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On page 14 of the Genestealer codex there is a box explaining why most xenos races do not succumb to infestation as readily as humans. For the T'au it simply says "T'au have a connection with their Ethereal caste that makes infection by the Genestealers difficult".

Does anyone have any explanation for why this would be the case? Can Ethereals somehow sense infection in their underlings? Does the expectation that T'au will have complete reverence and respect for Ethereals make it too difficult for them to conduct subterfuge without giving themselves away? Is it just that the absolute authority of Ethereals prevents non-infected individuals from being swayed into defecting?

Any ideas?

I believe the Ethereals use hormones to control the other castes. This would probably make genestealer mindcontrol harder.

Seriously, the thread title seemed like it was setting up a punchline.

‘Cause they’re gak in close combat! But wittier.

I thought they were bad targets for genestealers because they were all raised in groups together so they were easy to spot.

It might be a social thing, too. I could easily see Tau using arranged marriages, breeding arrangements or lab babies for the greater good. Those aren't really compatible with the 'hunker down in secret until the infected population is big enough' strategy.

Of course sheer (lack of) population might be a problem as well, and the social structure of herd animals. A lot of tau worlds seem to have low populations in high tech cities. No ancient layers of settlements and catacombs, no antisocial enclaves out in the mountain mines (because drones are better for that with a handful of earth caste specialists).

Human populations get big enough that no one really cares as long as the output numbers are right. Tau governors probably do still track individuals and try to make sure no one falls through the cracks.

Can't mind control someone that's already mind controlled!

I think a genestealer would need to infect the crèche leaders for a chance to propagate a cult, or, if he is a really crazy big boy genestealer, infect an ethereal!

What about the farsight enclave
Last time i checked they dont have ethereal so probably dont have the same hormonal brain washing protection.

It may be a social thing then in that the caste system and strict social controls prevent or detect infiltration fairly well.

Its probably an oversight.

Because Tau are generally implied to be a more artifical product.

Their civilisation fast-forwarded thousands upon thousands of years conveniently hidden behind a conveniently stable warp storm. They come with natural resistances to Chaos and Tyranids. Lights in the sky show up and Ethereals, which never existed in their corner of the Galaxy appear and have basically genetically engineered perfect control over them.

Tau are basically the big-boy version of the Emperors Primarch/Space Marine programme. A species engineered from the ground up for warfare in the 41st millenium by ... "somebody" ... but instead of doing it with 20 dudes and 1000 Marines pro Chapter (even if individually more powerful), that somebody did it with a random backwater civilisation they found and ran the programme with billions.

I don't remember the exact source unfortunately, but I'm pretty sure that somewhere was written that infected tau ones are easily spotted because of ethereal control and tight social structure.

However there was also written that T'au experienced some minor genestealers infiltration and uprising.

GSC work best on a world with a largely un-monitored underclass who can be slowly converted. The Tau don't really have that as everyone in their society not only has a place and purpose but is in no way unhappy with where they are for various reasons.

That along with the castes are not only visibly distinct to a unique degree with not a ton of overlap. An infected tau is going to stand out a lot more than an infected human.

Finally the Tau are in a much smaller space over all so any time something funny is going down on a world, it gets noticed a lot quicker.

Could also be the fact that while in the Imperium there can be a fairly large degree of visible genetic impurity that can be floated in public without attracting attention, the Tau genome is probably much more stable so a few random Tau suddenly exhibiting traits that are not common with their caste would throw up a lot of red flags.

The genestealer need to breed in victims which could make it unseen. It' been possible amongst the tau, as the v7 codex states it to happen once because physical diformity is not necesseraly a cause to hunt you down as in the imperium, so that the tryied to study the genestealers and his victims. But the tau do learn from their errors so this only case should rarely repeat itself.

However, while the tau are somewhat immune to falling prey to genesteaer cults their empire is not: annexing human population that can be infected is dangerous for that matter. I don't believe that the tau would pay attention to a few humans looking unusual as once again they are not as inquisitive as the imperium. Plus it is totally concievable that the cult's prophets could gather support from among the bitter, resentful more or less enslaved human population to help them go unnotice - and at the same time further facilitate the cult's growth.

So genestealer insurrections can much probably be a threat anyway, i'd say. Well although i might also be wrong.

So have Genestealers evolved/developed so far to infiltrate human worlds they can't do others?

I suppose when they were first created they had weird heads etc (like a worm with tendrills) in Rogue Trader. Also they would've been a primary threat to humans (as the Rogue Trader universe is written from a human perspective).

Because of Plot Convenience Syndrome.

It's to do with how the infestation spreads.

Most Genestealer Cults start off among the lower-mid echelons of a society.

From there, they initially propagate their numbers amongst those otherwise ignored by said society.

Over time, they inveigle their way up the power structure, seeking to place Hybrids or Brood Brothers (in the original sense of such) in positions of power, from which the Cult can spread it's influence ever further.

However, T'au society is Caste based. It strikes me that Water and Air Caste are the most immediately susceptible, as they're the diplomats and pilots, so those most likely to encounter a Purestrain whilst off-planet.

But, as interbreeding between the Castes is strictly prohibited? The Cult would struggle to spread itself effectively to the Earth and Fire Caste - the Ethereal Caste is again problematic.

I mean, it's not impossible. Just, far harder than amongst Humans, where we freely mingle and boff each other.

In essence, the more regimented a society, the harder it is for a Cult to properly grow. Without influence in all spheres of life on that planet, they're forever stymied.

And that's whether or not the Ethereals actually have conscious control over the rest, and can detect dissent or someone 'not quite getting on the same page'.

As far as I remember, all the infected T'au in the fluff have been in remote outposts without Ethereals (such as The Greater Evil).

Plus, if memory serves, Purestrains prefer to infest psychically talented species.

It's not immediately clear what happens when they're just taking what they can get though.

For instance, we know the T'au are pretty much non-psychic (at least for now). How that interacts with the brood telepathy, and the eventual signal to the Hive Fleets, we can only speculate. It could mean the Magus arrives in around the same breeding cycle as other races, but is noticeably weaker than a human born Magus. Or, it could be that the inherent psychic nature of the Tyranid species takes longer to strengthen that particular strand of DNA, meaning the birth of the Magus is delayed. It could even mean the Patriarch is inherently weaker, or his hold over the brood tenuous, as a decent slice are the psychic equivalent of talking to a brick wall.

And, if my hypothesis is correct, a weaker hold on the Brood is a serious danger to any Cult. Rogue hybrid or brood brother could inform authorities, and bring it all crashing down.

Probably because the Tau have assigned breeding and that means genetic screening. Given their level of technology and the widespread application of that technology (in contrast to the Imperium, where even higher tech exists but is jealously hoarded by the elites), an annual routine physical examination would identify genetic abnormalities caused by genestealer corruption. And then each newborn is going to be screened for health issues, so any corrupted newborns are basically automatically identified.

Maybe in the FSE it's slightly easier for the corruption to spread with unregulated breeding, but even then they'd have to avoid public health care to an extreme level.

First I've heard of T'au being resistant to Genestealers.

Anyway, a good real explanation is that the T'au empire is so small and insignificant that they just haven't had a ton of contact with genestealers.

 Grey Templar wrote:
First I've heard of T'au being resistant to Genestealers.

Anyway, a good real explanation is that the T'au empire is so small and insignificant that they just haven't had a ton of contact with genestealers.

For what my take is worth, I'd regard it as inaccurate. It is true that T'au benefit from the mighty power of the plot to stay alive, however they have been attacked by a hive fleet that was not chased and torn down to a man because of the dissention between the one day allies that were the tau and the IG, IIRC. It would thereof make sens that a few manage to get stranded onto tau occupied planets.

Another point is that humanity already has lots of mutation, body mutilation (harsh working conditions - lack of understanding of health and safety) and that's before we touch on chaos influences.

So as a result a Tyranid infection has more chance to prolong its lifespan undetected because imperfections are easier to hide. In Tau society such mutation and abnormal formation would be spotted far earlier and be a lot harder to cover up.

Imperials basically don't care about the lower classes and even less about those under the lower classes. Look at Necromunda and all the mutations and gangs of the underhive. So long as they don't rock the boat of production or the life of those living in the upper spire; the upper classes don't care about them. You can form your cult in peace, only having to deal with local cults not the big powerful masters.

 Grey Templar wrote:
First I've heard of T'au being resistant to Genestealers.

Anyway, a good real explanation is that the T'au empire is so small and insignificant that they just haven't had a ton of contact with genestealers.

That's actually a really bad one. They're on the eastern edge of the galaxy where tyranids attacks started, as did (iirc) genestealer infestations, several major hive fleets passed through that vicinity, as did their tendrils and splinter fleets after the Imperium smashed the main fleets.

Further, there's documented battles between hive fleets and tau, and the tau certainly would capture and examine battle debris and surviving organisms.

There is one mention of GSC spreading on a Tau place. They got introduced (do not remember how) and the eternal thought it was no biggie. Later on a huge uprising and it was beaten down. At a later point they where screened and decleared fine.

The story left it ambigius if all the GSC where destroyed, or if they somehow facked the all clear green light. I think it is in the GSC codex.

Genestealers seem a bit too targeted at humans to be honest. I wonder if we'll find out someday that the Overmind designed them with humans in mind.

Genestealers are basically targeted at humans, but the strain of Tyranid and the concept - infection and infiltration - is one Tyranids do use and thus is something we would expect them to repeat with other species where possible.



Another thought is that humans are full of malcontents to tap into. Hive cities have a lot of people on the bottom who have no hope what so ever of rising up. Treated like living machines with punishing work hours that leave them hardly enough time to eat, procreate and sleep. It's a hotbed of discontent and potential uprising that just needs a spark.

Tau might well be living a very regimented life, but one that they are content, happy and given few concepts of freedom to leave. So there's likely far less discontent with the status quo for them to want to uprise and break free.

 argonak wrote:
Genestealers seem a bit too targeted at humans to be honest. I wonder if we'll find out someday that the Overmind designed them with humans in mind.

It could be simply because humans make for the best target. Eldars are not that numerous and they're very slow breeders, so a cult would take ages to get anywhere with them, assuming it's not discovered by superior eldar tech/psychic shenanigans. The T'au are apparently problematic for all the reasons said above. Necrons are out for obvious reasons. Orks wouldn't think much about a few boyz acting a little weird, but since they don't breed in the traditional sense, how would a cult spread among them?

Now if genestealers could steal some ork genes and evolve to reproduce via spores, that would be a terrifying threat...

Tiennos wrote:

 argonak wrote:


Now if genestealers could steal some ork genes and evolve to reproduce via spores, that would be a terrifying threat...

One of the Tyranid codex posed the theory that many Tyranid evolutions were the result of encounters/influences with specific genetic traits. The biovores being specifically from the ork genus line. Of course where the Tyranids start with their evolution and how other genetic material and environmental elements impact them is very hard to say. It's also noted that they've potentially had creatures in the Galaxy for thousands of years before the first identified Hive Fleets and thus could have absorbed multiple genetic strains long before. Plus we mustn't forget that the models we play with are the most common within the Hive as well as few of the most powerful unique creations. As a result a story or the lore could easily have dozens of ork related infestation stories all of which would be cannon, but all of which might die out once the Tyranids were no longer dealing with an ork threat on a world.

Tiennos wrote:
Now if genestealers could steal some ork genes and evolve to reproduce via spores, that would be a terrifying threat...

They do - but other Orks tend to notice somethings not right with them and deal with them before they become a problem. One of the Cain books has Ork hybrids hiding on a space hulk, keeping away from the rest of the Orks on board.

 argonak wrote:
Genestealers seem a bit too targeted at humans to be honest. I wonder if we'll find out someday that the Overmind designed them with humans in mind.

I think it's because of all the factions humans are the only ones where large scale infestations can reasonably happen.
Tau are raised together and are completely devoted to Ethereals so there's not much chance for lots of mutant deviants to pop up.

Eldar are either Craftworlders who have an infinity circuit to detect abnormalities like a Genestealer and then stop it. Dark Eldar are either vat born or coming out of people with a LOT of protection and they're unlikely to let a hybrid get away. Then there's just the general everyday risk of death Commoragh has.

Orks don't like things that aren't Orky and are just violent in general so any Hybrids there have a decent chance being killed just from being around Orks.

Necrons just don't reproduce so you can't really infest them.

Yes, the same box on page 14 of the Genestealer Cult codex says that Aeldari have too long a life cycle and that orks are somehow able to sense the 'wrongness' of their infected mates.

Some good points here. I like the idea that Ethereals can't literally sense a problem but that they will notice when others aren't being subservient enough.