance: The Cyclops from Battletech is very Tau looking.

http://www.mechwarrior3.org/wforum/files/cyclops_162.jpg

I like it. I'm going to post up this pic as well.

While the Defender looks sleeker and sexier, the cyclops look more boxy like the current Citidel minis. Then again, Forgeworld makes some pretty sexy suits as well. But the advantage in using the Defender is that I know the model exists, though I don't know in what sizes. It could be an easy enough conversion to lop off its arms and add railguns or ion cannons in their place instead.




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yamgrenade wrote:VERY NICE.
How did you aquire this? I must know.

It's not actually my figure. I got the pic off the internet. I'm sure by scouring the internet stores and ebay, eventually I'll find it, though I'm not sure of the cost and size. If it's from Japan, then you can bet it's going to be expensive.

BTW, are you Racifi on Librarium Online? You both use the same Avatar.

The Cyclops has a model in Battletech, but it's about the size of a Space Marine and looks a lot different.

No, I'm sure many people use this avatar, but Yamgrenade is the name I stick with.

Hmm... 180 points for a single walker that is armed with 2 Railguns at BS3 or 148 points for 2 Broadsides with 2 TL-Railguns 1 with Target Lock and the other Blacksun Filter, able to shoot at two separate targets.

I suggest tinkering with the points to make the Tau Walker more appealing over the Broadside.

IMO, you should throw out the overheat rule. Tau prides itself in making safer and more reliable technology than Imperium, hence how they've incorporated plasma technology to their basic infantry (pulse weapons) and Plasma Rifles that don't get hot.

You should write up one of a Tau Super Heavy walker. It would be awesome to field gundam moddels.

I'd imagine Gundam 00 Dynames or Gundam Wing Heavy Arms would be hugely popular. Maybe even a Zaku!

SabrX wrote:Hmm... 180 points for a single walker that is armed with 2 Railguns at BS3 or 148 points for 2 Broadsides with 2 TL-Railguns 1 with Target Lock and the other Blacksun Filter, able to shoot at two separate targets.

I suggest tinkering with the points to make the Tau Walker more appealing over the Broadside.

Actually, the costs for the gun is just for one. The walker needs to take 2 so it would be 200pts (not including upgrades like targeting array and disruption pods yet) for the Light railwalker and 250pts before upgrades for the heavy railwalker.

The walkers can also take the target lock and blacksun filter upgrades to fire at 2 separate targets.

Then again you've got a walker that can either JSJ behind a building to shoot and not get shot at and has cover thanks to disruption pods or you have a rugged, slightly more expensive AV13 walker that can fire 2 large blast templates and where shots against it are at -1 on the damage charts.

But where you'll probably get a lot of value is the heavy walker with dual ion cannons. At 190pts for the heavy (or 170pts for the light) with targeting array and disruption pods, you've got a walker that can reliably take out light transports with 6 S7 AP3 shots as well as deal with MEQ's and monstrous creatures.

IMO, you should throw out the overheat rule. Tau prides itself in making safer and more reliable technology than Imperium, hence how they've incorporated plasma technology to their basic infantry (pulse weapons) and Plasma Rifles that don't get hot.

I was thinking this walker may be a little strong. Thus, I gave it a drawback. But if you think he's not really that strong (compared to broadsides or deathrains), then I guess I could remove this drawback (or I could keep it and lower its cost instead).

You should write up one of a Tau Super Heavy walker. It would be awesome to field gundam moddels.

I'd imagine Gundam 00 Dynames or Gundam Wing Heavy Arms would be hugely popular. Maybe even a Zaku!

Sounds like a project for next time! Now I've got some Grey Knight units to write up.




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Changed:

Tau Walker


The Tau Walker is a technology new to the Tau. They actually took the idea from Imperial dreadnoughts that they fought against and look at it as the next step of evolution from the broadsides. While Imperial dreads are powered by the geneseeds of valorous marines, Tau Walkers are run by only the most decorated of warriors who where among the most successful pilots of the broadsides. It is an honor where maybe only 1 in a 100 broadside pilots are chosen for.

A handful of walkers were first used in the Wars of the Third Spear at the battle of Fi'rios. There they managed to take down the ork Stompa Mega'Deff as well as many ork dreads and some battlewagons. The battle was a success. However, there was a flaw found in their system. Under constant firing, heat dissipation in such a small chassis proved to be a minor problem. About 1 out of every 30 or so shots would result in a temporary malfunction of the walker if not given enough time to cool down. Thus, the walkers were never mass-produced yet, at least not until Tau engineers can solve this problem.


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Overheat:
If either type of Tau walkers rolls double-1's to hit with the railguns, or if they roll 3 or more 1's to hit with the ion cannons, then the Tau Walker automatically suffers a Glancing Hit. Note that all shots that were successfully fired by the walker on that same turn are resolved before the Glancing Hit.

Changed the fluff a little to edit out the flaw/malfunction and got rid of the Overheat special rule. Let me know if you guys like it better now or if I should leave in the drawback.

I really like the idea and the images! It seems expensive for the fully kitted-out heavy walker, but then I realize not only is it as tough as a disruption pod hammerhead, the walker has -1 to the damage chart. Definitely a cool unit for apoc, and in regular games it's neat to have larger broadside variants. In my opinion, original units like this should be priced as you did and not be overpowered, but in a competitive sense, I don't see myself taking these over regular broadsides. I can fit the same railguns in the army but with 2+ armor instead of a damage table. I have been thinking more about the heavy variant, and about the railguns though. There must be some fun tricks with the ion cannons (which I almost forget about, right along Sniper Drones and Aun Va) and having 2 ion cannons might make them worth something. I'm sure deepstriking railguns would be fun too, seeing as rear shots with str 10 is instant kill for just about any tank. Interesting and great job on the unit creation!

What you can do is make the cyclops from mechwarriors the light walker and the robotech defender the heavy walker. The robotech looks like he has railguns, and the cyclops already looks like it has ion cannons. I like the option for lots of ion cannons, seeing as they are a cool weapon, but just arn't worth it in comparison to the railgun.

JY, tell me you've seen this?

Made by Fil Dunn (of 'eavy metal):




which also looks like this big suit/mech off district 9:

:O!:OOOO!:OOOOOOOOO!

Regarding the rules, I think they look pretty solid; the iridium armour and jump pack on them sounds really nice and simple to understand, however I think both variants are too expensive for what they provide. I also think they should come with the BS+1 (target lock?!) wargear as standard however.
Remember that a dread is 12/12/10, comes with a heavy weapon, BS4/WS4/In4 AND DCCW and is only 105pts!
Yours cost more than that but have no weapons and the light version is inferior in every way except for manoeuvrability, so I think they should be taken down in points quite a bit. 80-90pts for the light walker and 120ptsish for the heavy would be fair without weaponry IMHO.

Some more gun options would be nice too IMHO, such as a Heavy Burst Cannon (like the one in the image I provided) and Fusion guns etc.

Great ideas man, but I wouldn't call it exactly competitive. Yet...

I would give the light walker the Scout USR, similair to Sentinels.

Wow, Dave. That just looks amazing! I have never seen it before, but it, too, can make for a solid Tau Walker.

Looks like a Tau Devilfish transformer. But it's an awesome job. Looks like he used a lot of Tau parts to make it....I wonder if it's 100% Tau bits?

Just Dave wrote:Regarding the rules, I think they look pretty solid; the iridium armour and jump pack on them sounds really nice and simple to understand, however I think both variants are too expensive for what they provide. I also think they should come with the BS+1 (target lock?!) wargear as standard however.
Remember that a dread is 12/12/10, comes with a heavy weapon, BS4/WS4/In4 AND DCCW and is only 105pts!
Yours cost more than that but have no weapons and the light version is inferior in every way except for manoeuvrability, so I think they should be taken down in points quite a bit. 80-90pts for the light walker and 120ptsish for the heavy would be fair without weaponry IMHO.

Some more gun options would be nice too IMHO, such as a Heavy Burst Cannon (like the one in the image I provided) and Fusion guns etc.

Great ideas man, but I wouldn't call it exactly competitive. Yet...

Well, I first started off at 80pts base without any weapons or special rules. Then I added +50pts for the special rules and another +20pts for the AV13 of the heavy walker. I felt that the ability to JSJ + disruption pods would make the AV11 light walker fairly resilient, while the disruption pods + Iridium Armor Juggernaut special rule would make the heavy walker arguably even harder to kill than a land raider.

I guess I could shave off 20pts from the base due to less WS, BS, Init and no DCCW and another 10pts from the special rule. Would you consider a Tau Walker with 2 ion cannons, 4+ cover, BS4 and a jetpack for only 140pts too cheap though? How about with 2 railguns for 180pts? Hmmm....maybe I'll just shave off 20pts from each.

I'll also make the Targeting Array (+1 BS) standard and factor the cost (+5pts) into the walker.

I was also thinking about adding some new weapons to give it variety. I like the idea of the XV9 suits with 2 twin-linked burst cannons, but instead of using regular burst cannons, maybe use a slightly modified long-barreled burst cannons from Apoc. I was also thinking of a dual flamer weapon a la hellhound/heavy incinerator. However, I don't think fusion weaponry really makes sense for this type of walker. Unlike Imperial dreadnoughts who normally advances towards the enemy along with the rest of the army, the Tau walker isn't designed for close combat melee. Thus, it wouldn't really make sense to give it such a short-ranged gun. Besides, it's got railguns. Why would it need fusion?


I'll make the changes and repost a little later.




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TrollPie wrote:I would give the light walker the Scout USR, similair to Sentinels.

Ok, I will give it to them. It seems to fit their design as a highly mobile walker.


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Ok, changes made to the Tau Walker (let's just call it Tau Walker v.2.0):


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Decreased the costs of both light and heavy walkers by -20pts.

Added the Targeting Array as a standard equipment (+5pts).

Added the option for the Incendiary Cannon as a weapon.

Added the option for the TL-Heavy Burst Cannon as a weapon.

Added the Scout USR for the light walker.

http://www.hlj.com/product/WAVMC-72

Not a bad deal, either.

How big is it? I didn't see it on their, besides the weight.

It had the box dimensions. Subtract a few mm from the hight and you ought to have it about right. Damn, if I played tau... That would be definitly going into the 'must buy' box... Tau titans would rock

Kilkrazy wrote:http://www.hlj.com/product/WAVMC-72

Kool. Thanks!

loota boy wrote:How big is it? I didn't see it on their, besides the weight.

Well, it is 1/72 scale and the box is 26cm. I'd estimate the model to be around 20cm, or about the height of a grey knight dreadknight.

CoI wrote:It had the box dimensions. Subtract a few mm from the hight and you ought to have it about right. Damn, if I played tau... That would be definitly going into the 'must buy' box... Tau titans would rock

I've got an Apoc version of the Tau walker coming up soon. That'll be a real Tau titan.