Tau Rumors

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**Ledabot**

One thing that flyers don't really need is heaps of armour. Keep the things cheep and hard to hit but keeping it hard hitting, and you have an ideal unit I think. If this vespid flyer turns out to be true, then this is exactly what I want from my flyer.

**hotsauceman1**

But as more and more get options to take them out, they need higher armor.

**spectreoneone**

hotsauceman1 wrote:
But as more and more get options to take them out, they need higher armor.

Not really, honestly. As it stands right now, flyers range from high power to rather OP (I'm looking at you, Vendetta and Night Scythe). I can recall in one game against the BA with my Tau, taking three full turns of concentrating fire from my Broadsides against a Storm Raven before it finally fell (and just barely, at that). Most AA options are only S7, which means that you need either a 3 or a 4 just to glance nearly all the aircraft. If you start jacking up AVs on the flyers to 12 or 13 without giving higher strength weapons skyfire, you end up with nearly invincible flying fortresses of death that can only be glanced by most skyfire options.

In order to acheive and maintain balance, flyers should not have AVs any higher than 12. I know that 40k isn't realistic in the slightest means, but it makes absolutely no sense to have something flying around that has as much armor as the heaviest tanks in the galaxy, at least not with it being just as hard to hit as a lightly-armored interceptor shreiking around the sky. Honestly, it should be rather risky to take flyers. While air dominance is extremely powerful, actually gaining that dominance is highly difficult, as there are countless weapons that are highly effective at denying the skies to aircraft. This, I think, is how it should be. If you can destroy the enemy's air defenses, then swooping around with aircraft should be rewarding. If you fail to suppress the enemy air defenses, then your flyers should be shredded.

On topic:
These rumors stink...bad. It sounds like nothing but wishlisting. It's almost as if somebody compiled every single complaint that Tau players have, and catered a "rumor" to them. After Ghost21's lies, I won't believe a single Tau rumor until I see the shots of the WD followed up by the GW reveal and preorder about a week later...

**Archonate**

I think making photon grenades cause Blindness and Concussion would be a perfect way to off-set Tau melee weakness. I think it would be balanced, fitting and fluffy.

I also don't think it will ever happen, for one stupid reason: GW will decide that SMs would suffer too much over such an ability.
Time will tell if I'm right.

**Fezman**

I think the Kroot MC (Krootifex?) and giant suit sound likely - just look at the recent Chaos Marines release, a couple of big new plastic kits to act as the poster boys.

Regarding earlier comments about the "plasma corrosion" rule, again, I wouldn't dismiss these out of hand. We are still seeing rules that require tracking over several turns such as Soul Blaze and Entropic Strike. Plus, I think the idea of Tau using their advanced tech and more flexible approach to warfare (as opposed to many other factions with a set-in-their ways method) can make things like that fluffy - when you take their CC shortcomings into account using debuffs and status effects to level the playing field could be used to make the Tau truly distinctive.

I think we can say with certainty there'll be a flyer - I just hope that if we get a Vespid flyer it actually looks like a vehicle rather than a giant insect (and if it's a giant bug I can always paint it to look like Mothra).

To sum up, I think it's best to remain sceptical (that way you can only be pleasantly surprised) but some of this stuff sounds credible based on recent releases. I remain hopeful also by looking at Necrons - another xeno army updated with a strong book and loads of configurations.

**JOHIRA**

I heard that the Kroot MC and giant suit will be a combined kit that can be assembled as either.

I also heard they're introducing a new method of dealing with the necessary price rises for the Tau line (and all future lines) called Finemortgage. GW will send you forms on the highest quality paper that once filled out use your home as collateral for a loan of Finepoints that can be spent on GW miniatures, with one Finepoint having the purchasing power of $1. Then you get to pay back your loaned Finepoints at $3 per point for your convenience! And they're the highest quality points in the industry!

**Paitryn**

JOHIRA wrote:
I heard that the Kroot MC and giant suit will be a combined kit that can be assembled as either.

I also heard they're introducing a new method of dealing with the necessary price rises for the Tau line (and all future lines) called Finemortgage. GW will send you forms on the highest quality paper that once filled out use your home as collateral for a loan of Finepoints that can be spent on GW miniatures, with one Finepoint having the purchasing power of $1. Then you get to pay back your loaned Finepoints at $3 per point for your convenience! And they're the highest quality points in the industry!

That almost sounds right. Though I believe at that point there will be more russian and chinese ripoffs on the gaming tables the day that arrives. Oh yes, I'm sure GW will start a line of credit at some point down the road. "Get your Games Workshop official MasterCard! Earn points every time you use it to buy Games Workshop products!" What are the points for? Not actual models of course, just junk stuff like you would find at the ticket counter of a chucky cheese.

**MajorWesJanson**

JOHIRA wrote:
I heard that the Kroot MC and giant suit will be a combined kit that can be assembled as either.

I also heard they're introducing a new method of dealing with the necessary price rises for the Tau line (and all future lines) called Finemortgage. GW will send you forms on the highest quality paper that once filled out use your home as collateral for a loan of Finepoints that can be spent on GW miniatures, with one Finepoint having the purchasing power of $1. Then you get to pay back your loaned Finepoints at $3 per point for your convenience! And they're the highest quality points in the industry!

How clever and witty! Yet another FineJoke!

I hope the Kroot MC is ture, as if I don't like the model, it would make it easy to get a Giant Knarloc from FW and run it instead of the official model.

**Rolt**

So since the Kroot could be getting a MC, kroothawks and new(?) kroothounds, is there any chance they will get a HQ?, because I wouldn't mind that at all

**Breotan**

So, should Tau players buy all their Skyrays from discounters now? Or do you think GW will keep the kit the same until the general price increase in June/July?

**spectreoneone**

Breotan wrote:
So, should Tau players buy all their Skyrays from discounters now? Or do you think GW will keep the kit the same until the general price increase in June/July?

It's still quite shocking to me that GW hasn't wisened up yet and increased the Skyray price above that of the HH and Dfish. I have a feeling that if the anti-air Skyray rumor is true, we'll see a new kit for it with different missile options, and it will be in the tune of $65 USD. Honestly, if I were interested in expanding my Tau army right now, I'd snatch up a few kits from the War Store before GW came to their senses and jacked up the Skyray price for the next Codex release (which will probably be around the April-June time frame if the reliable rumor sources are accurate). Just my two cents.

**Ralis**

spectreoneone wrote:
Breotan wrote:
So, should Tau players buy all their Skyrays from discounters now? Or do you think GW will keep the kit the same until the general price increase in June/July?

It's still quite shocking to me that GW hasn't wisened up yet and increased the Skyray price above that of the HH and Dfish. I have a feeling that if the anti-air Skyray rumor is true, we'll see a new kit for it with different missile options, and it will be in the tune of $65 USD. Honestly, if I were interested in expanding my Tau army right now, I'd snatch up a few kits from the War Store before GW came to their senses and jacked up the Skyray price for the next Codex release (which will probably be around the April-June time frame if the reliable rumor sources are accurate). Just my two cents.

Keep in mind, the same rumors about the Whirlwind getting an AA option were out there for the DA codex and it didn't materialize.

**Dentry**

Ralis wrote:
Keep in mind, the same rumors about the Whirlwind getting an AA option were out there for the DA codex and it didn't materialize.

It's in the works. Check out this leaked W.I.P. shot.

Edit: Also, quite excited by some of these rumors. Don't necessarily believe them all, but excited nonetheless.

**Desubot**

Dentry wrote:
Ralis wrote:
Keep in mind, the same rumors about the Whirlwind getting an AA option were out there for the DA codex and it didn't materialize.

It's in the works. Check out this leaked W.I.P. shot.

Edit: Also, quite excited by some of these rumors. Don't necessarily believe them all, but excited nonetheless.

Il take 20

**spectreoneone**

Ralis wrote:
spectreoneone wrote:
Breotan wrote:
So, should Tau players buy all their Skyrays from discounters now? Or do you think GW will keep the kit the same until the general price increase in June/July?

It's still quite shocking to me that GW hasn't wisened up yet and increased the Skyray price above that of the HH and Dfish. I have a feeling that if the anti-air Skyray rumor is true, we'll see a new kit for it with different missile options, and it will be in the tune of $65 USD. Honestly, if I were interested in expanding my Tau army right now, I'd snatch up a few kits from the War Store before GW came to their senses and jacked up the Skyray price for the next Codex release (which will probably be around the April-June time frame if the reliable rumor sources are accurate). Just my two cents.

Keep in mind, the same rumors about the Whirlwind getting an AA option were out there for the DA codex and it didn't materialize.

True, however there is already a Whirlwind with an AA option (Hyperios). Granted, it's a FW model, but there is still that option for SM players whose meta includes IA rules/units. That aside, if recent codex releases are any indication of what's to come for the Tau codex (or any future codex for that matter), even if the Skyray doesn't get a skyfire option (which really, fluff-wise, makes zero sense), we'll still get a flyer, which will give us some anti-air capability. If you play Tau in a meta that includes IA units, we have the Remoras (which are pretty weak against flyers, having only LBBC and two seeker missiles that even with the networked markerlight on the drone still need a 6 to hit after expending your marker token) and the Barracudas (which actually are potentially extremely effective against other flyers, but compete with other FA options).

I'm somewhat optimistic that whenever the new Tau codex is released, Tau players will be very pleased, after all, we're two editions behind and currently the second-oldest codex in use. I am, as I have previously stated, still very skeptical of many of these rumors, especially many of the Kroot rumors. Time will tell.

**davethepak**

This is straying into (as most of them do, as the tau are so loved, and have so many obvious ways to fix them) wish listing again...

As far as rumors go - I am excited about them, and have to say that a lot of these do make sense - in general.

Here is a more specific question - if a FW model is added to the GW line, could we expect that model to disappear from the FW site ahead of time?

(lets not muddy this with "they don't do that" or "they say they don't " - that is NOT the question - so please do not waste bandwidth on that dead horse debate - thank you).

thanks.

**Backfire**

spectreoneone wrote:

I'm somewhat optimistic that whenever the new Tau codex is released, Tau players will be very pleased, after all, we're two editions behind and currently the second-oldest codex in use. I am, as I have previously stated, still very skeptical of many of these rumors, especially many of the Kroot rumors. Time will tell.

In fact Tau is more like three editions behind, 4th edition Tau book is only slightly updated version from original 3rd edition book.

**Byte**

A new book would be great. At this point, a WD update would be better than nothing.

**Rolt**

Just a heads up, some more Tau (and Chaos) rumors are up on BoLS.

Heres the link: http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2013/02/faeits-rumor-tarot-greater-good.html

Enjoy.

**SickSix**

Rolt wrote:
Just a heads up, some more Tau (and Chaos) rumors are up on BoLS.

Heres the link: http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2013/02/faeits-rumor-tarot-greater-good.html

Enjoy.

I like some of those rumors. Still hoping for a legal all Kroot force.

**Chronepsis**

davethepak wrote:
Here is a more specific question - if a FW model is added to the GW line, could we expect that model to disappear from the FW site ahead of time?

Yes and No.... I know, horrible answer.

A couple of examples to demonstrate my point.

1) Baneblade- I believe the FW Baneblade was still available after the GW released it in plastic. HBMC could probably give you an exact answer on this.

2) Eldar Wave Serpent- FW still sells it, though it does have a few extra components to make it slightly different (type2).

3) Skyray- FW stopped selling it.

There's no concrete answer on what they'll do until they actually do it.

**Kroothawk**

Here the BOLS summary linked to above, which looks like a summary of faeit212 stuff plus stickmonkey. No wonder, it has been posted by Natfka.
Don't take this as gospel:

Tau
There has been a lot of rumors coming about Tau. Most of it seems to be playtest rules from late last year. While a lot of it comes from Stickmonkey, I have included bits from Faeit 212 (a couple different anonymous sources).

Psychic Defense
Tau having little presence in the warp, get a re-roll for Deny the Witch.
Tau in Suits get a 5+ Deny the Witch

Kroot Monster
Expensive and short lived, as its a CC beast the size of a Maulerfiend
Monstrous Creature with Trample Attack: 3d6 causes 2d6 S6 AP6 wounds

Uber Suit
Playtest statlines WS3 BS5 S5 T7 W3 I3 A2 L8
Plasma weapon with ignore cover
It's a mobile weapon platform, with rail guns as it's main weapon system, - which can be upgraded to a plasma weapon system or ion cannons. Classified as monstrous creature. 2+/4++ save. It can forgo shooting and movement to gain 2++ save. The Uber can move as jump infantry if it does not shoot it's main weapons.

Fire Warriors
BS3 but can be upgraded to BS4 with a 50pt squad leader

Ethereals
Grant various army wide special rules, similar to Dark Angel banners

Kroot
Scout, Furious Charge, Move through Cover
Kroot Hounds and Kroot Hawks
Shaper unlocks additional upgrades

Sneaky Kroot (obviously not the name)
An elite type unit that can hide in terrain like Ymgarl Genestealers

Vespid
The maligned bug men are redeemed! Big improvements, weapon range increase, point reduction, hit and run.

Fortifications
Deep striking turrets as fortification options. Burst cannons or missile pods options.

Stealth Suits
Models unchanged. Have stealth, plus optional drone granting shrouding.

Sky Ray
Flakk missiles, plus has orbital bombardment (much like SM version, but with a lingering effect).
orbital blast ability. sky ray has to forgo his full turn
strength X AP 3 (wound on 2+,plasma corrosion, blast) plasma corrosion - any enemy model hit under the blast rolls a d6 every turn for the remainder of the game on a roll of 1-3 the unit or model suffers d6 strength 4 AP5 hits. On a roll of 4-5 the unit suffers 2d6 strength 5 AP 4 hits. On a roll of a 6 the unit is hit with 2d6 strength 6 AP 2 hits with the blind special rule. (these are test rules and subject to change)

Equipment
Drones: Any drone can be used for Look Out Sir rolls for any model in the unit they are attached to.

Markerlights
A single hit increases BS of all other units targeting the victim by +1. Multiple markerlights have no additional effects. OUCH - look out for possible BS:5, Fire Warrior volleys now! Markerlights improve snapfire against marked flyers to 5+ instead of 6, but must first hit the flyer with a 6 themselves.

Networked Markerlights
A longer range twin linked version. Vehicles only.

**Absolutionis**

Not content with every codex stealing the cool bits and pieces from the Eldar codex, now GW allows pickings from the Tyranid codex.

I wonder if this Sneaky Kroot will be significantly better than the Ymgarls.

**Rolt**

Absolutionis wrote:
Not content with every codex stealing the cool bits and pieces from the Eldar codex, now GW allows pickings from the Tyranid codex.

I wonder if this Sneaky Kroot will be significantly better than the Ymgarls.

I think that depends if GW has new plastic kits to sell, doesn't it.

Although in all seriousness I don't think "standard" warrior Kroot will get a new/updated plastic kit TBH, if any of these rumours are true, all of the new codex options will most likely be one or two overpriced finecast models only available in one pose each. The Kroot "Monster" will probley be the only new plastic kit for kroot, although I would be happy to be wrong on this one.

**Bobug**

To be honest im hoping the marklight rumours aren't true, if they are then markerlights went from a very unique and tactical mechanic to a boring and crappy +1BS lol nonstackable ability :/ guess the +1 to hitting air is nice but still. This is going to change the playstyle of tau A LOT

Also how is this going to affect pathfinders and tetras? Will pathfinders all get a target lock now? Im assuming tetras will become utterly useless though

Most of the other rumours are nice though, not a great fan of the uber suit but hey ho, Ive wanted a plastic tau dropship for ages and wont hesitate to get one, its about time kroot got furious charge and vespid being brought up to par sounds great.

Also im assuming seeker missiles are gone then?

to be honest although it all sounds "good" from a codex power level point of view, Im afraid tau are just going to become "IG but alien" just another massed gunline army without the combined arms factor the army used to have

**Micky**

Rolt wrote:
So since the Kroot could be getting a MC, kroothawks and new(?) kroothounds, is there any chance they will get a HQ?, because I wouldn't mind that at all

Potential for a return of Ankhor Prok or at least a generic Master Shaper or Shaper Shaman, certainly.

Would love that, a lot.

**Kroothawk**

Has there been any Codex with less than 5-6 special characters lately? Current Tau Codex has only 3.

**Jefffar**

I'm wondering if Kroot Carnovoires are getting moved to Fast Attack while the two new units are Elite and Heavy Support. Then a unique HQ to move them back to troops perhaps?

**hotsauceman1**

I would be very surprised if tau t not get anything that interferes with Deep Striking, like rolling extra dice.

**RogueRegault**

Kroothawk wrote:
Has there been any Codex with less than 5-6 special characters lately? Current Tau Codex has only 3.

Never underestimate the lack of effort GW will put into a Tau codex. (Or overestimate the effort put into it.)

If GW could release the Tau codex as $50 for a fluff section and one choice each for Troops, HQ, Elites, Fast Attack, and Heavy Support, they would.