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Let me start by saying this thread is not directly about the fluff, but about the writers' decisions when making the fluff. I decided to post it here because it seemed the most appropriate, and because the topic has completely to do with the new background.

Looking back, I think the reasons behind the fourth sphere expansion getting lost in the warp is ment to serve as both plot armour and plot development.

I imagine the fourth sphere expansion fleet reappearing somewhere north west of Ultramar- not too far from their home system but close enough to Imperial mainland to make them more of a threat. I imagine by going this route, GW can further expand the Tau Empire into an even larger empire and making them more relavent as a species. By going this route, the Tau Empire don't have to expand outward ever deeper into human territory from the Damocles Gulf so to not cause any significant changes in the setting. I mean, look at Agrellan, and look at Ultramar. Realistically, if it wasn't for the "dissapearence" of the expansion fleet, there's no way the Tau could have expanded without eventually reaching Ultramar and causing some all out war that will force the Imperium to make a very serious response- and with Guilliman at their head, there's no way the Tau wouldn't be in really serious trouble for attempting to attack Roboutes home, and jewel of the Imperium. (Once they see Macragge and the prosperous worlds in the system, I'd like to see the Tau try and attack Macragge, believing that it is the capital of the Imperium, and that victory there would lead Humanity to its immediate defeat and the surrender or extermination of the Imperium) basically, there is too much of a risk of altering the story and pissing off fans if the Tau were to expand into Ultramar (And they will if they want to make sense) Hence the reason for the the "dissapearence" of the fourth sphere of expansion - to allow the Tau to grow without giving the Imperium a reason of wiping them out.

Another reason I can see, is for the lost fleet to act as a suit of plot armour for the Tau Empire's 5th Sphere. It's pretty likely that the Tau will try and invade Ultramar. It's so close to Agrellan, I'm surprised they haven't attacked already since the end of the 3rd Sphere. Reading back at the prior paragraph; the Tau can't successfully conquer Macragge, and Guilliman can't lead a counter-crusade without losing the war, without tons of fans getting mad pissed at such drastic changes happening all so fast. Ofcourse Macragge could never fall, nevermind falling to the Tau, and ofcourse Damocles Gulf Crusade #3 can't be a complete success, as the Tau would be finished. That is where the Lost Expansion takes the stage. It will be like a repeat of the first crusade,(except hopefully making it past the first sept world this time) except instead of the Imperium falling back to address the Tyranid threat, they're falling back to reinforce Ultramar again. The message was sudden. Due to the Great Rift or the Adminisitratum's incompetence, Guilliman only just finds out about the large expansion force that's been annexing Imperial world's right under his nose. To make matters worse, the 4th Sphere fleet is on route to Ultramar to commit to a full assault. Suddenly struck with the news, Guilliman ofcourse decides to retreat and save the 500 Worlds, and leaves with all haste back to his home system's defense again.

So, there you go. This kind of turned into a story, but that is about how I imagined the Fleet's reappearance to go down. Just your classic GW method of progressing the story without progressing the story.

Keep in mind this is just a personal theory/opinion. I'm not trying to leak or spoil the new fluff; I just thought that this must be what they're up to and wanted to share what I think. Any thoughts?

more likely the 4th fleet's fate will be left vague and uncertain so that Tau players have an excuse to fight whomever they please wherever they please

Tyranids? In MY 4th sphere expansion?

It's more likely than you think.

It solves the problem that the tau always have had. That where they can appear in game is very limited. By having them scattered all over the place now it's plausable for them to take part in stories no set right by their home world. They were to my knowledge the only major faction other than nids to have gotten nothing out of gathering storm.

BrianDavion wrote:
more likely the 4th fleet's fate will be left vague and uncertain so that Tau players have an excuse to fight whomever they please wherever they please

That's another reason I think they decided to make a lost sphere of expansion. I assumeaa theyll reappear away from the Damocles Gulf (But not too far away) to give Tau players a reason to fight something other than Imperials, Nids and Orks

HoundsofDemos wrote:
It solves the problem that the tau always have had. That where they can appear in game is very limited. By having them scattered all over the place now it's plausable for them to take part in stories no set right by their home world. They were to my knowledge the only major faction other than nids to have gotten nothing out of gathering storm.

I've always thought that GW needed to address this issue with the Tau, have them make contact with a race with talents akin to Navigators, have them steal access to the webway, have them develop something new, whatever, just make the Tau a proper "galatic wide race"

I would presume it will reappear on the 'Dark' side of the rift

So that they have a presence on both sides, for wider story range of engagements

Or so we can finally have chaos Tau?

LOL

 SickSix wrote:
Or so we can finally have chaos Tau?

LOL

As a deamon and T'au player, that would suit me just fine. I'd love to see the "Event Horizon" treatment on, what was known at the time, the largest T'au expansion fleet.

Carlovonsexron wrote:
Tyranids? In MY 4th sphere expansion?

It's more likely than you think.

Your meme reference game is impeccable.

Anything I could've said has already been said, though.