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Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




So its downright nonsensical that the Tau havnt figured this gak out given at least three of there client races have warp drives or some other form of FTL. The Kroot have there Warspheres witch are Warp Capable and have fething used them in battle alongside the Tau. So they clearly have some form of way of navigating the Warp. Likely a Kroot subspecies specially fed to be Navigators. The Demiurg seem to have some form of FTL. Likely warp drives as well and how have they not captured a single civilian or military warp capable Imperial ship on any of the dozens of imperial planets they've annexed and conquered. Like the Tau not having a functional true warp drive at this point has long since passed the point of absurdity. GW get your lorr together this is getting fething redicoulous.
   
Made in ca
Commander of the Mysterious 2nd Legion





Because the Tau are Incapable of navigating warp space, to use warp drive like how the IoM uses it you need one of two things. 1: A potent psyker. 2: an individual with a mutation that allows him to perceive the warp, without going insane, the Tau not only don't have this, they're proably unwilling to accept it's nesscary, they belive the IoM's size is greatly exaggerated etc. They certainly don't think that the IoM is going to have tech they don't. they (foolishly) belvie the IoM are their technological inferiors in all areas

Opinions are not facts please don't confuse the two 
   
Made in de
Junior Officer with Laspistol






My impression so far was that the Tau as quite innovative and scientific species (or lets better say alliance) are not really willing to use technology/methods they don't yet understand or that are out of their capabilities to completely control with the tech they have at hand. They test new suits as "experimental" suits to get a hold of the new systems abilities in combat environment before installing them everywhere etc. Their Expansion in spheres follows (in my personal opinion) a similar motive: expand a planned and limited amount, adjust to your new size, aknowledge problems you faced and develope solutions, than expand more (in contrast to humankind that more or less expands whereever it finds a rock humans can live on.). The same motive might apply to stepwise development of FTL skimming deeper and deeper into the warp.

Based on that: As non-psykers themselves the Tau (now the race, not the alliance) had very limited contact with the warp and have therefore not really developed a complete understanding of how tech works there. Not only the tech to get in, through and out, but also all the other stuff. Sensors, energy, life support etc. While some of their client races have psykers, they use very different technology that might not be that easily comparable. Also I'm not sure if those client species usually travel those vast differences the bigger empires like Imperium or eldar cross (sometimes half the galaxy or more). Maybe the Nicassar, but the kroot?

But you are definitly right, after all the time they have had now in contact with the Imperium etc. and assuming that at least some of the defecting human planets possessed detailed knowledge about the "do's and don'ts of warp travel the Tau should have gotten further in their development by now.

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Moustache-twirling Princeps




United Kingdom

Because every time Tau try FTL it goes horribly wrong - for example:

Lexicanum wrote:The AL-38 Slipstream Module is an experimental Tau device to allow for faster-than-light travel.

The device was developed by Earth Caste scientist Ka'buto through years of studying Imperial FTL technology and old wreckages of Kroot Warspheres. Once fitted to a space vessel, the module creates a bubble of anti-matter around the ship and propels it at such a speed that it can pierce the fabric of reality itself. Initial test flights were incredibly successful and allowed any vessel equipped with one to traverse the entire span of the empire within a few days, a journey that previously required many months.

However despite Ka'buto's warnings, the Ethereal Council activated hundreds if not thousands of of AL-38 modules simultaneously at Numenar Point to begin the Fourth Sphere of Expansion. The resulting mass use of anti-matter created a tear of reality that swept the Tau fleet away. In the aftermath of the Numenar Point disaster the Ethereals scrapped the entire AL-38 program.

However decades later it was discovered that the Tau fleet had not been destroyed but instead transported across much of the galaxy, leaving behind a wormhole that would become known as Startide Nexus.

After the disaster at Numenar Point, all the modules were disassembled and returned to storage at the Earth Caste facilities. Ka'buto and his team presumably continued to improve upon the device, however, as they were later used by the Fifth Sphere of Expansion fleet to help them traverse the Startide Nexus.


Tau being non-psychic is also a drawback - the highly psychic Nicassar were their first allies and help transport them.
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




BrianDavion wrote:
Because the Tau are Incapable of navigating warp space, to use warp drive like how the IoM uses it you need one of two things. 1: A potent psyker. 2: an individual with a mutation that allows him to perceive the warp, without going insane, the Tau not only don't have this, they're proably unwilling to accept it's nesscary, they belive the IoM's size is greatly exaggerated etc. They certainly don't think that the IoM is going to have tech they don't. they (foolishly) belvie the IoM are their technological inferiors in all areas


They do have those. The kroot. The kroot have warp capable ships ans travel great distances with them so they must have some method of navigating the warp. Im thinking a type of kroot fed solely psykers or something like that. Not to mention there Litterally nothing stopping them from raiding some Imperium merchant ships yoinking there Navigators and breeding them.
   
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Moustache-twirling Princeps




United Kingdom

chimera0205 wrote:
Not to mention there Litterally nothing stopping them from raiding some Imperium merchant ships yoinking there Navigators and breeding them.

Navigators are extremely well protected - Space Marines act as their bodyguards (Ragnar Blackmane was one, as part of the Wolfblade), and they have their own House forces which are gene-enhanced and wear power armour. There was a short story where they managed to get one from the AdMech (by shooting down the AdMech ship), but that didn't end well either IIRC.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2019/12/17 11:19:26


 
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




beast_gts wrote:
chimera0205 wrote:
Not to mention there Litterally nothing stopping them from raiding some Imperium merchant ships yoinking there Navigators and breeding them.

Navigators are extremely well protected - Space Marines act as their bodyguards (Ragnar Blackmane was one, as part of the Wolfblade), and they have their own House forces which are gene-enhanced and wear power armour. There was a short story where they managed to get one from the AdMech (by shooting down the AdMech ship), but that didn't end well either IIRC.



But theres litterally millions of warp capable merchant ships carrying goods around the galaxy. Those have to have navigators. I highly highly doubt every single fething merchant ship in the fething galaxy has a squad of space marines.
   
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Longtime Dakkanaut




Halandri

Many ships make smaller jumps based on calculations and known patterns rather than using navigators. A bit like playing pooh sticks you know your vessel is likely to make it through the bridge from upstream to downstream in a certain amount of time. Of course some get stuck never to be seen again.
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




nareik wrote:
Many ships make smaller jumps based on calculations and known patterns rather than using navigators. A bit like playing pooh sticks you know your vessel is likely to make it through the bridge from upstream to downstream in a certain amount of time. Of course some get stuck never to be seen again.


Can I get a source on that? And besides that doesnt matter they still have the Kroot. Who apparently have there own form of Navigator.
   
Made in ca
Commander of the Mysterious 2nd Legion





chimera0205 wrote:
beast_gts wrote:
chimera0205 wrote:
Not to mention there Litterally nothing stopping them from raiding some Imperium merchant ships yoinking there Navigators and breeding them.

Navigators are extremely well protected - Space Marines act as their bodyguards (Ragnar Blackmane was one, as part of the Wolfblade), and they have their own House forces which are gene-enhanced and wear power armour. There was a short story where they managed to get one from the AdMech (by shooting down the AdMech ship), but that didn't end well either IIRC.



But theres litterally millions of warp capable merchant ships carrying goods around the galaxy. Those have to have navigators. I highly highly doubt every single fething merchant ship in the fething galaxy has a squad of space marines.


they might not have space Marines but they'll have their own defence forces. and then you have the chance the navigator might kill himself rathger then be captured by the xenos. and then you have to risk the navigators not navigating you into a black hole or something.

Also reverse engineering isn't some magic thing where you can just aquire someone else's example, snap your fingers and magicly copy it. you have to have the tech base for it. (Leonardo Da Vinci would not be able to reverse engineer a modern computer he simply would have lacked the knowledge base to comprehend it) to understand and operate a IoM style warp drive (do we know for sure BTW thats how the Kroot's ships move?) they'd need to be able to navigate the warp, they'd need improved Gellar shielding all of which woul d require a understanding of the warp the Tau don't have


Opinions are not facts please don't confuse the two 
   
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Moustache-twirling Princeps




United Kingdom

chimera0205 wrote:
nareik wrote:
Many ships make smaller jumps based on calculations and known patterns rather than using navigators. A bit like playing pooh sticks you know your vessel is likely to make it through the bridge from upstream to downstream in a certain amount of time. Of course some get stuck never to be seen again.


Can I get a source on that?


I think it's 'Ship of the Damned' that says most Imperial ships are either sub-light or make short jumps without a Navigator. It's set on a sub-light pilgrim vessel which takes months (if not years) to travel between planets.
   
Made in de
Junior Officer with Laspistol






I mean... I can understand them. Even if your allies have technology to fly through the warp and you captured some from the enemy, if your understanding is seriously lacking and that tech is used by species very different from your own, ist really quite a risk.

And just knowing how you can do it is not necessary a good reason to do it. Look at our current treatment of genetech. We basically know how to perform gene manipulation, even on humans. Yet we also already realize that when s*** happens, it is REALLY bad. And that's a similar situation, isn't it?

TAU: "so, how do you fly so fast?"
KROOT: "We use specialized psykers to enter a realm with deamons in it. And hopefully get out where - and when - we want to"
TAU: "ehhhmmm... OK. And how do you keep out the demons?"
KROOT: "we have Gellar fields"
TAU: "Do those interact with our Fusion reactors?"
KROOT: "How should I know?"
TAU: "And if those fail?"
KROOT: "Just pray they don't"
TAU: "How do you navigate?"
KROOT: "You have to trust the psyker, he is the only one who can see anything there."
TAU: "And if something happens to him?"
KROOT: "..."
TAU: "OK, we don't have psykers, but it must surely be possible to enter the warp with tech?"
KROOT: "I don't know, everyone who does it uses psykers."
TAU looking at his Gue'vesa: "How do your warpdrives work?"
Gue'vesa: "Hell if I know. We basically just copy/print an ancient bluepause. I don't think anyone in the Imperium really understands..."
TAU: "great..."


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Regular Dakkanaut




Pyroalchi wrote:
I mean... I can understand them. Even if your allies have technology to fly through the warp and you captured some from the enemy, if your understanding is seriously lacking and that tech is used by species very different from your own, ist really quite a risk.

And just knowing how you can do it is not necessary a good reason to do it. Look at our current treatment of genetech. We basically know how to perform gene manipulation, even on humans. Yet we also already realize that when s*** happens, it is REALLY bad. And that's a similar situation, isn't it?

TAU: "so, how do you fly so fast?"
KROOT: "We use specialized psykers to enter a realm with deamons in it. And hopefully get out where - and when - we want to"
TAU: "ehhhmmm... OK. And how do you keep out the demons?"
KROOT: "we have Gellar fields"
TAU: "Do those interact with our Fusion reactors?"
KROOT: "How should I know?"
TAU: "And if those fail?"
KROOT: "Just pray they don't"
TAU: "How do you navigate?"
KROOT: "You have to trust the psyker, he is the only one who can see anything there."
TAU: "And if something happens to him?"
KROOT: "..."
TAU: "OK, we don't have psykers, but it must surely be possible to enter the warp with tech?"
KROOT: "I don't know, everyone who does it uses psykers."
TAU looking at his Gue'vesa: "How do your warpdrives work?"
Gue'vesa: "Hell if I know. We basically just copy/print an ancient bluepause. I don't think anyone in the Imperium really understands..."
TAU: "great..."



You realize.they can tell.the.kroot to help.them build them... And use Kroot psykers. Thats like the best part about having alien allys. They can fill roles you cant.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
BrianDavion wrote:
chimera0205 wrote:
beast_gts wrote:
chimera0205 wrote:
Not to mention there Litterally nothing stopping them from raiding some Imperium merchant ships yoinking there Navigators and breeding them.

Navigators are extremely well protected - Space Marines act as their bodyguards (Ragnar Blackmane was one, as part of the Wolfblade), and they have their own House forces which are gene-enhanced and wear power armour. There was a short story where they managed to get one from the AdMech (by shooting down the AdMech ship), but that didn't end well either IIRC.



But theres litterally millions of warp capable merchant ships carrying goods around the galaxy. Those have to have navigators. I highly highly doubt every single fething merchant ship in the fething galaxy has a squad of space marines.


they might not have space Marines but they'll have their own defence forces. and then you have the chance the navigator might kill himself rathger then be captured by the xenos. and then you have to risk the navigators not navigating you into a black hole or something.

Also reverse engineering isn't some magic thing where you can just aquire someone else's example, snap your fingers and magicly copy it. you have to have the tech base for it. (Leonardo Da Vinci would not be able to reverse engineer a modern computer he simply would have lacked the knowledge base to comprehend it) to understand and operate a IoM style warp drive (do we know for sure BTW thats how the Kroot's ships move?) they'd need to be able to navigate the warp, they'd need improved Gellar shielding all of which woul d require a understanding of the warp the Tau don't have



Yes we do know for a fact Kroot Warspheres have Warp Drives.

```they are effectively flying towns comprising a central section primarily housing the main warp engine and outer sections with maneuvering thrusters. While the engines are reliable, they are also of quite poor power output making Warspheres extremely slow, however they are sufficiently powerful to enable planetary landings. Once on the surface the thrusters are often used to bury the Warsphere, presumably to enable it to revert to its role as a traditional town. Warspheres are fairly rare and so will only be deployed in situations where the Kroot are getting a substantial payment or bonus.[1]

When traveling the Kroot have no difficulty using warp-drives unlike the Tau, though how they do this is unknown to the Tau. They appear to have a natural affinity for navigating towards inhabitable planets, almost like a sixth sense```
https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Warsphere

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/12/17 13:16:57


 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




chimera0205 wrote:

You realize.they can tell.the.kroot to help.them build them... And use Kroot psykers. Thats like the best part about having alien allys. They can fill roles you cant.


Thats not how the Ethereals do business.
   
Made in ca
Regular Dakkanaut




Sterling191 wrote:
chimera0205 wrote:

You realize.they can tell.the.kroot to help.them build them... And use Kroot psykers. Thats like the best part about having alien allys. They can fill roles you cant.


Thats not how the Ethereals do business.


At no point have the Etherals or tau shown any reluctance to adopt alien tech when its beneficial to do so. Unlike some empires the Tau arnt dumb enough to ignore tactical advantages and societal improvements out of sheer dogma.
   
Made in fr
Stalwart Tribune





The reason could be political. If the Tau start relying on the kroot (for example) to travel through space, then they're making that particular species the most important one in their empire. The Tau would have to accept almost anything or risk losing all of their FTL capacity (or get into a civil war to force them to work).

Their current ships aren't great, but the Tau don't need to play nice to a bunch of psychic weirdos to get them working.
   
Made in de
Junior Officer with Laspistol






I think I was misunderstood: I did not want to imply that they would not ask/order the Kroot to help them (Or the Gue'vesa or Niccassar). I just wanted to voice the impression, that they might be opposed to use a propulsion system that was not developed by them and of whom they don't know (yet) how it interacts with their other technology or their own physiology. And at least the humans within the Tau Empire likely don't understand it either and accept that the ancient STCs for it "just work". I don't know if the understanding of the Kroot and Nicassar goes much deeper.

To apply my analogy: we here on earth KNOW how to genetically manipulate other organisms including some mammals. Yet we still found the consensus that it is (yet) a bad idea to try this on humans, let alone on a large scale.

Additionally they might be reluctant to bind their ability to FTL travel on a client race instead of finding a way to do it with technology. Because that would basically make that client race a top priority target for their enemies. When the Imperium suddenly have to face fleets of Tau ships with Kroot navigators I have a slight hunch where the next exterminatus campaign will head to.

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Regular Dakkanaut




Pyroalchi wrote:
I think I was misunderstood: I did not want to imply that they would not ask/order the Kroot to help them (Or the Gue'vesa or Niccassar). I just wanted to voice the impression, that they might be opposed to use a propulsion system that was not developed by them and of whom they don't know (yet) how it interacts with their other technology or their own physiology. And at least the humans within the Tau Empire likely don't understand it either and accept that the ancient STCs for it "just work". I don't know if the understanding of the Kroot and Nicassar goes much deeper.

To apply my analogy: we here on earth KNOW how to genetically manipulate other organisms including some mammals. Yet we still found the consensus that it is (yet) a bad idea to try this on humans, let alone on a large scale.

Additionally they might be reluctant to bind their ability to FTL travel on a client race instead of finding a way to do it with technology. Because that would basically make that client race a top priority target for their enemies. When the Imperium suddenly have to face fleets of Tau ships with Kroot navigators I have a slight hunch where the next exterminatus campaign will head to.


Well first of all the kroot have several worlds but also there homeworld Pech is really really deep into Tau space. Any assualt ibto the Tau empire that can take out Pech can likely also reach the Tau Homeworld. Thats like jumping into the Sol system and hitting Mars but completely ignoring Terra
   
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chimera0205 wrote:

At no point have the Etherals or tau shown any reluctance to adopt alien tech when its beneficial to do so. Unlike some empires the Tau arnt dumb enough to ignore tactical advantages and societal improvements out of sheer dogma.


Yes they have. There's a reason that mainline Tau battlefleets arent packing Kroot drives, Nicassar navigators, Demiurg battlemechs or Gue'Vesa marines. The Ethereals dont wear their puritanical, authoritarian or genocidal bent on their sleeves like the Imperium, but they're just as concerned about the "purity" of their species as humans, if not moreso, and that fully extends to their technology.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2019/12/17 13:52:18


 
   
Made in ca
Regular Dakkanaut




Sterling191 wrote:
chimera0205 wrote:

At no point have the Etherals or tau shown any reluctance to adopt alien tech when its beneficial to do so. Unlike some empires the Tau arnt dumb enough to ignore tactical advantages and societal improvements out of sheer dogma.


Yes they have. There's a reason that mainline Tau battlefleets arent packing Kroot drives, Nicassar navigators, Demiurg battlemechs or Gue'Vesa marines. The Ethereals dont wear their puritanical, authoritarian or genocidal bent on their sleeves like the Imperium, but they're just as concerned about the "purity" of their species as humans, if not moreso, and that fully extends to their technology.


´´The Ion Cannon was developed using the Ion Weapon technology acquired as part of a fruitful alliance between the Syrr'Tok Brotherhood of the Demiurg and the Water Caste of the Dal'yth Sept.´´
https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Ion_Cannon

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/12/17 14:10:25


 
   
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chimera0205 wrote:


´´The Ion Cannon was developed using the Ion Weapon technology acquired as part of a fruitful alliance between the Syrr'Tok Brotherhood of the Demiurg and the Water Caste of the Dal'yth Sept.´´
https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Ion_Cannon


Congratulations, you just proved my point. The Water Caste took Demiurg asteroid mining technology, reverse engineered the functional principles behind it, and developed a Tau weapon system. They didn't bolt Demiurg ion cannons to their ships.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/12/17 14:14:29


 
   
Made in de
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But (serious question) if a large exterminatus fleet enters Tau space, would the Tau fleet not focus on protecting said Sept worlds? I don't say they could not fight back, but I'm not sure they would risk reducing the fleet protecting their own worlds to protect Pech, especially when said exterminatus fleet could change targets.

Also comparing Pech with Mars is... a bit of a stretch isn't it? As far as I know the Tau once encountered a single hive on a human world realizing it was home to more humans than Tau in their empire (at least I read that). And Mars alone seems to be bigger than one Hive. Plus there is a difference between "deep within the smallest amongst the playable empires" and "neighbour planet of the most populated crownworld in the most fortified system of the largest empire."

Nontheless I don't really share the very dark view some have on the etherals and their motives. And I not even see the careful approach of the Tau to FTL as disadvantage. The wormhole they accidently created and try to keep the Death Guard out of is a good example why such caution is very sensible.

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2019/12/17 14:18:38


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on the forum. Obviously

Aren't Warspheres super rare and remnants of an ancient Kroot civilization? I don't think even the kroot knows how their drives work, let alone let the Tau tinker with them.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2019/12/17 14:26:49


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Regular Dakkanaut




Pyroalchi wrote:
But (serious question) if a large exterminatus fleet enters Tau space, would the Tau fleet not focus on protecting said Sept worlds? I don't say they could not fight back, but I'm not sure they would risk reducing the fleet protecting their own worlds to protect Pech, especially when said exterminatus fleet could change targets.

Also comparing Pech with Mars is... a bit of a stretch isn't it? As far as I know the Tau once encountered a single hive on a human world realizing it was home to more humans than Tau in their empire (at least I read that). And Mars alone seems to be bigger than one Hive. Plus there is a difference between "deep within the smallest amongst the playable empires" and "neighbour planet of the most populated crownworld in the most fortified system of the largest empire."

Nontheless I don't really share the very dark view some have on the etherals and their motives. And I not even see the careful approach of the Tau to FTL as disadvantage. The wormhole they accidently created and try to keep the Death Guard out of is a good example why such caution is very sensible.


The Tau actually care about there client races believe it or not. When hive fleet gorgon was ravaging tau space and a very small splinter of it hit Pech the Tau diverted forces to help pech despite several other tau worlds including a sept worlds were also under attack at the time.


"In 919999.M41 a lone Tyranid bio-ship of Hive Fleet Gorgon, disgorged its vile swarms upon Pech. Tough the Kroot are able to kill the smaller Tyranids, multiple tribes are killed by the giant Bio-Titans attacking their world. It is only when the Tau Empire deploys to Pech, to save their long-time allies, that the tide of battle turns against the swarm. Working together, the Kroot and Tau soon hunt down and kill every Tyranid infesting Pech.[4]"

https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Pech

The Tau view all lives under there control as equal. The only people.worth more then other people are the Etherals. A Guevesa is worth just as much as a Kroot and a Kroot is worth just as much as a Tau. Only Etherals lives are worth more then others.


Also At no point did I imply that Mars and Pech are at all equals. Or even close to it. It was a metaphor

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/12/17 14:30:02


 
   
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on the forum. Obviously

And yet its implied that Vespids are getting mind controlled, as they were suddenly eager to be assimilated after receiving their translator devices.
That's either gakky writing (seriously, they are so grateful that they can communicate with another race that they swear fealty? That's some fanfic levels of nonsense), or there's something dubious going on.

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 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Aren't Warspheres super rare and remnants of an ancient Kroot civilization? I don't think even the kroot knows how their drives work, let alone let the Tau tinker with them.


Im.pretty sure they still make them occasionally. Also there not Orks orthe fething Mechanicus who both can keep machines running with faith, percussive maintenance and scented oils. They need at least some knowledge of how the things work to maintain them even of they didnt still build them from time to time


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
And yet its implied that Vespids are getting mind controlled, as they were suddenly eager to be assimilated after receiving their translator devices.
That's either gakky writing (seriously, they are so grateful that they can communicate with another race that they swear fealty? That's some fanfic levels of nonsense), or there's something dubious going on.


There is no proof of mind control. Just speculation. Also even if it is mind control its worth pointing out that the Water Caste tried every other possible means of peaceful communication with the Vespids but the Vespids couldnt even recognize the tau as fellow sentient biengs and kept fething attacking them. The fact the Tau kept trying after the first attack and didnt wipe the bugs out makes them practically saints by 40k standards. You dont have to be morally perfect to be least evil faction in 40k. Hell Litterally just not genociding everything you come into contact with would automatically put you in the top three.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/12/17 14:37:19


 
   
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It used to be that the Kroot we're quite secretive, taking what the Tau offered whilst never really committing themselves to serve the 'Greater Good'. There we're also hints that they we're hiding significant industrial and technological capability from the Tau on Pech.

That might explain why the knowledge hasn't transferred between the species and why that Tau guy had to loot crashed Warspheres for parts in the previous quote.
   
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chimera0205 wrote:

There is no proof of mind control. Just speculation. Also even if it is mind control its worth pointing out that the Water Caste tried every other possible means of peaceful communication with the Vespids but the Vespids couldnt even recognize the tau as fellow sentient biengs and kept fething attacking them. The fact the Tau kept trying after the first attack and didnt wipe the bugs out makes them practically saints by 40k standards. You dont have to be morally perfect to be least evil faction in 40k. Hell Litterally just not genociding everything you come into contact with would automatically put you in the top three.


Because you really needed to bring in the "my flavor of fascism is better than yours" to this discussion.
   
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on the forum. Obviously

Yeah, asking first before enslavement doesn't make you better. It just means you don't want to waste resources fighting. The Imperium at least is honest about being pricks.

Tau remind me a lot of the Aschen from stargate. Oh sure, they may seem nice, talking about cooperation and sharing their tech and all, especially compared to those Goa'uld donkey-caves, but that's just because they are playing the long game, gaining their "ally's" trust and getting them dependent on their tech, until they are deemed no longer necessary and slowly killed off through gradual sterilization. Could take 50 years, could take 1000. In the end the pawns are always disposed of.
"Beware of Greeks bearing gifts", I believe the saying goes.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2019/12/17 16:40:00


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 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Yeah, asking first before enslavement doesn't make you better. It just means you don't want to waste resources fighting. The Imperium at least is honest about being pricks.

Tau remind me a lot of the Aschen from stargate. Oh sure, they may seem nice, talking about cooperation and sharing their tech and all, especially compared to those Goa'uld donkey-caves, but that's just because they are playing the long haul, gaining their "ally's" trust and getting them dependent on their tech, until they are deemed no longer necessary and slowly killed off through sterilization. Could take 50 years, could take 1000. In the end the pawns are always disposed of.
"Beware of Greeks bearing gifts", I believe the saying goes.


Not sure I'd agree that that is always going to be their end goal for the various other species within the Empire. They would retain, protect and support any race within the empire if it benefited the greater good of the Tau themselves.

The Greater Good principle has the same moral flaws as Utilitarianism really, such that it can be used to justify any negative act if it provides a benefit to the majority (or in this case for the Tau themselves). So a race that provides no long term benefit to the Empire (again, the Tau themselves more accurately) would potentially/feasibly be "phased out" or at least abandoned in the future once their usefulness had expired. But the Tau are pragmatic enough to keep onside the races whose usefulness lasts.


Not that this is trying to say that the Tau are better or worse than the Imperium, just that their moral failings are their own.

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