Tau Rumors - Updated to include Stickmonkey rumors on 8/1/2012

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**pretre**

Updated 8/1/2012

Kroothawk wrote:
StraightSilver wrote:I have been staying out of the rumours threads for a while now, mainly because a lot of the information I was getting was plain wrong, and also because I was conscious of dropping anybody in it, but I thought I would chip in on this.

The Tau models have apparently been sitting around for quite some time now, some of them were redone over 2 years ago so I am not sure why they have taken so long to be released, but I suspect it's because the models range fits into 6th better than 5th.

They were one of the first armies to get a flyer (outside of IG's Valk / Vendetta), even though it hasn't been released yet.

As for an allies supplement, I was told that next year 40K will have a release very similar in format to the Warhammer Fantasy Storm of Magic supplement. In other words a book, cards and kits that could be used in multiple armies, in the same vein as the monsters from WHFB.

I assumed it would be a big supplement for Psykers, but it could just as well be for allies, as that seems to be the best way for GW to produce new kits without having to invest in a full 'Dex for them.

Now I hate to put Summer into any rumours, but I believe Storm of Magic was released about that time, which would put Tau and allies around June or July ish? However rumours strongly point to Eldar being early in the year, so I'm not sure if we would get 2 Xenos Codexes back to back? Unless GW really are going to do a release every month.

Oh, and Tau getting new Stealthsuit plastics doesn't make sense to me.

Kroothawk wrote:Tau rumours by Stickmonkey:

There has been some speculation on this, and I'm getting chatter now that seems to reinforce a few things, so I thought I'd post what is floating my way.

Tau Codex early next year.
Kroot and other existing allies are there, however they are limited. There appears to be an "Allies" supplement which will be out about the same time and include many more options. (aside: Dare I start a Spring of Allies moniker...ah well then it will end up being 2 years from now... )
Crisis suits completely redone.
Stealth suits completely redone.
Pirahna has new option and I am not sure if it will be reboxed together or be sold as an upgrade kit.
New Pathfinders were seen being worked on a while back.
Ethereals expanded, new unit options around them.
There is a FW Tau model which has a unit entry in the codex. (My take is this might actually be a new plastic kit taking over a FW model, and before anyone yells GW doesnt cannibalize FW...yes, they do, they have, and they will.)
The floating chair ethereal was seen being worked on for a new model.
New fast skimmer sized between hammerhead and pirahna.
Flyer has dual gattling cannons
Flyer has option for rail guns
Flyer has bombs (not missiles!?)

Rule rumors (these are rumors people! I hate posting rule rumors cause I am not involved in that. Please take fwiw)
Railguns have a JOWW effect, they can hit multiple models in a line, but if hitting vehicles has a max number of hull points it can cause. the way this is described is it draws a line from the barrel to table edge, every model under starts taking hits starting with the closest. if it hits a vehicle or structure with HP, its strength drops, once it hits 3 or a table edge or fails to make a penetrating hit its done. rhino line's watch out!
There is some rumor of an Anti Psyker weapon. like night fighting, but no psychic powers for a game turn.
There is no flyer dedicated transport, and the existing flyer is going to be competing against some very good other options
The jetpack troops have some option to "pop up and shoot" from behind cover.

All I have for now
Cheers.

Updated 7/31/2012

Kroothawk wrote:From Warseer, a first and last post (I added paragraphs):

Ornithopter wrote:I was told, that GW is trying to invert their release order. Instead of two follow up waves after a Codex release they will release one or two smaller waves of models before every codex, one big release with the codex and some stragglers thereafter (mainly re-releases and model updates). This is widely known and not hard to deduce. But I was also told that this is only a test run for two upcoming releases and GW is fully prepared to switch back to the old modus operandi or a completely different release schedule.

GW has used the period of reduced LotR activity to produce new ranges far in advance. GW sits on a whole pile of army books/codexes and finished masters and has the flexibility to alter their release schedule seamlessly. The next two releases (Warriors of Chaos and Dark Angels) follow the old pattern, but the next two releases (Tau and Eldar) after these are deployed in the new fashion.

The Tau Codex was pushed back because of this, but only the book. The first batch of models will be released even earlier than planned (maybe even this year) – and yes, there are Kroots and no, there is no Lamprey – this whole set of rumours is 105% fake.

GW has tighten their information policy for all releases around the end of the year. This includes everything not just the Hobbit stuff because one major source of info are business plans and logistics tables that are shared with subsidiaries and external companies. Most unregulated sources sit at one of those joints. The blackout period lasts from October to February and ends there because it is not sustainable for a long time. There will be no wave of fliers this year outside of the blackout period (my source does not know if one is planned for this period or not, but if it is the info is definitely not avaible for regional distributors - whatever that is).

One last bit: GW has buried the plastic character stop gap and switched to multi-part finecast kits, with emphasis on “multi-part”. The sheer number of bit of these kits is on par with plastic releases. The first kit will be the re-modeled Avatar. The four Greater Demons are worked on. All of them will be larger than their predecessors and come with a lot of variety.

(First and last post with this account)

From the comments on this blog post

Logan wrote:Heres how I see it:

Sept- CSM/ possible starter set.

Oct- Starter set possibly, if not,flyer wave with Voidraiven, Tau Lamprey, maybe another.

November- Fantasy, New 40k terrain.

December- the Hobbit, paint bundles etc.

Logan wrote:The name Lamprey is by no means official. Its entirely possible that will not be its name. Also possible it wont be released till codex.

And yes I meant the harpy haha. I just couldnt remember its name.

Logan wrote:Its not an official name. But i hear things....

Logan wrote:Yea i have TONS of info on tau. From the new characters to the Assault Crisis Suits....and i have even heard the rumor NO MORE KROOT!

Logan wrote:I cant tell if the NO KROOT! rumor is true but it makes sense. I am lets say VERY invoved with the playtesting process of the codex and I have seen no kroot units. Shhhhhhhh dont panic.

Logan wrote:Talking to guy whonis higher up than me in an email here is what he said
" Now Logan, I have received your emails regarding your next project. You asked why there has been a lack of a certain unit(Kroot) all I can tell is that right now it is being heatedly discussed wether to keep them in our upcoming release. We want this book to refelct the primary army, not necessarily other "mercanary" forces. When we sort it out we promise to let you have a peak.

Thank you for your concerns and comments regarding this matter."

Logan wrote:As for the "Lamprey" iam not sure yet. But the assault crisis suits have expirimental rules where once per game they gain BOTH benefits of moving with their jump things(unamed at the moment) which lets them move 12in. Then reroll assault distamce if desired. If the first attempted charge is successful you gain Furious Charge.

This is ALL expirimental though.

All added to the Rumor Accuracy Tracking thread.

**TheHammer**

The "no Kroot" rumor follows closely with the rumors about requiring different HQs to "unlock" certain units, mostly alien race units, as Troops.

I could imagine there being a Tau proper book with a series of small allies lists in White Dwarf, which would effectively operate in the way previous rumors discussed.

**Flashman**

While I can accept the possibility that all things are discussed in the play testing stage, GW have pretty much said that all existing models will continue to be supported in the rules so as not to invoke the ire of the community who buy this stuff.

**TH3FALL3N**

Really interesting if the kroot are dropped out of the Dex.

**Brother SRM**

I hope Kroot aren't dropped, or they get a half-decent Kroot Mercenaries list in WD. I doubt GW would stop selling a plastic kit when they could continue to.

**SickSix**

I don't like it. This would be a total fluff reversal/retcon to suddenly have 'assault' crisis suits and no alien auxiliaries to make up for the tau's lack of CC.

I like the Kroot, they just needed to be better.

**Nvs**

I personally like the idea of Assault oriented crisis suits. Nothing says they have to all have swords and shields. They could have flachette launchers and reactive armor and such.

I stopped my aspirations to make a Tau list the moment I realized I couldn't make a legitimate all suit army. Hopefully GW will allow players to make a Tau version of the deathwing and including an assault option would be important.

As for Kroot leaving, we know they aren't pleased with the way the Kroot work in their organization. A seperate army for Kroot could be interesting. Especially with the new allies rules.

Could just make a mercenaries book down the road with a focus on Tau, Squats, etc.

**FrozenSoul80**

I'm not buying it. Kroot were designed to be placed alongside Tau, why would they remove them? Moreover, why would they release an "assault" battlesuit in an edition where assaults have been heavily nerfed?

**Sean_OBrien**

Flashman wrote:While I can accept the possibility that all things are discussed in the play testing stage, GW have pretty much said that all existing models will continue to be supported in the rules so as not to invoke the ire of the community who buy this stuff.

They have also said that rules will only be released in the Codices/Rulebook and not White Dwarf...so, take what they say with a grain of salt.

**GCMandrake**

Tau could be designed with the new 6th edition allies rules in mind, such that Kroot, Vespid etc get their own mercenary sub-codexes, which Tau (and possibly even other races) can then ally with.

**TzeentchNet**

I'm taking this with a BIG grain of salt. If true this guy is on a fast track to getting a notification from GW about violation of his NDA.

But having assault suits wouldn't surprise me. They can be sold for a decent amount/packed in a multirole box with base suit and different sprues. And GW thinks assaults are super cool (see also rumor of assault Obliterators).

**nolzur**

Sean_OBrien wrote:
They have also said that rules will only be released in the Codices/Rulebook and not White Dwarf...

As to that, what about the rules pamphlet coming with this next White Dwarf for Daemons for fantasy and 40k?

**Kroothawk**

How do you add this to the rumour track record:

"There will be a Tau flyer named Lamprey or not, that will be released this year or not."

And I don't trust play testers who post the GW emails they receive. Esp. when they say "No Kroot".

**Graphite**

Mmm. Seems unlikely, (and an extrordinarily easy one for GW to trace given that he's actually asked the higher ups before posting a rumour) but maybe they'll have a "Kroot codex" in the book that you can take as an allied contingent?

**pretre**

Kroothawk wrote:How do you add this to the rumour track record:
"There will be a Tau flyer named Lamprey or not, that will be released this year or not."

And I don't trust play testers who post the GW emails they receive. Esp. when they say "No Kroot".

I love that we're making rumor mongers hedge their bets. lol It just makes them look bad when they do that kind of thing.

Oh and it might not be a Tau flyer, he might have misremembered and it might be a harpy.

**unmercifulconker**

So white dwarf Kroot codex? I would love that, gives em their own special love and allows greater opportunity for other WD armies. As long as they are included in Tau normally though and not an ally for tau.

Close combat suits....

**kenshin620**

Hmm Kroot getting dropped?

Would this signal a return of Chapter Approved? Or just more silly WD stuff

**Albatross**

Yeah, not buying it at all. The guy doesn't sound remotely plausible.

**FrozenSoul80**

It could be plausible based on the fact GW wants to sell more White Dwarf/iPad things, so having Kroot as a WD codex would make sense.

However a rarer codex would also mean fewer models sold. So it could swing either way. I still think this guy sounds bogus, though.

**Morathi's Darkest Sin**

I really doubt the truth in this, however, the only nagging thing that says to me that this might be remotely possible, is the allies rules.

Make a White Dwarf Kroot list, Battle Brothers with Tau, and you can still field your Kroot.

Of course the rumour monger could have thought the same thing before posting the rumour.

**Harriticus**

If we believe this rumor, GW is up to way too much the last part of 2012. Last year we got 2 codex's. I'm not really inclined to believe this.

In any regard dropping Kroot is dumb, as is making Tau assault-orientated. Tau are the only shred of semi-military realism in 40k.

**MightyGodzilla**

No Kroot, I don't buy it for a second. That'd be the equivalent of the Dark Angels dropping the Ravenwing or Deathwing. Hope you enjoy your five minutes of fame Logan, you have my permission to fade away now.

**aka_mythos**

FrozenSoul80 wrote:I'm not buying it. Kroot were designed to be placed alongside Tau, why would they remove them?

Actually they weren't,,, Way back when GW decided to add a new race they designed 3 separate races... Tau, Kroot, and Demiurge... and ultimately decided to put the best parts of each into a single codex. The kroot mercenary list that was released in WD at one point was mostly what GW had put together had the Kroot remained conceptually separate. That said I don't think the Kroot will be separated, unless it is to give them their own book.

**psychadelicmime**

Although, I don't really need any assault suits in my list, (ork or space marine allies for my tau

) it sounds like an awesome idea, especially if they put the pieces to make an assault suit in the same box as the normal crisis suits. My dream box, a 3 pack like the killakans box containing pieces to make assault suits, broadsides, and normal suits! I am super excited for a flier though!

**KarlPedder**

This is the exact opposite of what I was hoping to see, one of the primary draws of the army for me is the use of auxillaries.....I want more not less.

**TBD**

I am not tempted to regard this guy as credible, but we'll see.

GW isn't going to drop Kroot from the codex. That would be beyond even GW's standard of stupid.

**kronk**

If they dropped Kroot, but kept the models, would that mean a Codex: Mercenaries would be in the works? Kroot, Squats, Ogrin, Beastmen, Ratlings, and so on?

**pretre**

I think that's uncalled for. He isn't here to defend himself, so let's avoid attacking his character.

**Bolognesus**

Logan wrote:Talking to guy whonis higher up than me in an email here is what he said
" Now Logan, I have received your emails regarding your next project. You asked why there has been a lack of a certain unit(Kroot) all I can tell is that right now it is being heatedly discussed wether to keep them in our upcoming release. We want this book to refelct the primary army, not necessarily other "mercanary" forces. When we sort it out we promise to let you have a peak.

Thank you for your concerns and comments regarding this matter."

if this guy is for real and he just posted a communication like that, it's probably sufficiently unique to insta-out him to GW rumoursquashers.
even if he's for real, he's not the brightest bulb ever.

I can see a mercenaries codex/list/whatever working, though. if the Allies rule makes sense for anyone, it's for Tau...

**adamsouza**

40K is lacking in mercenaries. With the advent of the Allies rules Mercs make sense.

GW could then add new Mercs whenever with the rules for the new troop in White Dwarf. When they have enough of them out they could then compile them into a real codex, or web add on.