Tau Rumours

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**Kroothawk**

Here a new batch of rumours by Stickmonkey on Tau, where he updates earlier predictions by him (those in quotes).
Keep in mind that Hastings puts the Tau release first half 2013, after Dark Angels and Daemons.

Stickmonkey wrote:So I got a moment to go back and spend sometime with some old rumors. And I was able to get some updated information on where these rumors are...at least in so far as my sources will comment... So let's have a look shall we?

This is what I had earlier this year:

There has been some speculation on this, and I'm getting chatter now that seems to reinforce a few things, so I thought I'd post what is floating my way.

Tau Codex early next year.

Source still have first part of next year as timeline, I'm going to speculate and put this Q2/Q3, a little later as it does seem to have a lot ahead of it.

Kroot and other existing allies are there, however they are limited. There appears to be an "Allies" supplement which will be out about the same time and include many more options. (aside: Dare I start a Spring of Allies moniker...ah well then it will end up being 2 years from now... )

My sources are telling me kroot are in fact still part of Tau, and have a new unit or two including a beastly transport. They may have more options in a later supplement.
I also checked into the demiurge rumors, and was told "There are no demiurge in the Tau codex."

Crisis suits completely redone.

My sources all said to expect new crisis suits. These are not the forgeworld style, but are much more elegant compared to the current models. I also have rumors that confirm there are multiple new suits in the codex, crisis being what we know, there is also a smaller suit similar to the stealth suit, but not as bulky designed for close combat, and the broadsides while the same relative size as a crisis suit have much more bulk to them and are a separate build/model. Finally, I do have sources telling me there is a bigger suit, which has been reported from others. Reports have it being a ranged beast(metaphorically, not literally) with 2 twin linked rail cannons and a missile option. So I'm sure it will become a target of choice in games

Stealth suits completely redone.

Sounds like the reason for the redesign was this new cc suit which will share a box with the new stealth suit.

Pirahna has new option and I am not sure if it will be reboxed together or be sold as an upgrade kit.

From out of left field is word the new piranha option is to transport a cc suit unit, this option replaces the drone pods on the sides... I am personally very skeptical of this rumor. I really don't see it happening, based on other conversations I've had I expect the Pirahna will remain unchanged at this point.

New Pathfinders were seen being worked on a while back.

There is a plastic kit in the works for pathfinders, however my sources don't think it will be part of the initial tau release.

Ethereals expanded, new unit options around them.

This is again from the left field world...supposedly the ethereals have a new race that they are using as a psychic conduit. This new unit option is similar to a psychic choir, and their effectiveness diminishes the smaller the unit gets. Sounds like a way to retcon psychic powers into tau...I would steer clear of this rumor for now, their might in fact be a new unit here, but the established tau no psykers fluff seems too strong to do this IMO. And barring some stronger confirmation, I think this one can be dismissed for now.

There is a FW Tau model which has a unit entry in the codex. (My take is this might actually be a new plastic kit taking over a FW model, and before anyone yells GW doesnt cannibalize FW...yes, they do, they have, and they will.)

Supposedly the remora drones will be in the codex. And will be flyers.

The floating chair ethereal was seen being worked on for a new model.

Sources say this was a designer test model and the existing model is still in the line.

New fast skimmer sized between hammerhead and pirahna.

Could be the cc transport Pirahna, none of my sources had anything on this now. It could also be the flyer.

Flyer has dual gattling cannons

Sources are all sticking by this on the flyer.

Flyer has option for rail guns

Sources say there is a rail gun option for the flyer.

Flyer has bombs (not missiles!?)

Sources say it has options for AA missiles or bombs, But can't take both.

Rule rumors (these are rumors people! I hate posting rule rumors cause I am not involved in that. Please take fwiw)
Railguns have a JOWW effect, they can hit multiple models in a line, but if hitting vehicles has a max number of hull points it can cause. the way this is described is it draws a line from the barrel to table edge, every model under starts taking hits starting with the closest. if it hits a vehicle or structure with HP, its strength drops, once it hits 3 or a table edge or fails to make a penetrating hit its done. rhino line's watch out!

Little more on this. Mostly confirmed this is the way of it, but that it does have a max distance. Some conflicting rumors that you roll for number of hull points it penetrates when fired, or it's fixed. And also conflicting sources saying if it penetrates it causes 2 hull points of damage vs 1.

There is some rumor of an Anti Psyker weapon. like night fighting, but no psychic powers for a game turn.

My sources had little on this other than the one which attributed this to the new ethereal unit.

There is no flyer dedicated transport, and the existing flyer is going to be competing against some very good other options

All sources confirmed. There isn't a dt flyer.

The jetpack troops have some option to "pop up and shoot" from cover.

no information on this from anyone. So I'm going to say this is probably not valid any longer.

I hope to have some additional bits to add a little later after some sleep.

Cheers.

Edit:

Here another rumour set by an anonymous source on Faeit212:

via Faeit 212 (A Must Remain Anonymous Source) wrote:
-Tau are coming early next year.
-Unit profiles are being finalized.
-The Tau are looking more and more like it will utilize and potentially modify the allies feature.
-unique fortifications.

-Just info on rules, no idea on models:
-HQ option to make crisis suits troops (not a special character, just an upgrade)
-crisis suits remain roughly the same but have a couple new weapon options.
-New 1-per-squad weapons
-new heavy support suit that has stats like a carnifex and no jet pack, just a big mech
-new elite suit that has a lot of sub 18" gun options, with a high rate of fire, or low AP. High toughness and -good armour save at a minor loss of mobility (think jump pack instead of jet pack)
-two flyers, one for AtA one for AtG (same basic fuselage)
-fire warriors are a little bit better and have more of a stormtrooper / commando feel, than a rank and file guardsman feel.

-oh and one of the other things right now, I was able to confirm that the current playtest is that firewarriors who do move in the movement phase may immediately run after firing their pulse carbines in the shooting phase.

**Howitzer**

Uhhh... A close combat battlesuit?

I'm going to be taking this with a grain of salt.

**SickSix**

Well just when I was thinking about selling my Tau. You pull me back in.

**Red Corsair**

Very cool stuff here. The Tau deserve this pretty bad. Lets hope they get the Necron treatment

**Ledabot**

I love it when people say things like tau can't have phykers and tau can't have cc. Where talking about GW here. They don't care as long as they attract new people and sell there models. You could say its logical that they would get added at some point. You would think the tau would notice that they have to do something about all the guys running at them with axes, and the best option would be to have guys that can take that treatment.

**Kroothawk**

1.) The psyker unit for tau is still a very uncertain rumour.
2.) Tau being no psykers is established in fluff and will certainly be confirmed, not cancelled. The rulebook says, no generic psychic powers for Tau.
3.) We know of a psyker race within the Tau Empire, the Nicissar. Fits in with the "supposedly the ethereals have a new race that they are using as a psychic conduit" comment.

**Sidstyler**

Heard all this before. Seems like Tau are always supposed to come out "early next year" and never do.

**Tauownz**

We Tau players have been down this road before. For almost 2 years we've been lied to by people claiming this and that. Until we see something in a WD screen shot the week before release I'm skeptical of all this. It sets us up for a huge let down just like before.

**Kroothawk**

When Hastings says, Tau come next year, they come next year. And Harry also said for almost a year that Tau will be early 2013, so no fluctuation of rumours in this case.

**HoverBoy**

Wait Tau after daemons, doesn't that brake the "marine, other, marine" circle?

**Kroothawk**

After two Marine Codices (CSM and Dark Angels) it will indeed break again the myth of a Marine/other/Marine release schedule.

**HoverBoy**

Naah man Chaos ain't "real marines" see, they has cultists.

**AlmightyWalrus**

HoverBoy wrote:
Wait Tau after daemons, doesn't that brake the "marine, other, marine" circle?

Considering that's never existed in the first place it can't exactly be called "breaking".

**caminacambob**

Well I would love all of this, especially the close combat suit, no reason the fluff couldn't work. Always loved the remoras so a codex entry would be great for them. Kroot is right, they always said 2013 so perhaps this time is for real!

**Cyrax**

Kroothawk wrote:
After two Marine Codices (CSM and Dark Angels) it will indeed break again the myth of a Marine/other/Marine release schedule.

The myth shall outlast each of us.

**troy_tempest**

Here's hoping.. Saving my pennies for tau & sisters releases!

**KaiserEddie**

Come on Nautilus Defense Platform... be huge and awesome! I really want to see how the Tau Fortress option would be

**Micky**

Cool if it's true...

**Rakeeb**

I fall with the skeptics. I'll believe it when I see the Tau in White Dwarf again.

**Ledabot**

Kroothawk wrote:
1.) The psyker unit for tau is still a very uncertain rumour.
2.) Tau being no psykers is established in fluff and will certainly be confirmed, not cancelled. The rulebook says, no generic psychic powers for Tau.
3.) We know of a psyker race within the Tau Empire, the Nicissar. Fits in with the "supposedly the ethereals have a new race that they are using as a psychic conduit" comment.

I didn't mean that Tau would be the ones to get powers, but its inevitable that they acquire a race that has them. The Nicssar have had that conspiracy going on for a while.

**Micky**

I'm not sure i see Tau getting psykers, not in the same sense as other races anyway.

Having some kind of innate anti-psyker defenses which can be bolstered by etherial units tho... that I can see happening.

**ChiliPowderKeg**

Oh boy, more Tau rumors!

**Avrik_Shasla**

Sorry, I am expecting all of this to just be bogus and lies. For the last couple years that I've been keeping up with Tau rumors I have gotten my hopes up and then destroyed in a matter of months of saving and it not coming.

I'm taking all these rumors in with a huge grain of salt. I just think it's lies.

**Brother SRM**

Avrik_Shasla wrote:
Sorry, I am expecting all of this to just be bogus and lies. For the last couple years that I've been keeping up with Tau rumors I have gotten my hopes up and then destroyed in a matter of months of saving and it not coming.

I'm taking all these rumors in with a huge grain of salt. I just think it's lies.

Until Harry or Hastings confirms them, this is pretty much the right stance to take.

**davethepak**

As a competitive tau player (yeah, I know, its an oxymoron) I continue to play my blueskins regardless of any rumors or other activity.

I am excited about the prospect of putting more FW units into the codex...after all, I had supported GW shareholders buying their models...I would appreciate them supporting me by giving me more games to play them in....

Of course, I would be thrilled by a new dex...as long as its not "too good" as it were. While personally, I don't think tau need a whole new dex to be stronger (a few tweaks would do it) I welcome new content ...but with a bit of trepidation.

I love my necrons as well...but felt the old army was ...gutted...shall we say. I know that they want to sell new models, but I am not terribly pleased with the prospect that a lot of my old models (I have about 8k of tau) may not be as useful anymore.

However, as I have limited 40k experience with over the years (only been playing since 5th) can someone comment on whether traditionally have existing models always taken a hit (rules wise) in favor of new models? or was this just a coincidence in the necron and nid books?

Thanks for the rumor update kroot....

**Happygrunt**

Hmmm, might not sell the Tau after all...

**Riddick40k**

I'm really hoping they get human auxillaries

**Happygrunt**

Riddick40k wrote:
I'm really hoping they get human auxillaries

Why would they when IG can ally?

**Riddick40k**

Happygrunt wrote:
Riddick40k wrote:
I'm really hoping they get human auxillaries

Why would they when IG can ally?

So they can have cheap troops with Tau weapons

**davethepak**

Happygrunt wrote:
Riddick40k wrote:
I'm really hoping they get human auxillaries

Why would they when IG can ally?

Excellent question. As a player who has human aux in my army (can't run them all the time, mind you....).

1 - I may not want to pay the HQ tax (allies don't always fit in a 1500 point game, which is common in my area) - one squad of human aux are VERY cheap troops, good for going to ground behind an aegis line...
2 - A squad of human aux with emp grenades actually has a small amount of tank shock defense, as opposed to the higher cost of firewarriors with EMP.
3 - I may decide to use my allies slot on something I can't get in either the tau or the guard codex; troops good at holding objectives against assault or units good at assault offensively.
4 - Some players may have personal objections against "allies". Whether you agree or disagree with them, it may be the case.

I have considered buying more guard units (gw adds allies, sells more models...film at 11..) to flesh out my human aux...but to be honest, besides the amazing air support (the highly coveted vendetta gunship) other dexes give thing tau need more - durable scoring units.

Just my 2 cents...

Again, I hope for a new tau dex...I just hope the changes are not too radical.

Oh, and I would actually give the rumored railgun "joww" rumors a bit more consideration than six months ago...why?
It was the FIRST thing I thought of when I read the "beam" weapon type in 6th....."ahhh...that could be the new railgun....".

I just hope if this is done, the STR is only reduced by other vehicle hits...otherwise, I can see infantry screens popping up to reduce STR of the shots...