TP^DC - Tau Farsight Enclave: The Eight - FW Upgrade Project

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**TP^DC Deputy Manager**

I like to follow the rule of cool. If it looks good, use it. That said, FW have some awesome Tau battle suits and I'm about to start up a Farsight force and I'm just trying to work out whether I can get away with using the odd XV-09 etc (Commander Farsight aside) in as the Eight, or do I need to stick to the designated suit in the Codex supplement? It would allow easier definition of characters due to the greater variety, but the codex states that they have to be fielded as described in the codex.

Thoughts gratefully received.

**Eldarain**

As long as you convert them to be recognizable by wargear I think using the XV9 would look amazing. (I am biased though as I'm slowly making an all suit army where the XV9 model will be my crisis teams)

**TP^DC Deputy Manager**

Eldarain wrote:
As long as you convert them to be recognizable by wargear I think using the XV9 would look amazing. (I am biased though as I'm slowly making an all suit army where the XV9 model will be my crisis teams)

Oooh! That sounds like a very awesome army

**Eldarain**

I blame Peregrine. He posted this photo in a Tau thread last year:

The XV8 is really sad and needs a resculpt. The XV9 is probably my favourite model GW makes currently.

**TP^DC Deputy Manager**

Yep, that's what I saw on FW. I agree with your previous comment, if they are kitted out with the right wargear they are just the same character in a different suit in my opinion. Fluff reads - "his precious xv8 suit was obliterated in battle, so he found unity and purpose with a new xv9 suit" - or words to that effect.

They are very cool...

**the_kraken**

Eldarain wrote:
I blame Peregrine. He posted this photo in a Tau thread last year:

The XV8 is really sad and needs a resculpt. The XV9 is probably my favourite model GW makes currently.

Goddamn those look so much better than the XV8.

**Savageconvoy**

All the problems with the XV-8 are removed with the XV-9s.

The feet look like they have some minor articulation rather than just a three pronged mess they have to balance on their tip toes.

The legs can be arranged more dynamically thanks to the larger base.

The torso and pelvis are separated rather than a solid block.
The torso is spread out at the shoulders so that it doesn't look like a bland box.

The jetpack looks better in every way.

The only problem I have is that they sell the different models separately with a single weapon option, rather than selling one model with all weapons or the model and weapons separately. The rules for Tau items from FW tend to really annoy me (especially now that the Wraithknight has the same heavy firepower as a Manta) but the models look amazing.

**Kr00gZ**

I love the FW models, but the limited weapon options is a bit disappointing.

If you don't mind a bit of modding, I had some pretty good results with this guide: [url]I got some good results from using this guide with the old battlesuits:
http://www.advancedtautactica.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=21522
[/url]

Gives the old battlesuits more articulation and a wider range of poses. From there, I just used the weapons as per the pictures in the Codex. Their weapon systems are enough to identify them, i reckon.

**TP^DC Deputy Manager**

That's a good, and I'll definitely consider it. I suppose I'm coming from an aesthetic viewpoint where I see multiple models only differentiated by wargear meant to represent the Eight elite members of Farsight's army. Personally I'd have them all in Forge World Battlesuits if I could - we all know that as a soldier's rank increases they get more ornate (well at least in 40K).

My other thought is that I really want to include those FW figures in my army, but if I want to field all of The Eight (if I ever got round to playing a game) I doubt there would be enough points left in the army quota to allow me the ability to use them. Therefore wants the point in buying them. Before anyone states the obvious - yes they will look cool on my shelf, but I have very little space to display figures and not sure I can justify buying if they are unlikely to get played.

Wow, that was a

moment, sorry

Automatically Appended Next Post:
No sooner did I post that last bit but did this email reply from Forgeworld ping into my inbox:

Me:
Hi,
I've been painting a Dark Angels up until now, but want to start a Tau army for a bit of variety. I am looking at creating a Farsight Enclaves army and had a query about how the Forge World models might fit in. I love the style of your Battlesuits and was particularly interested in the XV-9 suits. The reason for this is that I would want to build and paint Farsight's command team The Eight and felt that the XV-9 would aesthetically fit in with the idea that this is a group of hard-fighting individuals with individual fighting styles and backgrounds. I know there are certain characters that require certain suits, but is it possible to field some of those characters listed in the Farsight codex as using an XV-8 suit with an XV-9 suit instead?

Also, I can't find any models to represent the XV-08-2 iridium suit, is your model of shas'o r'mydr in experimental XV-08 crisis suit meant to represent the Iridium suit? I hope so, because I love that suit.

Forge World's reply:
How awesome is that idea.....! That sounds really cool, I think that collection and your ideas behind it would most definitely work and also look the part too!

with regard to using any of Forge Worlds models and rules we say fill your boots and have fun for using the rules we recommend asking your opponents first but if you want to use any of the models as a "counts as" then this is perfectly fine and will definitely make your collection stand out from the rest.

As for the XV-08-2 iridium suit, there is no actual model to reprisent this so it would be an awesome chance for you to get inspired and create your own version of this.

Give us a call and we can talk through your plans and even offer some hobby advice whilst getting you a new force to be reckoned with on order

thanks again

(A very excited) ****

I love FW, they're definitely modellers at heart.

Field as XV-9, or *counts as* - that's the answer. Now to find a money tree

**carldooley**

a guy by the name of mipcap has done a custom crisis suit here:
http://mipcap.deviantart.com/art/crisis-suit-tutorial-170132713
and
http://mipcap.deviantart.com/art/Crisis-Tutorial-2-348459684

though considering the pieces required, a FW suit may be cheaper.

**SagesStone**

Here's a link to a tutorial I find interesting for improving the XV8 as well.
http://warhammer-tau-army.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/save-for-oct-14-xv8-conversions-tutorial.html

Seems simple enough to do and adds a lot more movement into the suits.

**TP^DC Deputy Manager**

Thanks for the tips guys.

Think I might go with the FW figures and do a *counts as* if anyone objects.

The stuff you guys have guided me to looks good though and maybe I'll augment some of the XV-8s for variety.

Now to finish off a couple more DA miniatures then I'll get started on my Farsight army.

**TP^DC Deputy Manager**

Well, between other life and modelling events I have been been looking through the GW and FW catalogues and have come lip with this plan for my Farsight Eight:

Would love to hear input. Especially regarding conversions of resin models - I've not done it before and would rather know now if it is nigh-on impossible.

**Doctarro**

I believe R'myr has a double plasma rifle, but no flamer, so you'll need to work around that. I have no idea how the resin will work, but I think that if anything, it would be easier than plastic because it's softer

**warboss**

I don't think most folks would have a problem with you using the xv9 suits. The biggest potential issue might be base size but usually folks don't have an issue if you go one single size up (as opposed to the much more problematic size down). One of the coolest conversions I've seen recently was a kitbash of the xv9 and the xv8 enforcer to make this bad boy:

http://advancedtautactica.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=20814

I've been working on a small farsight force as well and am using all enforcer suits. They're significantly taller (and cooler looking!) than normal xv8 suits but luckily have the same base size. I've got farsight and brightsword so far done although I've changed brightsword since the pics were taken. Unfortunately, even with some pinning the twin swords broke twice on me just from holding/falling over if the table is bumped.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/640997.page

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Doctarro wrote:
I believe R'myr has a double plasma rifle, but no flamer, so you'll need to work around that. I have no idea how the resin will work, but I think that if anything, it would be easier than plastic because it's softer

He does indeed have a double plasma and it's a pretty cool looking weapon. I definitely wouldn't recommend cutting it up but rather just making a whole other combo plas/flamer instead and using that bit for a twin plasma. I'd instead recommend using the xv9 for Bravestorm since he's supposed to be in an irridium suit which is t5 just like the xv9 and is supposed to look different from the normal crisis suit. In the end, it all works anyways as the variant suits produced officially by GW/FW meshes well with the fluff about various asthetic differences in the gear between septs.

**Big Mac**

The main problem with the current XV8 is their head, swap it out with XV9, FW crisis, riptide, or new broadside heads and they look significantly better. Their legs can be very easily reposed; with that I still look forward to the day they resculpt them.

Here is my version of Brightsword and some minor conversions of XV8s:

**warboss**

While I like the head swap you did, I'd say the problems with the xv8 go way further than just the head. The achondroplastic/dwarf limbs, the chest too small to fit a fire warrior, and the turtle neck hidden hands come to mind personally as visual issues. YMMV. Even just "stretching" the suit out 20% taller makes a huge difference as shown in this older pic of a conversion someone did:

It's very difficult to do that conversion I'd suspect (lots of different parts) but it's hella easy for GW to design it right the next time though.

**Sidstyler**

Holy cow, that looks so much better. Fantastic painting, too. I just assembled three new crisis suits the other day I want that kit updated more than ever, especially after seeing that.

**TP^DC Deputy Manager**

Thanks for posting everyone. The XV-8s posted above look cool. I'm going to stick with my "FW Eight" but am going to change the XV-88-2 back to a standard XV-88. There's no real reason why I need to work that hard to convert a model that's meant to hold two rail rifles when it will look botched if done wrong. I'll just find a way to make that XV-88 stand out from any standard I would field.

It still means all eight have a different suit types for the elite group which was the goal. Only one XV-9 though, I would probably use them as Shas-vre in crisis teams to indicate their rank.

The R'myr model will take thinking about as he main conversion and I'll do it last. I had planned (vaguely) on a plasma/flamer combi. I love that model because it looks like a second-in-command and you know he will kick

in any fluff I come up with him in that suit.

**Vector Strike**

I'm watching this thread with much interest

**the_kraken**

Vector Strike wrote:
I'm watching this thread with much interest

Seconded

**Melcavuk**

I've found the Xv89 to be an excellent midpoint between differentiating exceptional XV8 pilots from the more bulky XV9 suits. In the scale shot the XV9 is my commander battlesuit whilst the XV89 runs as team leaders. For running the eight it also gives exceptional amounts of heroic posing opportunities.

**j31c3n**

All these conversion guides in this thread really make me want to build my own small Farsight Enclaves allies for my marines.

**Lord Scythican**

I made some PDFs of the Farsight Eight if anyone wants them. I thought that the rules in the Farsight Enclaves for the eight were pretty crappy, especially the printed book. I will attach one to this post, if I need to remove it please let me know. If I can post them all like this, let me know as well.

**TP^DC Deputy Manager**

Vector Strike wrote:I'm watching this thread with much interest

the_kraken wrote:
Vector Strike wrote:
I'm watching this thread with much interest

Seconded

Thanks guys. I'm getting so snowed under with work I'm getting nowhere at the moment. I'm tempted to make the plunge and just buy a standard GW Commander model and Farsight when I'm near a GW store to get started on those members of the Eight. I will post when progress happens, promise.

Melcavuk wrote:I've found the Xv89 to be an excellent midpoint between differentiating exceptional XV8 pilots from the more bulky XV9 suits. In the scale shot the XV9 is my commander battlesuit whilst the XV89 runs as team leaders. For running the eight it also gives exceptional amounts of heroic posing opportunities.

There is definitely something about the XV89 that I like, had to incorporate one in to the Eight to have this lovely variation to the spread. I was very tempted to switch Farsight in to one of the huge XV109 style suits to make him more imposing, but decided the warhead would be a nightmare for me to swap in and I think it would lesson his presence rather than enhance. I see him as a leader from the ground, not back drinking tea in his big suit that does all the work just by existing. I genuinely like the GW Farsight model and would rather use that for the reasons stated and for ease of identification.

Not sure why I just justified my choice of Farsight model. Clearly getting too involved.

**TP^DC Deputy Manager**

So I was cycling between two places at lunchtime and happened to be near a GW store and needed some black primer, you know, so went in and was looking around, oh so nonchalant like and happened to see that they didn't have a Commander Farsight, but they did have a Tau Battlesuit Commander. "Oh wait!" I thought I was oh so coincidently going to use one of those for Shas'O Arra'kon. And that's how I went and now own one

Therefore with any luck I will have the first of my Eight down within the next few weeks (I have a couple of leftover projects I want to finish up if I can). I'll post the finished models hear but WIPs will be on my P&M blog.