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So the Tau have developed the Remora drone fighter.

Just what does that mean for the imperium and area surrounding tau space.

Sure the Drone does need a controller, but on a Tau sept I would expect that would be pretty much planetary coverage rather than another aircraft.

Even if that's not the case and dependent on Tiger SharkS and mantas to control, has this affected a major balance of air power? Can the Tau now be pretty much dominant in airspace operations wherever and whomever they face?

A drone computer capable of mass production, can the imperium challenge the Tau air dominance if another Damocles crusade was to occur? Or have things escalated beyond what the Imperium can deal with?

What affect does the Remora have in the sphere of influence of the tau empire?

As much as I like the Tau, the problem is that the mass production of a few dozen fairly economically/ecologically balanced septs pales into insignificance compared to the million worlds of the imperium, many of which have been utterly devastated to become giant mass production centres. And that's just the hive worlds, nevermind the forge worlds...

Everything the Tau have is pretty much just a major nuisance in the large scheme of things. They can be extremely effective if the situation favors them, or you have to fight on their turf. More times than not though if the Imperium really wants the Tau gone, it has such amount or resources that it can accomplish it. I would find that the Remora is more of an issue for Infantry than it is for other Flyers, as it's guns are really AI guns rather than AA guns.

The Remora's armament is not heavy enough to be a serious threat to Imperial aircraft. Its more of a ground support attack craft.

The problem with the Tau is that they are underestimated. While they are admittedly a minor power in the greater scheme of things, these are a people who managed to go from feudal xenos to one of the most technologically advanced species in the galaxy in only a few thousand years.

And with the Black Crusades drawing people away from the Fringe, it leaves the Tau open for expansion.

Not really.

The Tau method of interstellar travel is slow and has a limited range. The planets beyond their borders are reaching the absolute limit of their ship ranges.

They simply cannot expand much further unless they gain the ability to make true warp jumps.

Remora is more or less a limited UCAV, not a decisive factor to these kind of things. If the Tau can start to make interstellar battle-ship sized UAV's then it'll be different.

Yep it's more of a really cool UAV and not a interceptor. I imagine that it finds the most use when the tau lack air superiority.

If the tau can get a couple forge worlds to join them, and maybe a few hundred astropaths, then the imperium has a problem.

Back to the topic however, can't remoras take seeker missles, or whatever those tau missiles on the sky ray are?

You mean Navigators, and no it wouldn't work that way.

Navigators are never found in any numbers besides on Terra. Outside of there, you'll only find them in ones and twos on board ships. They are also fiercely guarded. They are a national asset for the imperium. A precious resource.

Then the Ad Mech is a religious organization. Tau technology is heretical in the sight of the omnissiah, no Tech priest would defect to the Tau.




Remora's can get Seeker Missiles, but only 2. thats a limited threat.

Don't discount seeker missiles too fast. They are fairly strong, and you aren't limited to the missiles on the drone you can just call one in from somewhere else.

Let's say the absolute worst case scenario happens; the Tau become insanely ripped on steroids and completely beat the Imperium senseless on the battlefield, with Tau Fire Warriors taking on Terminators 1 on 1. The Tau still won't be a much more significant threat just due to their slower FTL travel and lack of supply lines, since they won't be able to significantly expand. That's why a dinky little Remora won't make a difference.

Well I'm not talking about the balance of power in general. More of the balance of air power and ability to deploy those assets.

Drones can be deployed during flight, higher maneuverability than most aircraf having no squishy pilot bit.

Sure burst cannons arnt the best, but only a fool would ignore them as inconsequential. Even a small Tau wing can project more force than would be expected.

They do carry seekers, and can be used in flight. 1 seeker is enough to bring down a lightning, can be used at extreme range, and that's not even considering that the Imperium have to expend ammo on drones or 'fly past' exposing themselves to target the control.

Sure the imperium is bigger, has more aircraft, but they have to deploy those assets also.

What I'm suggesting that Tau air control is much stronget than most races, and that only a concerted effort can dislodge that.

 Eetion wrote:
Well I'm not talking about the balance of power in general. More of the balance of air power and ability to deploy those assets.

Drones can be deployed during flight, higher maneuverability than most aircraf having no squishy pilot bit.

Sure burst cannons arnt the best, but only a fool would ignore them as inconsequential. Even a small Tau wing can project more force than would be expected.

They do carry seekers, and can be used in flight. 1 seeker is enough to bring down a lightning, can be used at extreme range, and that's not even considering that the Imperium have to expend ammo on drones or 'fly past' exposing themselves to target the control.

Sure the imperium is bigger, has more aircraft, but they have to deploy those assets also.

What I'm suggesting that Tau air control is much stronget than most races, and that only a concerted effort can dislodge that.

What your saying makes sens. I mean if you where to line up every race with what they do best tau would go right next to air control.

 Grey Templar wrote:
You mean Navigators, and no it wouldn't work that way.

Navigators are never found in any numbers besides on Terra. Outside of there, you'll only find them in ones and twos on board ships. They are also fiercely guarded. They are a national asset for the imperium. A precious resource.

Yea, Tau would never get Navigators, but there are rumors of an psyker/warp-travel race that Allies with the Tau in their next Codex. Unfortunately, since Tau only get fluff updates with every Codex while the Imperium gets at least 8, don't expect Tau to go anywhere significant for a loooooong while.

Remora's can get Seeker Missiles, but only 2. thats a limited threat.

But seeker missiles can be fired from anywhere, by anything that can mount them, so long the target is painted with a marker light. Tau are becoming more and more guerilla, hit-and-run, and stand-and-fade with their Technology. So they'll hit you once fiercely, bounce away if you repel them, and strike again at a different spot. Until their next Codex, Tau are very adept at mobile firepower and adapting tactics (because of their constant runnings in with both Space Marines and Tyranids) and will probably be the shooting version of Eldar.

Simple answer

Tau aicraft are excellent, Tau Starships less so.

To get to the Planet and use your aircraft effectively ideally you need Orbital / Space superiority.

Now the Tacitca Aeronatica supplement outlined a tau raid where their aircraft was devestating - but it also highlighted problems for them in getting aircraft there and more importantly keeping them supplied and getting them out when it goes wrong.

Also the tau presenty have control over thier AI systems - who says this will continue - they go easily have a Skynet style problem arise. its happened before in the 40k universe - one of the reasons why the AM is so anti- AI. Like the Psyker issue, it may be something that the Tau discover the hard way.

Tau are all about potential and adaptability. Could the Imperium wipe them out right now if they put their foot down? Absolutely. Will they do so? No, there's too many other concerns. So they put it off. In the mean time, the Tau continue to develop and grow.

Tau interstellar flight may be slow and limited, but I can't think of any other race more likely to figure out a way around that. Perhaps they can ally with a race that can at least emulate what a navigator does. The FFG Deathwatch books makes mention of the Tau working with a partially incorporeal race to help them navigate a particular stellar anomaly. If they were to acquire real navigators, it wouldn't be just a few, it would be a navigator house. Navigators don't operate as individuals so if a whole house defects, they'd have at least a decent number of navigators at their disposal. If Rogue Trader houses and Imperial Guard regiments can defect, I see no reason why a navigator house couldn't as well.

Agreed - if (and its a big If) everything goes right for the Tau

The Nicassar are potent Psykers but the Tau don't use them yet for nagivation - as they don;t think they need them. Its best not to underestimate quite how hidebound the Tau are in some areas of tradition - as muchas the Humans or the Eldar. The Tau simply don't want to accept the truths about the warp and its effects.

As I mentioned their wonderful AI could continue to provide them with an increasing technological edge - or it could turn against them - especially if the Necrons are involved (and they have already culled one Tau world).

To my knowledge no Rogue Trader houses have defected - they have just done what they always done - trade and inflitrate Xenos civilisations for their own profit and gathering info for the Imperium. A few IG regiments have indeed joined the Greater Good - but most had no choice.

Navigator Houses are based on Terra - if the Tau get there - well its all over anyway. They can't defecy on mass without sacrificng most of their House holdings and people - thats why the Inquisiton keeps an close eye on them on Terra.

And of course the Tau also have the whole Farsight problem to resolve before they end up with their own civil war..........

More like they just can't comprehend the Warp and Psykers in general. It literally makes no sense to them.

As such, the Kroot and Niccassar aren't sharing their Warp capabilities with the Tau. heck, the Tau arn't even aware that the Kroot have superior interstellar flight.

Its why Kroot are all over the Galaxy, and have been since long before the Tau even developed firearms. The Kroot are actually a highly advanced race, they simply choose not to use their technology and prefer simpler ways. Their massive mountain based starship construction facilities remain hidden from the Tau.

 Grey Templar wrote:

Then the Ad Mech is a religious organization. Tau technology is heretical in the sight of the omnissiah, no Tech priest would defect to the Tau.

My wording was bad, sorry. What I mean't was what if they took over a forge world and adapted it to make tau weapons, vehicles aircraft, etc. That would probably take at least 50 years IF they captured the world intact, they got the local populace to do their bidding and no imperials tried to take the world back, which would probably never happen.



I agree with the whole "tau having air superiority" thing though. If they gain the ability to make true warp jumps, then the imperium has a major problem.

 psychadelicmime wrote:
I agree with the whole "tau having air superiority" thing though. If they gain the ability to make true warp jumps, then the imperium has a major problem.

Well, no, not exactly. The Tau will still be a nuisance, but a nuisance eeeeeeeeerrrryyyywhere. More than likely they'd get pulped by whatever is waiting for them when they come out of the warp...

I, myself, hope they're the first to try and dive into the Halo Zone (or Ghoul Stars I can't remember the exact name of it) in the north eastern fringes and reveal what-the-frag lives there and why the Imperium is so terrified by it.

 KplKeegan wrote:

 psychadelicmime wrote:
I agree with the whole "tau having air superiority" thing though. If they gain the ability to make true warp jumps, then the imperium has a major problem.

Well, no, not exactly. The Tau will still be a nuisance, but a nuisance eeeeeeeeerrrryyyywhere. More than likely they'd get pulped by whatever is waiting for them when they come out of the warp...

I, myself, hope they're the first to try and dive into the Halo Zone (or Ghoul Stars I can't remember the exact name of it) in the north eastern fringes and reveal what-the-frag lives there and why the Imperium is so terrified by it.

Really, just a wide ranging nuisance? They have and do undermine imperial control and trade with the Taros campaign being an example.
What the Tau essentiall have is the capability to influence further than before and reinforce planets at short notice.

The new Tau vessels are also a significant improvement over the old.

With enhanced mobility the tau have the option to become much more aggressive in offence and rapid to respond to threats.

 Eetion wrote:

 KplKeegan wrote:

 psychadelicmime wrote:
I agree with the whole "tau having air superiority" thing though. If they gain the ability to make true warp jumps, then the imperium has a major problem.

Well, no, not exactly. The Tau will still be a nuisance, but a nuisance eeeeeeeeerrrryyyywhere. More than likely they'd get pulped by whatever is waiting for them when they come out of the warp...

I, myself, hope they're the first to try and dive into the Halo Zone (or Ghoul Stars I can't remember the exact name of it) in the north eastern fringes and reveal what-the-frag lives there and why the Imperium is so terrified by it.

Really, just a wide ranging nuisance? They have and do undermine imperial control and trade with the Taros campaign being an example.
What the Tau essentiall have is the capability to influence further than before and reinforce planets at short notice.

The new Tau vessels are also a significant improvement over the old.

With enhanced mobility the tau have the option to become much more aggressive in offence and rapid to respond to threats.

You have to understand that Taros and planets like it are on the fringes of Imperial Territory and within easy reach of Tau Space. The majority of the Imperium's heavier deployments are in deeper Imperial domain, like around Ultramar, so the Tau's only real resistance are Imperial Guard Regiments and the occassional Space Marine detatchment. It's very easy for the Water Caste and Rogue Traders to influence planetary governors that feel isolated from a strong Imperial presence.

The deeper Tau gets into Imperial Space, the heavier the resistance. Ultramar and its surrounding systems could easily quash whatever Tau Ships that happen to fall out of the Warp. Despite their technology, Tau are still outnumbered by a terrifying margin.

Of course, none of this would ever happen until Tau actually get a psyker, space-faring race in the first place, AND would possibly have to encounter Daemons during their test flights.


I don't really know if I want the Tau to go plying half-hazardly through the Warp. Like I said, I wouldn't mind if Tau take a peek at the Halo Stars (or Ghoul Stars, still cant remember) in the north-eastern part of the galaxy to see what's there and if the inhabitants want to play with Imperial Space Marines...

That's if the Tau go to ultramar,
They still have the capability to identify and target isolated worlds, negotiate trade treaties, and make war at much greater ease than before.
Now I'm not suggesting they blow through the warp without delay, I'd imagine they would do so cautiously, but their capabilities to lay the groundwork for their expansions is greatly improved.

maybe - but the more they stick their heads above the parapet the more likely something really nasty is going to happen.

They have now attracted the attention of the Dark Eldar and the Necrons - both of whom are really formidable enemies for the Tau to even comprehend never mind fight.

The Imperium is not their worst enemy - it is just one of many they will now have to face alongside Chaos corruption, Genestealer Inflitration and potential civil war. Plus maybe their AI's going the same way as the old machine intelligences and rebelling.

They have a lot to face if they are to survive never mind prosper

I never really understood the whole aversion to AI thing.
I totally get the iron men and golden men.

But just because it happened to man does not mean it will happen to the Tau.

The Tau have not made any attempt to construct autonomous thinking machines. But relatively simple drones programed with a range of specific tasks. While they continue with that trend there perfectly safe.

But as with warp travel, they were already at risk from all of those things, if they develop warp all they attain is ability to react to them).

Not really, the Tau method of FTL doesn't fully immerse within the Warp. As such they can't really be effected by Daemonic interference.

 Eetion wrote:
I never really understood the whole aversion to AI thing.
I totally get the iron men and golden men.

But just because it happened to man does not mean it will happen to the Tau.

Oh dear that will end well!?

Tau are def messing with AI's - and its not at all obvious how far their research has gone?

Agreed that they were at limited risk from the warp travel method they use - start using other races Psykers to enter the warp proper and whilst they are Blunt they are not at all immune to the Warps corrupting influnce...............

They are just as susceptable to warp rifts (perdus rift? Is it a warp bleed?) Tears in the immaterium, van grothes rapidity being an example. They are at risk, less of a risk granted, but a risk non the less.

Warp Rifts are "natural" occurances in real space, so yes they arn't any better off when they are involved. But in areas where there isn't a warp rift they arn't at risk.


As I recall, the Tau find the idea of psykers and the warp to be utterly incomprehensible. Just like someone babbling on about such a thing today would be dismissed out of hand. As far as the Tau are concerned, the Warp doesn't exist and Daemons are just another species of alien.