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 Wulfmar wrote:

 Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:

 Wulfmar wrote:
Tau are a lazy, direct import from current Japanese cartoons.

This calls for picture comparisons!

This post is a place holder while I compose a response. Please be patient, technically I'm at work and will be updating this piecemeal

Spoiler:

Tau Helmets and communication stalks on helmets / general aesthetic of all battle suits.




Tau Pathfinder (helmet predominantly)



Broadside with missile pods and other shenanigans

Still not seeing it. Tau are overall more blocky for example. There's elements of similarity, yeah. But like I said, everything in 40k has elements of similarity with something that came before it.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

 ImAGeek wrote:

Still not seeing it. Tau are overall more blocky for example. There's elements of similarity, yeah. But like I said, everything in 40k has elements of similarity with something that came before it.

Seriously? You're going to be impatient and not even let me finish what I'm doing?

Stuff it, I can't be bothered continuing if you're just going to continue arguing before I've finished getting the images. I even stated clearly it was in progress as I am at work. If someone is going to the effort for you, at least give them a chance.

 Wulfmar wrote:
Automatically Appended Next Post:

 ImAGeek wrote:

Still not seeing it. Tau are overall more blocky for example. There's elements of similarity, yeah. But like I said, everything in 40k has elements of similarity with something that came before it.

Seriously? You're going to be impatient and not even let me finish what I'm doing?

Stuff it, I can't be bothered continuing if you're just going to continue arguing before I've finished getting the images. I even stated clearly it was in progress as I am at work. If someone is going to the effort for you, at least give them a chance.

Well, I'm sorry, I didn't realise you weren't done. You said wait, I looked again, and there were photos.

Really? I always though Tau were "mostly inspired" from Japanese Mecha.

The Riptide sealed the whole deal for me lol

Why is it bad that they are inspired by Anime?

SGTPozy wrote:
Why is it bad that they are inspired by Anime?

That's my point too. Everything in 40k is inspired by something.

 ImAGeek wrote:

SGTPozy wrote:
Why is it bad that they are inspired by Anime?

That's my point too. Everything in 40k is inspired by something.

Exactly, I just don't get it as if it is supposed to be an insult or something. At least we aren't pansy elves!

Angry stuff.

Both Eldar and Tau like having those extra fins sticking out like Japanese anime robots, can't expect GW to leave that an untapped market.
Even saw some of the mechs in battletech started getting fins added (latest iteration of the "Zeus"), so consider this a standard "me-too".

I figure once models are released it is Pandora's box: there is no un-doing it, people who get an entire army phased-out will get a wee tad angry: just look at Squats.

I agree that combining back together into codex's would be more efficient and may save us from say 3-4 different versions of the same model costing / behaving different like the Rhino.

Considering the latest GW tactic is to be able to release as many saleable items as possible both models and various supporting documents this thread would be an unlikely pipedream, fun exercise all the same though.

 ImAGeek wrote:

SGTPozy wrote:
Why is it bad that they are inspired by Anime?

That's my point too. Everything in 40k is inspired by something.

Your "Still not seeing it." seemed to say "I disagree" is all...

If you indeed agree that they are inspired by anime that's fine, it just was not clear... And i don't think it's a bad thing either?

 BlackTalos wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

SGTPozy wrote:
Why is it bad that they are inspired by Anime?

That's my point too. Everything in 40k is inspired by something.

Your "Still not seeing it." seemed to say "I disagree" is all...

If you indeed agree that they are inspired by anime that's fine, it just was not clear... And i don't think it's a bad thing either?

By 'still not seeing it' I meant; I'm not seeing that it's a direct cut/paste copy job. I can see the inspiration, definitely, but next to each other I think say a Gundam and a Tau suit look suitably different.

 ImAGeek wrote:

 BlackTalos wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

SGTPozy wrote:
Why is it bad that they are inspired by Anime?

That's my point too. Everything in 40k is inspired by something.

Your "Still not seeing it." seemed to say "I disagree" is all...

If you indeed agree that they are inspired by anime that's fine, it just was not clear... And i don't think it's a bad thing either?

By 'still not seeing it' I meant; I'm not seeing that it's a direct cut/paste copy job. I can see the inspiration, definitely, but next to each other I think say a Gundam and a Tau suit look suitably different.

Oh definitely! I also meant in the general background of things too, the Castes, how they live, "Greater Good", etc, also reminds me a lot of Edo-era Japan.
The Tau have "Honour", great sages, etc... They are very much the Samurai - Mecha of 40k.

In a very far-related sense, probably, but the connection can be made. And, IMO, that's definitely a good thing, not a bad one lol

Yes I always considered Eldar just as anime inspired as Tau, just by different styled anime. Looking at wraith constructs body and evangelions it's quite obvious to me though I admit that not being even slightest bit interested in the army, I never checked what was ripped off from where, timeline etc. Said wraith constructs look ripped off from Alien looking at the head and things on the back, wraithlord is a mechanical alien on legs with a sword which makes it awesome in my book btw. My main gripe with them apart from standard fantasyish fluff are standard fantasyish ponytails and generaly elvy things. GW should make them more cybernetic but not in mechanical style but kind of unknown always moving materials on faces, some super intricate crap or glass impants I dont know, you could go bonkers with their design but no Elrond in spaaace and we are sad. At least make thek randomly die from the sadness and fight the suicide rates as much as galaxy with entire armies commiting suicide, I can write a special rule for that with a random table GW. Grimdark heh.

 BlackTalos wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

 BlackTalos wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

SGTPozy wrote:
Why is it bad that they are inspired by Anime?

That's my point too. Everything in 40k is inspired by something.

Your "Still not seeing it." seemed to say "I disagree" is all...

If you indeed agree that they are inspired by anime that's fine, it just was not clear... And i don't think it's a bad thing either?

By 'still not seeing it' I meant; I'm not seeing that it's a direct cut/paste copy job. I can see the inspiration, definitely, but next to each other I think say a Gundam and a Tau suit look suitably different.

Oh definitely! I also meant in the general background of things too, the Castes, how they live, "Greater Good", etc, also reminds me a lot of Edo-era Japan.
The Tau have "Honour", great sages, etc... They are very much the Samurai - Mecha of 40k.

In a very far-related sense, probably, but the connection can be made. And, IMO, that's definitely a good thing, not a bad one lol

Yeah I can see how the background is evocative of Japan too, but I agree that it's a good thing, and my point was just that it's not a direct copypaste ripoff of Anime, and also that it doesn't 'not fit' into 40k because of the Anime influence.

I love the background for the Tau, incidentally. Some of the best background stuff from GW I think.

@Sidstyler yes I was trolling in a way that I dont really want people's armies removed, Im too nice deep down for that despite working hard everyday to change myself. I still have conscience pangs over bashing Mat Ward lol or cant even cheat on wife despite numerous opporunities lately. Anyway I thrive in threads like this tbh you can attack people s tastes etc it's not something you can do every day.

Grimdark vehicle, well land raiders and generally everything on WWI chasis, I instantly see millions dead in trenches some with tank track marks on mangled bodies, gas smoke all the great things. Chaos predator or landraider is epitome of grimdark, tanks from hell ftw. Then you have Tau vehicle which are sleek and rounded and presented on some bright sunny picture (well thats a hyperbole but the art initialy seemed cleaner/ brighter than the rest). You can say the deadly potential of the vehicle makes it fitting enough but I disagree, there are many military examples of deadly things looking laughable. Tau fishes are actualy ok designs but would fit better somewhere else, even SM vehicles if you dont count stormraven have some grimdark connotation I cant tell you what it is though, predator looks agressive I guess merging wwI/II esque chasis chasis and modern turret and lasers etc. As I said I think designers themselves mentioned in their notes that they want Tau to be in contrast with the rest of the universe so you could say the argument that Tau dont fit somehow is pretty strong if you re not into contrast in 40k.


Yes Im not exactly a fan of star wars, Id still play xwing (and probably will very soon) just not buy/ collect. Ships are actualy a highlight of star wars universe.

 ImAGeek wrote:

 BlackTalos wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

SGTPozy wrote:
Why is it bad that they are inspired by Anime?

That's my point too. Everything in 40k is inspired by something.

Your "Still not seeing it." seemed to say "I disagree" is all...

If you indeed agree that they are inspired by anime that's fine, it just was not clear... And i don't think it's a bad thing either?

By 'still not seeing it' I meant; I'm not seeing that it's a direct cut/paste copy job. I can see the inspiration, definitely, but next to each other I think say a Gundam and a Tau suit look suitably different.

How about a fire warrior next to a samurai? The armor is very similar.

 The Home Nuggeteer wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

 BlackTalos wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

SGTPozy wrote:
Why is it bad that they are inspired by Anime?

That's my point too. Everything in 40k is inspired by something.

Your "Still not seeing it." seemed to say "I disagree" is all...

If you indeed agree that they are inspired by anime that's fine, it just was not clear... And i don't think it's a bad thing either?

By 'still not seeing it' I meant; I'm not seeing that it's a direct cut/paste copy job. I can see the inspiration, definitely, but next to each other I think say a Gundam and a Tau suit look suitably different.

How about a fire warrior next to a samurai? The armor is very similar.

Similar, certainly, but it's a huge leap to go 'they look slightly like a samurai so they look a lot like Gundam'...

 ImAGeek wrote:

 The Home Nuggeteer wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

 BlackTalos wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

SGTPozy wrote:
Why is it bad that they are inspired by Anime?

That's my point too. Everything in 40k is inspired by something.

Your "Still not seeing it." seemed to say "I disagree" is all...

If you indeed agree that they are inspired by anime that's fine, it just was not clear... And i don't think it's a bad thing either?

By 'still not seeing it' I meant; I'm not seeing that it's a direct cut/paste copy job. I can see the inspiration, definitely, but next to each other I think say a Gundam and a Tau suit look suitably different.

How about a fire warrior next to a samurai? The armor is very similar.

Similar, certainly, but it's a huge leap to go 'they look slightly like a samurai so they look a lot like Gundam'...

Well it's not a case of A because B. Each of the Tau models have an inspiration from somewhere, as per the pictures provided by Wulfmar show.
I've always though the Wraithknight looked more like Evangelion,
But comparing Riptide and Gundam(which i've only glanced at, never watched) in terms of blocky-ness etc is not much of a stretch :p

If anything, that is pretty much the main reason why i would like Tau, but a lot of other things make me go "meh"....

 BlackTalos wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

 The Home Nuggeteer wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

 BlackTalos wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

SGTPozy wrote:
Why is it bad that they are inspired by Anime?

That's my point too. Everything in 40k is inspired by something.

Your "Still not seeing it." seemed to say "I disagree" is all...

If you indeed agree that they are inspired by anime that's fine, it just was not clear... And i don't think it's a bad thing either?

By 'still not seeing it' I meant; I'm not seeing that it's a direct cut/paste copy job. I can see the inspiration, definitely, but next to each other I think say a Gundam and a Tau suit look suitably different.

How about a fire warrior next to a samurai? The armor is very similar.

Similar, certainly, but it's a huge leap to go 'they look slightly like a samurai so they look a lot like Gundam'...

Well it's not a case of A because B. Each of the Tau models have an inspiration from somewhere, as per the pictures provided by Wulfmar show.
I've always though the Wraithknight looked more like Evangelion,
But comparing Riptide and Gundam(which i've only glanced at, never watched) in terms of blocky-ness etc is not much of a stretch :p

If anything, that is pretty much the main reason why i would like Tau, but a lot of other things make me go "meh"....

But Gundam to me seem a lot sleeker, more human formed, rather than blocky like the Riptide. Like on a Gundam the armour plates are shaped like muscles on the legs, they have a proper face, etc. while the Tau, they have distinctly mechanical legs, a very robot face, etc. it's not too much of a stretch I guess, but to me they look fairly distinctly different.

 ImAGeek wrote:

 BlackTalos wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

 The Home Nuggeteer wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

 BlackTalos wrote:

 ImAGeek wrote:

SGTPozy wrote:
Why is it bad that they are inspired by Anime?

That's my point too. Everything in 40k is inspired by something.

Your "Still not seeing it." seemed to say "I disagree" is all...

If you indeed agree that they are inspired by anime that's fine, it just was not clear... And i don't think it's a bad thing either?

By 'still not seeing it' I meant; I'm not seeing that it's a direct cut/paste copy job. I can see the inspiration, definitely, but next to each other I think say a Gundam and a Tau suit look suitably different.

How about a fire warrior next to a samurai? The armor is very similar.

Similar, certainly, but it's a huge leap to go 'they look slightly like a samurai so they look a lot like Gundam'...

Well it's not a case of A because B. Each of the Tau models have an inspiration from somewhere, as per the pictures provided by Wulfmar show.
I've always though the Wraithknight looked more like Evangelion,
But comparing Riptide and Gundam(which i've only glanced at, never watched) in terms of blocky-ness etc is not much of a stretch :p

If anything, that is pretty much the main reason why i would like Tau, but a lot of other things make me go "meh"....

But Gundam to me seem a lot sleeker, more human formed, rather than blocky like the Riptide. Like on a Gundam the armour plates are shaped like muscles on the legs, they have a proper face, etc. while the Tau, they have distinctly mechanical legs, a very robot face, etc. it's not too much of a stretch I guess, but to me they look fairly distinctly different.

Gundam was a very obscure entity in the UK before the release of Wing on Cartoon network, which was in 2001. The initial Tau designs were done in 1999/2000. Assuming there was no hardcore anime fanbase at GW at the time, the most likely inspiration for the designers was Robotech, which was broadcast accross Europe on Super Channel. Blocky designs were a thing of 1980s mecha shows. Also helps that FASA/mechwarrior had copied designs from the show so they were known in the wargame community at the time.

I am still not seeing how Tau being inspired by anime is an issue. It is a multi-billion dollar industry after all. On the other hand design wise the Tau do stick out, but I think that is a good thing. They fill a clean cut technologically advanced niche that attempts to close the gap with hard sci-fi. They are are the technological renaissance against which the blackness of the galaxy can be measured.

As for originality. I mean.. if we want to judge based on unoriginal factions there are better choices to pick from.

My personal problem with the Tau is the following,

1) Too small of an empire to really deserve a place with all the other species that have codices. Everyone else is spread across the galaxy, the Tau are stuck in an isolated backwater.

2) The entire species survives by plot armor alone. They should have been utterly destroyed by the Tyranids by now, its only been some stupid McGuffin that has kept them around. Let alone the fact that that same McGuffin has been used before on Nids and it didn't work, but it somehow worked for the Tau.

 Grey Templar wrote:
My personal problem with the Tau is the following,

1) Too small of an empire to really deserve a place with all the other species that have codices. Everyone else is spread across the galaxy, the Tau are stuck in an isolated backwater.

2) The entire species survives by plot armor alone. They should have been utterly destroyed by the Tyranids by now, its only been some stupid McGuffin that has kept them around. Let alone the fact that that same McGuffin has been used before on Nids and it didn't work, but it somehow worked for the Tau.

Yeah, the second one especially, is bad writing. I still love the Tau fluff but I mean more how they came about, the depth of their society, the little underlying evil bits, but the whole Nids thing is annoying. And they are small but they're expanding, and I'm glad they're in the game.

Make no mistake, I like the Tau concept and how they fit into 40k. Its just been awkwardly executed.

I think it would have been better to have them be somewhere in the galactic north east and make them a little bigger of a threat. And have the Nids be tearing them a new one too.

People who complain about tau being out of place in the game with alien space fungus ork Margaret Thatcher, space elves that control bone, and space rambo need to rethink their priorities.

 Quickjager wrote:
Militarum Tempestus should never have been its own codex

100% completely agree. That release was really strange.

Eldar. Just die already, you pointy-eared bastards.

Also Tau. Just die already, you blue-skinned, no-nose bastards.