Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

The Crusade was far from doomed, they were successfully and relentlessly pushing the Tau back, the Tau lost footholds at every point.

The Imperium also didn't pull out because they'd have died otherwise, it's even stated in the Tau codex that they pulled out because of a Tyranid invasion ("Word had started the reach the Crusade of renewed Tyranid attacks...") requiring their attention more than the Tau, especially after what had happened at Macragge, and Tau could have only concievably blockaded them if they'd not allowed the Imperium to escape, but when you compare the Tau Navy to the Imperial Navy, a blockade would have ended in disaster for the Tau; they firepower on most of their ships (see the Tau in BFG), with only the Tigershark posing a real threat; the Imperial Navy has ships bristling with cannons that would've blasted the Tau ships out of the sky.

The Crusade was stalled because they attacked Dal'yth Prime, a major sept world, but if they had stayed there then they would have won, the Tau lacked the man-power required to push back the combined strength of Space Marines, Titans, the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Navy.

So by the logic here, the notable defeats of the Tau are a collective of tricks and suprises?

That 2:1 odds are somehow supposed to kill a race that can fight against 20:1 odds? Farsight faced a planetary WAAAAGH for months before he evacutated the last of his FWs. Only to return and crush the forces that sieged him.


The "backwater" planets the Tau inhabit contain a collection of the minds and works of the most advanced technology in known existence. Barring Necrons full technological capacity, the Tau simply dominate the battlefield with superior Technology.

As for the Shield Drones, they can take even the most punishing hit a Daemon can throw. The difference is that that shield drones shields are saving the shield drone not the Tau using it. Where as the Daemon is going to take a brutal shot to the face if he fails to deflect even one hit. And guess what, Pulse Rifles are capable of delivering those hits. And that's the low end of a whole lotta high end hurt.

Be thankful the Tau lack technology (for now) that gives them competitve travel. Because if they ever achieve that fast of travel, their "tiny" Empire is going to blitz through an entire galaxy ripe for the taking. The sheer amount of planets that would simply surrender to better lifestyles would set the galaxy up for new rulers.

Sure, a 20:1 fight against Orks. You do realize that any conflict with the Orks is going to be around 20:1, right? That's just how they operate. It's much different when you're facing the combined might of an entire Imperial Crusade, featuring multiple Space Marine chapters and Titan legions. I don't care how many rail guns you've got, there's just not much that can deal with that level of hurt. You'll spend all your time blasting at the big things only to have the Guardsmen and their formidable tanks take you to pieces, or you'll eliminate the little guys just in time to catch a salvo of Vulcan Megabolters to the face. Seriously, it's a lose-lose in this situation.

Don't get me wrong here. I am in no way an Imperium fanboy. I'm Chaos through-and-through, but even I realize that an attack of that magnitude on ANY Chaos-occupied system (barring the Eye of Terror, due to the influence of the Warp) would end in victory for the Imperium.

Sure, the war might have been costly for the Imperium, possibly too costly for it to even be worth it for Mankind, but in the end they would have won. The Imperium really is the big player in the galaxy right now, and there's nothing anyone can do about that, especially the Tau, who are an especially small player in the galaxy right now. It's just the way it is. This doesn't mean that the Tau are any less respectable a force, it just means that at the moment they are a fledgling and comparatively weak race. I mean, look at the Eldar; fluff-wise, they're just as shanked as your blue cow-people are, maybe even more so. It's not just your force of choice getting raked over the coals here.

Avatar 720 wrote:The Crusade was far from doomed, they were successfully and relentlessly pushing the Tau back, the Tau lost footholds at every point.

The Imperium also didn't pull out because they'd have died otherwise, it's even stated in the Tau codex that they pulled out because of a Tyranid invasion ("Word had started the reach the Crusade of renewed Tyranid attacks...") requiring their attention more than the Tau, especially after what had happened at Macragge, and Tau could have only concievably blockaded them if they'd not allowed the Imperium to escape, but when you compare the Tau Navy to the Imperial Navy, a blockade would have ended in disaster for the Tau; they firepower on most of their ships (see the Tau in BFG), with only the Tigershark posing a real threat; the Imperial Navy has ships bristling with cannons that would've blasted the Tau ships out of the sky.

The Crusade was stalled because they attacked Dal'yth Prime, a major sept world, but if they had stayed there then they would have won, the Tau lacked the man-power required to push back the combined strength of Space Marines, Titans, the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Navy.

If the Imperium wasn't run by a bunch of slow nits they would of realized they weren't pushing the Tau back. Tau doctrine of warfare shines light on the gains that lead to a stalemate. They got played by the Tau because they assumed they were making ground. When infact, the Tau had taken a large force, lured it in, seperated it from it bases, cut it's logistics all to hell, and had it stuck in a place it wasn't good to be stuck in. They then sent envoys to negotiate formal pantsing. Tau Doctrine is page 13, under Battle. It is literally the play they used and acheived stalemate with one planet's defenses against a Crusade.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

Shelegelah wrote:Sure, a 20:1 fight against Orks. You do realize that any conflict with the Orks is going to be around 20:1, right? That's just how they operate. It's much different when you're facing the combined might of an entire Imperial Crusade, featuring multiple Space Marine chapters and Titan legions. I don't care how many rail guns you've got, there's just not much that can deal with that level of hurt. You'll spend all your time blasting at the big things only to have the Guardsmen and their formidable tanks take you to pieces, or you'll eliminate the little guys just in time to catch a salvo of Vulcan Megabolters to the face. Seriously, it's a lose-lose in this situation.

Don't get me wrong here. I am in no way an Imperium fanboy. I'm Chaos through-and-through, but even I realize that an attack of that magnitude on ANY Chaos-occupied system (barring the Eye of Terror, due to the influence of the Warp) would end in victory for the Imperium.

Sure, the war might have been costly for the Imperium, possibly too costly for it to even be worth it for Mankind, but in the end they would have won. The Imperium really is the big player in the galaxy right now, and there's nothing anyone can do about that, especially the Tau, who are an especially small player in the galaxy right now. It's just the way it is. This doesn't mean that the Tau are any less respectable a force, it just means that at the moment they are a fledgling and comparatively weak race. I mean, look at the Eldar; fluff-wise, they're just as shanked as your blue cow-people are, maybe even more so. It's not just your force of choice getting raked over the coals here.

Tau don't sweat the Imperium. It is the Tau expanding into the open arms of their people. Those sent to halt this failed.


Oh, and

Manta > Titans. (The only exception being the rare Emperor Class)

Not only does a Manta make a mockery of a Titan, it carries a small army. The best part about Mantas? The Tau don't have to summon a machine cults permission to make them, they pump em out like butter. Ensuring almost every battle has them on standby.

If the Imperium wasn't run by a bunch of slow nits they would of realized they weren't pushing the Tau back. Tau doctrine of warfare shines light on the gains that lead to a stalemate. They got played by the Tau because they assumed they were making ground. When infact, the Tau had taken a large force, lured it in, seperated it from it bases, cut it's logistics all to hell, and had it stuck in a place it wasn't good to be stuck in. They then sent envoys to negotiate formal pantsing. Tau Doctrine is page 13, under Battle. It is literally the play they used and acheived stalemate with one planet's defenses against a Crusade.

BS, the only reason the Crusade slowed was because they hit a Sept World, which are military worlds and would be akin to attacking an SM Chapter's Home Planet wtih the entire Chapter still garrisoned there, it had nothing to do with tactics, the Tau were being crushed mercilessly at every point.

So by the logic here, the notable defeats of the Tau are a collective of tricks and suprises?

What is amazing is that you can bring logic into this, yet ignore that others bring, quit trolling.

Bah, Khorne's a pussy, it's Gork and Mork that are gonna win.

Avatar 720 wrote:

If the Imperium wasn't run by a bunch of slow nits they would of realized they weren't pushing the Tau back. Tau doctrine of warfare shines light on the gains that lead to a stalemate. They got played by the Tau because they assumed they were making ground. When infact, the Tau had taken a large force, lured it in, seperated it from it bases, cut it's logistics all to hell, and had it stuck in a place it wasn't good to be stuck in. They then sent envoys to negotiate formal pantsing. Tau Doctrine is page 13, under Battle. It is literally the play they used and acheived stalemate with one planet's defenses against a Crusade.

BS, the only reason the Crusade slowed was because they hit a Sept World, which are military worlds and would be akin to attacking an SM Chapter's Home Planet wtih the entire Chapter still garrisoned there, it had nothing to do with tactics, the Tau were being crushed mercilessly at every point.

So by the logic here, the notable defeats of the Tau are a collective of tricks and suprises?

What is amazing is that you can bring logic into this, yet ignore that others bring, quit trolling.

1. No, I am not trolling you but no. Dal'yth is a cosmopolitan world of traders and merchants. Had this been on Vior'la the Crusade would of been totally destroyed in days. The Tau do not value "land" in combat. They use a battlefield as a canvass to draw a plan of destruction on. Offensive battles are always more costly in war, the Tau force an opponent to constantly go on an offensive, while they play a much less costly defensive game. In the case of Dal'yth, The Imperium played into their hands and a decent sized Imperial force was stuck in the mud, in enemy territory.

2. I fully accept some of the things being said, Necrons did pants Tau, as did the Dark Eldar. But if you use those examples, keep in mind they were cheap lessons compared to what they could of been, and now never will be.

1. No, I am not trolling you but no. Dal'yth is a cosmopolitan world of traders and merchants. Had this been on Vior'la the Crusade would of been totally destroyed in days. The Tau do not value "land" in combat. They use a battlefield as a canvass to draw a plan of destruction on. Offensive battles are always more costly in war, the Tau force an opponent to constantly go on an offensive, while they play a much less costly defensive game. In the case of Dal'yth, The Imperium played into their hands and a decent sized Imperial force was stuck in the mud, in enemy territory.

2. I fully accept some of the things being said, Necrons did pants Tau, as did the Dark Eldar. But if you use those examples, keep in mind they were cheap lessons compared to what they could of been, and now never will be.

A sept world is important to the Empire and will have the strongest garrisons available, wether it's a market world, an eco-world or a military world. Obviously, the more militaristic septs will be stronger, but that doesn't mitigate the fact that a sept world is going to be balls deep in military might just because it's a sept world.

The Dark Eldar and Necron examples isn't what i'm talking about, it's the 'shield generators=Tau win' crap; you ignored the replies that used your logic and then used our logic to make your own scenario and expected us to listen, which is downright hypocritical.

Avatar 720 wrote:

1. No, I am not trolling you but no. Dal'yth is a cosmopolitan world of traders and merchants. Had this been on Vior'la the Crusade would of been totally destroyed in days. The Tau do not value "land" in combat. They use a battlefield as a canvass to draw a plan of destruction on. Offensive battles are always more costly in war, the Tau force an opponent to constantly go on an offensive, while they play a much less costly defensive game. In the case of Dal'yth, The Imperium played into their hands and a decent sized Imperial force was stuck in the mud, in enemy territory.

2. I fully accept some of the things being said, Necrons did pants Tau, as did the Dark Eldar. But if you use those examples, keep in mind they were cheap lessons compared to what they could of been, and now never will be.

A sept world is important to the Empire and will have the strongest garrisons available, wether it's a market world, an eco-world or a military world. Obviously, the more militaristic septs will be stronger, but that doesn't mitigate the fact that a sept world is going to be balls deep in military might just because it's a sept world.

The Dark Eldar and Necron examples isn't what i'm talking about, it's the 'shield generators=Tau win' crap; you ignored the replies that used your logic and then used our logic to make your own scenario and expected us to listen, which is downright hypocritical.

I will be specific because you are correct, I didn't answer that properly.

Daemons have an invuln.

Tau have armor and invulns. Break the invuln on a daemon it dies or is wounded. Break the invuln on a Tau and it's flying frisbee dies.

So as far as that is concerned, Daemons attacking all day long doesn't bother the Tau as a whole. They don't turn to Chaos and for the most part Chaos is hungry to eat Terra. When the two meet in a massive campaign someday, we will see how the Fire Caste army does against creatures that perhaps have worse tactics than the IoM, given their failure rate in Crusades, incursions and their amusing use of swords vs railguns and pulse rifles.

If you're facing a purely Khornate force, then shooting them to death might be the only way, but the world could be a trap and the daemons appear amidst the Tau.

Tzeentch, Nurgle and Slaanesh will all have psychic powers available to them, amongst other things, such as unnatural resillience for Nurgle (a railgun might put a hole through a beast of nurgle, but it might not stop it), sorcerous wards for Tzeentch (railguns are solid projectiles, they hit a psychic barrier or ward that stops them instantly and your weapon is now useless) or unnatural speed for Slaanesh (how do you hit something that can dodge faster than your projectile can cover ground?).

Whilst Tau might be resistant to warp temptations, they are far from resistant to psychic powers until new fluff is written; bolts of energy, plagues and disease and emotions can kill Tau as easily as any other race.

Also remember that the daemons aren't attacking Cadia, Abaddon and his Black legion is, also bear in mind that cadia is fortified by countless companies from countless marine chapters, the Cadians and countless millions/billions of guardsmen, the Ordo malleus (as if the Grey Knights wouldn't have a base next to the eye) and likely the Adeptus Soroitas too (to keep the guardsman loyal and the traitors a crisp golden brown).

You also have to bear in mind the Pylons on Cadia, which hold the eye at it's current level and will play havoc with daemons around them, most likely preventing them from materialising altogether due to the Necron origins of the pylons and the anti-warp that the Necrons have.

If the garrison of Cadia was present on Macragge when the Tyranids attacked, the Hive Fleet would have been obliterated; when you take that, remember that Chaos Space Marines are nowhere near as numerous or determined and single-minded as the Tyranids, but are still up against the same force that crushed that would've crushed the fleet beneath it's boot, it's no wonder that each black crusade has failed.

To end this read legion it explains that their has always been two options.



The star child idea has been seid to be uncannon according to GW. Sorry guys but in the end chaos will always be with humans reguardless and it is slowly winning.

Shelegelah to what your saying h tau do nto feed chaos in a way since they do not have a soul no daemons can be created of tau. Tau can be killed reguardless because they are a material creature and daemons are from the warp even sheild drones would not stop their mighty daemon weapons.

Avatar 720 wrote:If you're facing a purely Khornate force, then shooting them to death might be the only way, but the world could be a trap and the daemons appear amidst the Tau.

Tzeentch, Nurgle and Slaanesh will all have psychic powers available to them, amongst other things, such as unnatural resillience for Nurgle (a railgun might put a hole through a beast of nurgle, but it might not stop it), sorcerous wards for Tzeentch (railguns are solid projectiles, they hit a psychic barrier or ward that stops them instantly and your weapon is now useless) or unnatural speed for Slaanesh (how do you hit something that can dodge faster than your projectile can cover ground?).

Whilst Tau might be resistant to warp temptations, they are far from resistant to psychic powers until new fluff is written; bolts of energy, plagues and disease and emotions can kill Tau as easily as any other race.

Also remember that the daemons aren't attacking Cadia, Abaddon and his Black legion is, also bear in mind that cadia is fortified by countless companies from countless marine chapters, the Cadians and countless millions/billions of guardsmen, the Ordo malleus (as if the Grey Knights wouldn't have a base next to the eye) and likely the Adeptus Soroitas too (to keep the guardsman loyal and the traitors a crisp golden brown).

You also have to bear in mind the Pylons on Cadia, which hold the eye at it's current level and will play havoc with daemons around them, most likely preventing them from materialising altogether due to the Necron origins of the pylons and the anti-warp that the Necrons have.

If the garrison of Cadia was present on Macragge when the Tyranids attacked, the Hive Fleet would have been obliterated; when you take that, remember that Chaos Space Marines are nowhere near as numerous or determined and single-minded as the Tyranids, but are still up against the same force that crushed that would've crushed the fleet beneath it's boot, it's no wonder that each black crusade has failed.

The primary threat of Chaos is impressive. But it wouldn't be a fight against a bunch of simpletons that rely on pure numerical strength to win. Due to the fact that the bulk of weapons used by Tau have little to no problem wounding even the most impressive of Daemons means the threat would be mitigated largely for an army that relies on ranged warfare.

Things like plagues, hallucinations, and shielding would be combat multipliers, but they alone wouldn't win a battle against the Tau, especially given the Ethereals mysterious hold on the Tau mind.

Plus, the current genocide of fluff (GK dex) depicts a single man wandering the warp aimlessly destroying any daemon in his path. If one well trained man can wander their home turf I'm sure a massive technology advanced military can handle them in real space.

But I guess we will have to see when more fluff is written. I agree with you remarks about Cadia, I guess they did have some rather large defenses in a somewhat lopsided battle.

On a side note, I find it odd their hasn't been a major fight between the two, given one represents pure evil, while the other holds a more good guy title.

BeefCakeSoup wrote:So by the logic here, the notable defeats of the Tau are a collective of tricks and surprises?

Farly yes. Tau use diplomacy, promises and assassination to conquer a planet. Theyt simply lack numbers to conquer a Imperial Hive world ( Taros was just small colony ).

That 2:1 odds are somehow supposed to kill a race that can fight against 20:1 odds? Farsight faced a planetary WAAAAGH for months before he evacutated the last of his FWs. Only to return and crush the forces that sieged him.

it's easy to outmaneuver Orks. Even easier when you have entire army with big guns.

The "backwater" planets the Tau inhabit contain a collection of the minds and works of the most advanced technology in known existence. Barring Necrons full technological capacity, the Tau simply dominate the battlefield with superior Technology.

Most advanced technology? And what is the Golden Throne? Imperial Titan? Eldar Wabway? Necron phasing? Tau only have pulse and stealth technology more advanced than other races. Everyone can make battle suit ( Dreadnought ) but only Tau are giving it Jetpack and pulse weaponry.

As for the Shield Drones, they can take even the most punishing hit a Daemon can throw. The difference is that that shield drones shields are saving the shield drone not the Tau using it. Where as the Daemon is going to take a brutal shot to the face if he fails to deflect even one hit. And guess what, Pulse Rifles are capable of delivering those hits. And that's the low end of a whole lotta high end hurt.

You are right about that, but remember that daemons are immortal. You can kill his physical form - he will eventually return to fight against you again. And deamons are using magic in their fight - and magic>technology.

Be thankful the Tau lack technology (for now) that gives them competitve travel. Because if they ever achieve that fast of travel, their "tiny" Empire is going to blitz through an entire galaxy ripe for the taking. The sheer amount of planets that would simply surrender to better lifestyles would set the galaxy up for new rulers.

Are you an idiot? For Tau to reach that speeds they have to be psychic race and use warp. ( Necrons are simply out of the question since they destroy every peace of useful technology when they are destroyed ).And inhabitants of "planets that would simply surrender to better lifestyles" hates aliens so much that they would fight against the Tau to the last. And there will never be Tau "blitz" simply because in that case the High Lord of Terra would send a Crusade fleet so large that Tau would be outnumbered not 20:1 but 200:1. All Tau can do now is stay quite and hope not to disturb the sleeping giants of the Milky Way galaxy ( remember Japanese in WWII ).

The golden throne is a shrine to what man could of been, but never will be. Repairing it is beyond the greatest minds of the Imperium.

On the tech note, the first generation of galactic weaponry for standard infantry was the pulse rifle. The proto-type being tested now is the rail rifle. When the first generation of your weaponry turned guardsman into goo and your second generation turns space marines into goo it's fair to say you laugh at the galaxies "best" tech.

As for the capability to travel without psyker abilities, totally possible, if a short lived angry race of Necrons were able to find a technological solution I'm sure a short lived happy race can too.

As for the ensuing blitz, the Imperium would surrender or fight to the last.

A Tau Empire 1/4 the size of the Imperium would be undefeatable. And if Horus was able to lay siege to Terra with far less forces than that, it is no doubt possible the Tau would crush anything in their path due to the fact they would have rediculous technology and resources at that point.

BeefCakeSoup wrote:
The golden throne is a shrine to what man could of been, but never will be. Repairing it is beyond the greatest minds of the Imperium.

Of course when it was build by man who has all knowledge from the DaoT. And the only one who knows how to repair it is in it. Still, his psyhic powers are still the same and he safeguard human souls by not giving them to Chaos gods.

On the tech note, the first generation of galactic weaponry for standard infantry was the pulse rifle. The proto-type being tested now is the rail rifle. When the first generation of your weaponry turned guardsman into goo and your second generation turns space marines into goo it's fair to say you laugh at the galaxies "best" tech.

And still this one "goo" Guardsman has a good tech to take out most of the Mankind enemies. And this one "goo" Space Marine can take entire army's of Mankind enemies + he's immortal.

As for the capability to travel without psyker abilities, totally possible, if a short lived angry race of Necrons were able to find a technological solution I'm sure a short lived happy race can too.

That wasn't the Necrontyr, but the C'tan. And their solution was to sell their entire race and be slaves for all eternity. Don't know about Tau, but Mankind would rather die than to live like that.

As for the ensuing blitz, the Imperium would surrender or fight to the last.

A Tau Empire 1/4 the size of the Imperium would be undefeatable. And if Horus was able to lay siege to Terra with far less forces than that, it is no doubt possible the Tau would crush anything in their path due to the fact they would have rediculous technology and resources at that point.

A silly dream from a Tau fanboy. You are forgeting that beside Imperium ( who alone has more than enough power to exterminate you ) Tau would face Chaos Legions, Tyranid hive fleets, Ork WARGHHHH!!!, Eldar raids and Necron attacks in the same time. They wouldn't last for more than a decade...

With far less forces? Horus had with him 10 Space Marine LEGIONS ( every legion counting around 10.000 marines ) and half of entire Imperial army's at that time + almost all Titan legions. And Tau technology fails when compared to the powers of the Warp. Unless you are suggesting that the Old Ones had inferior technology in comparison to the Tau.

I am sorry, but Tau ( for now at least ) are REALLY minor player when it comes to galactic affairs.

The are played as being a minor threat because if Imperial citizens knew a race of creatures with better technology and several victories were slowly invading the Imperium, it would look bad for the MIGHTY image they try to uphold.

Tau are a threat, not the same kind of threat as Nids, Crons, or Chaos.. possibly the worst threat of them all, a better Empire with a promising future in the galaxy.

Overall, the Tau threat may be the worst yet. An Empire using a very similar doctrine that the Emperor employed, when he started his conquest from a humble planet called Earth. That's the same mistake countless xeno empires made when they shrugged off that Emperor guy.

Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:

BeefCakeSoup wrote:
If Kroot can be turned, then Kroot will be killed.

.

Chicken fillets for all

BeefCakeSoup wrote:The are played as being a minor threat because if Imperial citizens knew a race of creatures with better technology and several victories were slowly invading the Imperium, it would look bad for the MIGHTY image they try to uphold.

Victories? Let me see: Gravalax Incident, Nimbosa Crusade, Zeist Campaign, Targa, Kronus, Kaurava....
Only Victory that Tau had over Imperium was Taros, And that was 20:1 battle in Tau favor + Taros PDF + Tau fleet...

Tau are a threat, not the same kind of threat as Nids, Crons, or Chaos.. possibly the worst threat of them all, a better Empire with a promising future in the galaxy.

Overall, the Tau threat may be the worst yet. An Empire using a very similar doctrine that the Emperor employed, when he started his conquest from a humble planet called Earth. That's the same mistake countless xeno empires made when they shrugged off that Emperor guy.

No, it's not the same thing. Humans already colonized much of the galaxy even before the Fall of the Eldar. Emperor has just united them all under one banner.
Tau lack interstellar travel to reach any important Imperial world ( they need at least 1000 years to reach Macragge ), they lack manpower to hold any larger space than this one they already have, and so far they only had business with less colonized worlds with few million Humans. Attacking a Imperial Hive City with billions of citizens and thousand of troops is a few level above present Tau military capabilities, Tau also lack psyhic protection against warp anomalies and they lack life span that would enable them to hold grudge against citizens of the galaxy. What you are saying is like North Korea want to wage war against UN, that's the scale of Tau Empire and Imperium of Mankind. And some Imperial citizens do know about the Tau, and they way: "Join us or we will join you, to us". And none Human planet or state will not tolerate living under foreign regime, you can count on it.
As for Tau conquest, call me when they have technology to go further than 5 light years from their home planet...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

woodbok wrote:

Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:

BeefCakeSoup wrote:
If Kroot can be turned, then Kroot will be killed.

.

Chicken fillets for all

Seriously? Someone arguing that Tau can actually win an all out war with the Imperium? or CHAOS?
Remind me on how the CSM pray to Khorne again
They cannot possibly win if the Imperium or a chapter and it's allies decided to say "Hey guys let kill all of this Tau". Tau aren't the owner of the "most advanced technology" that honor belongs to Necron , nor the most numerous troop that belongs to IG/Orks/NIDS, nor the most elite of elite that belong to the SM/CSM/Eldar/DE/Daemon

They need a good number of year to go to Macragge, in which the Imperium can intercept them. They are also going to Macragge , the only race that have given it a fight were NIDS

Yeah the tiny Tau Empire can truley defet the entire Galaxy , yeah their tiny little can defet the Imperium , Chaos , Eldar , Orks , Necrons and the Tyranids.

blood reaper wrote:Yeah the tiny Tau Empire can truley defet the entire Galaxy , yeah their tiny little can defet the Imperium , Chaos , Eldar , Orks , Necrons and the Tyranids.

What BeefCakeSoup mean is that the Tau have a secret weapon to use against the Imperium:

Chuck Norris sucks , Just some guy who does martial arts.

Chuck Norris is stiing on the golden throne now

Can't be bothered to fight for Tau

BeefCakeSoup wrote:The are played as being a minor threat because if Imperial citizens knew a race of creatures with better technology and several victories were slowly invading the Imperium, it would look bad for the MIGHTY image they try to uphold.

Tau are a threat, not the same kind of threat as Nids, Crons, or Chaos.. possibly the worst threat of them all, a better Empire with a promising future in the galaxy.

Overall, the Tau threat may be the worst yet. An Empire using a very similar doctrine that the Emperor employed, when he started his conquest from a humble planet called Earth. That's the same mistake countless xeno empires made when they shrugged off that Emperor guy.

Yeah, I think the general consensus is that on a grand scale, Tau are shanked no matter which way you slice it. That may change in a future codex, it may not. That's just the way it is right now.

I think one of the key points in 40k is that everyone looses in the end. Orks are their own nemesis and will never rise into anything lasting. if they conquer all they will eventually start fighting eachother. Chaos is an emotional reflection of the real world: Therefore chaos will wither once the warp-influencing races die out and not a moment before that. Tyranids will eventually run out of stuff to eat....and die. Eldar are dying... nothing new there. The empire is going down the drain one way or the other. Its flawed and will be eaten up by the numberless threats that assail it. The greatest threat however is the Imperium itself. It is its own worst enemy. Chaos didnt cause the heresy. man did. chaos was just along for the ride.

As for tau... really? as if they where ever a major contender to anything. read the fluff: they have enough trouble with handling 10-ish starsystems. superior to what exactly?

I think beefsoupface's point is that it's not about 40k. It's about 41k or 42k when the tau have united hundreds of races under the banner of a truly good empire.

It's a pointless arguement to say that the Tau are a major player now though. Fear stupid people in large groups. And the IoM has a TON of idiots to throw around.

I dont think they'le unit hundreds of races , I mean the Tau will have to face down the Nids at one stage.

2 things: The tau are not good. They say join us or die, or join us or we force you.
second: The empires they do get under their banner...arent really major contenders. Otherwise we would know of them allready. The tau are strong atm because they can actually reach the area that needs their presence. Once their influence spreads they will be slowed considerably by lacking warp travel on a larger scale then the leap frog jumps they use now.

in short, picking up the dead weight of the universe and passing it off as a prober army is naive to the extreme.

Unfortunately the Tau aren't a real power at the moment. Where the Tau really excel is in advancing. They aren't a threat in thatr they could destroy the IoM, they are a threat in that if you leave them they will quickly grow to a point that they could really cause problems.