The Tau Shadow Caste

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.

**yamgrenade**

+++
BEGIN EMERGENCY VOX LOG
TELEPATHIC DUCT: -N/A-
REF: -N/A-
AUTHOR: Machine-Spirit Designate BETA-583
REPORT TRANSMITTED: Explorator-Class Land’s Vision
DESTINATION: -ANY-
DATE:801.M35
+++
-SEVERE WARP TREMORS DETECTED-
+Damage report initialized…+
Hull Integrity: DAMAGED.
Life Support: DAMAGED.
Thruster Array: DAMAGED.
Weapons Systems: DESTROYED.
Weapon Redundancies: DESTROYED.
Navigational Array: DAMAGED.
Landing Struts: DESTROYED.
+Detecting Crew Life Signs…+
-MINIMAL-
+Proximity Sensors Are Detecting A Nearby Planetoid.+
+Navigational Array Finding Coordinates.+
-ERROR.-
+Atmospheric Analysis Computing...+
-Atmosphere: Approximately 70:30 N2:O2 Mix.-
+Navigational Redundant System Calculating Velocity …+
-Velocity: 4,500 KPS.-
+Navigational Redundant System Calculating Angle Of Approach …+
-Angle Of Approach From Perpendicular: 3 Degrees.-
-WARNING: 98.5% LIKELIHOOD OF DESTRUCTIVE IMPACT WITH PLANETOID.-
+Initializing Angel Of Approach Increase…+
-ERROR: Mass Of Transport In Excess Of Necessary Limits For Maneuver.-
+Proximity Sensors Have Detected Impact With Atmosphere.+
-Atmosphere: 71.583% N2, 28.045% O2, 0.118% Argon, 0.035% Carbon, 0.009% Helium, 0.210% Unknown Gases.-
-WARNING: IMPACT WITH PLANETOID IN 10 SECONDS.-
+Jettisoning Stasis Cargo Section.+
-WARNING: IMPACT WITH PLANETOID IN 7 SECONDS.-
+Initializing Angel Of Approach Increase…+
-WARNING: IMPACT WITH PLANETOID IN 4 SECONDS.-
-ERROR: Thruster Output Velocity Insufficient For Maneuver.-
-WARNING: IMPACT WITH PLANETOID IN 1 SECONDS.-
+++END EMERGENCY VOX LOG+++

Of the three dozen T’au that were collected by the explorers of the Adeptus Mechanicus vessel Land’s Vision, only two dozen survived the crash-landing onto the jungle death world δT-11035B, later to be renamed Erra, or Shadow. This moon was previously surveyed by the Land’s Vision on their way to Tau and dismissed as a jungle world devoid of ores or resources to further the cause of the Imperial war effort, with the lead Techpriest noting that the native fauna had a particular affinity for the servitor drones they had brought along to analyze the surface.

The T’au, separated from their tribes, wailed out in distress, and they nearly came to blows over old blood feuds when a local creature, a creature they later named an Or’au or Powerful Death, attacked the group, nearly killing them all. After their defeat of this creature and the ensuing feast, the remaining twenty-four remaining T’au recognized their similarities, and tenuously agreed to a truce while they attempted to survive their new home.

While the first few months nearly exterminated the new immigrants, over the years the T’au learned the weapons and cunning needed to survive in the jungle they named Hui’wern, the Hidden Deception. No longer could they see their enemies and wait for their approach as on the open plains of Tau. Instead, they learned to conceal themselves completely from their prey, and stalk it before closing for the kill, as the close-hanging vines and jagged trunks made spears and bows nearly useless.

After centuries, the shaky ceasefire had become a bond of brotherhood, uniting the few tribes on Erra so they could rely on each other against the frequent dangers of their home. While squabbles and wars between the tribes did rage occasionally, the constant threats of the jungles meant that only the foolish squabbled for long.

After nearly three millennium, the Tau upon Erra discovered the art of metallurgy, far after their distant cousins on their home world. Scraping what little nodules of crude iron and crystals they could find from the creature-infested caves that were scattered beneath the jungle floor, they learned how to refine and process their new alloys, passing them down from father to son, and further purifying and improving upon the weapons of their ancestors before passing them on.

Greatest of the new metalworkers was the warrior Yanoi’ii, and before he died he not only had raised bladework from a craft to an art, but had also discovered several processes that allowed the Erra’la to incorporate venoms from their slain prey into their blades, allowing them to become even more useful and treasured against the fauna of Erra. For his contributions to the tribes, his descendants were nominated as chiefs, to rule on disputes and to lead the tribes into battle united against more formidable monsters of the forest.

A few decades after the end of the Third Sphere of Expansion, the ship Aun’va and the Children of Fio’tyr came across a small jungle moon near the edges of their borders, on the far side of the Tau Empire from the Damocles Gulf. When their scanners first reported the lifesigns of T’au on the surface below, they dispatched a rescue party to save the presumed crew of a crashed ship. It was only after three of the eight Shas’la that were sent to check for signs of wreckage were killed swiftly and silently by humanoid figures that the T’au on the Aun’va began to realize the true extent of their discovery.

Within weeks, a ship arrived carrying the Ethereal Aun’tae. Skilled at speaking with and reasoning with even the most erratic of the Tau Empire’s various allies, Aun’tae relished the opportunity he was about to receive. Upon arriving on the surface though, Aun’tae heard the cries of an injured T’au,a nd the sounds of a struggling roaring beast. Bursting into a clearing, the Ethereal came upon the latest descendant of Yanoi’ii, Karra’ii, under attack by an Or’au.

As the Ethereal’s Shas’vre guards were unable to fire at the beast attacking Karra’ii, the Aun’tae gracefully dove forward, and rolled underneath the beast, thrusting his honor blade through the creature’s chest. After she got to her feet, Karra’ii regarded the Ethereal for a moment, and then in a swift motion drew a dagger and grabbed the Ethereals hand, tightly grasping the blade between their palms. Upon finishing the blood bonding with Aun’tae, the ethereal began to explain the full extent of the Greater Good and the Tau on their homeworld. Seeing an opportunity to escape the daily living hell of Erra, Karra’ii pledged the Erra’la in support of their long-lost cousins, and joined Aun’tae upon his ship.

Since that day, the Erra’la have migrated to the separate T’au septs, joining and melding with their brothers and their strategies. While some Shas’la may consider them to be erratic or primitive, none can dispute the grace at which they can execute Kauyon, and the ability for their blades to swiftly bring the Mont’ka upon an unsuspecting foe. In keeping with their traditions, the Erra’la send their young unblooded warriors to the jungle moon, alone and with only their ancestral blade, in order so that they may prove themselves against the beasts of their ancestors, and return a respected warrior.

This is a unit for Tau that I would like to propose, being a sort of elite, yet fragile CC unit for Tau.
As Darkprince would say, A glass sword.

Credit to darkPrince010 For helping me with ideas and clarification, as well as the excellent fluff.
They have the same physical characteristics of a Tau, but have adapted differently to be better at CC.

Characteristics-
Shadow Caste Warrior Erra'la
WS--BS--S-T--W--I---A--Ld--Sv
4-----3----3--3--1---4--2---7---4+

Infiltrate, Move through cover, Fleet

Erra'ui would get +1 WS, and Ld, as well as some goodies.

Wargear-
Models are armed with 2 Shadow daggers (CC weapons meaning +1 attack) and flare grenades (offensive nades) by default. They may exchange one for a pulse pistol for ? points or both for a honor blade for ? points, Which gives +2 S. The 'ui can take smoke grenades for 5 points. These can be used once a game to give a squad a +5 cover save for one turn. If in cover, it gives +1 to cover rolls. They also have the same Stealth field as Stealth Suits.
They also may purchase shock-slings for 5 points. these were previously used to entangle fleeing prey so they could be killed more easily. They have been re-outfitted by the earth caste to send a shockwave through the target, stunning them. A unit equipped with shock-slings gets +1 to sweeping advance rolls.

Composition-
6-12 Models per squad. 'ui for 5 (10?) pts.
Count as troops, but are 0-1 due to their small number.
Farsight Enclaves attract many more of these because of his tactical philosiphy, and as such get 0-3 instead.
Comments, ideas, and critisism are appreciated, and let me know if I missed anything. Names for the weapons appreciated

Note: this is a rough draft. I will edit when I get some advice.

**nomotog**

The critic in me wants to tell you to just make a kroot, but I wont. Here are some random thoughts. The idea of creation seems a little odd. They just get lost on a planet and are now assassins? A grenade makes a poor close combat weapon. If they are assassins, where is their stealth?

**yamgrenade**

I forgot to mention infiltrate, but I know that doesn't necessarily make them mega-ninja's or anything. But to be honest, there is a lot of stuff in the fluff that doesn't make sense in the rules. As for their creation, they adapted in a dark jungle for thousands of years. That would allow them to develop stealth to the point of instinct. The grenade is just to make them better in assaults.

**Kanluwen**

No. Just no.

There's so much wrong from the start, but I don't want to be mean. It's just one of those ideas you probably should not do Yamgrenade.

**nomotog**

Grenades make people batter at assaulting. I did not know that one yet. You know if you want something closer to fluff, you could try the honor guard that the tau keep pulling out. Don't make it a new caste, just a part of the ethereal caste.

**Kanluwen**

nomotog wrote:Grenades make people batter at assaulting. I did not know that one yet. You know if you want something closer to fluff, you could try the honor guard that the tau keep pulling out. Don't make it a new caste, just a part of the ethereal caste.

This, if you're absolutely 100% driven by the overwhelming need to do this idea of 'Tau Assassin Ninjas'("Dark Katanas"? really?). Don't create a new Caste. Creating new 'factions' for all intents and purposes never really ends well.

**yamgrenade**

Kanluwen wrote:No. Just no.

There's so much wrong from the start, but I don't want to be mean. It's just one of those ideas you probably should not do Yamgrenade.

Adding a "Just no" doesn't make you more credible, I don't see why people do it all the time. And would you mind telling me what is wrong with it?

nomotog wrote:Grenades make people batter at assaulting. I did not know that one yet. You know if you want something closer to fluff, you could try the honor guard that the tau keep pulling out. Don't make it a new caste, just a part of the ethereal caste.

The honor guard kinda suck...and did grenades change or something? Because I remember them making squads better in assault.

Kanluwen wrote:
nomotog wrote:Grenades make people batter at assaulting. I did not know that one yet. You know if you want something closer to fluff, you could try the honor guard that the tau keep pulling out. Don't make it a new caste, just a part of the ethereal caste.

This, if you're absolutely 100% driven by the overwhelming need to do this idea of 'Tau Assassin Ninjas'("Dark Katanas"? really?). Don't create a new Caste. Creating new 'factions' for all intents and purposes never really ends well.

Dark Katana is a working name. I know it sucks. And what caste do you think they belong to? Certainly not ethereals. They are leaders, not fighters. Fire caste despise CC. Kroot are brutes (and not very brutish at that.) I'm not really focusing on them as "ultra ninja assassin tau omgwtfbbq," Just a close combat unit that is as specialized and Tau-ish.

**Kanluwen**

Tau, period,despise close combat.

That, aside from suddenly 'creating' a new Caste that was some kind of...I don't know, genetic freakshow, is what is so silly.

**yamgrenade**

Kanluwen wrote:Tau, period,despise close combat.

That, aside from suddenly 'creating' a new Caste that was some kind of...I don't know, genetic freakshow, is what is so silly.

They developed it out of necessity. And it isn't creating, it is discovering...how is it a genetic freak show? They are pretty much normal Tau, they just took a different path evolutionarily.

**Kanluwen**

yamgrenade wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:Tau, period,despise close combat.

That, aside from suddenly 'creating' a new Caste that was some kind of...I don't know, genetic freakshow, is what is so silly.

They developed it out of necessity. And it isn't creating, it is discovering...how is it a genetic freak show? They are pretty much normal Tau, they just took a different path evolutionarily.

Unknown to the crew of the ship, they had just indirectly created the 6'th caste of the Tau- The Shadow Caste. When the samples of the Tau were dumped, they miraculously found their way into the gravitational reach of a planet, and crashed onto the jungle world of Stolag. Luckily, they were the Hardy plains-dwellers of T'au, and became expert hunters of the jungle. They soon realized that to survive, they would have to change their tactics. They adapted to the close spaces and darkness of the jungle. They developed much more slowly than the unified castes, but at the time of their discovery, they had mastered stealth and assassination and had begun building handguns and handbows. They joined The Greater Good quickly, and have been serving The Tau Empire ever since.

Fire Warriors do not suddenly become 'ninjas', just because they were "dumped in a jungle world".

Especially considering that the Fire Caste dwells on a few swamp worlds, and hasn't become ninjas.

**nomotog**

I actually haven't leaned the grenade rules yet. The idea that the tau despise close combat is a little exaggerated. The tau actually have a rather nice set of different melee weapons. They are all used by ethereal caste. That's why I suggest them.

I have two general ideas here. If all you want is a CC unit, I say try something with honor guard. Give them honor blades make them troops and allow them to be put in units of 6-12. Maybe steal some war gear from the eldar or the SM (re flavored)

If you are thinking more ninja like. Maybe something where an ethereal is rendered unable to lead (maybe they commit a crime or are a pyker) they drafted into the secret police and used as assassins. They would be deployed as single units. Maybe deep striking. Then give them a rule where they explode when die.

**yamgrenade**

@ Kanluwen

Yes, as if a few years would do the same thing as thousands of years of early evolution.

@nomotog

The reason I avoid ethereal as melee is because the way they are worked out, Tau go into a rage when they die. If they died as often as these probably will, it wouldn't make sense. Them committing crimes makes no sense fluff-wise, as they are the most devoted to The Greater Good.

**Kanluwen**

The Tau have no need for an 'assassin' caste as they have 'assassins' already.

It's the Pathfinders of the Fire Caste. They can get Railrifles for a reason.

**nomotog**

yamgrenade wrote:@ Kanluwen

Yes, as if a few years would do the same thing as thousands of years of early evolution.

@nomotog

The reason I avoid ethereal as melee is because the way they are worked out, Tau go into a rage when they die. If they died as often as these probably will, it wouldn't make sense. Them committing crimes makes no sense fluff-wise, as they are the most devoted to The Greater Good.

Goodish point. Still the idea of a 6th caste just showing up by accident seems odd & it's so close to the fire caste too. Have you thought about just giving battlesuits some honor blades?

**yamgrenade**

@Kanluwen
Again, I'm not focusing on them as assassins gameplay-wise, just fluff wise. They will just be a much needed CC unit, while still fitting in with the specialization aspect of Tau.

@ Nomotog

I have, and I don't think anyone would send battlesuits on a suicide mission armed just with +2 strength. They just now found them because they are on the edge of the dense star cluster of Tau space.

**Kanluwen**

Or, instead of completely going away from established Tau fluff just so you can have something with swords...

Rework Pulse Carbines. They are, according to...well all the fluff the Tau have had since their inception, what the Fire Caste use for 'close quarters'.

**nomotog**

Kanluwen wrote:Or, instead of completely going away from established Tau fluff just so you can have something with swords...

Rework Pulse Carbines. They are, according to...well all the fluff the Tau have had since their inception, what the Fire Caste use for 'close quarters'.

Maybe something like a shock bayonet? Have it improve their S by two points? Maybe subtracting a counter attack for each hit.

**yamgrenade**

They don't need more strength, they need more WS and
I.

**Your Friend Doctor Robert**

>As for their creation, they adapted in a dark jungle for thousands of years.
>they adapted in a dark jungle
>Dark Jungle
>Implying the jungle is permanently dark and has no photosynthesis.

Also, if you want Tau Jungle Fighters, take Kroot.

**yamgrenade**

Dark as in dark below the canopy. I think that that is perfectly believeable. Hell, even on earth that happens. What is wrong with that?

**darkPrince010**

Holy

Kanluwen. Feel free to be a fluff lawyer, but at least know about the fluff you're lawyering...

Upon first Imperial contact with the Tau, at which point they were basically fishy neanderthals, they took genetic samples with them (All clearly stated in the Tau codex. This was on page 4). Tau also have a very fast evolutionary adaptation rate (Also stated clearly in the Codex, page 20). Given the fact the Tau homeworld was plagued by warp storms, which could very easily have blown one of the ships carrying the gene samples (which could be either just DNA samples or primitive T'au in stasis. It's never clearly stated either way) off course. It's completely conceivable that these evolving T'au might find the "distasteful" close-quarters fighting and hunting evolutionarily advantageous, and thus become adapted to it over the intervening three thousand years (During which the T'au on the homeworld developed everything from black powder to spaceflight and conquered all of the nearby sheltered worlds).

As for weapons, why is a Katana too ninjalike, when the entire Tau codex is full of scaled down Gundam suits? They draw several aspects of the codex from Oriental culture, just like the Golden Throne's occupant and Imperial gothic architecture draws from European culture. The name needs work, sure, but is the underlying idea sound for crunchy rules? Plus, if you read how the unit works, you'd be able to see that they aren't designed for smashing stuff like Assault Marines (12 I4 1W models with a 4+ save isn't a great option for going toe to toe with a dedicated CC squad), nor are they designed to kill squads like an Assassin (Pulse pistols are not going to kill everything, and only 2 A each at S3 means they'll do some wounds, but can't wipe squads without a 2 or 3 turn drawn-out fight). They offer a usable, limited melee screen for the Tau, as opposed to the meat shield horde of Kroot. They won't eat squads like other armies CC squads, but they can actually cope better than FW ever can in CC.

Back to fluff, the Ethereals and the doctrines of the Greater Good mean that the T'au would embrace any other race willing to cooperate with them, especially so for distant relatives. Hell, they'd be better melee troops than the Kroot (possible background for a schism in the fluff? perhaps) since if the Ethereals have the same semi-hypnotic control over them as the other castes (Again, in the codex, page 9). During the Third Sphere of Expansion, it's not inconceivable at all that they could have stumbled upon this "lost" caste, and incorporated them into the empire.

I've seen your posts on other proposed idea threads kanluwen, and while we don't mind criticism (we are on the internets after all), it's usually implied that we're welcoming constructive criticism, not a "Well,

your idea because

in your

." Feel free to disagree with our ideas, but offer ways to improve it, instead of only bitching about it.

/end

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, "Shadow" in the Tau lexicon could easily mean "hidden" or "obscured," fitting well with a lost caste that's been missing for three millenium...

**yamgrenade**

Oh, btw, Darkprince has been bouncing ideas back and forth with me. I'm adding his name to the OP.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
EDIT: Changed OP from cheesy backstory to dry backstory.

**Kanluwen**

darkPrince010 wrote:Holy Kanluwen. Feel free to be a fluff lawyer, but at least know about the fluff you're lawyering...

Upon first Imperial contact with the Tau, at which point they were basically fishy neanderthals, they took genetic samples with them (All clearly stated in the Tau codex. This was on page 4). Tau also have a very fast evolutionary adaptation rate (Also stated clearly in the Codex, page 20).

Yeah...that's speculation. The fact that it's called "Zachary's Theorem of Adaptive Divergence" should make that clear.

Given the fact the Tau homeworld was plagued by warp storms, which could very easily have blown one of the ships carrying the gene samples (which could be either just DNA samples or primitive T'au in stasis. It's never clearly stated either way) off course.

The Warp Storms didn't happen until after the Explorator Fleet encountering the Tau had returned.

It's completely conceivable that these evolving T'au might find the "distasteful" close-quarters fighting and hunting evolutionarily advantageous, and thus become adapted to it over the intervening three thousand years (During which the T'au on the homeworld developed everything from black powder to spaceflight and conquered all of the nearby sheltered worlds).

The Fire Caste were close-quarters fighters and hunters. They are, like our society now, at the point where they consider close-quarters fighting "barbaric". They avoid it whenever they can.
Why? Because they know it's not really effective, by and large, with their equipment or style of warfare. Why is it more effective for the armies with hundreds of men charging with lasguns and bayonets fixed, the 8-10 foot power armored giants with armor as thick as the Tau's tanks?
You tell me.

As for weapons, why is a Katana too ninjalike, when the entire Tau codex is full of scaled down Gundam suits? They draw several aspects of the codex from Oriental culture, just like the Golden Throne's occupant and Imperial gothic architecture draws from European culture.

If you think that "Oriental culture" equates to "Gundam suits", I'm not quite sure what to tell you.

The name needs work, sure, but is the underlying idea sound for crunchy rules? Plus, if you read how the unit works, you'd be able to see that they aren't designed for smashing stuff like Assault Marines (12 I4 1W models with a 4+ save isn't a great option for going toe to toe with a dedicated CC squad), nor are they designed to kill squads like an Assassin (Pulse pistols are not going to kill everything, and only 2 A each at S3 means they'll do some wounds, but can't wipe squads without a 2 or 3 turn drawn-out fight). They offer a usable, limited melee screen for the Tau, as opposed to the meat shield horde of Kroot. They won't eat squads like other armies CC squads, but they can actually cope better than FW ever can in CC.

When you say that you "don't want ninjas" and then have "Shadow Daggers" and "Dark Katanas"...I don't know what to tell you there either.

The Tau aren't a CC army. They're severely handicapped right now because of it, but that doesn't mean the answer is to start handing out katanas and making up fishninjas.

Back to fluff, the Ethereals and the doctrines of the Greater Good mean that the T'au would embrace any other race willing to cooperate with them, especially so for distant relatives. Hell, they'd be better melee troops than the Kroot (possible background for a schism in the fluff? perhaps) since if the Ethereals have the same semi-hypnotic control over them as the other castes (Again, in the codex, page 9). During the Third Sphere of Expansion, it's not inconceivable at all that they could have stumbled upon this "lost" caste, and incorporated them into the empire.

I've seen your posts on other proposed idea threads kanluwen, and while we don't mind criticism (we are on the internets after all), it's usually implied that we're welcoming constructive criticism, not a "Well, your idea because in your ." Feel free to disagree with our ideas, but offer ways to improve it, instead of only bitching about it.

/end

Criticism isn't restricted to simply the rules. Fluff does come into play, especially when all you ask for is "criticisms, comments, and ideas". You don't get to pick and choose what commentary you get. I've posted a unit or two of my own design on here, feel free to go blast them for fluff reasons if you want. You won't find many reasons I bet, because I try not to go so far out of my way to create ideas that are so wildly out there that it makes people kind of wonder if you're aware of the background.

yamgrenade wrote:Oh, btw, Darkprince has been bouncing ideas back and forth with me. I'm adding his name to the OP.

I never would have guessed.

**purplefood**

Questionable fluff aside i disagree with the stats and rules.
Give them WS 3 (The same as a trained Imperial Guardsman)
The Sergeant shouldn't recieve an S boost.
Make the shadow daggers stun people or poisonous or something rather than giving a 5++ since presumably all CC weapons can block so it's a bit odd really...
I disagree with the katana giving them +1 S but i feel they could probably use the boost... maybe make it so they can't gain the +1 attack for having 2 CC weapons?

**darkPrince010**

Evolution is a "Theory" as well. Does that make it any less valid? As for the Warp Storms, why wouldn't an area of space that had a three millennium warp storm not be prone to the occasional storm both before and after? The Shadow Caste are probably a more primitive strain of T'au, or they may simply value the skill of the hunter (and believe cowardly shooting your foes from a distance to be "barbaric"). Even Farsight glorifies the close-combat aspect of the culture, and he hasn't been isolated for centuries. The Gundam suit mention was to simply illustrate a similarity between real-world culture and the fluff of the universe, not to draw the absolute you seem to assume. Someone probably bitched (and probably still do) about the Space Wolves becoming "too viking-ey," but they're a viable addition to the universe anyhow.

While I don't get to pick and choose my commentary, I can guarantee you I won't journey onto yours or anyone else's threads and simply blast their ideas without offering constructive changes or modifications for improvement. Looking over your recent threads, you don't appear (on the surface anyways) to have started anything new, in rules or fluff (Please correct me if I'm wrong, as I would actually enjoy reading your ideas), and I kinda wonder if you're simply trying to troll people...

Background is important, but I don't jump down people's throats when they make an inaccurate or improbable assumption about something I'm well versed in, either IRL or in the hobby. By all means, help us correct the fluff and crunch so this would be an acceptable option. Just don't piss on it and wonder why the OP suddenly seems to become unfriendly...

(Also, in case you're not done ripping a new one in people, I submit my own ideas the Shadow caste idea partially budded off from

: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/383218.page)

Automatically Appended Next Post:
@purplefood: I agree with no S boost, but definitely an I or WS boost instead for the leader. Poisoned would be nice, but it'd be treading close to DE territory then. Perhaps instead the CC attacks count as a certain value of AP with the certain attacks.

**yamgrenade**

Kanluwen wrote:

yamgrenade wrote:Oh, btw, Darkprince has been bouncing ideas back and forth with me. I'm adding his name to the OP.

I never would have guessed.

First off, WTF is that supposed to mean? Oh yes, Kanluwen, me and some guy I don't know have a SECRET F***ING CONSPIRACY against you.

Kanluwen wrote:Yeah...that's speculation. The fact that it's called "Zachary's Theorem of Adaptive Divergence" should make that clear.

We should obey all the theorys and laws of the universe just as the rest of 40k obviously does.

Kanluwen wrote:The Warp Storms didn't happen until after the Explorator Fleet encountering the Tau had returned.

This is a perfect argument saying that warp rifts only occur in gigantic storms and very occasionally.

Kanluwen wrote:The Fire Caste were close-quarters fighters and hunters. They are, like our society now, at the point where they consider close-quarters fighting "barbaric". They avoid it whenever they can.
Why? Because they know it's not really effective, by and large, with their equipment or style of warfare. Why is it more effective for the armies with hundreds of men charging with lasguns and bayonets fixed, the 8-10 foot power armored giants with armor as thick as the Tau's tanks?
You tell me.

Why are these new warriors considering close combat fighting neccesary? Because they know by and large it is what they themselves are best at.

Kanluwen wrote:If you think that "Oriental culture" equates to "Gundam suits", I'm not quite sure what to tell you.

That isn't the only thing. If you haven't seen all the references, you probably can't say what oriental culture is at all.

Kanluwen wrote:When you say that you "don't want ninjas" and then have "Shadow Daggers" and "Dark Katanas"...I don't know what to tell you there either.

Ok, well obviously you didn't read my post earlier about working names.

yamgrenade wrote:Dark Katana is a working name. I know it sucks.

Kanluwen wrote:They're severely handicapped right now because of it...

Ok. so no fixing handicapped armies?

Kanluwen wrote:Criticism isn't restricted to simply the rules. Fluff does come into play, especially when all you ask for is "criticisms, comments, and ideas". You don't get to pick and choose what commentary you get. I've posted a unit or two of my own design on here, feel free to go blast them for fluff reasons if you want. You won't find many reasons I bet, because I try not to go so far out of my way to create ideas that are so wildly out there that it makes people kind of wonder if you're aware of the background.

I would prefer constructive commentary, but I guess you're all out

And I wonder if you know the background, as you're arguing against stuff that is clearly printed in the codex.

**purplefood**

That's what i thought...
Incidentally Kan isn't trying to troll he is just blunt with people...
I might disagree with the background but unless i am specifically asked for criticism on that I'm not even going to try...

**yamgrenade**

@purplefood and darkprince

I'll nix the S boost and 5++ save. The katana is 2h so no extra A there anyway.

**darkPrince010**

Blunt is perfectly fine, as long as it's polite or at least civil.

As for the Katana, I'd say if it gives +1S AND the 6+ invul, it should probably be an Erra'ui-only piece of wargear (or at least very spendy). Also, I assume the unit as a whole is Fleet, Move Through Cover, and Infiltrators?

**yamgrenade**

darkPrince010 wrote:Blunt is perfectly fine, as long as it's polite or at least civil.

As for the Katana, I'd say if it gives +1S AND the 6+ invul, it should probably be an Erra'ui-only piece of wargear (or at least very spendy). Also, I assume the unit as a whole is Fleet, Move Through Cover, and Infiltrators?

Sounds good, I forgot those special rules. What else is good for 'ui?