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tsz52 wrote:Tadashi: But that's the point innit?: The threat the Tau poses to the IoM isn't really one of martial force but one of ideology and (material) comfort.

The Western 'democracies' didn't smash tanks through the Berlin Wall going Eastwards - just militarily held that line and made sure that the good folks to the East could see them driving about in BMWs, basking in their luxurious and free consumerist paradise... just made sure that its media also carried that relentless message over the Wall.

The odd opportunistic expeditionary adventure aside, that's Tau's best chance of winning: though obviously if His Divine Majesty's forces manage to get a few years where they're not spread too thin fighting higher priority targets before the Tau gain sufficient ideological critical mass amongst His subjects, then it's all over for the Tau.

But we have to assume that the latter will never happen, since the Tau are still popular enough for them to not be Squat-ed by GW.

So this is interesting since the Tau will have to grimdark (harden) themselves up a tad (and reduce material comfort levels in favour of war materiel spending) as their great good fortune in timing, circumstances and geography starts to wear out; but their only possible method of ultimate victory is to be visibly not too grimdark and still highly opulent (thus attractive to His oppressed subjects).

It'd all be a bit more interesting, with a tonne of intrigue and manipulation on both sides, than 'Tau get stupid, invade somewhere that the IoM simply can't afford to lose, IoM exterminates Tau'. There's that tension that the Tau can only possibly prevail in a long, long, patient game where they must constantly be seen as a low threat priority, but also mustn't be found too fragile when the clock eventually turns against them (which could be at any time).

One thing you've forgotten...Chaos' very existence means that noblebright future = doesn't exist. In other words, Tau can't win. The Imperium and other grimdark factions are the only ones who have a future in the 40k universe.

Tadashi wrote:To all Tau fans who believe you surpass us already and will one day replace us: feel free to invade. You might even double the size of your empire in less than a decade. But by then, you'd be overstretched, with your limited warp drives unable to reinforce quickly enough. Once Terra hears of your arrogance, the whole Ultima Segmentum will be mobilized against you. I'm sure you'll make the Guard and the Navy pay the butcher's bill, but once the Astartes and the Titan Legions arrive, we'll make you pay for everything with compound interest.

"We are the Imperium of Man. Prepare to die."

I support this idea, listen to this men

Tadashi: I don't think that I described any noblebright future; and I'd hate to see one here - there's a reason that I prefer 40k to Star Trek. By 'winning' I meant something like 'surviving for the next thousand years, with decent consolidation of their Empire, and not having had to become too grimdark (how grimdark would be 'too grimdark?' being debatable) to achieve this.'

Don't forget that they might be able to become relatively stronger by simply holding where they are (whilst the IoM destroys the 'Nids in an epic Pyrrhic victory, say), with a bit more good 'luck' (or whatever's really going on that protects them) and cunning.

Melissia: Please, not 'racist'. It's 'speciesist'. Same as the IoM wouldn't let one of your Jokaero become a High Lord. Same as one wouldn't employ a gorilla to be a lab-tech or eat one's cat or the woman next door, but would happily eat a cow.

And basic quality of life trumps infintesimally small chance of reaching ruling elite status for most beings.

1 Working class life of 100-200 years ago (often worse than being a slave, actually, slaves being investments) coupled with a police state that would outrage the Stasi but there's an almost-zero chance that you might be able to become Prime Minister (but never King/Queen) one day. You can breed but you'll watch most of your children die;

2 Plenty of food and amenities, and decent working conditions with free time but you'll never be able to be the Prime Minister or King/Queen. (Add: and in certain places you may be forbidden from breeding, but in the places you aren't you can have fine plump kids likely to survive.)

Which do you pick?

How are the Tau not noblebright? They see themselves as bringing the Greater Good to an insane galaxy.

im2randomghgh wrote:Not another "are tau grimdark" thread, oh god no.

The fact remains, they are by far the least grimdark faction in 40k. The IoM treats anything not noble like trash and works humans to death in mines like it ain't no thang and generally tries to be huge dicks to all it's citizens.

The Eldar murder entire population because of vague futures in which they may or may not cause a single eldar to die.

I hope I don't need to touch on the others.

Then don't read the thread...... annoys the hell out of me when people act like the thread is a waste of time, and then they go ahead and post in it anyway.

The main threat from the Tau is their way of life. A grass is greener on the other side bit. However the imperium will get tired of its world converting to the greater good eventually. So the Tau should hope when that happens the ban on warp research is lifted! Or else they will lose all of the territory they gained until they are at a manageable size for short jumps again.

xXSir MontyXx wrote:
The main threat from the Tau is their way of life. A grass is greener on the other side bit. However the imperium will get tired of its world converting to the greater good eventually. So the Tau should hope when that happens the ban on warp research is lifted! Or else they will lose all of the territory they gained until they are at a manageable size for short jumps again.

But if the ban is lifted, then they're at more or less at the same level of risk as everyone else is from the warp.

Melissia wrote:So basically you admit that the Tau are racist bastards.

Let's check what I said. No, i didn't say that. Seems you made it up again. Is that you favorite rhetoric tool?

Counterquestion: If a Tau wants to become an Ork and doesn't succeed, are the Orks racists? If an elephant wants to become a cockroach and doesn't succeed, are cockroaches racists?

Kroothawk wrote:

Melissia wrote:So basically you admit that the Tau are racist bastards.

Let's check what I said. No, i didn't say that. Seems you made it up again. Is that you favorite rhetoric tool?

Counterquestion: If a Tau wants to become an Ork and doesn't succeed, are the Orks racists? If an elephant wants to become a cockroach and doesn't succeed, are cockroaches racists?

Calm down. What Melissa's trying to say is that for all claims of racial equality, Tau society is still just an Ethereal dictatorship. Quite sensible of her, actually.

Tadashi wrote:How are the Tau not noblebright? They see themselves as bringing the Greater Good to an insane galaxy.

A task in which they will fail. Then they'll try a different approach, and then another; each less noblebright than the last, and thus exacting a high cost upon the Tau psyche. That's their inevitable grimdark Tragedy, eh?

Don't forget that to them their ideology is deeply hardwired, unlike humies who are capable of swapping ideologies, that they would die for on any given day, like hats. Since this thread is (ostensibly) about tying the Tau tale into literature, there are few tales more grimdark than the ones that start with idealistic altruism then get ground down by reality into ever-escalatingly appalling 'ends justifying the means' compromises (in literature or reality/history).

Again, try to imagine ('The Gladiators') Koestler writing the Tau story, and where it would go, and how interesting (and effing grimdark!) it would be. Damn sight more grimdark than a bunch of Space Marines shooting a bunch of Chaos Space Marines... again....

The Tau have more narrative (and philosophical discourse) potential than most 40k factions (the state of play being what it is), and it's a shame that it gets so overlooked in these threads.

EDIT (having read your last post just posted): Once again:-

Racism: 'You are of my species (therefore almost identical) but have different skin colour, therefore are inferior... just... because....'

Speciesism: 'You are genetically very different with radically different attributes that make you less suitable for certain tasks than an alternative of a different species. This is not dogma, as it can be empirically proven. Get cats to catch mice, get labradors to be guide dogs, get pigeons to deliver messages.'

'OMG! Racist!' is generally as poor an argument as randomly and lazily invoking Hitler, for pretty much the same reason.

Or is anyone seriously suggesting that a humie (of a species infamous for its horrendous governorship) could govern as demonstrably well as an Ethereal (of a different species - not race - famous for its stellar governorship)?

tsz52 wrote:

Tadashi wrote:How are the Tau not noblebright? They see themselves as bringing the Greater Good to an insane galaxy.

A task in which they will fail. Then they'll try a different approach, and then another; each less noblebright than the last, and thus exacting a high cost upon the Tau psyche. That's their inevitable grimdark Tragedy, eh?

Don't forget that to them their ideology is deeply hardwired, unlike humies who are capable of swapping ideologies, that they would die for on any given day, like hats. Since this thread is (ostensibly) about tying the Tau tale into literature, there are few tales more grimdark than the ones that start with idealistic altruism then get ground down by reality into ever-escalatingly appalling 'ends justifying the means' compromises (in literature or reality/history).

Again, try to imagine ('The Gladiators') Koestler writing the Tau story, and where it would go, and how interesting (and effing grimdark!) it would be. Damn sight more grimdark than a bunch of Space Marines shooting a bunch of Chaos Space Marines... again....

The Tau have more narrative (and philosophical discourse) potential than most 40k factions (the state of play being what it is), and it's a shame that it gets so overlooked in these threads.

EDIT (having read your last post just posted): Once again:-

Racism: 'You are of my species (therefore almost identical) but have different skin colour, therefore are inferior... just... because....'

Speciesism: 'You are genetically very different with radically different attributes that make you less suitable for certain tasks than an alternative of a different species. This is not dogma, as it can be empirically proven. Get cats to catch mice, get labradors to be guide dogs, get pigeons to deliver messages.'

'OMG! Racist!' is generally as poor an argument as randomly and lazily invoking Hitler, for pretty much the same reason.

Or is anyone seriously suggesting that a humie (of a species infamous for its horrendous governorship) could govern as demonstrably well as an Ethereal (of a different species - not race - famous for its stellar governorship)?

Then they're damned from the beginning, as the Greater Good is epic fail from the very beginning. And how can the Ethereals be better rulers when they govern completely ignorant of everything that they have yet to face? I remember one Ethereal who actually welcomed Necrons only to get harvested. In that light, the High Lords of Terra are quite sensible. While they may be responsible for keeping Mankind oppressed, it's because they know what's out there, and their just fulfilling their duty as the acting rulers of the Imperium.

tsz52 wrote:Melissia: Please, not 'racist'. It's 'speciesist'. Same as the IoM wouldn't let one of your Jokaero become a High Lord.

The IoM doesn't claim to not be xenophobic, which at least means the IoM isn't hypocritical like the Tau are.


The Tau is racist AND speciesist. No Earth caste member can become Ethereal, after all, just as no humans can. It fits precisely the definition of an Apartheid government. The Tau accept non-Tau races, but only ass slaves, not as equals.


And you know what? If a monkey could think well enough to do science ,you're damned right we'd let him wear a lab coat. The monkey isn't sentient but if he was, he certainly could strive for that goal. Though to be fair, he'd have to wear a bodysuit of some kind to keep any shed fur from tainting samples (similar to the showercap like hats that human scientists often wear in the laboratory combined with the skin-covering clothing, masks, and goggles-- both protecting the scientist and the sample being tested). But that's more along the lines of a practical matter.

Melissia wrote:

tsz52 wrote:Melissia: Please, not 'racist'. It's 'speciesist'. Same as the IoM wouldn't let one of your Jokaero become a High Lord.

The IoM doesn't claim to not be xenophobic, which at least means the IoM isn't hypocritical like the Tau are.


The Tau is racist AND speciesist. No Earth caste member can become Ethereal, after all, just as no humans can.

In other words, the Tau say one thing and do another thing entirely. On the other hand, everyone else does what they say. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't all Castes just sub-species of the Tau species, and aren't sub-species capable of mating with one another, like the supposed theory that Homo Sapiens (real world) the result of mating between Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon Man? If so, isn't the Ethereals forbidding mating between Castes mean that their just trying to prevent the other Castes from gaining political power, Greater Good and racial/species equality not withstanding?

Interbreeding between the castes is strictly forbidden within Tau society, as it'll weaken the strengths of each caste.

I think in Farsights colonies mixed-caste Tau may exist.

Ovion wrote:Interbreeding between the castes is strictly forbidden within Tau society, as it'll weaken the strengths of each caste.

I think in Farsights colonies mixed-caste Tau may exist.

It also means that only Ethereals can truly control other Tau, although how Farsight broke free remains a question...if there are mixed breed Tau in the Enclaves, it begs the question, what do the Ethereals plan to do about it, assuming they reconquer the Enclaves? Will they kill them all? Sterilize them? The Ordo Xenos is gonna have a propaganda field day if that happens.

Tadashi wrote:

Ovion wrote:Interbreeding between the castes is strictly forbidden within Tau society, as it'll weaken the strengths of each caste.

I think in Farsights colonies mixed-caste Tau may exist.

It also means that only Ethereals can truly control other Tau, although how Farsight broke free remains a question...if there are mixed breed Tau in the Enclaves, it begs the question, what do the Ethereals plan to do about it, assuming they reconquer the Enclaves? Will they kill them all? Sterilize them? The Ordo Xenos is gonna have a propaganda field day if that happens.

Farsight was on a long campaign and through circumstance, all Ethereals that accompanied him died, as the campaign progressed and he moved further from establisehd Tau space, and spent longer away, whatever grip they had on him waned until he decided it was time he just went off on his own.

As far as I remember atm the Ethereals are investigating the enclaves, and kind of pretending it desn't exist.

Ovion wrote:

Tadashi wrote:

Ovion wrote:Interbreeding between the castes is strictly forbidden within Tau society, as it'll weaken the strengths of each caste.

I think in Farsights colonies mixed-caste Tau may exist.

It also means that only Ethereals can truly control other Tau, although how Farsight broke free remains a question...if there are mixed breed Tau in the Enclaves, it begs the question, what do the Ethereals plan to do about it, assuming they reconquer the Enclaves? Will they kill them all? Sterilize them? The Ordo Xenos is gonna have a propaganda field day if that happens.

Farsight was on a long campaign and through circumstance, all Ethereals that accompanied him died, as the campaign progressed and he moved further from establisehd Tau space, and spent longer away, whatever grip they had on him waned until he decided it was time he just went off on his own.

So, if an Ethereal gets near him, Farsight might just rejoin the Empire? I hope not...that would be like saying the Blood Ravens are just Ultramarines with a mystical streak...

Assuming he lets an ethereal near him.

Ovion wrote:Assuming he lets an ethereal near him.

Considering the Tau's technology, it's only logical for their sensors to detect if an approaching ship has an Ethereal onboard. If that's the case, even if they're unarmed and were broadcasting a message that they were on a diplomatic mission, then the moment they get in range, they get vaporized by plasma fire. On that note, I have to ask...why are the Tau so dependent on plasma tech, unlike the Imperials and the Eldar (or to be honest, all Old One descended races like Orks) who prefer to use solid weapons or lasers?

Melissia wrote:The Tau is racist AND speciesist. No Earth caste member can become Ethereal, after all, just as no humans can. It fits precisely the definition of an Apartheid government. The Tau accept non-Tau races, but only ass slaves, not as equals.

Again: Ethereals are a subspecies of Tau. Even the most tolerant society can't change species and subspecies by a democratic vote.
And, just for you, I requote the original designer notes, because you obviously are not aware of them:

Original Tau designer notes wrote:In contrast to other races, we wanted the Tau to be altruistic and idealistic, believing heartily in unification as the way forward. This meant that they would happily incorporate other races into their empire without subjugating them, instead enticing them in with the benefits of mutual protection, trade and technology.(emphasis by me)

Kroothawk wrote:

Melissia wrote:The Tau is racist AND speciesist. No Earth caste member can become Ethereal, after all, just as no humans can. It fits precisely the definition of an Apartheid government. The Tau accept non-Tau races, but only ass slaves, not as equals.

Again: Ethereals are a subspecies of Tau. Even the most tolerant society can't change species and subspecies by a democratic vote.
And, just for you, I requote the original designer notes, because you obviously are not aware of them:

Original Tau designer notes wrote:In contrast to other races, we wanted the Tau to be altruistic and idealistic, believing heartily in unification as the way forward. This meant that they would happily incorporate other races into their empire without subjugating them, instead enticing them in with the benefits of mutual protection, trade and technology.(emphasis by me)

No subjugation? Are you serious? Weren't the original gue'vesa given choice to join the Empire or die? Isn't that the same choice offered to everyone they encounter? Something most of those encountered races seem to spit on that offer a lot.

Imperials: Xenos are filth
Chaos: Tau are atheists
Tyranids: nom nom nom
Eldar: Tau are naive
Dark Eldar: Tau are naive
Orks: peace is no fun
Necrons: Tau are naive

Thus far, most major factions/species seem to see the Tau as naive.

Melissia wrote:

tsz52 wrote:Melissia: Please, not 'racist'. It's 'speciesist'. Same as the IoM wouldn't let one of your Jokaero become a High Lord.

The IoM doesn't claim to not be xenophobic, which at least means the IoM isn't hypocritical like the Tau are.

The Tau is racist AND speciesist. No Earth caste member can become Ethereal, after all, just as no humans can. It fits precisely the definition of an Apartheid government. The Tau accept non-Tau races, but only ass slaves, not as equals.

And you know what? If a monkey could think well enough to do science ,you're damned right we'd let him wear a lab coat. The monkey isn't sentient but if he was, he certainly could strive for that goal. Though to be fair, he'd have to wear a bodysuit of some kind to keep any shed fur from tainting samples (similar to the showercap like hats that human scientists often wear in the laboratory combined with the skin-covering clothing, masks, and goggles-- both protecting the scientist and the sample being tested). But that's more along the lines of a practical matter.

Well, I didn't mention a non-existent type of monkey as a lab-tech, but a monkey (gorilla) as actually is; that being the point. Cheers for the mental image of a monkey in a body suit though

Since any meaningful debate can only begin with correct and mutually agreed upon terminology, with your biology head on: What would be the correct term for the relationship/difference between Tau castes? It's clearly at least one stage beyond race; breed?, sub-species? Then we can use that precise word and avoid the inflammatory (and incorrect) r-word... it's too serious a word to be chucking about, for a discussion about this (and incorrect); it devalues that word, and it's a word that should never be devalued (though it is, sadly, constantly).

Then we can look at whether it is actually prejudiced or simply pragmatic to use the right biologically specialised being for the right task (via Plato and Kant... and ants), if anyone wants....

Sub species, I think, but after millennia of no breeding, they're starting to become separate species.

Kroothawk wrote:Again: Ethereals are a subspecies of Tau.

This makes a difference how?

Oh wait, no it doesn't.

Only a specific subspecies of Tau can rule the Tau empire. Just like only a specific subspecies of humanity could rule Apartheid South Africa. They subjugate all non-Tau Ethereals, forcing them to be submissive to the Tau Ethereal caste which only allows the Ethereal subspecies of the Tau in.

Original Tau designer notes wrote:In contrast to other races, we wanted the Tau to be altruistic and idealistic, believing heartily in unification as the way forward. This meant that they would happily incorporate other races into their empire without subjugating them, instead enticing them in with the benefits of mutual protection, trade and technology.(emphasis by me)

And I give a gak... how?

Oh wait, no I don't. The author's intent is irrelevant in comparison with the end result of the work.

If they wanted to incorporate other races without subjugating them, they'd treat them as equals. They don't.

Melissia wrote:

tsz52 wrote:Melissia: Please, not 'racist'. It's 'speciesist'. Same as the IoM wouldn't let one of your Jokaero become a High Lord.

The IoM doesn't claim to not be xenophobic, which at least means the IoM isn't hypocritical like the Tau are.


The Tau is racist AND speciesist. No Earth caste member can become Ethereal, after all, just as no humans can. It fits precisely the definition of an Apartheid government. The Tau accept non-Tau races, but only ass slaves, not as equals.

I'll say this again, the Tau Empire is similar to the Roman Empire in their conquests of Europe, Either you join us or die. You had to earn your Roman citizenship by serving in the Roman Army. The Tau however gave citizenship when you joined automatically.

The Tau Empire is like the British Empire of old. If you weren't born in the ruling family you could never become King or Queen of England. The British populace eventually grew tired of it and rebel against the King and made it more of a democracy. The Tau species, however, is just happy with the Ethereal's ruling them except Farsight.

All the Auxillary of the Tau Empire will never be able to rule the Tau Empire but they can hold positions of limited power like maybe mayor or governor. Just like in America where you have to be a Native born American to become President but you can still become governor or senator if you are not. Just like Schwarzenegger did.

Tadashi wrote:To all Tau fans who believe you surpass us already and will one day replace us: feel free to invade. You might even double the size of your empire in less than a decade. But by then, you'd be overstretched, with your limited warp drives unable to reinforce quickly enough. Once Terra hears of your arrogance, the whole Ultima Segmentum will be mobilized against you. I'm sure you'll make the Guard and the Navy pay the butcher's bill, but once the Astartes and the Titan Legions arrive, we'll make you pay for everything with compound interest.

"We are the Imperium of Man. Prepare to die."

In the few hundred years the IoM takes to mobilize ANYTHING (let alone a whole segmentum-since when do segmentums mobilize?) You can bet that tau tech, at the rate it's advancing, would likely be unrecognizable as belonging to tau. Will They have inertia-less drives by then? Will mantas become a dime a dozen? Will ALL troops have battlesuits?

The answer to most of those questions is probably no, but you get the point. Any other faction will be the exact same in a few hundreds years; the tau won't be.

An interesting thought: It is accepted that the tau are the youngest race, yes? If the Perdus rift anomaly was as time-warpingly powerful as it seems to be, then they could, theoretically, be the oldest race too o.0

im2randomghgh wrote:

Tadashi wrote:To all Tau fans who believe you surpass us already and will one day replace us: feel free to invade. You might even double the size of your empire in less than a decade. But by then, you'd be overstretched, with your limited warp drives unable to reinforce quickly enough. Once Terra hears of your arrogance, the whole Ultima Segmentum will be mobilized against you. I'm sure you'll make the Guard and the Navy pay the butcher's bill, but once the Astartes and the Titan Legions arrive, we'll make you pay for everything with compound interest.

"We are the Imperium of Man. Prepare to die."

In the few hundred years the IoM takes to mobilize ANYTHING (let alone a whole segmentum-since when do segmentums mobilize?) You can bet that tau tech, at the rate it's advancing, would likely be unrecognizable as belonging to tau. Will They have inertia-less drives by then? Will mantas become a dime a dozen? Will ALL troops have battlesuits?

The answer to most of those questions is probably no, but you get the point. Any other faction will be the exact same in a few hundreds years; the tau won't be.

An interesting thought: It is accepted that the tau are the youngest race, yes? If the Perdus rift anomaly was as time-warpingly powerful as it seems to be, then they could, theoretically, be the oldest race too o.0

In a few hundred years the Imperium as we know it and the Tau are gone.

One: The Emperor is reborn, the Imperium is reforged, and all enemies of Man are purged from the galaxy as we claim our rightful place in the stars.
Two: The Emperor dies, Mankind falls, Chaos consumes the galaxy.

Either way, we win.

Melissia wrote:

Kroothawk wrote:Again: Ethereals are a subspecies of Tau.

This makes a difference how?

Oh wait, no it doesn't.

Only a specific subspecies of Tau can rule the Tau empire. Just like only a specific subspecies of humanity could rule Apartheid South Africa. They subjugate all non-Tau Ethereals, forcing them to be submissive to the Tau Ethereal caste which only allows the Ethereal subspecies of the Tau in.

Original Tau designer notes wrote:In contrast to other races, we wanted the Tau to be altruistic and idealistic, believing heartily in unification as the way forward. This meant that they would happily incorporate other races into their empire without subjugating them, instead enticing them in with the benefits of mutual protection, trade and technology.(emphasis by me)

And I give a gak... how?

Oh wait, no I don't. The author's intent is irrelevant in comparison with the end result of the work.

If they wanted to incorporate other races without subjugating them, they'd treat them as equals. They don't.

@the first part of your quote, it isn't like humanity, because there aren't any surviving subspecies of humanity. It is more like if the Neanderthals had survived, and were denied the right to run for mayor/president or whatever it is they were trying for.

@The second part, I have a quote for you!

codex tau empire wrote: It is a great compliment that the fire caste regards the Vespid Stingwings as skillful and reliable allies...

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Tadashi wrote:

im2randomghgh wrote:

Tadashi wrote:To all Tau fans who believe you surpass us already and will one day replace us: feel free to invade. You might even double the size of your empire in less than a decade. But by then, you'd be overstretched, with your limited warp drives unable to reinforce quickly enough. Once Terra hears of your arrogance, the whole Ultima Segmentum will be mobilized against you. I'm sure you'll make the Guard and the Navy pay the butcher's bill, but once the Astartes and the Titan Legions arrive, we'll make you pay for everything with compound interest.

"We are the Imperium of Man. Prepare to die."

In the few hundred years the IoM takes to mobilize ANYTHING (let alone a whole segmentum-since when do segmentums mobilize?) You can bet that tau tech, at the rate it's advancing, would likely be unrecognizable as belonging to tau. Will They have inertia-less drives by then? Will mantas become a dime a dozen? Will ALL troops have battlesuits?

The answer to most of those questions is probably no, but you get the point. Any other faction will be the exact same in a few hundreds years; the tau won't be.

An interesting thought: It is accepted that the tau are the youngest race, yes? If the Perdus rift anomaly was as time-warpingly powerful as it seems to be, then they could, theoretically, be the oldest race too o.0

In a few hundred years the Imperium as we know it and the Tau are gone.

One: The Emperor is reborn, the Imperium is reforged, and all enemies of Man are purged from the galaxy as we claim our rightful place in the stars.
Two: The Emperor dies, Mankind falls, Chaos consumes the galaxy.

Either way, we win.

Not so much, no. For all we know, the Emperor could live on the throne forever, or he could live until so far in the future it doesn't matter, and also, almost every faction has a kind of potential apotheosis like that. The khan, Russ and Vulkan might all just come back. Ynnead might be born and kill everything chaos and then kill every other faction. Orks might unite. The fourteenth black crusade might curb stomp cadia and conquer the IoM. Slaanesh might come into it's own and become a force as powerful as the other chaos gods. Necrons might ALL awaken. The main tyranid fleet might reach the IoM. The tau might...survive a really long time, and then have bigger guns?

Either way, don't consider your faction's things to be imminent, while ignoring those of others.

Enigma Crisis wrote:

I'll say this again, the Tau Empire is similar to the Roman Empire in their conquests of Europe, Either you join us or die. You had to earn your Roman citizenship by serving in the Roman Army. The Tau however gave citizenship when you joined automatically.

The Tau Empire is like the British Empire of old. If you weren't born in the ruling family you could never become King or Queen of England. The British populace eventually grew tired of it and rebel against the King and made it more of a democracy. The Tau species, however, is just happy with the Ethereal's ruling them except Farsight.

All the Auxillary of the Tau Empire will never be able to rule the Tau Empire but they can hold positions of limited power like maybe mayor or governor. Just like in America where you have to be a Native born American to become President but you can still become governor or senator if you are not. Just like Schwarzenegger did.

The Romans never used such join us or die nonsense. They just conquered.
Plus, rulers of the Roman empire weren't always romans....
Especially parts of the auxilaria became one of the major powers at the end.

Seems the Romans aren't a good idea if you try to make a point in a Tau thread.

@im2randomghgh:

I mean, the assumptions made of the future in 40k are pretty off. The background is tied to the game and thus the upcoming new focus ...
CHAOS .... will hit them hard.

1hadhq wrote:

Enigma Crisis wrote:

I'll say this again, the Tau Empire is similar to the Roman Empire in their conquests of Europe, Either you join us or die. You had to earn your Roman citizenship by serving in the Roman Army. The Tau however gave citizenship when you joined automatically.

The Tau Empire is like the British Empire of old. If you weren't born in the ruling family you could never become King or Queen of England. The British populace eventually grew tired of it and rebel against the King and made it more of a democracy. The Tau species, however, is just happy with the Ethereal's ruling them except Farsight.

All the Auxillary of the Tau Empire will never be able to rule the Tau Empire but they can hold positions of limited power like maybe mayor or governor. Just like in America where you have to be a Native born American to become President but you can still become governor or senator if you are not. Just like Schwarzenegger did.

The Romans never used such join us or die nonsense. They just conquered.
Plus, rulers of the Roman empire weren't always romans....
Especially parts of the auxilaria became one of the major powers at the end.

Seems the Romans aren't a good idea if you try to make a point in a Tau thread.

@im2randomghgh:

I mean, the assumptions made of the future in 40k are pretty off. The background is tied to the game and thus the upcoming new focus ...
CHAOS .... will hit them hard.

And then tau will get their update GW better get Chaos and Eldar done quickly.

im2randomghgh wrote:

1hadhq wrote:

Enigma Crisis wrote:

I'll say this again, the Tau Empire is similar to the Roman Empire in their conquests of Europe, Either you join us or die. You had to earn your Roman citizenship by serving in the Roman Army. The Tau however gave citizenship when you joined automatically.

The Tau Empire is like the British Empire of old. If you weren't born in the ruling family you could never become King or Queen of England. The British populace eventually grew tired of it and rebel against the King and made it more of a democracy. The Tau species, however, is just happy with the Ethereal's ruling them except Farsight.

All the Auxillary of the Tau Empire will never be able to rule the Tau Empire but they can hold positions of limited power like maybe mayor or governor. Just like in America where you have to be a Native born American to become President but you can still become governor or senator if you are not. Just like Schwarzenegger did.

The Romans never used such join us or die nonsense. They just conquered.
Plus, rulers of the Roman empire weren't always romans....
Especially parts of the auxilaria became one of the major powers at the end.

Seems the Romans aren't a good idea if you try to make a point in a Tau thread.

@im2randomghgh:

I mean, the assumptions made of the future in 40k are pretty off. The background is tied to the game and thus the upcoming new focus ...
CHAOS .... will hit them hard.

And then tau will get their update GW better get Chaos and Eldar done quickly.

Hurry up with the new Imperial Guard and Space Marine Codexes first, then Chaos, then Eldar. Leave the Tau for last.