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I'm just re-reading the fluff section of my Tau dex. The section 'Mantle of Heroes' is on the various types of battlesuit and it got me thinking:

-is Games Workshop likely to bring out any new classes of battlesuit like they did with the XV104 riptide?

-what would people like to see next? We already have the size classes XV1, XV2, XV8, XV9 and XV10, but what about the other numbers? An XV5 or 6 class suit would sit between stealth and crisis which could be pretty cool.

-we already have flying superheavies, but something to match the Imperial and Eldar titans would be awesome, and so would something similar to a Baneblade. What are people's thoughts on this?

-if anyone has any cool ideas of what they'd like to see next that AREN'T battlesuit related, that would be a good discussion as well.

Thanks for checking this thread and I look forward to hearing any of your thoughts and ideas.

Josh

The XV 5 and 6 would serve no tactical role in the modern Tau line up - they would presumably represent a mid-point between the XV2 and XV8 suits, effectively making them under-gunned battlesuits.

I suppose the XV-5 could be a non-jumping heavy weapon carrier attached to Fire Warrior squads, but that wouldn't fit with current Tau doctrine.

Giant Tau walkers? I just don't see it. I think they're pretty awesome in using the logical airborne counter to Titans and the like. What I wouild like to see are some more, effective, air superiority craft - things like Barracudas, but more focused on agility and dogfighting than the 'fire guns in all directions' type.

I was thinking somewhere along the lines of finding a new role for battlesuits, such as a close combat battlesuit, which would obviously need a lighter frame for more maneuverability than the standard XV8, and which has actual specialised combat weapons. The ethereals in all their infinite wisdom would surely recognise the need for spealised combat units that aren't auxiliaries in certain situations. Just a thought

As for the Tau walkers, it would be awesome to see something rivalling titans, but what is more fitting for the tau is a heavier tank. We possess absolutely zero AV14 on the ground and don't have all the specialist Apocalypse weaponry of other races. A hammerhead still has rear armour 10 whereas a Land Raider and Monolith have rear armour 14, as well as superheavies having lots more hull points and better armour.

I realise Tau have their awesome flying superheavies, but I just reckon they need something heavier on the ground


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Furyou Miko wrote:
What I wouild like to see are some more, effective, air superiority craft - things like Barracudas, but more focused on agility and dogfighting than the 'fire guns in all directions' type.

Yeah I do agree on this, the Tau should have more versatile aircraft available to them

Presumably, everything between the 2 series and the 8 series got cut out due to the entire concept failing.

I wpuld presume the XV3 to XV7 were upgraded and replaced by the XV8.

 Furyou Miko wrote:

Giant Tau walkers? I just don't see it.

Oh, it's okay, they're not Walkers, they're Monstrous Creatures. You know, because reasons.

I think XV104 will be the biggest Tau stuff we'll see. It's already hard to hide. Bigger than that, they'll go airborne.

 Vector Strike wrote:
I think XV104 will be the biggest Tau stuff we'll see. It's already hard to hide. Bigger than that, they'll go airborne.

When has game play (ie. cover/hiding) factored into how big the kit is. Bigger means more money in GW eyes.

Noir wrote:

 Vector Strike wrote:
I think XV104 will be the biggest Tau stuff we'll see. It's already hard to hide. Bigger than that, they'll go airborne.

When has game play (ie. cover/hiding) factored into how big the kit is. Bigger means more money in GW eyes.

It would be hard to hide in the fluff as well.

 Deadshot wrote:

Noir wrote:

 Vector Strike wrote:
I think XV104 will be the biggest Tau stuff we'll see. It's already hard to hide. Bigger than that, they'll go airborne.

When has game play (ie. cover/hiding) factored into how big the kit is. Bigger means more money in GW eyes.

It would be hard to hide in the fluff as well.

They wouldn't hide it GW would pimp it as the best of the best, with the Tau need it for some lame reason.

As in tactically, since giant mechs don't fit in with Mont'ka or Kauyon unless they can be concealed on the battlefield somehow.

Besides, the 104 is already breaking the boundaries of the Tau's current deployment capability.

 Furyou Miko wrote:
As in tactically, since giant mechs don't fit in with Mont'ka or Kauyon unless they can be concealed on the battlefield somehow.

Besides, the 104 is already breaking the boundaries of the Tau's current deployment capability.

Again stuff like that has never stop GW before there is no reason to belive it would now. They just rewrite the fluff.

Any thoughts about a heavier tank? I think this is the most likely thing for the Tau - what if they were under siege and needed heavy ground armour to take the hits and dish out more damage? We need a ground superheavy

 Furyou Miko wrote:
I suppose the XV-5 could be a non-jumping heavy weapon carrier attached to Fire Warrior squads, but that wouldn't fit with current Tau doctrine.

I quite like the idea of an XV5 support suit upgrade for Fire Warrior Teams, similar to weapons platforms for Eldar Guardians.

Could take 3 ranged weapons or support systems, and drones, T4, W1, Sv 3+, base cost of 15pts ish

Would make Fire Warrior squads a lot more versatile.

Taffy17 wrote:

 Furyou Miko wrote:
I suppose the XV-5 could be a non-jumping heavy weapon carrier attached to Fire Warrior squads, but that wouldn't fit with current Tau doctrine.

I quite like the idea of an XV5 support suit upgrade for Fire Warrior Teams, similar to weapons platforms for Eldar Guardians.

Could take 3 ranged weapons or support systems, and drones, T4, W1, Sv 3+, base cost of 15pts ish

Would make Fire Warrior squads a lot more versatile.

what about about if the XV5 class could be an upgrade much like the heavy weapons in tactical marine squads? One fire warrior can be given the suit which can support a heavier weapon, say, a plasma rifle (held in the same way a broadside holds a heavy rail rifle) or something like an SMS/missile pod

upgrade would be maybe 10-15 points on top of the base 9

13045273 wrote:

Taffy17 wrote:

 Furyou Miko wrote:
I suppose the XV-5 could be a non-jumping heavy weapon carrier attached to Fire Warrior squads, but that wouldn't fit with current Tau doctrine.

I quite like the idea of an XV5 support suit upgrade for Fire Warrior Teams, similar to weapons platforms for Eldar Guardians.

Could take 3 ranged weapons or support systems, and drones, T4, W1, Sv 3+, base cost of 15pts ish

Would make Fire Warrior squads a lot more versatile.

what about about if the XV5 class could be an upgrade much like the heavy weapons in tactical marine squads? One fire warrior can be given the suit which can support a heavier weapon, say, a plasma rifle (held in the same way a broadside holds a heavy rail rifle) or something like an SMS/missile pod

upgrade would be maybe 10-15 points on top of the base 9

Yeah, that's pretty much what I meant. It would open up so many opportunities. and could look kind of like a leaner stealth suit or a bulked up Fire Warrior.

It would make Fire Warriors much less dependant on the support of broadsides or something.

You could give it a Target lock and plasma to deal with TEQ or shield and stims to provide extra protection or a drone controller.

Sounds pretty good to me, and not too overpowered at all because you'd only be able to take one in a unit of maybe 10 minimum? This prevents spamming them in small groups.

Also Taffy, what's your view on a heavier Tau tank? That's probably what I'd most like to see added to the faction.

I would like a few more Riptide variants, perhaps a sniper. I really like the idea of a "heavy weapons guy" suit, though. Another possibility is a suit, about the size of a Stealth Suit, that incorporates jetpacks to give the team the same mobility as a Crisis Team. I'd also like sniper suits. I like sniper mechs.

What we REALLY need is that GW will separate the XV15 and XV25.
No way the two of them got the same rules. XV15 should be a cheaper, less armoerd, less armed variant.
And that the XV25 wil stop being so overpriced.

As for mid-class suits, I'd actually see the 5 series (or 6 for that matter) as a "light broadside" type suit, with SnP and some heavy gun, but not quite the mass that the broadside pack.

There's also the problem with the XV15 not fitting in with the rest of the numbering system, since it's an early-model Stealth suit. Surely it should be an XV-20, as an earlier model of the XV-25, especially since the XV1 is what, the pilot suit? I think?

13045273 wrote:
Sounds pretty good to me, and not too overpowered at all because you'd only be able to take one in a unit of maybe 10 minimum? This prevents spamming them in small groups.

Also Taffy, what's your view on a heavier Tau tank? That's probably what I'd most like to see added to the faction.

I think we already have a good tank in the hammerhead, especially with Longstrike. I don't think there's many gaps in the Tau army short of taking on superheavy's. the riptide can deal with pretty much anything but them.

Maybe a new gun for hammerheads or riptides that is strong against MCs and super heavies cause no one wants to shoot a imperial knight 6 times with a railgun and anything else isn't gonna do much against it. maybe some kind of cross between a vindicare and a thunderfire cannon? ie different ammo for different things?

 Furyou Miko wrote:
There's also the problem with the XV15 not fitting in with the rest of the numbering system, since it's an early-model Stealth suit. Surely it should be an XV-20, as an earlier model of the XV-25, especially since the XV1 is what, the pilot suit? I think?

Doesn't work like that. The numbers show the size followed by stage in development. So the XV15 was the smallest size in the 5th stage of development. the XV22 is the same size but an older version of the XV25. The XV104 is the biggest but not as developed as the XV25.

100 posts!

Taffy17 wrote:

13045273 wrote:
Sounds pretty good to me, and not too overpowered at all because you'd only be able to take one in a unit of maybe 10 minimum? This prevents spamming them in small groups.

Also Taffy, what's your view on a heavier Tau tank? That's probably what I'd most like to see added to the faction.

I think we already have a good tank in the hammerhead, especially with Longstrike. I don't think there's many gaps in the Tau army short of taking on superheavy's. the riptide can deal with pretty much anything but them.

Maybe a new gun for hammerheads or riptides that is strong against MCs and super heavies cause no one wants to shoot a imperial knight 6 times with a railgun and anything else isn't gonna do much against it. maybe some kind of cross between a vindicare and a thunderfire cannon? ie different ammo for different things?

 Furyou Miko wrote:
There's also the problem with the XV15 not fitting in with the rest of the numbering system, since it's an early-model Stealth suit. Surely it should be an XV-20, as an earlier model of the XV-25, especially since the XV1 is what, the pilot suit? I think?

Doesn't work like that. The numbers show the size followed by stage in development. So the XV15 was the smallest size in the 5th stage of development. the XV22 is the same size but an older version of the XV25. The XV104 is the biggest but not as developed as the XV25.

100 posts!

Yeah what I meant was we need a superheavy tank, so that it is viable against something like a baneblade. I mean, if a hammerhead or two went up against a baneblade it would be squished every single time. I think I'm correct in saying a hammerhead with Longstrike, dispods, submunitions etc stil only cones to about a 1/3 of the cost of a baneblade. We need a superheavy tank!

As for the sniper riptide, I think using a model that big as a sniper would be slightly ridiculous. However, a smaller battlesuit in the XV5 or 6 class with a sniper weapon actually seems like a pretty good suggestion - a less squishy sniper option than the pathfinder

Also congrats on 100 posts dude

There is the XV46 Vanguard Void Battlesuit

Its mentioned in an Imperial Armor book, as well as the Deathwatch RPG. Basically its the Tau equivalent to Terminator armor, used for exploring Spacehulks.

I don't think we'll see this for Tabletop. There isn't a tactical niche for them that I see.

Tau snipers are all drones, actually. :p So there's not that much call for a sniper-suit.

An XV46 sounds like a perfect Forge World product, in that case, Raelis.

I do think a sniper is the last thing we need, I got a bit mixed up there. However, a sniper rifle for pathfinders could be viable maybe? That's not what I'm here to talk about though.

What kind of weapons would people like to see on a Tau superheavy tank?

Path Finders have sniper rifles - the rail rifle is their answer to sniper weapons.

Tau Superheavies? Probably just lots of railguns.

Since origionally the numbers were Mass classes, I could see an XV4 series that is similar in statlines to a Stealth Suit but with a slightly heavier weapons load and a XV6 series that has similar stats to a Crisis Suit but lacks a heavy jetpack.

 Deadshot wrote:

Noir wrote:

 Vector Strike wrote:
I think XV104 will be the biggest Tau stuff we'll see. It's already hard to hide. Bigger than that, they'll go airborne.

When has game play (ie. cover/hiding) factored into how big the kit is. Bigger means more money in GW eyes.

It would be hard to hide in the fluff as well.

Pfft. Like the fluff is a problem anymore, lol. Magically appearing Centurions and flyers and... wait. It's never been a problem. In 1999, they magically invented the Dark Eldar, lol. At least the Tau and Necrons got the "newly discovered" rationale.

Fluff is the few-paragraph blurb some writer gets tasked with to explain why you need to buy the newest toy.

Ralis wrote:
There is the XV46 Vanguard Void Battlesuit

Its mentioned in an Imperial Armor book, as well as the Deathwatch RPG. Basically its the Tau equivalent to Terminator armor, used for exploring Spacehulks.

I don't think we'll see this for Tabletop. There isn't a tactical niche for them that I see.

I was just going to mention this one!

Taffy17 wrote:

13045273 wrote:
Sounds pretty good to me, and not too overpowered at all because you'd only be able to take one in a unit of maybe 10 minimum? This prevents spamming them in small groups.

Also Taffy, what's your view on a heavier Tau tank? That's probably what I'd most like to see added to the faction.

I think we already have a good tank in the hammerhead, especially with Longstrike. I don't think there's many gaps in the Tau army short of taking on superheavy's. the riptide can deal with pretty much anything but them.

Maybe a new gun for hammerheads or riptides that is strong against MCs and super heavies cause no one wants to shoot a imperial knight 6 times with a railgun and anything else isn't gonna do much against it. maybe some kind of cross between a vindicare and a thunderfire cannon? ie different ammo for different things?

 Furyou Miko wrote:
There's also the problem with the XV15 not fitting in with the rest of the numbering system, since it's an early-model Stealth suit. Surely it should be an XV-20, as an earlier model of the XV-25, especially since the XV1 is what, the pilot suit? I think?

Doesn't work like that. The numbers show the size followed by stage in development. So the XV15 was the smallest size in the 5th stage of development. the XV22 is the same size but an older version of the XV25. The XV104 is the biggest but not as developed as the XV25.

100 posts!

I thought it was Mass or suit category followed by the role. So XV-15 is Mass class 1, stealth. XV-25 is Mass Class 2, Stealth. The XV22 designation means it's experimental. That doesn't seem to make any sense anymore though as we have the XV8-05 which doesn't have any stealth capabilities. It could work if the 5 doesn't mean stealth, but i can't see what similarities there are with the XV-15 and XV8-05. Maybe it's different because it's 05 and not just 5, which would make it an XV85. I haven't seen anywhere about it being how far along in development they are before, where did you get that? I don't have the latest codex so I'm not completely up to date with things.