Chaos Tau

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**poipo32**

So I was thinking about making a tau army but everything is just so much cooler when it's chaos. So, Fluff-wise what would you guys think about it.
And if you have seen it done post pics!

**Gwar!**

1) Wrong Forum.
2) No. Just, No. Fluffwise, it is 110% UNPOSSIBLE for a T'au to fall to Chaos. Ever. T'au have almost NO Warp "Signature". If a T'au is a Grain of Sand in the Warp, then a Human is a Planets worth of Sand and an Eldar several planets worth of sand.

**poipo32**

I was unsure about which forum to put this in sorry.

**Dashofpepper**

Yeah. Um...not possible. *shudders* Don't even think about it.

**garret**

Do it. dont let people say not to. you can make anything aslong as it follows the rules of the game and decency.

**poipo32**

Thanks for the answers. I intend to keep my forces "fluffy" so chaos Tau will be a no go. I'll probably use my second idea, a Tarellian mercenary army ready for hire by anyone who fights the imperium. Now I just have to figure which army list (codex or IA) would be better.

**ph34r**

Gwar! wrote:1) Wrong Forum.
2) No. Just, No. Fluffwise, it is 110% UNPOSSIBLE for a T'au to fall to Chaos. Ever. T'au have almost NO Warp "Signature". If a T'au is a Grain of Sand in the Warp, then a Human is a Planets worth of Sand and an Eldar several planets worth of sand.

First off, it is only 99% unpossible for a T'au to fall to chaos. They have A warp signature, so there is a possibility.
Secondly, GW themselves did a conversion of a possessed Tau battlesuit, pretty much totally disproving your XTREME fluff views. Just take it down a notch and you'll be fine.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

poipo32 wrote:Thanks for the answers. I intend to keep my forces "fluffy" so chaos Tau will be a no go. I'll probably use my second idea, a Tarellian mercenary army ready for hire by anyone who fights the imperium. Now I just have to figure which army list would be better.

This is probably a good idea. Tau would have to fly themselves into a serious warp storm or some other incredible circumstance to have a whole force fall to chaos.

**Morgrim**

Tricked into allying with a renegade IG force is about as far as they are likely to go in fluff.

A possessed suit is a different thing entirely, it's like jamming a daemon into an empty landraider. No tau falling to chaos, just a convenient mech to anchor to.

**apwill4765**

garret wrote:Do it. dont let people say not to. you can make anything aslong as it follows the rules of the game and decency.

The rules of decency. . . really? Could you send me a copy? I think it would be easier to follow the fluff than the moving target that is "decency"

**Majesticgoat**

Have any of you read the fire warrior novel?

Spoiler:

If you do not consider these novels canon though, then nevermind.

**padixon**

First off, Tau falling to Chaos has next to nothing to do with a warp 'signature', only being possessed does.

secondly, if Tau were to fall to chaos, the reason is obvious (the same reason humans do) they fall out of love with their situation/government and start worshiping other deities (the chaos dudes).

This can be rationalized because they actually have quite a bit of human populated worlds under their control. It is entirely possible for the humans to pass on their 'religion' to some sympathetic and under appreciated feeling Tau 'allies'. And the forest fire continues and until it consumes the world with the human auxiliaries being possessed by their deity and they worship it of course and they go about establishing their own law in what ever means the chaos dudes want.

It is extremely possible, go for it!

**Cheese Elemental**

The Chaos Gods have little interest in the Tau as servants, due to their tiny Warp-signature and distance from the Eye of Terror. Humans and even Orks (yes, there are Chaos Orks) are much better servants and aren't bound to the will of the Ethereals.

**4M2A**

Corrupted tau are possible but they wouldn't be chaos tau. They could easily fall out with the Etheral in the right situation ( seperated from the main group of tau for prolonged periods), which would make an intersting theme.

**garret**

apwill4765 wrote:
garret wrote:Do it. dont let people say not to. you can make anything aslong as it follows the rules of the game and decency.

The rules of decency. . . really? Could you send me a copy? I think it would be easier to follow the fluff than the moving target that is "decency"

Rules of deceny to me mean not making models that offend someone.

**frozenwastes**

I'd basically consider it a splinter group who have abandoned the greater good. There likely would be very few, if any mutations. They would have simply found a way to break free of the influence of the Ethereals with the help of a chaos being. They likely would not be mutated freaks like those chaos serving beings who live near the Eye or the Maelstrom.

Keep it low key and it should be cool.

**ComputerGeek01**

I think Human Auxilaries are a must in a Chaos Tau army. Think of it more like the Tau took a planet from the Imperium, their alias in that war were those who hated the Imperium i.e. a Chaos cult. The Tau being unaware of the warp allow their human alias to preserve their religion due to some agreement they made in exchange for their loyalty and support.

I agree the Tau themselves would not have any mutations but the Human Aux. and maybe some of the Kroot Mercs. who have eaten dead bodies would surely have a few things wrong with them.

Fluff-wise this bends most of the Tau stuff over, but I think it would be an interesting visual conversion.

**Skinnattittar**

From what I understand of the Tau and their "Warp Signature" is that Chaos doesn't seem to be able to find them. But I don't think I have read anything saying that the Tau can't voluntarily join Chaos, or reap any of the benefits of the warp. I mean, Chaos Demons can still attack Tau, psykic powers can still effect them (in the game at least), and psykic weapons still have an effect on them, so why not Chaos Tau?

**willydstyle**

The 40k universe is a big place, and there is room for almost anything you imagine to exist in it.

**Gwar!**

willydstyle wrote:The 40k universe is a big place, and there is room for almost anything you imagine to exist in it.

Except happiness. And Niceness. And Space Communists

**willydstyle**

The space communists definitely exist! It's chaotic space communists (space soviets?) that are under fire here

**Skinnattittar**

Gwar! wrote:
willydstyle wrote:The 40k universe is a big place, and there is room for almost anything you imagine to exist in it.
Except happiness. And Niceness. And Space Communists

I don't know, I could probably really go for some of the Slaaneshi lovin' myself....

**ph34r**

This is from the old GW website, part of their Witch/Daemonhunter Adversaries:

UNWITTING PAWNS - THE TAU
Just as the Imperial Guard lacks its own mobile abattoir impersonators then so do the Tau. Oh the Kroot do their best and in some cases that’s plenty good enough, but when faced by elite shock troops they tend to be a bit too Toughness 3 for their own good. But how could the ethical and articulate Tau, a race firmly in the spotlight of high technology fall prey to the Chaos gods and end up being an adversary army?

In a word, naiveté. The Tau are still inexperienced in dealing with the nightmarish aspects of the 41st millennium. If they were to investigate a space hulk there is a very real chance they would split up to finish the job quicker. It would never occur to them that the curse associated with a strange artefact could have any substance in reality. To them Man’s description of the horror that is the Warp is more of a cunning ploy to deter them from investigating the advantageous technology of warp travel.

The most common method of possession is the capture of an unprotected psyker. Fortunately for them, the Tau are not a psychic species, so for them to be adversaries they will have had to come into contact with a Warp entity that has already forced its way into the real universe either through a host creature or by being bound in a place or within an artefact. Unfortunately for them this still represents a significant peril for their emergent empire. Each new system they explore is a potential minefield of previously unknown phenomena and each race they meet could already be irredeemably corrupted. As if this wasn’t scary enough their every move is scrutinised by the massive and merciless power that is the Imperium of Man. A power that is more than willing to crush any xenos species, especially one that seems to be cooperating with Chaos.

The fierce loyalty that the Tau castes have to the Ethereal caste suggests that persuasiveness alone will be inadequate to turn them to the path of Chaos. There is little chance that silver-tongued adherents of Slaanesh or Tzeentch could lure the Tau astray. Renegade Tau such as O’Shovah are not unknown, however, so clearly there must be ways to lure the Tau from the teachings of the Ethereals. How it has been achieved remains a mystery. If you want your Tau army to be an Adversary for the Daemonhunters then it will be up to you to come up with a solution.

Overall the best bet is probably the unwitting fools storyline. This can be summarised as the Tau acting logically with no regard for primitive superstitions, secure an object/meet an individual/enter a place and are made to regret it. The Daemonhunters can then save the Tau from their own curiosity and misplaced confidence.

Using an Ethereal caste member as the victim of a possession works especially well. A Daemon controlling an Ethereal has the unquestioning obedience of all the other Tau in the army. It is a moot point whether the appearance of a Greater Daemon would trigger Morale tests throughout the Tau army as it kills the Ethereal! To keep things sporting it’s probably best to assume that the Tau think their esteemed Ethereal is using a little known power to smite the aliens but bear the thought in mind for an interesting specialist mission where the Daemonhunters are faced by a huge Tau army and must get in and kill the Ethereal before they are overwhelmed. As the most expensive HQ choice is the one possessed, if you want your Ethereal to be possessed you will have to pass on a Commander. It is quite convenient in this respect that Tau commanders are not especially good choices as possession victims. Their weaponry backed by superior Ballistic Skill is a vital part of the Tau army and costs too many points to be happily discarded when the Daemon emerges. Clearly Chaos will need to subvert them through some other means, preferably one that keeps them cogent and taking careful aim!

Including packs of Daemons requires less thought. You must be careful though because, just like the Imperial Guard, there will come a point when you have included so many Daemons that your ability to outshoot the enemy will be compromised. Having no choice but to assault is a bit of a worry, Tau Fire Warriors are not at their best rushing to assault Grey Knights, so don’t overdo it. Daemonhunter armies can be held up very effectively by a Daemon pack that fights, dies and returns courtesy of the Sustained Assault rule. This type of self-renewing speed bump is just what the Tau need to keep ever-advancing Grey Knights at a distance or respond to enemy deep-striking into their positions.

Hopefully that has all the answers.

**agnosto**

I'm sure pappa nurgle would appeal to the tau concept of the "greater good".

**tiberius183**

Chaos Tau, as many have already stated, is not really possible fluff-wise due to reasons already stated, but just as stated already, there's no issue with making a rogue Tau sept. Just no skulls or spikes. Sorry.

**willydstyle**

tiberius183 wrote:Chaos Tau, as many have already stated, is not really possible fluff-wise due to reasons already stated, but just as stated already, there's no issue with making a rogue Tau sept. Just no skulls or spikes. Sorry.

Not possible fluff-wise... except for that huge block of text that comes straight from GW saying how you could have Chaos Tau.

**Gwar!**

willydstyle wrote:
tiberius183 wrote:Chaos Tau, as many have already stated, is not really possible fluff-wise due to reasons already stated, but just as stated already, there's no issue with making a rogue Tau sept. Just no skulls or spikes. Sorry.

Not possible fluff-wise... except for that huge block of text that comes straight from GW saying how you could have Chaos Tau.

A Huge block that was never printed anywhere, on a website that doesn't exists any more and is in no way cannon?

**Skinnattittar**

Gwar! wrote:
willydstyle wrote:
tiberius183 wrote:Chaos Tau, as many have already stated, is not really possible fluff-wise due to reasons already stated, but just as stated already, there's no issue with making a rogue Tau sept. Just no skulls or spikes. Sorry.
Not possible fluff-wise... except for that huge block of text that comes straight from GW saying how you could have Chaos Tau.
A Huge block that was never printed anywhere, on a website that doesn't exists any more and is in no way cannon?

Bit it still stands, nothing cannon has said Tau can't voluntarily turn to Chaos. Has there? Just that Tau have a small profile in the Warp. Not that they can't be affected by it, from what I understand. And who says Tau can't put Tau skulls and spiky bits on their equipment? The Warp doesn't do that, those affected by it do!

**ph34r**

First off, the word you are looking for is canon.
To get to the point, if you don't accept what GW says because they don't put it in a book for you, I'm sorry for your loss. Luckily as this has nothing to do with rules, you cannot attempt to enforce your incorrect views on others. The rest of the world will get to live with the fact that not only is chaos Tau possible (warp signature, though small means that they can potentially be possessed and corrupted by a strong enough force) but GW has straight up told us how it is possible.

**DarkHound**

ph34r wrote:First off, the word you are looking for is canon.
To get to the point, if you don't accept what GW says because they don't put it in a book for you, I'm sorry for your loss. Luckily as this has nothing to do with rules, you cannot attempt to enforce your incorrect views on others. The rest of the world will get to live with the fact that not only is chaos Tau possible (warp signature, though small means that they can potentially be possessed and corrupted by a strong enough force) but GW has straight up told us how it is possible.

Alright, first, you need to chill out dude. Secondly,

Lexicanum wrote:The Tau achieve faster-than-light travel by "diving" into the Warp and being subsequently flung out a great distance from where they entered. There are positives and negatives to this method of travel. Because their ships have such minimal contact with the Warp and are in a sense just skimming the surface, their travel is relatively safe, but a flaw in this design is that their speed is greatly reduced in comparison to races which immerse themselves fully in the Warp.

It is also true that the Tau are a race bereft of psykers. Whether it is due to their limited Warp interaction or something distinct about the Tau mind it means that they are unique amongst the dominant races of the galaxy. For while it does mean that the Tau do not possess the significant advantages that having psykers brings, it is also worthy to note that not one Tau has ever fallen to Chaos. In fact, as a species, the Tau register as barely more than a blip in the Warp and it may well be that this has been their saving grace, protecting the altruism and idealism their race shares from the destructive tendencies of Chaos.

I don't know, I like to trust Lexicanum over what, as Gwar! pointed out, "was never printed anywhere on a website that doesn't exist anymore."

Its like Femmarines. There are some things you just don't do.

**Skinnattittar**

DarkHound wrote:
ph34r wrote:First off, the word you are looking for is canon.
To get to the point, if you don't accept what GW says because they don't put it in a book for you, I'm sorry for your loss. Luckily as this has nothing to do with rules, you cannot attempt to enforce your incorrect views on others. The rest of the world will get to live with the fact that not only is chaos Tau possible (warp signature, though small means that they can potentially be possessed and corrupted by a strong enough force) but GW has straight up told us how it is possible.
Alright, first, you need to chill out dude. Secondly,
Lexicanum wrote:The Tau achieve faster-than-light travel by "diving" into the Warp and being subsequently flung out a great distance from where they entered. There are positives and negatives to this method of travel. Because their ships have such minimal contact with the Warp and are in a sense just skimming the surface, their travel is relatively safe, but a flaw in this design is that their speed is greatly reduced in comparison to races which immerse themselves fully in the Warp.

It is also true that the Tau are a race bereft of psykers. Whether it is due to their limited Warp interaction or something distinct about the Tau mind it means that they are unique amongst the dominant races of the galaxy. For while it does mean that the Tau do not possess the significant advantages that having psykers brings, it is also worthy to note that not one Tau has ever fallen to Chaos. In fact, as a species, the Tau register as barely more than a blip in the Warp and it may well be that this has been their saving grace, protecting the altruism and idealism their race shares from the destructive tendencies of Chaos.
I don't know, I like to trust Lexicanum over what, as Gwar! pointed out, "was never printed anywhere on a website that doesn't exist anymore."

Its like Femmarines. There are some things you just don't do.

Maybe the female Marines are the two missing Chapter. And the male-centric other chapters tried to make them their wives, but it all ended in a really messy divorce. The Emperor, upset with losing his house and half his stuff, struck them from his memory and the records.