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Cadre 101

I always think of the Tau using functional systems and naming conventions. I mean even their names tend to be something of an address and general self description rather than anything more esoteric. For a super-secret special forces group I can see them hiding them under a random designation.

Department Q? I wonder what Tau is for Special Air (Space?) Service

Nova Cadre or Ghost Cadre? I was going to say Specter Cadre, but its a bit Eldar sounding.

Regardless, when you do start making them, please do a Tutorial, I'd love to make some to put in my army as well.

How about SHIELD? Strategic Home-world Interceptor Elite Lightning Destruction

Im liking S.W.O.R.D!

What are they going the count as? Stealth Suits? If so, how about H.E.A.T. (Hostile Environment Assault Team)?

White Stars sounds very Tau to me, i'd go with that

Actually, if we're raiding acronyms, how about First Encounter Assault Recon? They would have to be the Tau equivalent to Daemonhunters, obviously

Flinty wrote:Actually, if we're raiding acronyms, how about First Encounter Assault Recon?

Oh THAT's creative .

I can't wait to see these models. I'm sure they're going to have alot of character. Though I must say, I think I'd prefer a darker scheme as opposed to whites or browns.


What about the Dusk Cadre?

Spectres seems about the best suggestion I've heard so far. Rips off Mass effect but who cares

How about this?
T.R.A.C.K.
(Tan recon and capture kadets )

M.K

I think White Stars is copyright protcted by JMS (B5)

Dont think that matters tbh Dee

the tau one, name them shadow hunters (except more tau-ey)

@ IM I like that

I've got it; the two most common hunter cadres titles are Mont'ka (Killing Blow) and Kauyon (Patient Hunter)

So how about 'The Raikiri Cadre' (Raikiri being Japanese for Lightning Blade)

Sounds fairly good, although i think technically kauyon and mont'ka are paths not cadres (i think??)

Proiteus wrote:I've got it; the two most common hunter cadres titles are Mont'ka (Killing Blow) and Kauyon (Patient Hunter)

So how about 'The Raikiri Cadre' (Raikiri being Japanese for Lightning Blade)

It sounds too...anime-ish. If that's what you're going for, then yeah that works. But if not, I'd avoid that name.

I love anime, but I don't like when anime blatantly crosses over with 40k. I more assossiate the Tau with a kind of "Halo Covenant" feel, rather than the anime/Gundam feel so many people seem to associate the Tau Empire with.

It's just a personal taste, as anime isn't GRIMDARK enough for me.

I would agree with Vitruvian. Mont'ka and kuayon are combat tactics, ratherthan Cadre names. I think it would also be a bit weird to mix japanese and english together into a single name. The languages don't flow together very well (in my view ).

MASK Mobile Armoured Strike Command.

Why not just have them as the 'Raikiri' rather than adding on the cadre to the end. I mean if you like that name an all, go with it.

Just make up a name that sounds tau-y and create an English translation. No one can argue with you

ON the language side (i know i'm sorta thread-jacking here, sorry) is High Gothic meant to just be English??

My name suggestion is "Shia Nor'da" which I now mark as the translation for my previous post of "Shadow Stalkers"!

Found a name on Lexicanum; "The Shas'len'ra"

Shas'len'ra being the tau term for 'Cautious Warrior' sounds ideal for the name of a commando unit?

Anyway I'll have the log up soon.

go with it. That sounds good!

Kais - Skilful
Kir'qath - Defender

The Kais Kir'qath?

Proiteus wrote:Shas'len'ra being the tau term for 'Cautious Warrior' sounds ideal for the name of a commando unit?

Erm no not really. If you look at SF mottos you get the messages these elite units want to associate with themselves, I'd look there for some more inspiration into the naming. I don't think caution is a particularly apt characteristic for their name.

SAS - Who Dares, Wins
SBS - By Strength and Guile
US Army SF - De Oppresso Liber
US Coastguard SAR- That others may Live

Most SpecOps teams want to align themselves with characteristics that either endorse their fighting prowess or their selflessness.

Imperial Monkey wrote:ON the language side (i know i'm sorta thread-jacking here, sorry) is High Gothic meant to just be English??

Maybe from a fluff point of view yeah, but from RL, Gothic its an extinct Germanic dialect.

well those are their mottos.
If you actually look into the name SAS (Special Air Service) it is meant to sound abstract, so that it could be anything. The whole idea is that they are so covert that no one should know what they actually are if communications got hacked.
So if you want a properly realistic name for them...make it obscure and not immediately relevant to military in any way. ie. make it so the connotations are of something menial as much as they are of military...

that might not make as much sense as it did when writing it...

How about the Tau 27th Logistical Devision? That sounds menacing.

Why not the 303rd Logistical Studies Group hey Whale. Its members known solo as The Unit.

Oh and naming wise Pro. what about something like the Night Stalkers?

I was wondering if anyone would get my thinly veiled reference.

I've just started the Tau Commando log, so if you wanna to discuss or suggest the name of the commandos further do it there please...

Tau Commando Strike Team; A Battlesuit Army Project