Faeit 212 (2-3-2013) wrote:
I have been seeing a lot of play testing for the tau empire and have seen some new models as well. They look so new and epic it makes me really excited. Now I did my hands on some rules and names for units, If you are to pass these on then PLEASE send it to only reliable rumour sites.

I will start with the new sky ray orbital blast ability. From what I can remember on top of my head is that the sky ray has to forgo his full turn of shooting for a single unlimited range blast that is:

strength X AP 3 (wound on 2+,plasma corrosion, blast)
plasma corrosion - any enemy model hit under the blast rolls a d6 every turn for the remainder of the game on a roll of 1-3 the unit or model suffers d6 strength 4 AP5 hits. On a roll of 4-5 the unit suffers 2d6 strength 5 AP 4 hits. On a roll of a 6 the unit is hit with 2d6 strength 6 AP 2 hits with the blind special rule. (these are test rules and subject to change)

Tau fire warriors will have the OPTION to upgrade their tau fire warriors to bs 4 (I put option in bold to show it is an option for all those fluffy players)
I believe the upgrade at the moment is being called 'advance training'

battle suits are getting/got new models but have the same profile as now with the inclusion of an option to make them toughness 5 (cost or name is unknown)

The kroot is getting a HUGE monster that looks like something from fantasy. It has kroot riding it but is under going constant rule changes due to either dying to quickly or for lack of usage. From what I remember seeing it has 5 wounds but only a 5+ save and was over priced IMO.

kroot gain furious charge and move through cover and start with a 6+ save that can be upgraded to 5+ with shaper for an additional 2pts per model (making them 8pts per model) - remember this could change!

finally their is options to make all your battle suits have 2+ saves for 20pts per model - all war gear that is in the current codex has been reduced slightly.

the tau dread knight walker rumours you have read are 100% TRUE - I have seen the concept art/profile and from the top of my memory it is something like this.

WS BS S T W I A LD SV
4 4 6 8 4 2 4 8 2+/4+

I will not share rules because they were on the next page of document of which I did not see. I did see the points which were : 210pts

Stickmonkey (2-4-2013) wrote:
Units
Crisis Suits: Look for more posable new models. Unit keeps its high level of customization, with several upgrades to stat lines possible. New flakk missile pods. New combi-kit includes Broadside parts.

Stealth Suits: Models unchanged. Have stealth, (obviously), plus optional drone granting shrouding.

Sky Ray: Last edition's trainwreck gets a new lease on life. Flakk missiles, plus has orbital bombardment (much like SM version, but with a lingering effect).

Fire Warriors: Same nasty gun. Still BS:3, but with a Shas'O can upgrade unit to BS:4.

Equipment
Drones: Any drone can be used for Look Out Sir rolls for any model in the unit they are attached to.

Markerlights: A single hit increases BS of all other units targeting the victim by +1. Multiple markerlights have no additional effects. OUCH - look out for possible BS:5, Fire Warrior volleys now! Markerlights improve snapfire against marked flyers to 5+ instead of 6, but must first hit the flyer with a 6 themselves.

Networked Markerlights: A longer range twin linked version. Vehicles only.

http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?23749-Tau-Rumor-Roundup-Mk-2

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

Faeit 212 2-4-2013 wrote:War gear:
Gatling ion blaster: 30'' S:6 AP:3 Assault:3
plasma storm blaster: 40'' S:9 AP:1 Assault:1 (lance,system failure,implosion)

lance: rulebook

system failure: If you score a glancing or a penetrating hit on a roll of a 6 you cause a system failure in the enemy tank/flyer. The tank/flyer cannot move or shoot for the remainder of the turn. The tank/flyer controlling player must roll a d6 every turn for the remainder of the game, on a roll of 1 the tank/flyer has a system failure again and may not shoot or move again.

implosion: if you score a explosion on a tank/flyer then it explodes 2d6 inches instead of the normal d6.


The new big kroot model is actually the krootox giant, from what I have been told fluff points to the tau making the krootox genetics being advance and in doing this increasing the size, strength and toughness.

the krootox giant has the following rules and stats - these I believe will change as we have had much discussions upon this unit and cannot be certain if it is powerful enough for a competitive environment.

Krootox Giant: WS BS S T W I A LD SV
6 3 8 6 4 1 5 7 4+

Special rules: Smash, monstrous creature, rage,mental without control, move through cover,fleet

mental without control: If your krootox giant loses his krootox rider then the Giant must pass a leadership test every turn otherwise will attack the closest enemy unit. If the Giant cannot reach a target then it misses it next turn while it cools down.

this unit at the moment costs : 200pts & can upgrade it's armour save to 3+ with a piece of war gear from the kroot armoury

Stickmonkey (2-5-2013) wrote:
Units
Ethereals: These now grant army wide special rules and bubble rules, but there are different options. They function roughly much like those recent Dark Angels banners. So one option might be army wide Ld rerolls while in play, plus units in 12" are fearless. Another option might be one unit in army gets salvo once per turn, and all units in 12" get rerolls to hit.

Kroot: Everyone's favorite birdmen get Scout, Furious Charge, Move thru Cover. Kroot Hounds and Kroot hawks! Shaper can unlock additional unit upgrades.

"Sneaky Kroot": Look for an ELITES Kroot unit that can hide in terrain like Ymgarl Genestealers.

Knarloc: The new big beasty model, very similar to the Forgeworld Great Knarloc (see below). Monstrous Creature, with a trample attack allowing it to run 3d6" and cause 2d6 S6 AP6 wounds to any unit it crosses. It may additionally use this special move to charge a unit, gains +2A and the assault-grenades ability when charging in this manner.

Vespid: The maligned bug men are redeemed! Big improvements, weapon range increase, point reduction, hit and run.

Vespid Flyer: Smallest flyer in game, like a jetbike, single blaster as weapon, vector-dancer

Fortifications: Deep striking turrets as fortification options. Burst cannons or missile pods options.

Tau Flyer Transport: 13 13 12 armor, holds a full Fire Warrior or Crisis Suit squad, or single Uber-suit. Not a lot of weapons, but HP:3, and has a save from wargear that can be taken. Deep strike. Rules-wise is focused on getting units reliably to a location.

The Uber-suit: So many options currently it's hard to keep them straight. It's a mobile weapon platform, with rail guns as it's main weapon system, - which can be upgraded to a plasma weapon system or ion cannons. Classified as monstrous creature. 2+/4++ save. It can forgo shooting and movement to gain 2++ save. The Uber can move as jump infantry if it does not shoot it's main weapons. VERY HIGH toughness, no existing weapon can instant death it. Although it can smash if it has to, it is not designed as a close combat unit at all. Cost is comparable to a Terminator squad. It can take drone support.

Odds and Ends
FOC: Some specific HQs move Crisis Suits to troops. One moves two Kroot units to troops.

Psykers-defense: All Tau have some base immunity to psychic powers, and thus any Tau unit can deny the witch, with the suits gaining an improvement to this roll.

 pretre wrote:

the Faeit 212 inbox (has to remain anonymous) wrote:
I've never seen those kroot giant rules before (currently named the Krootonne).

There is a new large kroot model, but it's nothing like what's written, doesn't have a rider and doesn't have guns.

Fire warriors can't be upgraded to bs4, the squad leader has an upgrade that raises their BS though for (currently) 50 points and goes away if he dies.

I have like three versions of the rules, but I think some people are wish listing after getting hint of some stuff that's leaked.

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

Stickmoneky 4-5-2013

So, to give more info for the masses.

The information I recently provided BigRed comes from a late 2012 playtest, I believe Oct or Nov timeframe.

The psychic defense boost I mentioned was described as Tau are just harder to target with warp powers, they have very little presence in the warp. I asked my source more on this, and he said during playtest all Tau got a DtW reroll. Tau in Suits got a 5+ DtW.

The Kroot monster is very cool looking, but I fear rules wise its going to suffer from Pyrovore syndrome. Its expensive, and shortlived. A beast in CC, but it's hard to get it there. Roughly the size of a Maulerfiend, its like a hybrid between the Krootox and the Great Knarloc. Beaked head. 4legged. Over muscled. Kinda apelike pose and body structure.

The "uber-suit" is NOT at all like a wraithlord. It is not suited for CC, and really cant be outfitted for that role. Last I saw the T was only 7, but others are saying it is T8. I was talking about it with my source earlier and he made mention of the plasma weapon having ignore cover and thinking it will be the load out of choice. He felt that it was very balanced points to capability wise for its role in the codex. Visual wise it is definitely in line with the battle suit. Reminds me a lot of the old BattleTech line merged with Tau aesthetic.

I don't think the Vespid Scooter made the cut. It was in a number of early drafts, kind of like the genosian fighters in Star Wars. Yes, flying creatures with a flying vehicle... Named after a famous motorized bike.... 80s GW may have done this, not 10s.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

 Kroothawk wrote:

faeit212 wrote: Tau
There has been a lot of rumors coming about Tau. Most of it seems to be playtest rules from late last year. While a lot of it comes from Stickmonkey, I have included bits from Faeit 212 (a couple different anonymous sources).

Psychic Defense
Tau having little presence in the warp, get a re-roll for Deny the Witch.
Tau in Suits get a 5+ Deny the Witch

Kroot Monster
Expensive and short lived, as its a CC beast the size of a Maulerfiend
Monstrous Creature with Trample Attack: 3d6 causes 2d6 S6 AP6 wounds

Uber Suit
Playtest statlines WS3 BS5 S5 T7 W3 I3 A2 L8
Plasma weapon with ignore cover
It's a mobile weapon platform, with rail guns as it's main weapon system, - which can be upgraded to a plasma weapon system or ion cannons. Classified as monstrous creature. 2+/4++ save. It can forgo shooting and movement to gain 2++ save. The Uber can move as jump infantry if it does not shoot it's main weapons.

Fire Warriors
BS3 but can be upgraded to BS4 with a 50pt squad leader

Ethereals
Grant various army wide special rules, similar to Dark Angel banners

Kroot
Scout, Furious Charge, Move through Cover
Kroot Hounds and Kroot Hawks
Shaper unlocks additional upgrades

Sneaky Kroot (obviously not the name)
An elite type unit that can hide in terrain like Ymgarl Genestealers

Vespid
The maligned bug men are redeemed! Big improvements, weapon range increase, point reduction, hit and run.

Fortifications
Deep striking turrets as fortification options. Burst cannons or missile pods options.

Stealth Suits
Models unchanged. Have stealth, plus optional drone granting shrouding.

Sky Ray
Flakk missiles, plus has orbital bombardment (much like SM version, but with a lingering effect).
orbital blast ability. sky ray has to forgo his full turn
strength X AP 3 (wound on 2+,plasma corrosion, blast) plasma corrosion - any enemy model hit under the blast rolls a d6 every turn for the remainder of the game on a roll of 1-3 the unit or model suffers d6 strength 4 AP5 hits. On a roll of 4-5 the unit suffers 2d6 strength 5 AP 4 hits. On a roll of a 6 the unit is hit with 2d6 strength 6 AP 2 hits with the blind special rule. (these are test rules and subject to change)

Equipment
Drones: Any drone can be used for Look Out Sir rolls for any model in the unit they are attached to.

Markerlights
A single hit increases BS of all other units targeting the victim by +1. Multiple markerlights have no additional effects. OUCH - look out for possible BS:5, Fire Warrior volleys now! Markerlights improve snapfire against marked flyers to 5+ instead of 6, but must first hit the flyer with a 6 themselves.

Networked Markerlights
A longer range twin linked version. Vehicles only.

Edit: New rumor added again, thanks Enigma Crisis, pretre & Kroothawk.

I'm taking this with salt. Sounds like a lot of wishlisting.

I thought Faeit and Stickmonkey had good track records?

If these rumors are true and the rules are still in progress as.of.right now, then that means we probably won't be seeing a Tau Codex until August at the earliest.

Faeit 212 2-4-2013 wrote:War gear:
Gatling ion blaster: 30'' S:6 AP:3 Assault:3
plasma storm blaster: 40'' S:9 AP:1 Assault:1 (lance,system failure,implosion)

lance: rulebook

system failure: If you score a glancing or a penetrating hit on a roll of a 6 you cause a system failure in the enemy tank/flyer. The tank/flyer cannot move or shoot for the remainder of the turn. The tank/flyer controlling player must roll a d6 every turn for the remainder of the game, on a roll of 1 the tank/flyer has a system failure again and may not shoot or move again.

implosion: if you score a explosion on a tank/flyer then it explodes 2d6 inches instead of the normal d6.


The new big kroot model is actually the krootox giant, from what I have been told fluff points to the tau making the krootox genetics being advance and in doing this increasing the size, strength and toughness.

the krootox giant has the following rules and stats - these I believe will change as we have had much discussions upon this unit and cannot be certain if it is powerful enough for a competitive environment.

Krootox Giant: WS BS S T W I A LD SV
6 3 8 6 4 1 5 7 4+

Special rules: Smash, monstrous creature, rage,mental without control, move through cover,fleet

mental without control: If your krootox giant loses his krootox rider then the Giant must pass a leadership test every turn otherwise will attack the closest enemy unit. If the Giant cannot reach a target then it misses it next turn while it cools down.

this unit at the moment costs : 200pts & can upgrade it's armour save to 3+ with a piece of war gear from the kroot armoury

Damn, ninja'd.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, lol at implosion special rule making something explode more.

T8 on the walker? Hmmm, I thought GW were moving away from anything with T8 (Eldar WL being the only thing left in 6th with it? and hes 4th ed rules).
Interesting stuff nonetheless but early doors as usual.

As a Tau player myself my sodium levels are at lethal levels. I want a lot of these rumor rules to be true but after that ghost fiasco last year I don't know what to believe. Until I get my new codex in hand I won't be holding my breath.

I know you would think the implosion would be a smaller blast or pull units closer to where the vehicle imploded.

 pretre wrote:
Damn, ninja'd.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, lol at implosion special rule making something explode more.

It's a cinematic implosion.

 Cyrax wrote:
I thought Faeit and Stickmonkey had good track records?

You can safely ignore both of them. Faeit used to be good but now he's just getting the everliving daylights trolled out of him, and he hasn't noticed. I don't think he's had one solid hit since 6th ed. Stickmonkey got one thing right one time 3 years ago and is still riding the gravy train.

 Cyrax wrote:

 pretre wrote:
Damn, ninja'd.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, lol at implosion special rule making something explode more.

It's a cinematic implosion.

That makes even less sense.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 lord_blackfang wrote:

 Cyrax wrote:
I thought Faeit and Stickmonkey had good track records?

You can safely ignore both of them. Faeit used to be good but now he's just getting the everliving daylights trolled out of him, and he hasn't noticed. I don't think he's had one solid hit since 6th ed. Stickmonkey got one thing right one time 3 years ago and is still riding the gravy train.

Let's be scientific about this.

Natfka on Faeit 212 - Total rumors: (102 TRUE) / (112 FALSE) / (21 PARTIALLY TRUE/VAGUE) He needs to stop just publishing everything that hits his inbox. His sound to noise ratio is bad.

Stickmonkey - Total rumors: (74 TRUE) / (128 FALSE) / (30 PARTIALLY TRUE/VAGUE) Stickmonkey got butchered by Dark Angels recently but was running better than 50/50 before that. When he gets too specific, he gets beat up. He is usually best at models and not rules as his sources for rules are generally playtest and end up being wrong.

Those 'for the rest of the game' rules undermine it for me. Whilst we have been seeing ideas and mechanics from 2nd ed cropping up recently, the overwhelming trend since 3rd has been to minimise book keeping, this goes against that trend.

 pretre wrote:
That makes even less sense.

Narrative implosion then?

I just read this rumours on Faeit for the day so... Im not even taking them with salt, Faeit actually told that it was all playtesting, so no serious business here, just mass wishlisting for us fans.

The rumour about the Giant Krootox... Sounds, and smells pretty bad guys, becouse, come on, Giant Krootox? Really GW? Really? BRING THE KNARLOC GODDAMIT. If they were to bring such a lame, MC to the Tau, i would take some of my god old dinasaurs from when i was a kid and bring them to the table if they fix the size, and glue them to a MC base. I dont like at all the Krootox model, but if they were to make it bigger it will be the most ugly model i have ever seen for sure.

For the rest of it... I`ll not believe anything until have my codex on my hands on my store given from the GW guy to me personally, otherwise, it could be a joke from the guys at the store

 azreal13 wrote:
Those 'for the rest of the game' rules undermine it for me. Whilst we have been seeing ideas and mechanics from 2nd ed cropping up recently, the overwhelming trend since 3rd has been to minimise book keeping, this goes against that trend.

Maybe GW wants everyone to stop playing Tau altogether, and this is one of several ways they're going about it. Then they can sell more space marines. That must be why we're Battle brothers!

Eh... I'll wait until the WD leaks hit. Then we'll know whats up... and whether or not I sell my Tau to fund 30K Salamanders.

This is actually interesting to see these rumors. My friend and I were discussing how to make Tau a more effective shooting army. The best and most obvious answer we came up with was that without murdering the S/AP system for weapons they'd need to apply different effects from weapons. New rules to make every shot really count and hinder entire units.

The whole issue with markerlights seems a bit off. Most people would agree that the entire system needed a rework, but +1BS and that's it? That's absurd. I can't even grasp the concept of that. That would make Pathfinders and Tetras useless unless they allow every shot to target a different unit.

And of course hearing that broadsides won't get their own model disturbs me. Oh, I got an idea. Let's take an agile and fast moving mech and slap on some big ol' clown shoes and give it a huge gun. That would be the best idea ever ever.

 azreal13 wrote:
Those 'for the rest of the game' rules undermine it for me.

Yeah, that sounds really, really bad. As in bad design. Memory issues, rolling massive amounts of dice over and over, just awful.

If the Battlesuit model (now 12 years old and pretty badly moulded) was redesigned with a range of upgrades including Broadside bits, it could easily work.

It would of course be a lot more expensive than current models, because of the extra bits.

 Savageconvoy wrote:

The whole issue with markerlights seems a bit off. Most people would agree that the entire system needed a rework, but +1BS and that's it? That's absurd. I can't even grasp the concept of that. That would make Pathfinders and Tetras useless unless they allow every shot to target a different unit.

Actually, it's 1 Markerlight hit to give +1BS to every unit which shoots at target unit. Sounds rather incredibly powerful.

Kroot monster and Tau Dreadknight? Tau and their Kroot slaves deserve no monstrous creatures, they are good enough at shooting already.

Backfire wrote:

 Savageconvoy wrote:

The whole issue with markerlights seems a bit off. Most people would agree that the entire system needed a rework, but +1BS and that's it? That's absurd. I can't even grasp the concept of that. That would make Pathfinders and Tetras useless unless they allow every shot to target a different unit.

Actually, it's 1 Marker light hit to give +1BS to every unit which shoots at target unit. Sounds rather incredibly powerful.

Unless they give Marker lights something else to do like launch seekers or -cover like normal then tetras and pathfinders become kinda useless unless they also give each marker splitfire. but i agree giving any unit shooting the target +1 bs is strong.

Markerlights suffer from the problem that they're over-costed and under-implemented in the current codex. They don't represent a support element that is integral to the rest of the army, like they ought. The issue with giving markerlights cumulative effects like "everything else for the round", is that you can't also represent versatility with it, without making them overpowered.

What would be more useful is a reworking of the token system. For instance, just saying "1 markerlight token allows a Tau unit to make it's BS = 5 for the purposes of shooting the target unit." would be useful, even at the current density of markerlights.

Let's hope whoever is writing the codex understands statistics, and 40k 6th edition at least mildly well. Let's also hope the board of directors want Tau to sell as much as the marine factions.

Ohh, interesting. Why are we complaining about markerlights? These are rumors. The chance they turn out like this in the book is tiny. There is no point in taking details form rumors. Take them instead as 'rules for x are changing'. Much safer bet.

I dont see the plasma corrosion being a thing.
I hope the models are true though.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
I dont see the plasma corrosion being a thing.
I hope the models are true though.

I'm hoping that the crisis suits having broadside parts are true because i would love plastic broadside parts on my older kits.

the plasma corrosion bit is giving going to give me hypertension.

If it is, Then Skyrays become the new Hammerhead.

Krootox monster?

*sigh*

Why not make the Great Knarloc plastic? It's a very nice thing, so use it!

Because science for the sake of science. Big monsters and big robots = big money

I seriously hope the Broadside gets a different kit. Seriously, a fast and agile jetpack mech doesn't look good when you put clown shoes on it and unbalanced cannons on it. They serve two different roles and should look different.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Krootox monster?

*sigh*

Why not make the Great Knarloc plastic? It's a very nice thing, so use it!

FW is far less available to the masses for sale, so a new plastic kit means A unit entry for a new GW Monstrous Kroot creature which also happens to work equally well for a certain kit from Forge World is a win win. New kit for most people, and vets are happy too because they can counts-as in their Greater Knarloc models.

Here we go again.

Please stop teasing me, rumour mongers.

I want *dates* dammit.

Ugh... Giant Krootox = stupid.

So it should be anticipated as the most likely thing for GW to do.

Stickmonkey (2-5-2013)
Units
Ethereals: These now grant army wide special rules and bubble rules, but there are different options. They function roughly much like those recent Dark Angels banners. So one option might be army wide Ld rerolls while in play, plus units in 12" are fearless. Another option might be one unit in army gets salvo once per turn, and all units in 12" get rerolls to hit.

Kroot: Everyone's favorite birdmen get Scout, Furious Charge, Move thru Cover. Kroot Hounds and Kroot hawks! Shaper can unlock additional unit upgrades.

"Sneaky Kroot": Look for an ELITES Kroot unit that can hide in terrain like Ymgarl Genestealers.

Knarloc: The new big beasty model, very similar to the Forgeworld Great Knarloc (see below). Monstrous Creature, with a trample attack allowing it to run 3d6" and cause 2d6 S6 AP6 wounds to any unit it crosses. It may additionally use this special move to charge a unit, gains +2A and the assault-grenades ability when charging in this manner.

Vespid: The maligned bug men are redeemed! Big improvements, weapon range increase, point reduction, hit and run.

Vespid Flyer: Smallest flyer in game, like a jetbike, single blaster as weapon, vector-dancer

Fortifications: Deep striking turrets as fortification options. Burst cannons or missile pods options.

Tau Flyer Transport: 13 13 12 armor, holds a full Fire Warrior or Crisis Suit squad, or single Uber-suit. Not a lot of weapons, but HP:3, and has a save from wargear that can be taken. Deep strike. Rules-wise is focused on getting units reliably to a location.

The Uber-suit: So many options currently it's hard to keep them straight. It's a mobile weapon platform, with rail guns as it's main weapon system, - which can be upgraded to a plasma weapon system or ion cannons. Classified as monstrous creature. 2+/4++ save. It can forgo shooting and movement to gain 2++ save. The Uber can move as jump infantry if it does not shoot it's main weapons. VERY HIGH toughness, no existing weapon can instant death it. Although it can smash if it has to, it is not designed as a close combat unit at all. Cost is comparable to a Terminator squad. It can take drone support.

Odds and Ends
FOC: Some specific HQs move Crisis Suits to troops. One moves two Kroot units to troops.

Psykers-defense: All Tau have some base immunity to psychic powers, and thus any Tau unit can deny the witch, with the suits gaining an improvement to this roll.

"Fortifications: Deep striking turrets as fortification options. Burst cannons or missile pods options."


Believe it when I see it.

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

FOC: Some specific HQs move Crisis Suits to troops. One moves two Kroot units to troops.

Oh gawd, now im getting excited about the Ankgor Prok model i picked up in a trade X_X

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
"Fortifications: Deep striking turrets as fortification options. Burst cannons or missile pods options."


Believe it when I see it.

But those are already existing units. The Forgeworld turrets were that exact description, although with more options.

 Micky wrote:

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

FOC: Some specific HQs move Crisis Suits to troops. One moves two Kroot units to troops.

Oh gawd, now im getting excited about the Ankgor Prok model i picked up in a trade X_X

Kroot are already Troops.

 Kilkrazy wrote:

Kroot are already Troops.

He said two units, so it could move the sneaky kroot to troops possibly.

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

Stickmonkey (2-5-2013)
Units

Tau Flyer Transport: 13 13 12 armor, holds a full Fire Warrior or Crisis Suit squad, or single Uber-suit. Not a lot of weapons, but HP:3, and has a save from wargear that can be taken. Deep strike. Rules-wise is focused on getting units reliably to a location.

No flyer will be av 13 unless the SM get a flying land raider or something. I expect the Tau flyer to be av 11 with some kind of improved jink save.

I'm worried that Tau aren't going to get any decent anti flyer options. The vespid flyer might help, depending on what weapons it gets. if the skyray rumors are true, then its crazy if it get to shoot aa missiles and it gets to do the uber blast thing.

I normally don't believe in Codex Creep, but I will make an exception in this case.

I see this Codex as akin to the 5th edition Imperial Guard Codex-- one where the existing army is actually very powerful, but GW is not aware of that thanks to low popularity/sales, and as a result the army will be buffed too much in their update.

These rumors seem in line with that prediction.

I heard the flyer was going to be AV15 and have triple linked rail cannons. Guess Ill just have to wait and see what the released book says....

^

I've noticed that when independent sources coincide like this, the likelihood of truth increases. Nebulous pictures of new model sightings begin to circulate.

GW are, of course, the very last people we hear from when it comes to their own releases.

I feel good about these rumors.

Any word on Pathfinder changes?

A Dread Knight type fits with Tau design philosophy. Very happy that there are no rumors of a Tau walker, With GW's recent design pattern I will call this as likely.

Sky Ray sounds right soooo....with GW's history of boning the Tau I see this as unlikely.

Ethereals sound like something GW would do. Call this one as likely but with a few more suprising tidbits(Aun'shi)

Fire warriors staying BS3 but having option to upgrade to BS4 sounds about right. Call this one as likely.

Vespids sound like they will be useful but will have to see what they do with their fluff before I say if it fits. Vespid improvement is a no brainer.

Kroot seem like they are getting to much here. Taking salt pill. Drop Furious charge and give them more wargear options and they would be just about right.
Am expecting pulse carbines to gain the blind rule while keeping the rest of the stats the same.



As for the earlier comment about GW reducing book keeping...... That was 5th ed. 6th ed is the librarian/scribe/accountant edition. Since late 5th(read newcrons) GW has been adding effects that require the layers to keep track through the whole game(scarabs).

Later,
Focusedfire

Only changes pathfinders really need is to drop the devilfish from being required and I feel they could be a great unit after that.

@Paitryn-Marklerlight system needs a bit of a redux imo. I agree in dropping the mandatory D-Fish but think that the markers should be rapidfire and have their system reworked to be better than 1990's technology.

Most of this sounds too good to be true. I am not getting my hopes up just yet.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Krootox monster?

*sigh*

Why not make the Great Knarloc plastic? It's a very nice thing, so use it!

That would be a smart move from GW... But, GW and smart... Well...

If those walker rumors are true... then DAMN I'll be fielding three of them.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
"Fortifications: Deep striking turrets as fortification options. Burst cannons or missile pods options."
Believe it when I see it.

Current rules for deepstriking. Now believe!

Sweet

Will there be anything like the FW sensor towers?

GW can pull out a really nice codex just placing everything FW has developed since tau release, but we will never have it on the official codex becouse bussines

 Kroothawk wrote:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
"Fortifications: Deep striking turrets as fortification options. Burst cannons or missile pods options."
Believe it when I see it.

Current rules for deepstriking. Now believe!

And in previous rules (I think IA:3 Taros) if they hit a vehicle while deepstriking both suffered a hit as if ramming. Or something like this.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Paitryn wrote:

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

Stickmonkey (2-5-2013)
Units

Tau Flyer Transport: 13 13 12 armor, holds a full Fire Warrior or Crisis Suit squad, or single Uber-suit. Not a lot of weapons, but HP:3, and has a save from wargear that can be taken. Deep strike. Rules-wise is focused on getting units reliably to a location.

No flyer will be av 13 unless the SM get a flying land raider or something. I expect the Tau flyer to be av 11 with some kind of improved jink save.

Seen it is just a transport and has to reliably get units to a location, it makes sense. Once it hovers to disembark its survivability drops a lot.

Make it assault transport for a lot of EMP Firewarriors fun.

 Swissivy wrote:

 Kroothawk wrote:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
"Fortifications: Deep striking turrets as fortification options. Burst cannons or missile pods options."
Believe it when I see it.

Current rules for deepstriking. Now believe!

And in previous rules (I think IA:3 Taros) if they hit a vehicle while deepstriking both suffered a hit as if ramming. Or something like this.

Nice thing the current FW PDF for Tau no longer has that rule

 Enigma Crisis wrote:


Nice thing the current FW PDF for Tau no longer has that rule

Actually it made more sense than "oh look, a squadron of turrets landing on our heads, they are gonna disintegrate while we laugh" mishap table.

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

Stickmonkey (2-5-2013)
Psykers-defense: All Tau have some base immunity to psychic powers, and thus any Tau unit can deny the witch, with the suits gaining an improvement to this roll.

This is the best rumor ever.

Let me do the same thing for every upcoming codex:

pretre wrote:All units in 40k have some base immunity to psychic powers, and thus any unit from any book can deny the witch.

 Swissivy wrote:

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Paitryn wrote:

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

Stickmonkey (2-5-2013)
Units

Tau Flyer Transport: 13 13 12 armor, holds a full Fire Warrior or Crisis Suit squad, or single Uber-suit. Not a lot of weapons, but HP:3, and has a save from wargear that can be taken. Deep strike. Rules-wise is focused on getting units reliably to a location.

No flyer will be av 13 unless the SM get a flying land raider or something. I expect the Tau flyer to be av 11 with some kind of improved jink save.

Seen it is just a transport and has to reliably get units to a location, it makes sense. Once it hovers to disembark its survivability drops a lot.

Make it assault transport for a lot of EMP Firewarriors fun.

And thus continues the grand Tau tradition of transports that would be really good in another army.

Personally I think the rumors sound like wishlisting, but it'd be nice if Tau finally got the 5th edition point cost reductions that passed them buy.

Heck, maybe the PF devilfish wouldn't be so bad if it was cheaper and had some sort of markerlight networking rule.

the Faeit 212 inbox (has to remain anonymous) wrote:
I've never seen those kroot giant rules before (currently named the Krootonne).

There is a new large kroot model, but it's nothing like what's written, doesn't have a rider and doesn't have guns.

Fire warriors can't be upgraded to bs4, the squad leader has an upgrade that raises their BS though for (currently) 50 points and goes away if he dies.

I have like three versions of the rules, but I think some people are wish listing after getting hint of some stuff that's leaked.

 pretre wrote:

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

Stickmonkey (2-5-2013)
Psykers-defense: All Tau have some base immunity to psychic powers, and thus any Tau unit can deny the witch, with the suits gaining an improvement to this roll.

This is the best rumor ever.
Let me do the same thing for every upcoming codex:

pretre wrote:All units in 40k have some base immunity to psychic powers, and thus any unit from any book can deny the witch.

Is that your second rumour?
Actually, in Xenology, there were hints that ethereals were created by Eldar to create a race immune to Chaos. The BL novel Fire Warrior also established that it is nigh impossible to corrupt a Tau Fire Warrior. Some time ago rumours appeared that SM and Tau will be pals because the IoM realised that Tau immunity to Chaos is essential for the survival of the IoM against Chaos. ATM we only have that SM and Tau are pals with no reason given, I expect a reason in the fluff of the new Codex (personal speculation, not any secret info though).

Still, new suits in one box, new ethereal rules to make them worth taking, new big Kroot monster, new markerlight abilities are on everyone's wish list, so easy to make up. So I wait and see.

Hehehe.

I can add that one, but I'd have to immediate classify it as DUH

 Kroothawk wrote:
The BL novel Fire Warrior also established that it is nigh impossible to corrupt a Tau Fire Warrior.

Uh, have you read that novel?

 Kingsley wrote:

 Kroothawk wrote:
The BL novel Fire Warrior also established that it is nigh impossible to corrupt a Tau Fire Warrior.

Uh, have you read that novel?

1.) It is actually not that bad for the novelization of an ego shooter. Has some tau info not available anywhere else. It is far better than, say, Courage and Honour by Graham McNeill.
2.) Had to read it again after years because some clowns used the book as proof that Tau can be corrupted, only the book says the opposite.

WOW.

If even half of this stuf is real, things will be getting very interesting for our favorite Blues!

 pretre wrote:

the Faeit 212 inbox (has to remain anonymous) wrote:
I've never seen those kroot giant rules before (currently named the Krootonne).

There is a new large kroot model, but it's nothing like what's written, doesn't have a rider and doesn't have guns.

Fire warriors can't be upgraded to bs4, the squad leader has an upgrade that raises their BS though for (currently) 50 points and goes away if he dies.

I have like three versions of the rules, but I think some people are wish listing after getting hint of some stuff that's leaked.

50 points? So the squad is 40% more expensive to hit 33% more often with no increase in survivability and the BS goes away with a precision shot? GW can't into math.

RogueRegault wrote:

 pretre wrote:

the Faeit 212 inbox (has to remain anonymous) wrote:
I've never seen those kroot giant rules before (currently named the Krootonne).

There is a new large kroot model, but it's nothing like what's written, doesn't have a rider and doesn't have guns.

Fire warriors can't be upgraded to bs4, the squad leader has an upgrade that raises their BS though for (currently) 50 points and goes away if he dies.

I have like three versions of the rules, but I think some people are wish listing after getting hint of some stuff that's leaked.

50 points? So the squad is 40% more expensive to hit 33% more often with no increase in survivability and the BS goes away with a precision shot? GW can't into math.

No, that's perfect. It silences "Fire warriors should be BS4!" crowd, yet doesn't actually change the character of the army.

As for other stuff, looking what GW has released to other armies of late, it's hardly surprising if Tau gets a flyer, and some monstrous creature/megasuit (or both). Gotta have big models.

Kroot getting all those abilities sound unlikely, unless they represent different adaptations and have to be bought separately. Particularly Furious charge, it would make them S5 on charge, not likely, unless they have S3 base like Orks.

Not liking the idea of furious charge kroot. All kroot really needed was stealth instead of the stupid woods rule. It sound like they are making them tau orks rather than cunning hunters.

Stickmoneky 4-5-2013

So, to give more info for the masses.

The information I recently provided BigRed comes from a late 2012 playtest, I believe Oct or Nov timeframe.

The psychic defense boost I mentioned was described as Tau are just harder to target with warp powers, they have very little presence in the warp. I asked my source more on this, and he said during playtest all Tau got a DtW reroll. Tau in Suits got a 5+ DtW.

The Kroot monster is very cool looking, but I fear rules wise its going to suffer from Pyrovore syndrome. Its expensive, and shortlived. A beast in CC, but it's hard to get it there. Roughly the size of a Maulerfiend, its like a hybrid between the Krootox and the Great Knarloc. Beaked head. 4legged. Over muscled. Kinda apelike pose and body structure.

The "uber-suit" is NOT at all like a wraithlord. It is not suited for CC, and really cant be outfitted for that role. Last I saw the T was only 7, but others are saying it is T8. I was talking about it with my source earlier and he made mention of the plasma weapon having ignore cover and thinking it will be the load out of choice. He felt that it was very balanced points to capability wise for its role in the codex. Visual wise it is definitely in line with the battle suit. Reminds me a lot of the old BattleTech line merged with Tau aesthetic.

I don't think the Vespid Scooter made the cut. It was in a number of early drafts, kind of like the genosian fighters in Star Wars. Yes, flying creatures with a flying vehicle... Named after a famous motorized bike.... 80s GW may have done this, not 10s.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

These rumors are conflicting all over the place. All I can say is that somethings telling bull.

 Ledabot wrote:
These rumors are conflicting all over the place. All I can say is that somethings telling bull.

I hear you I won't fully believe anything till I have a book in my hand.

Actually, they are not conflicting that much - there are some minor variations, but they are fairly close.

However....um....all tau already get deny the witch.
Everyone does now so.......unless that gets better.

I hope the kroot MC gets a decent save ....GW consistently fails to correctly judge the significance of a good save - a 4+ on a MC is garbage (ask the harpy) its dead, just plain dead.

Also, where is my flachette drone?
(send drone into oncoming assault...boom!).

No, a 4+ save on an MC is fine, it just has to be cheap enough to warrant using it. Hopefully, they don't try something silly like putting it in the Heavy slot though, that would make it -really- useless.

Well, most of this sounds pretty cool to me! I already did my own version of the Tau MC suit awhile back, and discussed rules for it here on Dakka... So, can't wait to get an official rule set for the model (Dreadknight conversion). As for new Crisis kits; can't wait! I'm deployed until Aug so hopefully it all comes out before then so I can come back to significant upgrades for my army. Now to figure out what to do with the 20+ Crisis suits I've got, the 3 Broadsides, etc...

kanebbcksc wrote:
Well, most of this sounds pretty cool to me! I already did my own version of the Tau MC suit awhile back, and discussed rules for it here on Dakka... So, can't wait to get an official rule set for the model (Dreadknight conversion). As for new Crisis kits; can't wait! I'm deployed until Aug so hopefully it all comes out before then so I can come back to significant upgrades for my army. Now to figure out what to do with the 20+ Crisis suits I've got, the 3 Broadsides, etc...

Keep them for an older Cadre. I don't they will make the older suits not work on the tabletop.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
If the Battlesuit model (now 12 years old and pretty badly moulded) was redesigned with a range of upgrades including Broadside bits, it could easily work.

It would of course be a lot more expensive than current models, because of the extra bits.

That would fit the GW business model. However I do look forward to new Tau models...although the timing kinda sucks as Im about to start a Tau army...and now I need to go easy since new stuff is on the horizon.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Micky wrote:

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

FOC: Some specific HQs move Crisis Suits to troops. One moves two Kroot units to troops.

Oh gawd, now im getting excited about the Ankgor Prok model i picked up in a trade X_X

Id love that...Crisis suits as troops...yes please. It would fit the GW trend as of late...allow the more expensive models as troops, sell more expensive models.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

davethepak wrote:


Also, where is my flachette drone?
(send drone into oncoming assault...boom!).

Suicide drones would be great. Maybe use a small blast marker...fly drone into enemy, detonate.

I'm not saying why i'm saying this....

But very little of ANY of the rumors pass my smell test...and usuualy by now they start to.

I could be wrong though.

I just hope they leave D-pods alone

 Lobukia wrote:
I just hope they leave D-pods alone

They probably won't be 5 points any more, but hopefully they get rid of the 12" bubble.

It kinda sicks how Tau is really into cover saves though. They are easy to take out with weapons that ignore cover like the new chaos bale flamer. Well, the tanks aren't so scared of the baleflamer, but all the infantry run scared from it. Its really good!

As stated earlier. I hope that Tau get some cool aa ability. Flack missiles on suit wont really do it for me since they're not really that high strength.

Cover save heavy Tau makes a lot of sense. It helps in the shooting phase but not in the assault phase.

A lot of this stuff seems fishy to me. Having a dreadknight makes sense, but changing the markerlights, adding game-long effects from weapons... seems like too much change to be plausible.

Eh, I don't expect some of the more overpowered stuff to make it in.

All I really want:

- More options on a cheaper Crisis Suit
- Crisis Suits as Troops unlocked by HQ
- Appropriate points reductions to keep in line with 5th/6th prices
- More plentiful / easier to use markerlights
- Decent AA flyer
- Keep DPods roughly the same

Give me that, and I'll be a happy man.

Hmmm, the Vespid flyer thing seems really really unlikely. Like followup said, hopefully dropped from final.

Besides, if the Tau need some kind of small flier, I would imagine the would use some kind of drone, perhaps that's dropped from a bigger flyer, like a Remora from a shark.

Seen so much about the tau recently that I want it to be true but guess we just need to wait and see!

The flyer, "Tau Dreadknight" and improved vespid are what I'm hoping for the most cos I want so much to love the vespid bless em but they just aren't worth it!!

Just want some fecking dates now!!

I really hope the Kroot HQ choice rumor is true. All I want to do is field a legal Kroot army. I wouldn't imagine they would actually be any good in close combat, because you can't add a great close combat element to a shooty army or the codex will be too strong. The discussion about a Kroot MC that sorely lacks anything in the rules department is evidence enough that the playtesting does not want to give a good close combat option to the codex. I'll still buy the model, though, unless it actually looks like a bigger Krootox (shudders).

The vespid flyer sounds interesting.
Maybe it will be a flyer sqruadren or something.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
The vespid flyer sounds interesting.
Maybe it will be a flyer sqruadren or something.

Flyer Units sounds like a damn good idea to me, and I would love to see it introduced in the Tau codex.

I really dont think an av10, probably open-topped flyer would be all that awful, assuming we got something else with a bit more punch/versatility to round it out. Maybe as a jetbike, those are pretty solid ground for GW, though the idea of t5 vespids amuses me to no end.

 Oaka wrote:

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
The vespid flyer sounds interesting.
Maybe it will be a flyer sqruadren or something.

Flyer Units sounds like a damn good idea to me, and I would love to see it introduced in the Tau codex.

The way GW has been going its probably going to be a giant flying vespid queen with vector strike and a template st6 ap3 neuron blaster (lol i hope)

One thing that flyers don't really need is heaps of armour. Keep the things cheep and hard to hit but keeping it hard hitting, and you have an ideal unit I think. If this vespid flyer turns out to be true, then this is exactly what I want from my flyer.

But as more and more get options to take them out, they need higher armor.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
But as more and more get options to take them out, they need higher armor.

Not really, honestly. As it stands right now, flyers range from high power to rather OP (I'm looking at you, Vendetta and Night Scythe). I can recall in one game against the BA with my Tau, taking three full turns of concentrating fire from my Broadsides against a Storm Raven before it finally fell (and just barely, at that). Most AA options are only S7, which means that you need either a 3 or a 4 just to glance nearly all the aircraft. If you start jacking up AVs on the flyers to 12 or 13 without giving higher strength weapons skyfire, you end up with nearly invincible flying fortresses of death that can only be glanced by most skyfire options.

In order to acheive and maintain balance, flyers should not have AVs any higher than 12. I know that 40k isn't realistic in the slightest means, but it makes absolutely no sense to have something flying around that has as much armor as the heaviest tanks in the galaxy, at least not with it being just as hard to hit as a lightly-armored interceptor shreiking around the sky. Honestly, it should be rather risky to take flyers. While air dominance is extremely powerful, actually gaining that dominance is highly difficult, as there are countless weapons that are highly effective at denying the skies to aircraft. This, I think, is how it should be. If you can destroy the enemy's air defenses, then swooping around with aircraft should be rewarding. If you fail to suppress the enemy air defenses, then your flyers should be shredded.

On topic:
These rumors stink...bad. It sounds like nothing but wishlisting. It's almost as if somebody compiled every single complaint that Tau players have, and catered a "rumor" to them. After Ghost21's lies, I won't believe a single Tau rumor until I see the shots of the WD followed up by the GW reveal and preorder about a week later...

I think making photon grenades cause Blindness and Concussion would be a perfect way to off-set Tau melee weakness. I think it would be balanced, fitting and fluffy.

I also don't think it will ever happen, for one stupid reason: GW will decide that SMs would suffer too much over such an ability.
Time will tell if I'm right.

I think the Kroot MC (Krootifex?) and giant suit sound likely - just look at the recent Chaos Marines release, a couple of big new plastic kits to act as the poster boys.

Regarding earlier comments about the "plasma corrosion" rule, again, I wouldn't dismiss these out of hand. We are still seeing rules that require tracking over several turns such as Soul Blaze and Entropic Strike. Plus, I think the idea of Tau using their advanced tech and more flexible approach to warfare (as opposed to many other factions with a set-in-their ways method) can make things like that fluffy - when you take their CC shortcomings into account using debuffs and status effects to level the playing field could be used to make the Tau truly distinctive.

I think we can say with certainty there'll be a flyer - I just hope that if we get a Vespid flyer it actually looks like a vehicle rather than a giant insect (and if it's a giant bug I can always paint it to look like Mothra).

To sum up, I think it's best to remain sceptical (that way you can only be pleasantly surprised) but some of this stuff sounds credible based on recent releases. I remain hopeful also by looking at Necrons - another xeno army updated with a strong book and loads of configurations.

I heard that the Kroot MC and giant suit will be a combined kit that can be assembled as either.

I also heard they're introducing a new method of dealing with the necessary price rises for the Tau line (and all future lines) called Finemortgage. GW will send you forms on the highest quality paper that once filled out use your home as collateral for a loan of Finepoints that can be spent on GW miniatures, with one Finepoint having the purchasing power of $1. Then you get to pay back your loaned Finepoints at $3 per point for your convenience! And they're the highest quality points in the industry!

 JOHIRA wrote:
I heard that the Kroot MC and giant suit will be a combined kit that can be assembled as either.

I also heard they're introducing a new method of dealing with the necessary price rises for the Tau line (and all future lines) called Finemortgage. GW will send you forms on the highest quality paper that once filled out use your home as collateral for a loan of Finepoints that can be spent on GW miniatures, with one Finepoint having the purchasing power of $1. Then you get to pay back your loaned Finepoints at $3 per point for your convenience! And they're the highest quality points in the industry!

That almost sounds right. Though I believe at that point there will be more russian and chinese ripoffs on the gaming tables the day that arrives. Oh yes, I'm sure GW will start a line of credit at some point down the road. "Get your Games Workshop official MasterCard! Earn points every time you use it to buy Games Workshop products!" What are the points for? Not actual models of course, just junk stuff like you would find at the ticket counter of a chucky cheese.

 JOHIRA wrote:
I heard that the Kroot MC and giant suit will be a combined kit that can be assembled as either.

I also heard they're introducing a new method of dealing with the necessary price rises for the Tau line (and all future lines) called Finemortgage. GW will send you forms on the highest quality paper that once filled out use your home as collateral for a loan of Finepoints that can be spent on GW miniatures, with one Finepoint having the purchasing power of $1. Then you get to pay back your loaned Finepoints at $3 per point for your convenience! And they're the highest quality points in the industry!

How clever and witty! Yet another FineJoke!

I hope the Kroot MC is ture, as if I don't like the model, it would make it easy to get a Giant Knarloc from FW and run it instead of the official model.

So since the Kroot could be getting a MC, kroothawks and new(?) kroothounds, is there any chance they will get a HQ?, because I wouldn't mind that at all

So, should Tau players buy all their Skyrays from discounters now? Or do you think GW will keep the kit the same until the general price increase in June/July?

 Breotan wrote:
So, should Tau players buy all their Skyrays from discounters now? Or do you think GW will keep the kit the same until the general price increase in June/July?

It's still quite shocking to me that GW hasn't wisened up yet and increased the Skyray price above that of the HH and Dfish. I have a feeling that if the anti-air Skyray rumor is true, we'll see a new kit for it with different missile options, and it will be in the tune of $65 USD. Honestly, if I were interested in expanding my Tau army right now, I'd snatch up a few kits from the War Store before GW came to their senses and jacked up the Skyray price for the next Codex release (which will probably be around the April-June time frame if the reliable rumor sources are accurate). Just my two cents.

 spectreoneone wrote:

 Breotan wrote:
So, should Tau players buy all their Skyrays from discounters now? Or do you think GW will keep the kit the same until the general price increase in June/July?

It's still quite shocking to me that GW hasn't wisened up yet and increased the Skyray price above that of the HH and Dfish. I have a feeling that if the anti-air Skyray rumor is true, we'll see a new kit for it with different missile options, and it will be in the tune of $65 USD. Honestly, if I were interested in expanding my Tau army right now, I'd snatch up a few kits from the War Store before GW came to their senses and jacked up the Skyray price for the next Codex release (which will probably be around the April-June time frame if the reliable rumor sources are accurate). Just my two cents.

Keep in mind, the same rumors about the Whirlwind getting an AA option were out there for the DA codex and it didn't materialize.

Ralis wrote:
Keep in mind, the same rumors about the Whirlwind getting an AA option were out there for the DA codex and it didn't materialize.

It's in the works. Check out this leaked W.I.P. shot.


Edit: Also, quite excited by some of these rumors. Don't necessarily believe them all, but excited nonetheless.

 Dentry wrote:

Ralis wrote:
Keep in mind, the same rumors about the Whirlwind getting an AA option were out there for the DA codex and it didn't materialize.

It's in the works. Check out this leaked W.I.P. shot.


Edit: Also, quite excited by some of these rumors. Don't necessarily believe them all, but excited nonetheless.

Il take 20

Ralis wrote:

 spectreoneone wrote:

 Breotan wrote:
So, should Tau players buy all their Skyrays from discounters now? Or do you think GW will keep the kit the same until the general price increase in June/July?

It's still quite shocking to me that GW hasn't wisened up yet and increased the Skyray price above that of the HH and Dfish. I have a feeling that if the anti-air Skyray rumor is true, we'll see a new kit for it with different missile options, and it will be in the tune of $65 USD. Honestly, if I were interested in expanding my Tau army right now, I'd snatch up a few kits from the War Store before GW came to their senses and jacked up the Skyray price for the next Codex release (which will probably be around the April-June time frame if the reliable rumor sources are accurate). Just my two cents.

Keep in mind, the same rumors about the Whirlwind getting an AA option were out there for the DA codex and it didn't materialize.

True, however there is already a Whirlwind with an AA option (Hyperios). Granted, it's a FW model, but there is still that option for SM players whose meta includes IA rules/units. That aside, if recent codex releases are any indication of what's to come for the Tau codex (or any future codex for that matter), even if the Skyray doesn't get a skyfire option (which really, fluff-wise, makes zero sense), we'll still get a flyer, which will give us some anti-air capability. If you play Tau in a meta that includes IA units, we have the Remoras (which are pretty weak against flyers, having only LBBC and two seeker missiles that even with the networked markerlight on the drone still need a 6 to hit after expending your marker token) and the Barracudas (which actually are potentially extremely effective against other flyers, but compete with other FA options).

I'm somewhat optimistic that whenever the new Tau codex is released, Tau players will be very pleased, after all, we're two editions behind and currently the second-oldest codex in use. I am, as I have previously stated, still very skeptical of many of these rumors, especially many of the Kroot rumors. Time will tell.

This is straying into (as most of them do, as the tau are so loved, and have so many obvious ways to fix them) wish listing again...

As far as rumors go - I am excited about them, and have to say that a lot of these do make sense - in general.

Here is a more specific question - if a FW model is added to the GW line, could we expect that model to disappear from the FW site ahead of time?

(lets not muddy this with "they don't do that" or "they say they don't " - that is NOT the question - so please do not waste bandwidth on that dead horse debate - thank you).

thanks.

 spectreoneone wrote:

I'm somewhat optimistic that whenever the new Tau codex is released, Tau players will be very pleased, after all, we're two editions behind and currently the second-oldest codex in use. I am, as I have previously stated, still very skeptical of many of these rumors, especially many of the Kroot rumors. Time will tell.

In fact Tau is more like three editions behind, 4th edition Tau book is only slightly updated version from original 3rd edition book.

A new book would be great. At this point, a WD update would be better than nothing.

Just a heads up, some more Tau (and Chaos) rumors are up on BoLS.

Heres the link: http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2013/02/faeits-rumor-tarot-greater-good.html

Enjoy.

 Rolt wrote:
Just a heads up, some more Tau (and Chaos) rumors are up on BoLS.

Heres the link: http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2013/02/faeits-rumor-tarot-greater-good.html

Enjoy.

I like some of those rumors. Still hoping for a legal all Kroot force.

davethepak wrote:
Here is a more specific question - if a FW model is added to the GW line, could we expect that model to disappear from the FW site ahead of time?

Yes and No.... I know, horrible answer.

A couple of examples to demonstrate my point.

1) Baneblade- I believe the FW Baneblade was still available after the GW released it in plastic. HBMC could probably give you an exact answer on this.

2) Eldar Wave Serpent- FW still sells it, though it does have a few extra components to make it slightly different (type2).

3) Skyray- FW stopped selling it.

There's no concrete answer on what they'll do until they actually do it.

Here the BOLS summary linked to above, which looks like a summary of faeit212 stuff plus stickmonkey. No wonder, it has been posted by Natfka.
Don't take this as gospel:

Tau
There has been a lot of rumors coming about Tau. Most of it seems to be playtest rules from late last year. While a lot of it comes from Stickmonkey, I have included bits from Faeit 212 (a couple different anonymous sources).

Psychic Defense
Tau having little presence in the warp, get a re-roll for Deny the Witch.
Tau in Suits get a 5+ Deny the Witch

Kroot Monster
Expensive and short lived, as its a CC beast the size of a Maulerfiend
Monstrous Creature with Trample Attack: 3d6 causes 2d6 S6 AP6 wounds

Uber Suit
Playtest statlines WS3 BS5 S5 T7 W3 I3 A2 L8
Plasma weapon with ignore cover
It's a mobile weapon platform, with rail guns as it's main weapon system, - which can be upgraded to a plasma weapon system or ion cannons. Classified as monstrous creature. 2+/4++ save. It can forgo shooting and movement to gain 2++ save. The Uber can move as jump infantry if it does not shoot it's main weapons.

Fire Warriors
BS3 but can be upgraded to BS4 with a 50pt squad leader

Ethereals
Grant various army wide special rules, similar to Dark Angel banners

Kroot
Scout, Furious Charge, Move through Cover
Kroot Hounds and Kroot Hawks
Shaper unlocks additional upgrades

Sneaky Kroot (obviously not the name)
An elite type unit that can hide in terrain like Ymgarl Genestealers

Vespid
The maligned bug men are redeemed! Big improvements, weapon range increase, point reduction, hit and run.

Fortifications
Deep striking turrets as fortification options. Burst cannons or missile pods options.

Stealth Suits
Models unchanged. Have stealth, plus optional drone granting shrouding.

Sky Ray
Flakk missiles, plus has orbital bombardment (much like SM version, but with a lingering effect).
orbital blast ability. sky ray has to forgo his full turn
strength X AP 3 (wound on 2+,plasma corrosion, blast) plasma corrosion - any enemy model hit under the blast rolls a d6 every turn for the remainder of the game on a roll of 1-3 the unit or model suffers d6 strength 4 AP5 hits. On a roll of 4-5 the unit suffers 2d6 strength 5 AP 4 hits. On a roll of a 6 the unit is hit with 2d6 strength 6 AP 2 hits with the blind special rule. (these are test rules and subject to change)

Equipment
Drones: Any drone can be used for Look Out Sir rolls for any model in the unit they are attached to.

Markerlights
A single hit increases BS of all other units targeting the victim by +1. Multiple markerlights have no additional effects. OUCH - look out for possible BS:5, Fire Warrior volleys now! Markerlights improve snapfire against marked flyers to 5+ instead of 6, but must first hit the flyer with a 6 themselves.

Networked Markerlights
A longer range twin linked version. Vehicles only.

Not content with every codex stealing the cool bits and pieces from the Eldar codex, now GW allows pickings from the Tyranid codex.

I wonder if this Sneaky Kroot will be significantly better than the Ymgarls.

 Absolutionis wrote:
Not content with every codex stealing the cool bits and pieces from the Eldar codex, now GW allows pickings from the Tyranid codex.

I wonder if this Sneaky Kroot will be significantly better than the Ymgarls.

I think that depends if GW has new plastic kits to sell, doesn't it.

Although in all seriousness I don't think "standard" warrior Kroot will get a new/updated plastic kit TBH, if any of these rumours are true, all of the new codex options will most likely be one or two overpriced finecast models only available in one pose each. The Kroot "Monster" will probley be the only new plastic kit for kroot, although I would be happy to be wrong on this one.

To be honest im hoping the marklight rumours aren't true, if they are then markerlights went from a very unique and tactical mechanic to a boring and crappy +1BS lol nonstackable ability :/ guess the +1 to hitting air is nice but still. This is going to change the playstyle of tau A LOT

Also how is this going to affect pathfinders and tetras? Will pathfinders all get a target lock now? Im assuming tetras will become utterly useless though

Most of the other rumours are nice though, not a great fan of the uber suit but hey ho, Ive wanted a plastic tau dropship for ages and wont hesitate to get one, its about time kroot got furious charge and vespid being brought up to par sounds great.

Also im assuming seeker missiles are gone then?

to be honest although it all sounds "good" from a codex power level point of view, Im afraid tau are just going to become "IG but alien" just another massed gunline army without the combined arms factor the army used to have

 Rolt wrote:
So since the Kroot could be getting a MC, kroothawks and new(?) kroothounds, is there any chance they will get a HQ?, because I wouldn't mind that at all

Potential for a return of Ankhor Prok or at least a generic Master Shaper or Shaper Shaman, certainly.

Would love that, a lot.

Has there been any Codex with less than 5-6 special characters lately? Current Tau Codex has only 3.

I'm wondering if Kroot Carnovoires are getting moved to Fast Attack while the two new units are Elite and Heavy Support. Then a unique HQ to move them back to troops perhaps?

I would be very surprised if tau t not get anything that interferes with Deep Striking, like rolling extra dice.

 Kroothawk wrote:
Has there been any Codex with less than 5-6 special characters lately? Current Tau Codex has only 3.

Never underestimate the lack of effort GW will put into a Tau codex. (Or overestimate the effort put into it.)

If GW could release the Tau codex as $50 for a fluff section and one choice each for Troops, HQ, Elites, Fast Attack, and Heavy Support, they would.

The ubersuit sounds amazing. I want it.

 Kroothawk wrote:
Has there been any Codex with less than 5-6 special characters lately? Current Tau Codex has only 3.

and the three they have are absolutely and totally terrible.

Here is hoping for good stuff....

(and my flachette drones.....).

Exploding drones would be nice.

I would love it if these rumours are true, ive been wanting to buy some new tau models for a LONG time, and with an uber suit or 2 a kroot monstrous creature, a codex, and some new suits I will be broke in no time. I would love to see drones become fearless as a drone with a.i. should not have to do fear/morale checks. also the drones taking the save of the guy they're attached to doesn't really make sense to me. they should have their own statline for everything. plus I also think kroot should be a lot faster in combat, they are hunters and should be at an elder initiative level not a oh crap I'm in a fight tau fire warrior level. if they upped the initiative level of kroot and gave them a slightly better save they would be ok in battle. right now they all die from overwatch then going second in combat, and now your assault unit is dead.

RogueRegault wrote:

 Kroothawk wrote:
Has there been any Codex with less than 5-6 special characters lately? Current Tau Codex has only 3.

Never underestimate the lack of effort GW will put into a Tau codex. (Or overestimate the effort put into it.)

If GW could release the Tau codex as $50 for a fluff section and one choice each for Troops, HQ, Elites, Fast Attack, and Heavy Support, they would.

And you just described the current Tau codex. Except for $30 instead of $50. On topic of the actual thread, I'm very much hoping I see Hazards and the two special characters from Forge World make the jump over to the main codex, as they are awesome and I would totally run them.

These rumors sound fantastic, but one thing that hasn't been addressed yet is if pulse rifles stay as are (and thus kick ass at 15"). What of the carbine? Because besides the "pinning" rule (really inconsequential), there currently isn't any point of the carbine.

Rumors for their basic troops are really what I'm interested in. New carbine stat-line? Infantry weapon/wargear options? Updated point cost?

Love what I'm hearing, but I'm looking at the issues/focal points with Tau right now, and what hasn't been addressed.
Kroot: Addressed.
Crisis Suits: Addressed.
Vespids: Addressed.
Flyers: Addressed.
Stealth Suits: Addressed (not good news, but still addressed).
Fire Warriors? Only BS issue. Nothing else.

I wait with trepidation.

 dlust1 wrote:
I would love it if these rumours are true, ive been wanting to buy some new tau models for a LONG time, and with an uber suit or 2 a kroot monstrous creature, a codex, and some new suits I will be broke in no time. I would love to see drones become fearless as a drone with a.i. should not have to do fear/morale checks. also the drones taking the save of the guy they're attached to doesn't really make sense to me. they should have their own statline for everything. plus I also think kroot should be a lot faster in combat, they are hunters and should be at an elder initiative level not a oh crap I'm in a fight tau fire warrior level. if they upped the initiative level of kroot and gave them a slightly better save they would be ok in battle. right now they all die from overwatch then going second in combat, and now your assault unit is dead.

The reason drones have adopted the saves of the squad they belong to is due to the screwjob 4th edition did to mixed toughness/armor save units. The 3e codex specifically stated that shots were assigned to drones first and rolled separately, but 4th edition's majority toughness rules took precedence and utterly destroyed the point of drones.

I'm not gonna wishlist, I'm just gonna point out that since everything has recently been a dual kit, there's likely two versions of the new flyer. A transport and an attack craft.

I'm also hoping we finally get a suit choice for FA.

The plasma weapon on the uber suit sounds cool. Can't wait for this new codex and models to hit shelves. My biggest issue with these rumors are the change to markerlights. The inability to stack is a major nerf to the Tau. Currently you can have a unit or two shoot at BS5 and completely take away a cover save and drop an enemy unit that needs to die. Where to put a markerlight and how to use is a critical tactic for Tau to succeed currently. Right now they are pretty strong, imo this change would make them weaker. The +1BS from multiple unit thing is nice but it isn't BS5 and no cover from a 2 fireknife teams at 8" hitting a termy squad. GW needs to get their move on with the Tau release esp. since there allies to pretty much everyone.

 Kroothawk wrote:
Has there been any Codex with less than 5-6 special characters lately? Current Tau Codex has only 3.

That may be true, BUT how many recent codexes have had more than a single genuinely new special charater, rather than returning old ones ?

I should think Tau will get something, but no so sure they'll get several brand new ones

I was hoping that the new Pulse Rifles would be a Salvo weapon... that rule seems like it was written for the pulse rifle...

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:

 Kroothawk wrote:
Has there been any Codex with less than 5-6 special characters lately? Current Tau Codex has only 3.

That may be true, BUT how many recent codexes have had more than a single genuinely new special charater, rather than returning old ones ?
I should think Tau will get something, but no so sure they'll get several brand new ones

Dark Eldar and Necrons had, even Tyranids.
And Tau even have miniatures for three (two of them limited though):

Aun Shi (in 3rd edition Codex):


Anghkor Prok (3rd edition WD rules, Games Day miniature):


Kais (limited edition sold with Fire Warrior PC game):


plus several known characters in PC games and (upcoming) tau novels, e.g. Shas'o Kais from Dawn of War:

fair enough

 Kroothawk wrote:

Anghkor Prok (3rd edition WD rules, Games Day miniature):

What do you mean? I only see Kroothawk, venerable Dakka contributor, in that pic!

I always assumed that Shas'o Kais was the same Kais from Firewarrior, as a neat little cross over

 Mantle wrote:
I always assumed that Shas'o Kais was the same Kais from Firewarrior, as a neat little cross over

If you've read the book, you'd understand why this is probably not true. SPOILER ALERT:

offtopic

Tau don't have individual names. Instead, they earn them by outstanding service to their caste. Kais, meaning skilled, is one of O'Shovah's many names, for example.

So having a leader with 'Kais' somewhere in their name is pretty common.

/offtopic

I wonder if they will add a drone harbinger from DoW to the codex - could transport 12 drones and grant drones withing 18'' of them some special rules (+1BS, furious charge or something?)

I will not be surprised if they tone down marker lights. They are an antiquated gimmick. Some past tau players love marker lights, so they wont be eliminated completely from the codex, but my guess is that they will be made so that they are completely optional to have, and you are not nerfing yourself if you decide not to use them.

Logically, if they tone down Markerlights there will need to be a compensation somewhere be it reducing model points costs so we can put more shots out or making abilities like higher BS, ignores cover and Nightvision common and cheap.

Still, I do like the idea of a +1BS for the entire army on one enemy unit for 1 markerlight hit. That effectively makes all Tau BS 4 and potentially some special units BS 5 rather than doing it unit by unit.

Maybe well be lucky and Marker Lights don't stack BS anymore, but each token applies 1 effect and every effect applies. It would be nasty to remove the cover save from a unit and boost the entire army's BS by 1 when targeting the unit.

Jefffar wrote:
Logically, if they tone down Markerlights there will need to be a compensation somewhere be it reducing model points costs so we can put more shots out or making abilities like higher BS, ignores cover and Nightvision common and cheap.

Still, I do like the idea of a +1BS for the entire army on one enemy unit for 1 markerlight hit. That effectively makes all Tau BS 4 and potentially some special units BS 5 rather than doing it unit by unit.

Maybe well be lucky and Marker Lights don't stack BS anymore, but each token applies 1 effect and every effect applies. It would be nasty to remove the cover save from a unit and boost the entire army's BS by 1 when targeting the unit.

I'm expecting tau to get an update similar to what deldar received. A VAST amount of change

Well Dark Eldar and Necroms both got significant updates to make them more competitive and unique at the same time. I think that GW has noticed the effects on sales of giving the Xenos good options so it is likely that Tau and Eldar will get the same in short order. Tyranids and Orks should also get a good nudge this edition.

I think that merkerlights are one of the more interesting elements in playing Tau. It's an elegant and fluffy way to boost your units, especially the way it is now.

Because as previously said, if a markerlight shot only increases the BS of every unit shooting at the target, it's only a roundabout and unintuitive way of making everyone +1BS.

Right now markerlights are versative and can adapt to the opponent. Reduce cover of termies to blast them with plasma. Increase BS of Fireknives to blast an MC. Negate jink to take down that skimmer with FW. With a static +1 to BS, you can't boost the unit you really need to improve, which takes away the element of choice and dumbs the play down.

So I do hope that merkerlights stay the same.

Lumipon wrote:
I think that merkerlights are one of the more interesting elements in playing Tau. It's an elegant and fluffy way to boost your units, especially the way it is now.

Because as previously said, if a markerlight shot only increases the BS of every unit shooting at the target, it's only a roundabout and unintuitive way of making everyone +1BS.

Right now markerlights are versative and can adapt to the opponent. Reduce cover of termies to blast them with plasma. Increase BS of Fireknives to blast an MC. Negate jink to take down that skimmer with FW. With a static +1 to BS, you can't boost the unit you really need to improve, which takes away the element of choice and dumbs the play down.

So I do hope that merkerlights stay the same.

all I'm saying, is that right now, Tau is ALL ABOUT marker light. And I won't be surprised if new Tau are NOT all about marker light

There are a lot of ways it could go. They might just make Markerlights work like Prescience and Perfect Timing but without all that Psychic related stuff.

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:

 Kroothawk wrote:
Has there been any Codex with less than 5-6 special characters lately? Current Tau Codex has only 3.

That may be true, BUT how many recent codexes have had more than a single genuinely new special charater, rather than returning old ones ?

I should think Tau will get something, but no so sure they'll get several brand new ones

Codex: Space Marines:
Sicarus, sort of
Khan
Vulkan
Telion
Kantor
Chronus

Codex: IG
Harker
Bastonne
Pask
Al'Rehem sort of
Chenkov sort of

Codex: Space Wolves
Canis
Arjac

Codex: Tyranids:
Doom
Parasite
Swarmlord

Codex: BA
Seth
Sanguinor
Astorath

Codex: DE
Baron
Duke
Malys

Codex: GK
Draigo
Valeria
Mordrak
Crowe

Codex: Necrons
Anrakyr
Trayzn
Oberon
Nemesor
Szeras
Orikan


Even if Tau only bring back old characters, that still means Aun'Shi and Anghor Prok, bringing the total to 5, 3 with current models, and one with an old model that could simply be reprinted. 2-3 more characters would let GW make a few new character sculpts to sell at least.

Don't forget Marbo.

I think the current set of specials is fine once they update there rules like that silly 1500 point limit and useless war gear.

though having 1 or 2 more like a air commander or kroot hq would be great.

Jefffar wrote:
Logically, if they tone down Markerlights there will need to be a compensation somewhere be it reducing model points costs so we can put more shots out or making abilities like higher BS, ignores cover and Nightvision common and cheap.

Still, I do like the idea of a +1BS for the entire army on one enemy unit for 1 markerlight hit. That effectively makes all Tau BS 4 and potentially some special units BS 5 rather than doing it unit by unit.

Maybe well be lucky and Marker Lights don't stack BS anymore, but each token applies 1 effect and every effect applies. It would be nasty to remove the cover save from a unit and boost the entire army's BS by 1 when targeting the unit.

Actually it is a load of gak because you have to take a whole half Pathfinder team (4 infantry plus a Devilfish) to get two marker light hits which gives you +1 to hit a single enemy unit.

It is much worse than any other previous or proposed implementation of marker lights and will ensure that no-one ever uses Pathfinders again, if true.

MajorWesJanson wrote:

Codex: Necrons
Anrakyr
Trayzn
Oberon
Nemesor
Szeras
Orikan

Why did you not include Imotehk in there? He most certainly was not in the last codex.

On topic:

So our consistent rumours are(reported by both Stickmonkey and Faeit212):

Skyray is getting a orbital strike ability
Firewarriors are getting an option to upgrade to BS 4
Battlesuits are getting new models
Battlesuits MIGHT be able to become T5 (Stickmonkey only says that there will be statline upgrades)
Kroot haz a monster
Kroot are getting a major rules overhaul with a bunch of new special rules
The Ubersuit exists
Crisis suits are getting new weapons options of some kind

The following has been written from the point of view that the rumours are somewhat accurate and as such the reader should take their daily recommended dosage of sodium before continuing on.


OK, A liitle bit more in depth here.

In 5th ed, the BRB had hints as to upcoming releases laced throughout the book. If the 6th ed BRB is doing the same then.....

Concerning special characters, The BRB hints to us that there will be:

Aun'va(Currently exists in codex)

O'Shovah/Commander Farsight(Currently exists in Codex)

Aun'Shi - (Returing after an absence, YES!!!!)

O'Shas'serra/Commander Shadowsun(Currently exists)


Now add from the rumours that:

The Kroot will most likely get an HQ unit. Maybe Angkhor Prok, maybe a generic maybe something new or some combination of the previous.(Nothing unexpected here).

There will be a Firewarrior Commander. This could mean a special character or it could just mean that vanilla commanders will be without a battlesuitsuit and will purchase their choice of armour from their wargear entries. I'm leaning towards the latter.

There will be an ubersuit. This could be a Heavy or it could be an HQ/special character option of some sort. The latter, IMO, seems like it would be the best as to prevent overloading the Heavy FOC....Which means GW will make it one of 8 heavy choices .

Vespids are getting thourough rework. Re-vamped Vespids with expanded background could easily lead to a Special Character.


My bet(According to the rumors and based off of long time playing the Tau) is that We will keep our current special characters, Aun'shi will return and we will see both a Kroot and Vespid SC to round out the Tau Hero list.



The next hint from the BRB that seems to coincide with these rumours is that the Pathfinders are barely shown. If the horrible markerlight rumours are true then there will be no reason to take a unit of pathfinders. Players will take a Sky Ray and equip their team leaders with markerlights or marker drones.

Note, That I really hope that I am wrong here and that the rumors are wrong. Removal of the Markerlight system as a force multiplier/synergistic tool would remove much of the feel of the Tau. It would dumb down their playstyle to being less challenging than the IG, Necrons, Chaos or any of the Space Marine Factions(Which, unfortunately, is why I see GW doing it. GW is very likely to turn the Tau into an army that is simple, easy and overpowered. It's easier to sell to the current batch of kiddies who want to win without taking the time to develope skill.)

My hope for Markerlights is that, if they are revamped, they get a token system similar to the DE pain tokens. Something like:
1 hit = +1 BS and ignore night fight
2 hit = -1 cover(stacks with first token)
3 hit = -1 leadership (stacks with first 2 tokens_
4 hit = +1 BS
ect, ect....balance with cost
Note- This is just an off the cuff example


About the Fire Warrior rumours. I hope there is more improvement than just getting an expensive option to boost the BS. If they get both grenade types included for the same 10 pt price then they would be ok. But if getting a 50 point option to increase the bs by +1 is all the fire warriors get then there has to be
a) more to the markerlight rework than what has been shown.
b) some new drone unit or such that will add enough synergy to make up for the nerfing
or
c)GW wants to force Tau players to buy some new basic infantry model.

Hmmm... I wonder if the 50 point commander option is per unit or will be for all fire Warriors.


As to the other rumors:
Kroot sound ok- hope GW improves/expands the kroot wargear options and brings back the mercenary rule of leadership = base + pts spent on wargear.

Giant krootox sounds *meh*. Would love to field a mostly Kroot army that could hold their own but would rather they fix the regular krootox first.

Giant ubersuit sounds *ok* but if it looks as bad as the other giant model kits GW has recently produced then I'll pass

Sky Ray appears great though it sounds like seeker missiles will go the way of the do-do.

Vespids being improved is good but will wait and see what GW considers improved. Hope they consider the fluff when reworkung them.

Tau Fliers??? *Meh* Flier should be 12-12-11 with improved disruption pods or shields. Though the proposed well armoured and undergunned rumor fits with GWs policy of handicapping the Tau. Basically a flying D-fish.

More interested in if the Devilfish will have fire points that allow fire warriors shoot out of the side hatches and whether or not the D-fish and Pirahna will get plasma rifle options


OK, done pretending that these rumours give an accurate picture of what the'dex will be like.. Don't doubt that some of this stuff is close but as always, the codex will show that even the most accurate rumours don't show the whole picture.

Later,
FF

I'll be furious if they get rid of Pathfinders. I'm in the process of converting pulse shotgun toting, ghillie suit wearing, camouflaged Pathfinders. I'm excited about them.

If Markerlights are downplayed and limited to maxing out on one hit, then maybe have smaller units of 5, 2 Markerlights and 3 Rail Rifles? I love the covert ops commando idea behind the Pathfinder, and they play such an integral role in Tau battlefield tactics.

I think we are missing a lot on what is actually going to happen with the Markerlights.

Giving the entire army +1 to BS for shooting at that specific target is pretty boss on its own. I usually spread the tokens I earn out to up the BS of several units, so 1 hit working for the entire army is itself not that bad.

I can see this not stacking just simply because by spreading the markerlight hits around (multiple small Pathfinder units, markerlights in squad, etc) to say 3 or 4 different targets, you could see the entire Tau army shooting at BS 5, which as cool as that would be, has the potential to be horribly broken.

Also, we don't have information about the other Markerlight abilities, it could be they are still there in some modified form. Potentially we could see one markerlight token used to boost BS, a second markerlight token to modify cover and a third markerlight token to grant Nightvision applied to the same target and adding effects army wide.

Of course this is pure speculation, but it is just as much speculation that a play-test rumor has full and complete information that will still hold true at press time.

I think, ultimately, we'll see a Tau force that is less dependent on markerlights (more BS 4, more night-vision, more cover denial), but becomes far more potent with them.

Unless I inferred wrongly, which is completely possible, I understood the rumor to indicate that there will be no other effects from markerlights. Only +1 BS for anyone targeting the marked unit. No more cover reduction, no more Ld reduction for pinning, no more Night Vision.

Though until there are more reliable confirmations it's all hardly worth discussing at this juncture. Just voicing some concern over possibly losing the Markerlight as we know it.

What about a drone hq? lol

 Archonate wrote:
Unless I inferred wrongly, which is completely possible, I understood the rumor to indicate that there will be no other effects from markerlights. Only +1 BS for anyone targeting the marked unit. No more cover reduction, no more Ld reduction for pinning, no more Night Vision.

Though until there are more reliable confirmations it's all hardly worth discussing at this juncture. Just voicing some concern over possibly losing the Markerlight as we know it.

The rumor did not mention these abilities, it is true. However the rumor also didn't say that the markerlight lost these abilities. My point is it's still an unknown and there is plenty of room for things to change before a final product.

My best guess is the Tau will have abilities to improve hit probability, reduce the effects of cover, ignore Nightfighting, and de-buff opposing units with shooting. We might not see all those abilities in the same unit however.

It is also quite possible that pathfinders will be rerolled into something more combative in the process. What used to be a markerlight on top of the carbine now may become some kind of targeting array or an alternate weapon system. We really don't know. The rumours have mostly been quiet on the Pathfinder front.

Jefffar wrote:

 Archonate wrote:
Unless I inferred wrongly, which is completely possible, I understood the rumor to indicate that there will be no other effects from markerlights. Only +1 BS for anyone targeting the marked unit. No more cover reduction, no more Ld reduction for pinning, no more Night Vision.

Though until there are more reliable confirmations it's all hardly worth discussing at this juncture. Just voicing some concern over possibly losing the Markerlight as we know it.

The rumor did not mention these abilities, it is true. However the rumor also didn't say that the markerlight lost these abilities. My point is it's still an unknown and there is plenty of room for things to change before a final product.

My best guess is the Tau will have abilities to improve hit probability, reduce the effects of cover, ignore Nightfighting, and de-buff opposing units with shooting. We might not see all those abilities in the same unit however.

It is also quite possible that pathfinders will be rerolled into something more combative in the process. What used to be a markerlight on top of the carbine now may become some kind of targeting array or an alternate weapon system. We really don't know. The rumours have mostly been quiet on the Pathfinder front.

I could see them potentially keeping the -1 to Ld, perhaps as a cumulative. Like a unit hit with a marker light gets a cumulative -1 to Ld for each hit and grants a static +1 BS to each friendly unit that shoots at it until end of turn. Or instead of Ld it could be -1 to Cover saves. But this is all just speculation at this point.

Jefffar wrote:

It is also quite possible that pathfinders will be rerolled into something more combative in the process. What used to be a markerlight on top of the carbine now may become some kind of targeting array or an alternate weapon system. We really don't know. The rumours have mostly been quiet on the Pathfinder front.

I always thought it was odd that the fluff text for the pulse carbines described them as having under slung photon grenade launchers, but the grenades were only defensive weapons. Would be fun to have those reworked into something more offensive for the Pathfinders.

hokieseas wrote:

Jefffar wrote:

It is also quite possible that pathfinders will be rerolled into something more combative in the process. What used to be a markerlight on top of the carbine now may become some kind of targeting array or an alternate weapon system. We really don't know. The rumours have mostly been quiet on the Pathfinder front.

I always thought it was odd that the fluff text for the pulse carbines described them as having under slung photon grenade launchers, but the grenades were only defensive weapons. Would be fun to have those reworked into something more offensive for the Pathfinders.

The Photon Grenade Launchers were the reason the Carbines had pinning. Nowadays there is a rule that more closely represents the actual effects of a Photon Grenade and is also far more useful on the tabletop - Blind. I would love to see that switch made, it wouldn't quite save the Pulse Carbine, but I think it would be far closer. Regretably these rumours focus heavily on new units and ignore what is happening to the old familiar units. We know something is up with Crisis Suits, but not a lot about it. We know very little about Broadsides other than a possible price hike. Pathfinders we have heard nothing, ditto Devilfish, Hammerheads and Piranhas. Stealth suits may lose shrouded but may get it back somehow.

There are a lot of gaps in these rumours that need to be filled before I reach for the alarm button or start singing the hallelujah chorus.

Jefffar wrote:

hokieseas wrote:

Jefffar wrote:

It is also quite possible that pathfinders will be rerolled into something more combative in the process. What used to be a markerlight on top of the carbine now may become some kind of targeting array or an alternate weapon system. We really don't know. The rumours have mostly been quiet on the Pathfinder front.

I always thought it was odd that the fluff text for the pulse carbines described them as having under slung photon grenade launchers, but the grenades were only defensive weapons. Would be fun to have those reworked into something more offensive for the Pathfinders.

The Photon Grenade Launchers were the reason the Carbines had pinning. Nowadays there is a rule that more closely represents the actual effects of a Photon Grenade and is also far more useful on the tabletop - Blind. I would love to see that switch made, it wouldn't quite save the Pulse Carbine, but I think it would be far closer. Regretably these rumours focus heavily on new units and ignore what is happening to the old familiar units. We know something is up with Crisis Suits, but not a lot about it. We know very little about Broadsides other than a possible price hike. Pathfinders we have heard nothing, ditto Devilfish, Hammerheads and Piranhas. Stealth suits may lose shrouded but may get it back somehow.

There are a lot of gaps in these rumours that need to be filled before I reach for the alarm button or start singing the hallelujah chorus.

Only way I'll start singing Hallelujah is when the new codex comes out and Tau still play like Tau and not a simplified version of the army. One of the aesthetics that drew me back to Tau after I got used to playing 5th edition rules was how unique they played compared to SPESS MAHREEENZ and METAL BAWKSES!! Tau are unique in that they take a lot of skill and critical thinking to play. It's now fun to watch the other players in my LGS look at my codex and be like CHEESE!!! In which I reply no SUSHI!

I wonder if the Ethereal is the 50 point upgrade that makes Fire Warriors BS4. If it is, and is army wide you might actually see Ethereals on the table.

Is there any word on when this stuff is coming? I don't care what's in a new Tau dex, I just want to know when I'm sacrificing my wages to them.

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

Jefffar wrote:

hokieseas wrote:

Jefffar wrote:

It is also quite possible that pathfinders will be rerolled into something more combative in the process. What used to be a markerlight on top of the carbine now may become some kind of targeting array or an alternate weapon system. We really don't know. The rumours have mostly been quiet on the Pathfinder front.

I always thought it was odd that the fluff text for the pulse carbines described them as having under slung photon grenade launchers, but the grenades were only defensive weapons. Would be fun to have those reworked into something more offensive for the Pathfinders.

The Photon Grenade Launchers were the reason the Carbines had pinning. Nowadays there is a rule that more closely represents the actual effects of a Photon Grenade and is also far more useful on the tabletop - Blind. I would love to see that switch made, it wouldn't quite save the Pulse Carbine, but I think it would be far closer. Regretably these rumours focus heavily on new units and ignore what is happening to the old familiar units. We know something is up with Crisis Suits, but not a lot about it. We know very little about Broadsides other than a possible price hike. Pathfinders we have heard nothing, ditto Devilfish, Hammerheads and Piranhas. Stealth suits may lose shrouded but may get it back somehow.

There are a lot of gaps in these rumours that need to be filled before I reach for the alarm button or start singing the hallelujah chorus.

Only way I'll start singing Hallelujah is when the new codex comes out and Tau still play like Tau and not a simplified version of the army. One of the aesthetics that drew me back to Tau after I got used to playing 5th edition rules was how unique they played compared to SPESS MAHREEENZ and METAL BAWKSES!! Tau are unique in that they take a lot of skill and critical thinking to play. It's now fun to watch the other players in my LGS look at my codex and be like CHEESE!!! In which I reply no SUSHI!

Hate to ruin your mud slinging, but there's loads of SM lists that require skill and critical thinking too.

One rumor I keep hearing on and off is that Robin Cruddance is writing the codex. Knowing what he did with the nid codex a bit and OPing the Guard codex, I am wary if this is true (although it is just a rumor and I try to take those with a grain of salt until the actual release is out but I thought I throw it out there) .

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

Jefffar wrote:

hokieseas wrote:

Jefffar wrote:

It is also quite possible that pathfinders will be rerolled into something more combative in the process. What used to be a markerlight on top of the carbine now may become some kind of targeting array or an alternate weapon system. We really don't know. The rumours have mostly been quiet on the Pathfinder front.

I always thought it was odd that the fluff text for the pulse carbines described them as having under slung photon grenade launchers, but the grenades were only defensive weapons. Would be fun to have those reworked into something more offensive for the Pathfinders.

The Photon Grenade Launchers were the reason the Carbines had pinning. Nowadays there is a rule that more closely represents the actual effects of a Photon Grenade and is also far more useful on the tabletop - Blind. I would love to see that switch made, it wouldn't quite save the Pulse Carbine, but I think it would be far closer. Regretably these rumours focus heavily on new units and ignore what is happening to the old familiar units. We know something is up with Crisis Suits, but not a lot about it. We know very little about Broadsides other than a possible price hike. Pathfinders we have heard nothing, ditto Devilfish, Hammerheads and Piranhas. Stealth suits may lose shrouded but may get it back somehow.

There are a lot of gaps in these rumours that need to be filled before I reach for the alarm button or start singing the hallelujah chorus.

Only way I'll start singing Hallelujah is when the new codex comes out and Tau still play like Tau and not a simplified version of the army. One of the aesthetics that drew me back to Tau after I got used to playing 5th edition rules was how unique they played compared to SPESS MAHREEENZ and METAL BAWKSES!! Tau are unique in that they take a lot of skill and critical thinking to play. It's now fun to watch the other players in my LGS look at my codex and be like CHEESE!!! In which I reply no SUSHI!

Hate to ruin your mud slinging, but there's loads of SM lists that require skill and critical thinking too.

Space Marines are more forgiving than Tau are if you make mistakes.

 Davylove21 wrote:
Is there any word on when this stuff is coming? I don't care what's in a new Tau dex, I just want to know when I'm sacrificing my wages to them.

I read on warseer that elves are going to release in may. With daemons in march that leaves tau in the April release slot. All I can say is I hope that is true.

 tetrisphreak wrote:


I read on warseer that elves are going to release in may. With daemons in march that leaves tau in the April release slot. All I can say is I hope that is true.

That gives me a nice two months to paint all my current Kroot stuff and get ready for when the new (and I dream) Kroot hounds and Krootox and Kroot MC are released.

 tetrisphreak wrote:

 Davylove21 wrote:
Is there any word on when this stuff is coming? I don't care what's in a new Tau dex, I just want to know when I'm sacrificing my wages to them.

I read on warseer that elves are going to release in may. With daemons in march that leaves tau in the April release slot. All I can say is I hope that is true.

This is reallllllly unlikely.

I know we are getting used to a lot of releases, but this would be an awful lot in a short time.

Dark Angels > WOC > Daemons > Tau > Elves

5 books in 5 months? Unlikely.

 pretre wrote:

 tetrisphreak wrote:

 Davylove21 wrote:
Is there any word on when this stuff is coming? I don't care what's in a new Tau dex, I just want to know when I'm sacrificing my wages to them.

I read on warseer that elves are going to release in may. With daemons in march that leaves tau in the April release slot. All I can say is I hope that is true.

This is reallllllly unlikely.

I know we are getting used to a lot of releases, but this would be an awful lot in a short time.

Dark Angels > WOC > Daemons > Tau > Elves

5 books in 5 months? Unlikely.

6 if its true that daemons have a double book, one for Fantasy, and another for 40K. Even more unlikely :/ Tau are a in a really strong position for May/April, but even then, thjey are still Tau, and nothing is certain about them by now

Could be an accelerated release schedule to claw back the expected hobbit revenue they aren't getting.

UNCLEBADTOUCH wrote:
Could be an accelerated release schedule to claw back the expected hobbit revenue they aren't getting.

Has there been any real evidence of lack of hobbit revenue or is that just speculation?

Meant jokingly, only evidence I have is anecdotal though doesn't put it in a shiny light lol

my FLGS owner said he's been hearing rumors of tau release NEXT MONTH. I don't know where he's hearing this from, but seeing as he owns a game store, maybe he knows something I dont.

 Phragonist wrote:
my FLGS owner said he's been hearing rumors of tau release NEXT MONTH. I don't know where he's hearing this from, but seeing as he owns a game store, maybe he knows something I dont.

Lol. Yeah, if I was there, I'd bet him pretty much any amount that he is wrong.

It could be advance orders in march for release in April he is thinking of due to the end of month WD system.

Or could just be the wishful thinking of some FLGS owner.

Yes a FLGS owner is unlikely to tell an enthusiastic customer desperate for new toys

'nope I've not heard anything about the new XXX codex, you might as well give up they're never going to release it'

(well maybe if they're a Bretonians player)

I'm really looking forward to it finally dropping. Would mean my two favorite armies are finally up to date for the first time since I've been playing this damn game haha.

And haven't then gone CSM>Hobbit>DA>WoC in the last 4 months? (Or maybe it was CSM>Empire>Hobbit>DA>WoC? I forget) I'd wager a good chance we'll see another Lotr thing next then maybe something Daemons following that......

I just need the book to drop so I know what needs buying.
Just got in an order for 10 more crisis suits, would like to see some new units.

Crisis Suits were just dropped from the required products list for GW stockists, so chances are good for a replacement soon.

 Kroothawk wrote:
Crisis Suits were just dropped from the required products list for GW stockists, so chances are good for a replacement soon.

My FLGS here also confirmed this about a month ago when making his order from GW, so I agree that it could be good news. Any word on the Fire Warrior box moving off the required products list? If not, it might mean no new sprues for FWs, and thusly no hope for the much pined for pathfinder and FW combination kit. Then again, with GW's penchant for multi kits, it would honestly surprise me if it didn't happen.

If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say Firewarriors will not be getting new sprues. For plastics, the models are still pretty crisp and detailed, holding up against the current standard.
Some of the best looking plastics available, in my opinion.

Now Pathfinders... I bet they're getting new models. Or so rumors have implied for some time now. Plus if I were GW I'd surmise that Pathfinders look too similar to Firewarriors and new minis would be a good chance to differentiate them more.

 Kroothawk wrote:
Crisis Suits were just dropped from the required products list for GW stockists, so chances are good for a replacement soon.

Now comes the real question of "Will the new crisis suits be better or worse than the current ones?" I'd hate to wait to buy crisis suits, and then they are ugly as turd, and have a hard time finding unpainted old ones. I hope the new ones are not finecast.

I hear the new super suit is going to be crazy good, maybe something like this.





(or not)

That's the kind of body I'd like to see. Something closer to a dreadnought. A heavier MC sized suit.

Sadly, I'm sure it'll be some out-of-character gaudy foot tall anime mecha.

ED-209 style

Can always pick up one of these guys (Macross Mac II Monster)





Available on Hobby Link Japan for $17, crazy cheap when a basic crisis suit runs $24.75 (or $39.50 if you want a broadside)


WIth all the other great robots out there it makes me wonder why people still cling to overpriced GW stuff.

Mr. Paulson, please stop feeding my addictions. You got some of my money already.

Those weapons on the resin kit are from your incredible range, are they not? *wink, wink*


Automatically Appended Next Post:
That Destroid is 1/200?!?!?!?? Geez.

I would totally take a battletech mech as a broadside if they were the right scale, and maybe a little better detail. (some of them are really bad)

The main reason that many don't is it isn't legal in tournaments and it makes you look cheep. Third party stuff always seems a little too far off from the original to me.

I bet there would be a dueal Markerlight/railgun kit.

You mean rail rifle right? Where talking about pathfinders?

Well, it's been confirmed that Ward wrote the Chaos Demons Codex. Which pretty much confirms Crudacce is writing the Tau Codex, since there's no chance Kelly will let anyone else write Eldar.


I'm going to go put my fist through some drywall.


Who knows, maybe 4th time will be the charm when 2020 rolls around.

RogueRegault wrote:
Well, it's been confirmed that Ward wrote the Chaos Demons Codex. Which pretty much confirms Crudacce is writing the Tau Codex, since there's no chance Kelly will let anyone else write Eldar.


I'm going to go put my fist through some drywall.


Who knows, maybe 4th time will be the charm when 2020 rolls around.

It has been allegedly confirmed that Ward wrote the Chaos Daemons Army Book. Get your somewhat reliable rumors straight.

the Faeit 212 inbox wrote:
I saw some people in the responses wondering about authors. I have the White Dwarf in front of me and Phil Kelly is mentioned as the designer of the Codex, and it isn’t explicitly stated but it seems like Mat Ward is the author of the Fantasy Army Book(there is a section in the back talking about a map that’s included, and that Mat took “a lot of inspiration from Liber Malefic.”

For what it's worth: while Crisis Suits were dropped from the list of required products, Fire Warrior/Hammerheads/GhostSuits were not dropped. The Kroot box was never required, so no insight in that direction.

Hopefully, this model range gets an entire overhaul. The FW suits look superior to their plastic counter parts. I hope more pose possibilities with the models. Hopefully, Vespids are worth fielding.

 pretre wrote:

RogueRegault wrote:
Well, it's been confirmed that Ward wrote the Chaos Demons Codex. Which pretty much confirms Crudacce is writing the Tau Codex, since there's no chance Kelly will let anyone else write Eldar.


I'm going to go put my fist through some drywall.


Who knows, maybe 4th time will be the charm when 2020 rolls around.

It has been allegedly confirmed that Ward wrote the Chaos Daemons Army Book. Get your somewhat reliable rumors straight.

the Faeit 212 inbox wrote:
I saw some people in the responses wondering about authors. I have the White Dwarf in front of me and Phil Kelly is mentioned as the designer of the Codex, and it isn’t explicitly stated but it seems like Mat Ward is the author of the Fantasy Army Book(there is a section in the back talking about a map that’s included, and that Mat took “a lot of inspiration from Liber Malefic.”

Ward definitiely wrote the Daemons of Chaos book. Faeit212 confirmed it with photos from the WD.

http://natfka.blogspot.com/2013/02/confirmations-on-daemon-authors.html

So are we hopeful for an April tau book or is that still wishful thinking?

 tetrisphreak wrote:
So are we hopeful for an April tau book or is that still wishful thinking?

I was thinking it was crazy to allow for that many books, but they are on a freakin' roll.

I now do not see it as impossible that Tau could come out in early Q2.

 paulson games wrote:
I hear the new super suit is going to be crazy good, maybe something like this.





(or not)

Hold on...wait a minute...feth the Tau....where the hell did that plastic (or resin?) Stone Rhino come from, and where can I get 10?

 Mad4Minis wrote:

Hold on...wait a minute...feth the Tau....where the hell did that plastic (or resin?) Stone Rhino come from, and where can I get 10?

Anything is possible when you roll with Xzbit and his crew

He's resin, and 1/144 scale. (that's a 60mm base he's on) It's a custom sculpt from a dude in the philliapines.


PM inbound.

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

 Enigma Crisis wrote:

Jefffar wrote:

hokieseas wrote:

Jefffar wrote:

It is also quite possible that pathfinders will be rerolled into something more combative in the process. What used to be a markerlight on top of the carbine now may become some kind of targeting array or an alternate weapon system. We really don't know. The rumours have mostly been quiet on the Pathfinder front.

I always thought it was odd that the fluff text for the pulse carbines described them as having under slung photon grenade launchers, but the grenades were only defensive weapons. Would be fun to have those reworked into something more offensive for the Pathfinders.

The Photon Grenade Launchers were the reason the Carbines had pinning. Nowadays there is a rule that more closely represents the actual effects of a Photon Grenade and is also far more useful on the tabletop - Blind. I would love to see that switch made, it wouldn't quite save the Pulse Carbine, but I think it would be far closer. Regretably these rumours focus heavily on new units and ignore what is happening to the old familiar units. We know something is up with Crisis Suits, but not a lot about it. We know very little about Broadsides other than a possible price hike. Pathfinders we have heard nothing, ditto Devilfish, Hammerheads and Piranhas. Stealth suits may lose shrouded but may get it back somehow.

There are a lot of gaps in these rumours that need to be filled before I reach for the alarm button or start singing the hallelujah chorus.

Only way I'll start singing Hallelujah is when the new codex comes out and Tau still play like Tau and not a simplified version of the army. One of the aesthetics that drew me back to Tau after I got used to playing 5th edition rules was how unique they played compared to SPESS MAHREEENZ and METAL BAWKSES!! Tau are unique in that they take a lot of skill and critical thinking to play. It's now fun to watch the other players in my LGS look at my codex and be like CHEESE!!! In which I reply no SUSHI!

Hate to ruin your mud slinging, but there's loads of SM lists that require skill and critical thinking too.

Space Marines are more forgiving than Tau are if you make mistakes.

And Space Marines are more vulnerable to variations in die results (i.e. bad luck) than Tau due to rolling overall less dies, evening the whole thing out.

Back on topic: I'm hoping there'll be some use for Shadowsun; I've always entertained the notion of picking up a small Tau force lead by her.

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:


And Space Marines are more vulnerable to variations in die results (i.e. bad luck) than Tau due to rolling overall less dies, evening the whole thing out.

Back on topic: I'm hoping there'll be some use for Shadowsun; I've always entertained the notion of picking up a small Tau force lead by her.

Except that 3 tau to every 2 marines is not all that much better, and than when you add in other units the disparagy is greater(ie 1 good battlesuit to 2 termies, 1 for 1 if we choose a poor set up for the battlesuit) at least we currently can get 3 broadsides for a land raider.

Are you saying that because Tau just plain out die to a lot of attacks where a space marine would get an armor save, that it evens out because the space marines have to take that armor save and thus suffer from more time of rolling bad dice and failing that armor save? Even if you referring to shooting as well, with an overall BS4 in the C:SM, I still think your logic is very convoluted.

 paulson games wrote:
I hear the new super suit is going to be crazy good, maybe something like this.





(or not)

Put some skulls on this and you just stole from GW's concept.

 Harriticus wrote:

 paulson games wrote:
I hear the new super suit is going to be crazy good, maybe something like this.





(or not)

Put some skulls on this and you just stole from GW's concept.

Naw, it would need a bunch of purity seals and other brickabrack too.

Coyote81 wrote:
Are you saying that because Tau just plain out die to a lot of attacks where a space marine would get an armor save, that it evens out because the space marines have to take that armor save and thus suffer from more time of rolling bad dice and failing that armor save? Even if you referring to shooting as well, with an overall BS4 in the C:SM, I still think your logic is very convoluted.

He actually isn't wrong with his logic. Lets say you have two sets of dice, one with 10 dice and another with 100. The smaller set will be far more suceptible to variance in the averages while the larger set will for the most part be about average.

But the problem is that space marines don't really have a number issue with Tau. We've both played games where we had fewer model counts than MEQ players. That's kind of the problem with Tau. They have the body count of an elite army, with horde statlines, and pricing somewhere in between. For some reason the developer thought the worst of both worlds would balance out.

Crisis suits are okay, costwise and role-wise they're very similar to, say, scout sentinels, warwalkers, or hive guard. It's fire warriors, kroot, stealth suits, piranhas, vespids, and devilfishes that are mainly overcosted for their performance, and should probably get buffs instead of points reductions. More models on the board would make tau feel too much like IG, imo.

I hope the huge combat suit becomes a reality...

there is a BL novel called Fire Cast coming in March...
as there is usually a tie-in novel for each Codex, i would suspect that Tau are just around the corner...

make of that what you will...

cheers
jah

SentientFrog wrote:
I hope the huge combat suit becomes a reality...

Ill agree.

I have gone with Warmachine instead of 40k, but being as Im a huge mecha fan Im hoping GW does the new battlesuits and the megasuit right. If the are nice Ill pick up one of each to add to my mecha model collection.

 agnosto wrote:

 Harriticus wrote:

 paulson games wrote:
I hear the new super suit is going to be crazy good, maybe something like this.





(or not)

Put some skulls on this and you just stole from GW's concept.

Naw, it would need a bunch of purity seals and other brickabrack too.

Anyone have that picture comparing Tau units to stuff from Rifts World Book 5:Triax and the NGR? Might give us a sneak preview for the new codex. Maybe Tau are getting cyborgs disguised as Khorne Bloodletters.

 Phragonist wrote:

 Kroothawk wrote:
Crisis Suits were just dropped from the required products list for GW stockists, so chances are good for a replacement soon.

Now comes the real question of "Will the new crisis suits be better or worse than the current ones?" I'd hate to wait to buy crisis suits, and then they are ugly as turd, and have a hard time finding unpainted old ones. I hope the new ones are not finecast.

Yeah I am in the same boat. I might be the only guy that loves the look of the current crisis suit model. I'm tempted to seek out a Rapid Insertion Force box with 9 crisis suits in case the new suits are too "Land Speeder Vengeance-y".

Plus if the crisis suits are a new plastic kit i assume they will go up from $30 to $40 CAD.

 Savageconvoy wrote:

Coyote81 wrote:
Are you saying that because Tau just plain out die to a lot of attacks where a space marine would get an armor save, that it evens out because the space marines have to take that armor save and thus suffer from more time of rolling bad dice and failing that armor save? Even if you referring to shooting as well, with an overall BS4 in the C:SM, I still think your logic is very convoluted.

He actually isn't wrong with his logic. Lets say you have two sets of dice, one with 10 dice and another with 100. The smaller set will be far more suceptible to variance in the averages while the larger set will for the most part be about average.
E
But the problem is that space marines don't really have a number issue with Tau. We've both played games where we had fewer model counts than MEQ players. That's kind of the problem with Tau. They have the body count of an elite army, with horde statlines, and pricing somewhere in between. For some reason the developer thought the worst of both worlds would balance out.

The variance in dice isn't the logic I was questioning. The idea that space marine suffering from a higher variance in dice is a fair offset to the fact that the Tau just die from the attacks/shots instead of even getting to roll dice.

I think it depends on whether you are a Space Marien player or not.

But to get back on topic...

I wonder if they'll still keep the crisis suits as solo boxes or package them in 3s for $60 like the new, like-sized models (i.e. new nurgle drones, etc)

I wouldnt mind that actually.

depends on the squad size allowed by codex..

If its 3 max then it will be 2 to a box for 60.00

If its 5 max then it will be 3 to a box for 100.00

GW math

 Soo'Vah'Cha wrote:
depends on the squad size allowed by codex..

If its 3 max then it will be 2 to a box for 60.00

If its 5 max then it will be 3 to a box for 100.00

GW math

He went and said it. Totally jinxed now.

Tastyfish over at Warseer wrote:Mildly Tau related, but there's also IA3 v2 according to their facebook page as well. Probably post-codex.

That's FW's facebook page, not GW's

Does anyone know when these are likely to hit? Might be an opportunity to stock up now as I am convinced the models will all go through the roof in £££ - the battle force is good value at the moment lol

Lovepug13 wrote:
Does anyone know when these are likely to hit? Might be an opportunity to stock up now as I am convinced the models will all go through the roof in £££ - the battle force is good value at the moment lol

It's quite tricky now to know when GW release stuff now. We've had two book releases and one of thoses was a surprise (Warriors of Chaos for fantasy). GW are really good now at keeping things under wraps, so it's anybodies guess.

If you want Tau, just get them now as there are no rumors suggesting that they are coming anytime soon

I already have some in my stash lol - I might top up a little and put them in storage but in no real hurry.

I got a nice bundle of tau suits for cheep. 4 for $60NZ. I guess you could say that's basically 4 for 1 in NZ. That's me safe from any crappy remodeling.

Gaz Taylor wrote:

Lovepug13 wrote:
Does anyone know when these are likely to hit? Might be an opportunity to stock up now as I am convinced the models will all go through the roof in £££ - the battle force is good value at the moment lol

It's quite tricky now to know when GW release stuff now. We've had two book releases and one of thoses was a surprise (Warriors of Chaos for fantasy). GW are really good now at keeping things under wraps, so it's anybodies guess.

If you want Tau, just get them now as there are no rumors suggesting that they are coming anytime soon

Yeah....about that....have you read the thread? Or, y'know, the other now-defunct threads from last year? Aside from the ghost fiasco, pretty much all of the reliable rumor mongers have placed Tau in the first half of this year, possibly the next month or two (although June has popped up more than once). True, GW has been very tight-lipped about things, but there's nothing to suggest that Tau aren't coming in the next few months. WoC wasn't really much a surprise, either...they knew it was coming, but they predicted it too early (Kroot, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they initially say Oct-Nov of 2012 for WoC?). There are a lot of threads to keep up with, but Kroot is kind enough to update the Rumor Round-up thread as he gets more info compiled, and it's a great resource to keep track of all of the info.

All that aside, I'm not saying hold off on Tau if you want some stuff...but I'd say keep away from the Crisis suits (since they aren't mando-stock for retailers atm, signifying a possible release/change to the model). By extension, I'd also hold off on purchasing the Commander and Broadside upgrade packs (who knows if they'll even work or look right if they redo the XV8).

 spectreoneone wrote:

Gaz Taylor wrote:

Lovepug13 wrote:
Does anyone know when these are likely to hit? Might be an opportunity to stock up now as I am convinced the models will all go through the roof in £££ - the battle force is good value at the moment lol

It's quite tricky now to know when GW release stuff now. We've had two book releases and one of thoses was a surprise (Warriors of Chaos for fantasy). GW are really good now at keeping things under wraps, so it's anybodies guess.

If you want Tau, just get them now as there are no rumors suggesting that they are coming anytime soon

Yeah....about that....have you read the thread? Or, y'know, the other now-defunct threads from last year? Aside from the ghost fiasco, pretty much all of the reliable rumor mongers have placed Tau in the first half of this year, possibly the next month or two (although June has popped up more than once). True, GW has been very tight-lipped about things, but there's nothing to suggest that Tau aren't coming in the next few months. WoC wasn't really much a surprise, either...they knew it was coming, but they predicted it too early (Kroot, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they initially say Oct-Nov of 2012 for WoC?). There are a lot of threads to keep up with, but Kroot is kind enough to update the Rumor Round-up thread as he gets more info compiled, and it's a great resource to keep track of all of the info.

All that aside, I'm not saying hold off on Tau if you want some stuff...but I'd say keep away from the Crisis suits (since they aren't mando-stock for retailers atm, signifying a possible release/change to the model). By extension, I'd also hold off on purchasing the Commander and Broadside upgrade packs (who knows if they'll even work or look right if they redo the XV8).

On the flipside, if they redo the Crisis Suit it'll probably go up to $30 or so, just because. I would definitely get FCW right now if you need them, because "old army" status has been the only thing shielding Tau from the brunt of the price increases.

Honestly, unless the new suits are AMAZING I see no reason to put aside my old XV8s. I'll probably get a few new ones for commanders and broadsides though. I've always wanted broadsides but never liked plastic/metal hybrid kits.

I'd gladly pay $30 if they gave more options on the sprue and a better model. The XV8 sprue is pretty sparse compared to the newer stuff GW is releasing, so I'd say that we should expect a sprue packed with extra gubbins, or a multi-kit for a Crisis, broadside or commander, with a $30-40 price point. Or, as previously mentioned a squad kit that has 2 suits at a $50-60 price point.

I will advise all my customers to buy TAU then when the London exchange opens in the morning :-)

The only concern I have is that the other multi model kits don't come with all the weapon options like the current XV-8 solo kit.

Personally I'd prefer a cheaper multi suit pack and just shell out for some third party bit weapons and conversions.

And I have like 20 burst cannons that I'm trying to figure out what to do with.

I'm pretty sure suits will be 3 for 60 but won't come with the bitz to give all three suits the same equipment, as per Killa Kanz. Overall, that's still a lot better than suits currently being 1 for 25.

 Savageconvoy wrote:
The only concern I have is that the other multi model kits don't come with all the weapon options like the current XV-8 solo kit.

Personally I'd prefer a cheaper multi suit pack and just shell out for some third party bit weapons and conversions.

And I have like 20 burst cannons that I'm trying to figure out what to do with.

The current XV8 kit doesn't come with all of the options, either (i.e. targeting array, shield drone, marker drone, etc.), and you have to shell out extra money to grab the commander/special weapon bitz, so I'm not too worried about the new sprue offering anything less, tbh. There are some great third party bitz manufacturers who offer some great alternate weapons options for the Tau at a much more reasonable price than GW bitz go for on eBay. I say bring on the multi model kits!

As for those burst cannons...get creative! Have you visited some of the Tau-centric P&M blogs here on Dakka? I've seen BCs used in ways I would have never thought they could be used.

Edit: stupid autocorrect on iPad...

I dont think that GW have re-modeleed the basic troops choice int he last few codeices they have released - so from that i'm assumign the FW kit will stay the same. Sae for the exisitnig vehcles (probebly get new rules for the existing guns/gear though).

So i am expecting the following new kits (just guessing though!):

Crisis/Broadside combo kit
Pathfinder/<insert new unit> combo kit
"Super" suit kit
Flyer kit

The crisis battlesuit and broadside kit seems likely. We know that the crisis suits are coming, so it seems like the broadsides could get drafted in. The commander upgrade will hopefully get added too.

I would like pathfinders to get a duel kit but I can't think what that would be. We can only hope.

Super suit and flyer are a given.

I'm looking forward to hearing what is mentioned in the new tau novel. Their could be some good hints to future stuff.

Given that they slapped the 3 different Term squads in a box for DA(granted really 2 are the same thing.), I'd be willing to believe that Crisis and broadsides are going to share a box. As long as they update those models I'm good with that.

I've got quite the army of old Tau stuff that I've been stripping in preparation for th new release. And I'm likely to buy a thing or two before the release but man, New Tau just can't come fast enough for me.

Gifblaur wrote:
Given that they slapped the 3 different Term squads in a box for DA(granted really 2 are the same thing.), I'd be willing to believe that Crisis and broadsides are going to share a box. As long as they update those models I'm good with that.

I've got quite the army of old Tau stuff that I've been stripping in preparation for th new release. And I'm likely to buy a thing or two before the release but man, New Tau just can't come fast enough for me.

EXACTLY my thoughts. I have always hated the current XV8 suits,
Equip them with a fur cap and an axe and they'll look like a common logger. Or the MadTV's version of Kenny Rogers, if you add a beard.
'Hi I'm Kenny Rogers and i arrived via Jet pack!!!'

 Ledabot wrote:
The crisis battlesuit and broadside kit seems likely. We know that the crisis suits are coming, so it seems like the broadsides could get drafted in. The commander upgrade will hopefully get added too.

I would like pathfinders to get a duel kit but I can't think what that would be. We can only hope.

Super suit and flyer are a given.

I'm looking forward to hearing what is mentioned in the new tau novel. Their could be some good hints to future stuff.

That is easy, Firewarrior/Pathfinder dual kit. Easy.

 Praxiss wrote:
I dont think that GW have re-modeleed the basic troops choice int he last few codeices they have released - so from that i'm assumign the FW kit will stay the same. Sae for the exisitnig vehcles (probebly get new rules for the existing guns/gear though).

So i am expecting the following new kits (just guessing though!):

Crisis/Broadside combo kit
Pathfinder/<insert new unit> combo kit
"Super" suit kit
Flyer kit

Add to that list a XV22 suit. I played Dark Crusade, and saw the Shadowsun kit and i liked the look of the suit. I do like Kais' helmat better than Shadowsun's, it just look too much like the XV25 helm I would be really cool if they had a generic XV22 kit.

 Soo'Vah'Cha wrote:
depends on the squad size allowed by codex..

If its 3 max then it will be 2 to a box for 60.00

If its 5 max then it will be 3 to a box for 100.00

GW math

This would be very funny if it were a joke..

i hope if they release new battlesuits they still sell the older suits, and i hope they don't change the rules for commander farsights body guard.

Weren't the Hobbit Trolls 3 for 100USD? If they are new sculpts, a bit buffed, with more bitz, I can see that happening.

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Weren't the Hobbit Trolls 3 for 100USD? If they are new sculpts, a bit buffed, with more bitz, I can see that happening.

I think that was special hobbit pricing. I think a 3-pack of suits would be similar to the other big kits that have been coming out (blood crushers, blight drones, etc) around the $60 (USD) mark.

And then of course you'd need to buy an extra weapons sprue just to properly make those suits as Fireknives/Deathrain.

(Still kicking myself for using the SMS from my hammerhead sprue to get enough missile pods for Deathrain.)

Just wishlisting more than anything, but I'd love a new Stealth Suit kit that could have a few more options. Or maybe a dual build kit that makes Stealth Suits and something new, maybe some kind of heavy weapon team with similar armour? I dunno, I just like options. Whether its useful in-game or not I don't know but it'd be fun to paint.

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Weren't the Hobbit Trolls 3 for 100USD? If they are new sculpts, a bit buffed, with more bitz, I can see that happening.

Hobbit trolls are 3 for $85, and they are big, 3 times bigger than a Crisis suit.

 Bewareofthephil wrote:
Just wishlisting more than anything, but I'd love a new Stealth Suit kit that could have a few more options. Or maybe a dual build kit that makes Stealth Suits and something new, maybe some kind of heavy weapon team with similar armour? I dunno, I just like options. Whether its useful in-game or not I don't know but it'd be fun to paint.

We occasionally hear rumblings of a close range suit. I think that a stealthsuit with a different weapons fit and vectored retro rocket thrusters instead of a stealth system might be a good candidate.

Backfire wrote:

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Weren't the Hobbit Trolls 3 for 100USD? If they are new sculpts, a bit buffed, with more bitz, I can see that happening.

Hobbit trolls are 3 for $85, and they are big, 3 times bigger than a Crisis suit.

Yes, but the suits come with drones. You know. Extra minis. Those have got to be worth something, right?

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:

Backfire wrote:

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Weren't the Hobbit Trolls 3 for 100USD? If they are new sculpts, a bit buffed, with more bitz, I can see that happening.

Hobbit trolls are 3 for $85, and they are big, 3 times bigger than a Crisis suit.

Yes, but the suits come with drones. You know. Extra minis. Those have got to be worth something, right?

No drones aren't really worth anything. Any Tau player will surely give then away if asked .... Or
Try to convert then into something else aka shield generators or sms for devil fish.

rogueeyes wrote:

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:

Backfire wrote:

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Weren't the Hobbit Trolls 3 for 100USD? If they are new sculpts, a bit buffed, with more bitz, I can see that happening.

Hobbit trolls are 3 for $85, and they are big, 3 times bigger than a Crisis suit.

Yes, but the suits come with drones. You know. Extra minis. Those have got to be worth something, right?

No drones aren't really worth anything. Any Tau player will surely give then away if asked .... Or
Try to convert then into something else aka shield generators or sms for devil fish.

Not so much worthless, but its like the "free" little tub of coleslaw you get with takeout, only like 1 in 4 guys actually eat it. they painted themselves into a corner including drones with everything (infantry, elites, heavy) I would love to see an upgrade sprue to take gun drones up to shield drones, marker drones, sniper drones or anything new they make all in one box.

I'm all for doing something with all 18 unassembled Gun Drones I got stashed in my hobby cave. Good thing I gave 10 away, they were beginning to work on my nerves.

Maybe this time round I can stick all my Burst Cannons on them, just like the FW ones. Here's to hoping.

Mecha_buddha wrote:


Not so much worthless, but its like the "free" little tub of coleslaw you get with takeout, only like 1 in 4 guys actually eat it. they painted themselves into a corner including drones with everything (infantry, elites, heavy) I would love to see an upgrade sprue to take gun drones up to shield drones, marker drones, sniper drones or anything new they make all in one box.

Umm... there already is an upgrade blister. I think it converts 2 or 4 gun drones into shield drones.

Jep, 4 shield drones
and it's not even that expansive with 13§ ^^

Without reading through the whole thread (I read the first page's post and couldn't see anything) I don't suppose there are any mentions about space fairing dwarves in this book?

That rumor was confirmed to be rubbish iirc. (at least the guy who made it up was...)

Wasn't there a rumor about the crisis suits being able to take a one a squad weapon sort of like Eldar guardians, except on the actual suit. Looking forward to the new crisis suits, I'd like to see more horse like legs on the crisis suits, and maybe poseable arms? Other than that, the crisis suit we have right now is pretty good. What do you think they will call the new suit? XV 8 something crisis or XV8 "word to replace crisis here"

It would be super slick if they were a new designation, and mention the VX-8 as in the fluff with something along the lines that they are still widely in service and many vets refuse to make the change over, kind of like they did with space marine armor types.

In iron man 2, the Hammer Drones that Ivan created were all VX designations. They also had weapons very similar to missile pods, burst cannons, and rail guns. I think one or more of the writers was a 40k player.