Non-existent fluff background question: Riptides and commanders

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**Co'tor Shas**

I'd like to know your opinion on what would happen. What would happen if a shas'vre piloting a riptides got promoted to a shas'el (and eventually a shas'o). Would they use a crisis suit, or would they keep their riptide, possibly with some added do-dads.

**crazyK**

I think they would keep their Riptides, eg. Shas'o O'vesa.

**Co'tor Shas**

He's a honorary shas'vre isn't he? Because he is a fio'o.

**crazyK**

Yeah I mistyped, but yeah Shas'vre O'vesa.

But to your OP, I cannot think of any other examples in the FE, or Tau Empire where the fluff mentions a Riptide commander.

**HoskuneAstetic**

You are expected to command not go into the center of the worst of the fighting. Can't command if you're dead which would leave your cadre without a leader and potentially cost you the victory. Maybe the crisis suit has better CiC capability than the battle platform that marks the Riptide.

**dementedwombat**

The Riptide is supposed to be a new weapons system just undergoing testing right? Could just be no Riptide pilot has been in one long enough to get promoted.

**Maniac_nmt**

dementedwombat wrote:
The Riptide is supposed to be a new weapons system just undergoing testing right? Could just be no Riptide pilot has been in one long enough to get promoted.

In most militaries, you don't keep one item forever. Pilots are eventually promoted out of flying planes, because they are needed on the ground to coordinate things. It could be, as noted, not enough time, or it could simply be that the Riptide is not an effective command unit, and thus poorly suited for the duties required of a Shas'el or Shas'o.

**DaddyWarcrimes**

Also, the Riptide is a new weapon system, regarded as highly dangerous to the pilot because of how unstable the Nova Reactor is. That alone would keep commanders out of them.

**Cirronimbus**

A true Tau commander also wouldn't have any ambitions or attachment to his Riptide suit anyways. He'll go where ever the Greater Good sends him. Riptide pilots might also simply be a separate branch of the Tau military promotion structure and it might not be possible to get promoted beyond Shas'vre when you pilot a Riptide. Similar to the Cadre Fireblades forgoing the chance to pilot a battlesuit.

Once you get promoted to piloting a battlesuit you pick your variant. Pilots of XV-25s, XV-104s, and XV-88s are ineligible for command roles. They already have a caste system in their society, they aren't exactly equal-opportunity employers.

**Furyou Miko**

O'shassera would like to point out that she pilots a stealth suit, so being made commander doesn't preclude nonstandard suit assignments.

**NauticalKendall**

Shas'vre O'vesa isn't a commander, she/he (I always think she) is just an honorary 'vre that accompanies Farsight like a body gaurd, and doesn't lead troops.

**dementedwombat**

Furyou Miko wrote:
O'shassera would like to point out that she pilots a stealth suit, so being made commander doesn't preclude nonstandard suit assignments.

A valid point, although she is "hero of the empire" levels of corner case. That certainly shouldn't be taken as regular procedure. It is certainly proof that it can happen though.