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I am trying to come up with as broad a campaign as possible so that my players could be anything they wanted, and face against Humans/Mutants/Xenos. I'm doing this primarily so that I can attract as many players as possible, and be able to use Dark Heresy/Death Watch/Only War books. What I've been able to come up with so far is that a a group of about a dozen or so planets of varying types have gone traitor/been conquered by the Tau. There was a brief, but bloodier than usual struggle for the system, but the Imperium had to pull out. Leaving behind a few different regiments, Inquisitors, and maybe even some Death Watch The players would be living in a Tau occupied system. With roughly 2/3 of the population against the Tau in some form, while 1/3 (the higher ups that sold out to the Tau) are working with/supporting them. While players would try to wage a guerrilla war. Which brings me to the point of this.

How would the Tau/some of their other races react to the insurgents? I mean every other race wouldn't have even bothered to leave anyone left alive.But with that being said I don't think that the Tau would look kindly on resistance to the Greater Good. But, if they push to hard they might have a total uprising on their hands. Any advice would be appreciated. Also where could I find some stats for Tau? Any general recommendations for my campaign would be appreciated.

And yes I got the Idea for this from a short story in "Fear the Alien"

There's a bit about Catachans waging guerrilla war against the Tau. They struggle just like any occupying force that also has political considerations, but I imagine they form dedicated counter-insurgency units made up of Stealth Teams backed by airpower. Drones are used as supplemental patrols and when stealth teams run into a major insurgency formation, heavy units of Battlesuits and Fire Warriors are deployed via Orca. Kroot squads are also heavily utilized due to their natural flare for light actions and scouting. Heavy emphasis on ambushes by using "valuable" targets such as vehicles as bait but having them flanked by hidden pathfinder and firewarrior positions.

That's how I'd deal with it anyway.

Harriticus wrote:There's a bit about Catachans waging guerrilla war against the Tau. They struggle just like any occupying force that also has political considerations, but I imagine they form dedicated counter-insurgency units made up of Stealth Teams backed by airpower. Drones are used as supplemental patrols and when stealth teams run into a major insurgency formation, heavy units of Battlesuits and Fire Warriors are deployed via Orca. Kroot squads are also heavily utilized due to their natural flare for light actions and scouting. Heavy emphasis on ambushes by using "valuable" targets such as vehicles as bait but having them flanked by hidden pathfinder and firewarrior positions.

That's how I'd deal with it anyway.

That's some good stuff right there, I could use that for an encounter. Thanks! Any other ideas?

Think of Vietnam, with the Tau being the American military.

The guerrillas tend to be the proactive ones in an insurgency, so it's kind of up to the players to do things.

I imagine the Tau probably shoot them.

I think they'd go after the insurgents ruthlessly, while also loudly and frequently proclaiming over vox and dropped leaflets that amnesty is available for any insurgent at any time. Then they'd ship em off to reeducation centers and get em integrated with the Greater Good ASAP.

And yeah, I can see them behaving somewhere between Americans in Vietnam and colonial occupiers. Ruthlessly destroying insurgent areas with napalm and defoliant, but rather than killing civilians who picked the wrong side, I see them more abducting whole villages and sending them for reeducation.

Manchu wrote:Think of Vietnam, with the Tau being the American military.

TBH Vietnam isn't real a good counterpart to Tau warfare, a better example would be the Second Boer War, in which the British forces were fairly mobile and focused on hunting down and destroying enemy forces directly instead of relying largely on fire bases and mass bombing runs.

1.) Why should Tau conquer a human planet and try to suppress it against their will? Too many Tau casualties, too many humans, no gain at all. Tau don't think territorial and have no interest in subjugating other races (and not enough soldiers even if they wanted to). When things get too violent and diplomacy doesn't help, Tau usually leave the planet (see novel "For the Emperor").

2.) Why should humans freed of Imperial oppression fight their newly gained freedom? Some peoples in history did for sure, but there must be a reason. And usually Tau don't give such a reason.

3.) If you start a battle against Tau, be prepared to face our new battle brothers, the Space Marines

Manchu wrote:Think of Vietnam, with the Tau being the American military.

I don't think that drugged desillusioned juveniles bombing and massacring civilians out of frustration are a good template for Tau military.

Being the space hippies they are, I imagine the Tau would use hugs in close combat and flowers and or bubbles at longer ranges against the insurgents.

Kroothawk wrote:1.) Why should Tau conquer a human planet and try to suppress it against their will?

Because they're imperialists.

I have no clue why you think they wouldn't (rampant Tau fanboyism aside).

Melissia wrote:

Kroothawk wrote:1.) Why should Tau conquer a human planet and try to suppress it against their will?

Because they're imperialists.
I have no clue why you think they wouldn't (rampant Tau fanboyism aside).

Because of this:

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:

Manchu wrote:Think of Vietnam, with the Tau being the American military.

I don't think that drugged desillusioned juveniles bombing and massacring civilians out of frustration are a good template for Tau military.

Not everybody who fought in Vietnam was a character made up by Francis Ford Coppola. If you want to use the Coppola take on Vietnam in 40k, see Commander Farsight.

Kroothawk wrote:

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)

LOL, that explains why they never fight anything but defensive wars.

nomotog wrote:The guerrillas tend to be the proactive ones in an insurgency, so it's kind of up to the players to do things.

A bad commander lets the guerrillas be proactive. The key to counter-insurgency is to be proactive against the insurgents and force them to engage you as often as possible. You need punitive expeditions, bait-and-ambush, lots n' lots of patrols, and only using your heavy assets when you've encountered a large insurgent force, in order to encourage large-scale engagements. Sri Lanka used this most recently to crush the Tamil Tigers. Of all the factions out there that just don't kill everything (so just Imperium, Eldar, and Newcrons), Tau would probably be the best suited for counter-insurgency. Though I imagine even the Eldar and Necrons would just get peeved off eventually and destroy everything when they've had enough.

Kroothawk wrote:1.) Why should Tau conquer a human planet and try to suppress it against their will?

There's an actual example in fluff of the Tau taking over a human planet and then having to deal with Catachan guerrilla warfare.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Cytherian_Annexation

I agree that the Tau are often unfairly demonized and rabid Tau hate is stupid, but lets not delude ourselves about the Tau at the same time. While they prefer diplomatic solutions, they're more than willing to employ brutal and forceful means to get what they want for the Greater Good.

Buttons wrote:

Manchu wrote:Think of Vietnam, with the Tau being the American military.

TBH Vietnam isn't real a good counterpart to Tau warfare, a better example would be the Second Boer War, in which the British forces were fairly mobile and focused on hunting down and destroying enemy forces directly instead of relying largely on fire bases and mass bombing runs.

IIRC American forces in Vietnam were one of the most mobile armies ever deployed. They made very heavy use of helicopters.

Kroothawk wrote:1.) Why should Tau conquer a human planet and try to suppress it against their will? Too many Tau casualties, too many humans, no gain at all. Tau don't think territorial and have no interest in subjugating other races (and not enough soldiers even if they wanted to). When things get too violent and diplomacy doesn't help, Tau usually leave the planet (see novel "For the Emperor").

2.) Why should humans freed of Imperial oppression fight their newly gained freedom? Some peoples in history did for sure, but there must be a reason. And usually Tau don't give such a reason.

3.) If you start a battle against Tau, be prepared to face our new battle brothers, the Space Marines

Manchu wrote:Think of Vietnam, with the Tau being the American military.

I don't think that drugged desillusioned juveniles bombing and massacring civilians out of frustration are a good template for Tau military.

1) I was going to set it up so that part of the population (maybe 1/3) is for the Tau, while (2/3 are against). The guerrilla's would be parts of the left over Guard, Astartes, and Joe "civilian" Doe. Also I could make it that they need the planet for material X, or because its location is very strategic.

2) A: I not all humans would agree Tau, and some no matter what would be die hard Imperials. Plus some might not like the Imperium, but might not like the the greater good more. B: Just because the oppression is "gone" doesn't mean people will love their "liberators". For a historical example during the early stages of WW2 on the eastern from 41- early 42. Many Ukraine, Slavs, Belorussians, and etc. were initially the Nazis as liberators from the Soviets. But later on they realized that they just traded on regime for another.

3: Nahhhh, though now that you mention it I should come up with some Gue’vesa’la elements for them to fight, mutants, and maybe some minor/new (ie I made up) xenos to fight.

Harriticus wrote:

nomotog wrote:The guerrillas tend to be the proactive ones in an insurgency, so it's kind of up to the players to do things.

A bad commander lets the guerrillas be proactive. The key to counter-insurgency is to be proactive against the insurgents and force them to engage you as often as possible. You need punitive expeditions, bait-and-ambush, lots n' lots of patrols, and only using your heavy assets when you've encountered a large insurgent force, in order to encourage large-scale engagements. Sri Lanka used this most recently to crush the Tamil Tigers. Of all the factions out there that just don't kill everything (so just Imperium, Eldar, and Newcrons), Tau would probably be the best suited for counter-insurgency. Though I imagine even the Eldar and Necrons would just get peeved off eventually and destroy everything when they've had enough.

The players will still have to do something that puts them on the shoot list. You can't just have the tau wanting to kill the players just because they are human.

Kroothawk wrote:1.) Why should Tau conquer a human planet and try to suppress it against their will? Too many Tau casualties, too many humans, no gain at all. Tau don't think territorial and have no interest in subjugating other races (and not enough soldiers even if they wanted to). When things get too violent and diplomacy doesn't help, Tau usually leave the planet (see novel "For the Emperor").

The new rule book mentions that a lot of IoM worlds are actually the home worlds of alien races. You could have a neat moral question when the tau help one of the displaced races regain their homewold that just happens to me a imperial agro world.

Manchu wrote:
LOL, that explains why they never fight anything but defensive wars.

Unless of course you take into account that the Tau also have a powerful sense of Manifest Destiny, and have expanded their empire on 3 occasions.

To the OP, good eats for ideas in here and I agree with all of them, defensively, offensively, the Tau are much in the same place as America was in Vietnam and is now in Afghanistan and Iraq, or even on the extreme end- the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Politics aside, their main goal is not to utterly destroy the people, it is to convert them to be more friendly to the occupying force. The same can be said for the Tau and can be of any range of altruism, compassionate, to Imperialistic. From treaties and trade, to downright genocide. After all, the Tau may be naive, but they aren't imbeciles. If you oppose, or are a significant enough threat, they probably won't think twice before utterly annihilating you. I.E. The Tyrannids aren't going to have much of a place in the Greater Good scheme.

DemetriDominov wrote:

Manchu wrote:
LOL, that explains why they never fight anything but defensive wars.

Unless of course you take into account that the Tau also have a powerful sense of Manifest Destiny, and have expanded their empire on 3 occasions.

Your sarcasm detector is out of calibration.

Additionally, my first reaction to this thread was: "they'd do it quietly so that the gue'vesa didn't know." But I think that is wrong. I think the Ethereals would want the gue'vesa to see any rebelling human force as totally irrational: "Who would fight the Tau just to support the barbaric, hateful Imperium? What a dumb move." The Tau would definitely want gue'vesa to think in terms of the Greater Good on the one hand (i.e., obedience) and being ignorant, oppressed, and threatened on the other.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:

Buttons wrote:

Manchu wrote:Think of Vietnam, with the Tau being the American military.

TBH Vietnam isn't real a good counterpart to Tau warfare, a better example would be the Second Boer War, in which the British forces were fairly mobile and focused on hunting down and destroying enemy forces directly instead of relying largely on fire bases and mass bombing runs.

IIRC American forces in Vietnam were one of the most mobile armies ever deployed. They made very heavy use of helicopters.

Still set up fire bases and relied heavily on brute force (more bombs dropped in North Vietnam than Germany in WW2). Tau would probably seek to end the conflict with the least force possible, constantly blocking of areas where the guerrillas could travel and slowly confining them and cutting off their supplies.

Kroothawk wrote:
I don't think that drugged disillusioned juveniles bombing and massacring civilians out of frustration are a good template for Tau military.

Seems like a pretty unfair generalization of the ENTIRE U.S. military in Vietnam.

Dantalian wrote:

Kroothawk wrote:
I don't think that drugged disillusioned juveniles bombing and massacring civilians out of frustration are a good template for Tau military.

Seems like a pretty unfair generalization of the ENTIRE U.S. military in Vietnam.

Meh, I just ignore it. One thing I have learned on this forum is to ignore US bashing. There is no use in starting an argument about it.

Minimize casualties, capture them, and subject them to a process of reeducation.

I'd say it would be very similar to modern COIN operations.

The highly mobile Air and Fire Caste forces would strike at the insurgents while attempting to minimize collateral damage.

The Water Caste would engage in a Hearts and Minds style campaign backed up by the Earth Caste provoding a variety of advanced technological solutions to the population.

Of course, in places where things get really nasty, the Tau let the Kroot off the chain to set an example of what will happen if resistance continues.

Okay based off what I've read here, and working out for myself. Ideas I have campaign. Anyone of you guys want to use for one of your games you can.

The Setting:

Chulak: The main planet of the campaign (if you get the reference you win 10 Internets)

Gravity: Normal

Size: Same as Earth

Climate/terrain: A temperate world mostly covered by forests. With many mountain ranges all over the planet.(Think Pacific North West)

Population: 2.5 Billion. There are several main cities scatter throughout the world, Non of which are bigger than New York City. The farmers of Chulak tend to rugged, individualistic, and self supporting. They have some tech available tractors, fertilizer, etc., but nothing fancy. While those that live in the city are your typical hive dwellers.

Why is it important: Chulak is one of the 3 unique planets in the sector. This is because it isn't solely a Factory world, Farm world, or hive world. Its a bit of all three. There are two reasons main reasons. It's one of the key farm worlds of the sector if that is lost many planets would starve. But, what keeps it from being a pure farm world is that there are several mines (about a 15) located all around the planet. Not for from these mines are manufacturing plants/cities. From these factories come many different kinds of weapons/supplies used by the Imperium, which is also how it pays its tithe. Its key importance also means that an exterminatus is mostly likely never going to be used on the planet.

Background: There has been some talk of Xenos influence on these planets The Imperium know that Tau territory isn't far off and how important the planets are is more pro active then usual. Sending a few Guard regiments as show of force to the locals.

Why the party is really there: The Tau start with a startlingly fast attack. Quickly overrunning sector, and sending the Imperium forces running. For the most part (there are other stranglers forming resistance bands as well) the regiments are wiped out/captured, and the party is on its own. They must fight a guerrilla campaign against the Tau/their allied races/Human traitors. Without the bulk of the Imperium to back them up. But, there is hope with. While there are obviously human traitors on the planet (1/3 of the population is for the Tau). There is also a large section of it that is still loyal to the Imperium for one reason or another. So they do have some part of the civil population willing to help them (whether it be spying, supplying, or fighting). Also the Imperium knows that there are some loyal citizens still on the planet, and when they can they will deep strike them vital supplies. After that It is up to the party to help liberate the world from the Tau. By an means the players find fit.

Enemies:

As the insurgency grows, the party will start getting better/more equipment, and fighters. But the more damage they do the attention from the Tau they attract. As the Tau see them as bigger and bigger threat, they are willing to commit more resources to deal with them.

-Humans: I am thinking of setting it up so that the party will first test themselves against humans fighting for the Tau. They will have just your basic guardsmen level equipment at the start. But the Tau sympathizer will get better stuff as the campaign goes on.

-Kroot: Once the party makes enough of a dent to the Tau they start to get annoyed. They send some Kroot hunting teams after them. Ambushing them from the forests.

-Fire Warriors: They are now pissed off they start sending patrols of fire warriors after them. They start bringing stuff like devil fish and stealth suits to fight them. It just snowballs as the fighting continues


Mission/Encouter ideas

The party hears from their sources that there is a munitions dump with valuable supplies that was left when the Guard forces retreated. It is actually a trap, with Fire Warriors ambush at the dump.

One thing to remember is that small scale skirmishes should really be the forte of the Tau. Their equipment and allies are practically built around playing the role of the hunter.

Tau battle suits are as hard as SM armor yet much more maneuverable and carry much deadlier firepower. They also employ acute senses (back when it did something) and ambush detectors. This makes them idea for urban skirmish combat. The ability to maneuver in and around building, bring missiles, plasma, flamers, etc. would be hugely disconcerting for those who are tying to fight.

Forested areas are dominated by the Kroot and the Stealth team. Kroot are viscous and effective hunters in their home territory (forests) and stealth teams have camouflage and bring a ton of anti-personel firepower to deal with the typically lightly armored gurellas. They also have SM levels of armor protection and advanced sensor tech of the Tau. Much like fighting done during Desert Storm Tau black sun filters will make working at night (where the enemy may not have as effective optics) a huge advantage.

The "Best of Hammer and Bolter" Issue one has a short story - Commander Shadow about a Tau Commander trying to deal with human resistance both from a mental and practical point of view.

The Insurgents also use chemcial weapons agains tthe Tau - using native poisons - which is effective and blow up both Tau military and their civilians as well as Human "Colaborators"

The Kroot do prove very important but also show the potentail problems of them devouring large numbers of people that are rebelious