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Hey gang, I am messing around with an idea for a Deathwatch campaign and was hoping i could get a thumbs up or down from the Tau Empire. Going off the idea the Tau empire is more grimdark than first appeared and knowing how they are constantly expanding with an uncompromising philosophy of the Greater Good to what extend could this be tested since the Empire could control the information flow.... Alright here is my idea

Raldae Prime, a Imperial civilized world near the fringes of what is being claimed as Tau space has always been under siege by orks (referenced by the War of Dakka) Due to being so far out the Planetary Govenor has often requested more resources from the Imperium than they consider "necessary to maintain a proper defense". Often provided only a small allotment of Imperial Guard and PDF troops to face roving Waaghs flooding into the Tau Empire, as a result some political members of Raldae Prime and a majority of the people in secret wish for secession from the IOM as they are an advantageous planet for the Tau to regain a strong foothold against the Orks by bringing the fight into a new direction breaking supply lines and more or less removing the Orkish foot on their throat by bringing the battle closer to " Imperial Space". Since Raldae Prime is willing to co-operate if provided protection against the Imperium's retribution and they were willing to go to war to obtain more territory for the Tau Empire I imagine they would willingly accept the protection.

however just cause majority of people and some of the goverment wants to Seceded from the IOM because they are risking their lives the heart of the planet has remained properly Imperial and Raldae doesn't find itself in a true desperation of needed assistance, yet. Due to Tau recon and desires to obtain Raldae the ethereal cast would be provided information of latent pysker activity being much higher than most Imperial worlds of the past. Having recently witnessed a mysterious "vanishing" of a small xeno race of minor pyskers the tau had previously considered inducting into the Empire for military purposes not far from Raldae Prime's area, their initial investigations sent back worrying information. Discovering the remains of a few Enslavers and the entire world dying from various chaotic means the Etheral cast knew how to make the Imperials come to their side while also removing them in the long run to prevent treachery.

Biding time, and drawing orks to the planet in higher numbers using their stealth technology and running proper recon missions the tau redirected a larger portion of Orks to Raldae Prime enough to off set the PDF and IG protecting the planet as soon as this happened the Tau offered an Alliance. The alliance was readily accepted as even Astartes response would be too long before the planet would get overrun as it didn't have the means to stop them, The Tau agreed to the terms other than asking them to "throw off the shackles of their oppression as they possess a high number of pyskers and would like them no longer to be oppressed or offered to the proper organization they would instead be "educated" by the tau Empire in registered facilities. within only a few weeks the Imperium arrives to find the orks and tau upon the planet surface and when attempting to assist the Tau and Raldae shoot down most imperial support until it get spun into the unwinding chaos of Raldae. Not long after the Imperium declares the planet heretical the Tau's desired conditions arrived...

No longer properly being protected by the psyker academies or persecuted for what they were they were freely and oftenly using psychic powers to defend themselves from attack or simply in public, a few members of use were given offers to leave Raldae and join the Tau empire as Sha'vel? (not even sure that is the right term) Treating them as proper pyskers which needed restraint, however the vast majority proved too tantilizing for The Enslavers to not take advantage of... within a few weeks the planet was over-run and the planet grew silent. After a proper assessment was sent to an Inquisitor of secession, killed Adeptus Astartes, PDF and Imperial guard along with an ork incursion stopped mysteriously without additional military assistance other than the tau... The Ordo Xenos requested the Assistance of the Death Watch

Suspecting Tau treachery turning Raldae Prime against the IOM they want a proper investigation of the situation there before declaring Exterminatus on the planet. That is where my group will come in to face Enslavers, their puppets, hold-out orkish forces and a Tau covert recon force trying to kill the Death Watch Kill-team before any evidence of their true involvments come to light thus the planet will be left for them to claim for the military advantage against the orks and an expanded territory.

What do you think? I know it'a a bit convoluted but it feels like what they would do and it gives the group a chance to really learn more about tau for their first adventure. It set up future adventures to go against the tau seeking retribution for Raldae Prime.

It is very complex and crowded. You might be a good idea to simplified things. Also your right about sha'vel being the wrong term, you want something like Gue'something Gue is the tau word for human. The second half is the rank/role.

Phew. I'm no expert on Tau fluff as per the vision of GW, so take the following as a personal opinion formed by limited access to their background. I would say that I do see the potential for manipulating border worlds to have them playing right into their pockets, though making a colony get overrun by Orks sounds more like an Eldar thing to do. In my opinion, the Tau are idealistic, even to the point of attacking peaceful worlds in the belief that it will pay off for the population there - but I don't see them as unscrupulous as being responsible for the deaths of millions of civilians. Their wish would rather be to integrate them into their society by any means possible. Like the agenda of the Soviet Union, to pull the Space Communist cliché once more.

Have you considered tweaking the campaign to involve Eldar instead of Tau, perhaps? Or an alliance between the two, if not as species at least as groups? Perhaps the Tau have "contracted" a group of rogue Eldar (or even rogue Humans!) and are just as shocked when they find out what happened.

One remark, though: Are the forces of the Imperial Guard stationed permanently on the planet you have in mind, or would they arrive from off-world? Because it is common that the Space Marines actually do react much more quickly than the Guard when it comes to providing assistance against alien invaders, simply because they can mobilize a lot quicker and have faster ships.

In the end, keep in mind that you are free to make up what you want in either case. Contrary to common belief, there is no "canon" in 40k, so you can choose to discard snippets of fluff that do not fit your plans. As a GM it would be wise to consider the expectations of your players, however, and what perception they have of the setting - do they stick more to GW material, do they prefer FFG's own interpretation of the setting, or are they fans of any particular novels? etc.

nomotog wrote:you want something like Gue'something Gue is the tau word for human. The second half is the rank/role.

Human Auxiliaries are Gue'vesa, yeah. With the rank following behind that term.
Here's an interesting article on it from GW's website: http://web.archive.org/web/20080420071331/http://uk.games-workshop.com/tau/tau-auxiliaries/

Also, here's something about the Nicassar - a race of psykers already part of the Tau Empire. Might be helpful:

"The Nicassar were the first addition to the Tau Empire and continue to provide ships for the Empire as they are ill-suited for ground combat. Nicassar have powerful minds though and rely on their telekinetic talents in particular to make up for their own limited mobility. [...]
First contact with the Tau came when a Tau Explorer class vessel was setting up a Waystation in interstellar space and sighted a Nicassar flotilla that had been in space for centuries. As subjects of the Empire the Nicassar must serve the greater good and do so by providing fleets to scout and explore systems on the fringes of the Tau Empire. They are transported to their station by Tau vessels and commence a leisurely circuit reporting anything they find.
The Tau have carefully kept the Nicassar from the Imperium as they realise the Nicassar’s psychic powers would fuel the worst excesses of human xenophobia. When a family travels numerous dhows travel docked together forming a larger community in which some members will be hibernating while others remain on watch."
http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1280012_BFG_Tau_Fleets.pdf

That PDF also includes a rather interesting bit about Tau and member states as well as dealings with neutral species in general. An excerpt:

"There are other races still who do not wish to fully submit to the Empire, but who likewise have no wish for war with the Tau and will instead strike up armistices or treaties of neutrality, opening up lucrative new markets or providing new allegiances for mutual protection. Such races are also likely to hire themselves out as mercenaries to the Tau Empire when the opportunity arises."

Thought about the Eldar, don't think they would want to rely on chaos to achieve their means though as they are perhaps even more Xenophobic of i than the IOM. Ontop of that Eldar a bit hard to use in the FFG books as they are spread throughout many books rather than centralized in one tome. I like the idea of the Tau running a gambit as the Waaagh of Dakka is a dangerous threat and they could really use the eased pressure but perhaps you are correct, i could see them sending perhaps an official who doesn't represent the tau properly after the union (as the tau would want more soliders regardless of race). Or perhaps this Etheral does represent the Tau Empire correctly and he brings Nicssar bodyguards to fend against the high level of psykers here just incase this is would be some Imperial trick. Perhaps it is the Nicssar or their tutalage of unprotected psykers on Raldae prime that draws the Enslavers...

The IG would have been stationed there but came from off world (long term assignment) due to the ork waves that poor in from time to time. I'm aware the astartes arrive faster as they are the quickest response they can muster i'm not sure how the world would have reacted to off-world IG fighting a ork wave while Astartes get into the fight. If the Tau showed up and helped the PDF kill all 3 perhaps that would be all that was needed to seal the fate of Raldae, i kinda wanted to villify the Tau but making a tragedy happen from wanting to liberate the oppressed that murders millions seems about normal to their fluff.

So Tau offer alliance > PDF & Tau vs. Betrayed IG and surprised Orks > Space Marines show up, and are blown up >Tau bring emissary + Nicssar host to train psykers so they may be used in the Empire > Enslavers ruin everything

I'm not quite sure what the tau goal is or why they need enslavers to do it? Are they here for the pykers?

nomotog wrote:I'm not quite sure what the tau goal is or why they need enslavers to do it? Are they here for the pykers?

I did edit my post to make it more sensible, The Enslavers would emerge from psykers' brains which draws more of them from the warp to mind control and kill the population these things are considered a plague to races with pskers it proves to be a strong undoing of the IOM if they get a foothold. the Idea is that it would wipe a planet of humans, thus removing any need for retailitory forces by the Imperium as the Tau are simply colonizing a dead world while keeping the energy of their political structure strong should the Imperium say they want it back the tau would rebuttle "But we just want to peacefully exist." even though they were behind the whole reason the planet is removed.

to me, it's a very dirty politics move and i see the tau acting this way while appearing honorable.

Hmmh. Given Tau politics as outlined in the BFG PDF linked earlier, I would say they'd rather try to befriend the human world, slowly influencing it to break away from the Imperium - or rather switching allegiance without notifying anyone as to avoid retribution for as long as possible. With the enormous distance from the core, it could take years or decades until the IoM actually notices what's going on*. The 3E Witch Hunters Codex even offered a battle plot concerning the influence of Tau propaganda on Imperial frontier worlds. Granted, this is just the Inquisition's concern (a reason for them to order an attack), but I daresay it is not entirely unfounded!

*: Unless someone starts to get suspicious about Black Ships and other Tithe Vessels that were scheduled to return seemingly disappear whilst traversing that area, in conjunction with isolated sightings of xenos starship activity, yet the human planet claiming everything is fine and dandy. Although investigating this would probably less of a fitting job for a Kill-Team, I fear. Also, it doesn't exactly serve the person to vilify the Tau. I think they are Grimdark, but in a less "supervillain" way of things. More about clean control rather than manipulation (the Eldar way) or bloodbaths (Imperium etc). Like ... I dunno, have you seen Equilibrium?

Ah, now it makes sense. The tau use the orks to force an alliance then use the alliance to bring the enslavers, destroy the population and then colonize after everyone is dead. Quite evil for the tau. It's not out of the ream of possibilities, but generally the tau don't kill entire planets.

If you want the tau holding up in a stealth bunker, might want to think of how the players are going to find it. You know the three clue rule.

You also want to take advantage that the tau being there gives you an excuse to include any other alien race as support. Kroot, dog soldiers, something you made up. You don't have that excuse with any other enemy so take advantage.



I also say this is a good time to pull out the pyker tau.

Psyker Tau is badass. Love the head-jars!

Ah ha! I got it!

Tau attract orks to Raldae Prime > Raldae's PDF is struggling > Tau intercept transmissions for possible alliance > Receives word IOM says "tough deal with it" > Tau interceed offering secret alliance > Raldae accepts and orkish threat is dealt with > years pass, Raldae is becoming a blooming colony world for the Tau but they agree it is in best interest to first leave an emissary there and restrict anyone else from the Empire coming there "to keep up appearances" > Eventually Astra telepathica realizes the level of psykers they are getting is below standard and inquire why due to high psyker population rate > nervously provides no answers, and is noted by an Inquisitor (this is due to Nicssar training program) > Waaagh of Dakka happens and the normal waves of orks is intensified in the entire system> IOM informs Raldae Prime they will be supplementing their forces with IG > When IG arrive they are informed the ork threat is contained which seems high unlikely to them they remain stationed> 3 weeks later a tau strike force with no warning destroys IG ships and no on is heard from again > Inquisitor sends relays with no response back > Adeptus Astartes show up and are destroyed but not before a Astropath send the message that Raldae has seceded from the IOM > Inquisitor informs planet of purging forces planning to come to planet > Stress from accusations of heresy flair and in no time the "less trained" psykers of the Nicssar Psyker program either turn rogue or become troubled as the Enslavers start to probe their feelers along Raldae prime seeing it ripe with unprotected psychic minds > Enslavers ruin everything inadvertently ruining a key defense to the Tau during the Waaagh of Dakka. > Death Watch is sent as a forward scouting group with Imperial guardsmen as support to discover how they have had the ability to overturn and fight back Imperial ships many times their power> Death watch learns of Enslaver plague on planet (still active)> Tau strike forces are trying to remove all evidence of their dealings as to avoid retribution from the IOM

thoughts? opinions? Suggestions? improvements?

Still a little complex, but sounds good.

nomotog wrote:Still a little complex, but sounds good.

Rpg's get pretty complex but i am highlighting alot more there than probably need be. The skinny version is

Tau trick orks to Raldae Prime then offer alliance which Humans accept this beats the Orks back > years later an renewed waaagh much larger than normal occurs which still isn't affecting Raldae prime so badly due to the Tau support> The imperium sends forces thinking they need help and the defensive force never reports back > An investigative force of marines are wiped out but not before they discover that Raldae are traitors but with whom isn't sure > The Deathwatch are deployed to find out out Enslavers have ravaged the whole planet and are trying to figure out why and that is precisely what the Tau recon teams seek to avoid.

I appreciate the advise guys

Sadly the Tau fluff is quasi against psychers. They say that since they are such a small race in galactic terms, that aren't even a blip in the warp so they are semi immune to its effects and aren't old enough to evolve into psychers. So tau psychers is a kind of a no-no... and semi impossible

I recall a rumour the Tau may have been specifically engineered to possess a natural resistance against warp influence (which also serves to cut them off from any potential they may have had otherwise)... no idea if that's just community hearsay, though; a lot of speculation gets thrown around as being more than it is.

That being said, whilst the Tau do not have psykers themselves, they have in the past allied themselves with species who do.

Big Mek: Good luck with your game! Hope y'all have fun.

I quite like the idea! I think it may sound alot more complexed than it is because its fact after fact after fact without any fluffy fiction in there to spice it up. I dont really find this to be an issue. It all sounds fairly plausible to me but im a bit iffy on the whole tau killing the population thing. Maybe you could make the enslavers a sort of unforseen mishap. That would also give you the choice of including multiple other races/factions in your campaign. Just a thought.

Looks good to me. Well done. Good luck with the game!

This sounds more like a DH thing than a DW thing. If your players are into the investigative side of things I think it's not only fine, but should be fun.

Thatguy91 wrote:I quite like the idea! I think it may sound alot more complexed than it is because its fact after fact after fact without any fluffy fiction in there to spice it up. I dont really find this to be an issue. It all sounds fairly plausible to me but im a bit iffy on the whole tau killing the population thing. Maybe you could make the enslavers a sort of unforseen mishap. That would also give you the choice of including multiple other races/factions in your campaign. Just a thought.

Looks good to me. Well done. Good luck with the game!

that is the gameplan actually the tau were REALLY just interested in getting a new territory that could outflank the orks.

Since the Imperium swung by and more or less stressed and threatened the planet alot of the unsanctioned psykers who were being "honed" by the Nicssar more or less either went rogue to protect themsleves or started having the vivid nightmares that happen when the Enslavers try to bombard your mind.

Pretty soon Raldae Prime was swarming with Enslavers and thier newly acquired puppets. The Tau being more or less immune evacuated who they could in time but they realize with the Imperium on it's way to properly investigate the now ruined Raldae the Tau Empire realizes it's mistakes but if they don't remove all the evidence of their previous partnership with the planet the Inquisition might say it was their fault and push on them just as hard as the orks are and can't afford that right now.

So while the Deathwatch team sets up and gets ready to investigate stealth suits and firewarriors are running a covert mission to purge all data bases, kill Enslavers and their puppets that get in the way. They prove an optimal force since they are as Lynata said more or less immune to warp taint and thus pretty invisible to the enslavers and their puppets.

obviously i am going to have that the Deathwatch team realizes who was involved and they can draw their own conclusions. Ultimately the Death watch group is going to be fighting the Enslavers, their puppets and the tau near the end since it's their first mission it shouldn't prove too difficult but it is a way for them to get use to the mission and tactics system.

Still don't understand everything, but it seems to contradict several core facts of tau.

1.) Tau have no perception for psychic things and are not interested in them. They certainly don't offer to train psykers.
2.) Nobody messes around with enslavers. Enslavers mess around with you.
3.) Tau don't use such evil deceptive plans as the IoM would. There is no evidence that Tau would lure an Ork fleet to an inhabited planet and potential member of the tau Empire. That contradicts their mentality. But I understand that many Tau haters would love Tau to react that way.

So much for a start.

Kroothawk wrote:Still don't understand everything, but it seems to contradict several core facts of tau.

1.) Tau have no perception for psychic things and are not interested in them. They certainly don't offer to train psykers.
2.) Nobody messes around with enslavers. Enslavers mess around with you.
3.) Tau don't use such evil deceptive plans as the IoM would. There is no evidence that Tau would lure an Ork fleet to an inhabited planet and potential member of the tau Empire. That contradicts their mentality. But I understand that many Tau haters would love Tau to react that way.

So much for a start.

When using the tau as an enemy in a RPG your allowed more leeway in making them a proper villain.

Kroothawk wrote:Still don't understand everything, but it seems to contradict several core facts of tau.

1.) Tau have no perception for psychic things and are not interested in them. They certainly don't offer to train psykers.
2.) Nobody messes around with enslavers. Enslavers mess around with you.
3.) Tau don't use such evil deceptive plans as the IoM would. There is no evidence that Tau would lure an Ork fleet to an inhabited planet and potential member of the tau Empire. That contradicts their mentality. But I understand that many Tau haters would love Tau to react that way.

So much for a start.

I hear what you are saying, ... personally i like the idea of the Tau being a "For the greater good... and we determine it" for example the mind control, political structure ect. The problem i have with tau is they try to prove themselves as "prefect society" when i know it can't be like that. I personally am rooting for a less than honorable tau. Just like Japan during many wars would claim honor but then resort to assassination or blood letting for the purpose of amusement. These sort of things are just... well in my mind boring if every tau citizen, polltician to warrior are all this honorable.

As far as the psyker aspect, it is just like developing the Nicsssar it isn't the tau primary focus at all it is just something they are doing (diverting all main production of the planet to the Tau Empire rather than the IOM) the psyker thing is WHY the Enslavers arrive, it's because without the Astra Telepathica to help Raldae Prime the high population of Psychic citizens react badly to the stress of being discovered by the IOM. I had two versions i was considering

1) the tau gamble on the probability to Enslaver Plague by removing the element of Imperial control over Raldae Prime after they strike up an alliance.... think of it like When germany occupied france and the germans didn't give artists a proper outlet anymore.

2) The Tau re-establish multiple foundations of Raldae Prime such as goverment, administratum, pyschic academies/orphanages and rather than providing the IOM of man with constant resupply they provided the bare minimum they needed to give. A good analogy again would be something like Germany controls france but no one knows yet so Germany commands france to send as few of soliders as need be and make sure they are sub-par. Meanwhile Germany is inducting the proper soliders of the country to their side.

I decided on option 2, more realistic to the Tau agenda.