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They could easily just add an extra mini-sprue to give it the SMS - would they? doubtful.

My SMS are literally kitbashed Gun Drones with Missile Pods. Theres no real difference other than the fancy gibbings that "hold the missiles" instead of just being tacked on the bottom of a drone

davethepak wrote:


While the fish (and hh, skyray, etc.) could certainly benefit from a new design (there are a lot of gaps in the current model, etc.) I think if gw was making a new kit, we would have heard about it by now...and a big price increase.

To get the sms, you need the hammerhead spure, if I am not mistaken. A good substitute are any extra sms from the broadsides (I only put one on, and call it twin linked) riptide, sunsharks, or of course, just gluing two missile pods together from crisis kits.

Speaking of sunsharks - here is hoping the flyers get a really sold revamp of the rules - they are incredibly bad. Would love to see the sales numbers on those, as compared to say ...riptides.

Haven't you heard? GW does no market research, therefore they have no need of these "sales numbers" of which you speak!

In all seriousness, I do hope the flyers are improved. They may be ugly, but that never stopped the Stormraven or Stormtalon from being effective.

I have a a bunch of extra hammerheads that I got dirt cheap form a buddy of mine who was selling his stuff off, so I just pop the turrerts off and use them as 'fish.

 TheNewBlood wrote:
In all seriousness, I do hope the flyers are improved. They may be ugly, but that never stopped the Stormraven or Stormtalon from being effective.

In all seriousness, I wish the sun shark/razorshark kit would disappear, to be replaced by a plastic barracuda kit.

And inside that kit is an apology to every Tau player for not releasing a plastic barracuda in the first place.

In regards to the Tau Shieldwall, this kit is reportedly able to be purchased in sections (rules-wise and later model kit wise). If this is movable terrain that provides a good cover save, I could see folks that don't play Tau take a minimal CAD just to get access to the Tau Shieldwall. That is assuming the rules actually specify it is Tau specific. With that said, I'm not thinking about all the Imperial Fortifications that have been usable for all armies as there was no indication stating otherwise. This kit could have a lot of potential.

 Sarigar wrote:
In regards to the Tau Shieldwall, this kit is reportedly able to be purchased in sections (rules-wise and later model kit wise).

It damn well better be, I'm sick and tired of fething limited edition everything and it would be hilariously stupid if their first xeno-specific 40k terrain ended up being the same. I don't even give a damn about the rules, I just want Tau-themed terrain (and to be able to actually buy it).

If you really want it that strongly, be prepared to pre-order it when it becomes available. Having it be available later and in smaller kits is still rumor at this point.

Does anyone remember if the previous fortification sets rules were released/leaked before pre order?

Luchiban from warseer has been getting kits early so far in this release. I would suspect the same to be true for the terrain kit as well -- likely we will see the fortification rules sometime early-middle next week. I already told my FLGS that if they can get a set in I wanted it, so we will see if that happens. I'm currently the only tau player locally buying stuff, so at least there's no competition for the kit where i'm at.

Ghostkeel painting tutorial up! Some great angles and close ups here.

Yip... posted that here--> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/667148.page this morning..

 angelofvengeance wrote:
Yip... posted that here--> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/667148.page this morning..

Fair enough. Still think it's a nice thing to have here, since there is much discussion about the model itself :-)

So just to ask then now that people would have gotten their hands on the Stormsurge, it is definitive that it doesn't come with a piece to cover up the cockpit alas? Sorry if that's been definitively answered somewhere. >_>

GenRifDrake wrote:
So just to ask then now that people would have gotten their hands on the Stormsurge, it is definitive that it doesn't come with a piece to cover up the cockpit alas? Sorry if that's been definitively answered somewhere. >_>

It definitely does not.

That video - does it show how to do the new basing scheme they're using for the models?

I want to copy it with my own but I have no idea what paints they used.

Basing is not done in the tutorial, just the model itself. Once again it's a great tutorial though, love the stuff this guy puts out.

I need to watch that video when i can have sound playing lol (im in programming class and bored). That guy seems to completely ignore all the problems i have with out of the pot paints especially the metal colors. It either is so thin it doesnt actually paint without multiple layers or it balls up because its too thick.

And i cant believe i never thought about using wash in specific, controlled use to make detail pop like that. Its primarily shaded area or crack filler for me (underside of a riptide for instance is carpeted in it while the top is left alone save for a couple cracks)

Not a fan of the insanely subtle edging work, i never notice it even up close. But the dabbing thing is a great idea for some paint chipping

The stuff he shows isn't advanced or anything, but he's showing us how to do it in a friendly and patient way, I've learned a lot from his tutorials on how to paint a Knight.

 BrookM wrote:
The stuff he shows isn't advanced or anything, but he's showing us how to do it in a friendly and patient way, I've learned a lot from his tutorials on how to paint a Knight.

Thats my thing though, i dont like painting to the insane levels people do for competitions because it takes like a week to do that per model, no thanks! but at the same note im one of those guys that cant carpet paint to get it painted for table quality, if i see detail i gotta paint it. Its the detail within the paint that i tend to overlook.
This is the Riptide i literally painted 5 days ago. Theres a bunch of things i could do to improve this model just by watching this video without sound, so i definitely need sound lol


The golden parts especially kill me. To get them to look like that i paint them like 4 times, once with a yellow Base paint and 2-3 times with Gold depending on the size of the piece. Ive never gotten ANY metal paints that didnt have a too thin problem, which is what the base yellow is for.
And yes, its purple. Nobody does purple and it looks good on Tau especially with the green/white so i went with it lol. Also it serves as a side-joke on Japanese culture since Tau are obviously anime based in some way - purple is the color of death for them lol.

Though that is one thing he did i already do - the primary armor color is the primer lol. I use Army Painter primers of various colors depending on the model - i dont have any painted yet, but my stealth suits are primed blue because i intend to paint the top half sky-like and the bottom half earthy. Not a simple task lol

Two thin layers of metallics, slightly watered down. Also, give your paint a good shake before popping the top.

 Vineheart01 wrote:

The golden parts especially kill me. To get them to look like that i paint them like 4 times, once with a yellow Base paint and 2-3 times with Gold depending on the size of the piece. Ive never gotten ANY metal paints that didnt have a too thin problem, which is what the base yellow is for.

For gold, I do a medium brown and 2 coats of gold, usually followed with a brown wash and highlighted again with the same or one shade lighter gold.

 alleus wrote:

Spoiler:

Ghostkeel painting tutorial up! Some great angles and close ups here.

He's wearing a tau shirt. Perhaps GW is releasing army themed t-gaks? And, honestly, branded t-shirts are all stupidly overpriced, so they won't even get flack if they charge $25-$30 for them, I could definitely see them doing so.

Lately for my gold paints, I've done a base of Balthasar Gold(usually 2 or 3 layers of it) followed by a dry brushing of Golden Griffon and then a wash of Seraphim Sepia. Works wonders!

One thing that I always stress whenever someone asks me how I have painted gold is that I don't just paint straight over black primer.

I always put down a layer of Rhinox Hide(used to be Scorched Brown) first, then start with the gold. It makes it a hell of a lot more vibrant and warm.

 Kanluwen wrote:

You're missing an important part of what might be the difference:
Breachers are not coming, as standard, with Drones. Ghostkeels cannot be purchased without their attendant two Stealth Drones. "Fireteams" might very well be that each Ghostkeel and its attendant Drones might form their own "Unit" that operates independently of the others, ala a more advanced version of "Combat Squad" rules.
Additionally? Breachers and Drones are both classified as Infantry, with Drones just adding in the relevant rules for "Jump Infantry".

Your first point is well thought out, but I suspect incorrect. The name of the rulet is antithetical to its inferred military definition (being the smallest tactical unit designed to work with others in Maneuver and FIre doctrine). Being a fireteam is essentially the opposite of operating independently. (of course, The Tau Race's definition may differ in BG material, or it might be hopelessly misnamed)

I suspect it does something like allow split fire, rerolling to hits rolls,Overwatch modification, or some other form of fire discipline-based rule. I'm sure I'll also be wrong, but it seems the most logical to me based on the nomenclature.

 Kanluwen wrote:

It really is worth noting though that Ghostkeels have been the only thing seen so far with that special rule.

That is a keen observation that has had me pondering and one I didn't expect. It has to be semi-universal in the Tau list (must show up on more than one unit) or else they would have defined the rule in WD, wouldn't they?

Im actually painting over purple primer, but same thing i guess lol. Thats why i use i think its Evil Sunz Yellow to basically re-prime the area in a more favorable color.

Also theres 40k shirts all over the place. Ive never seen that particular one hes wearing in the video, but ive wanted to order some tau stuff for awhile from these guys and just never got around to it
http://www.redbubble.com/shop/warhammer+t-shirts?ref=shop_product_refinement

And i really want this one, even though im not a fan of the show. i just want it to piss off my marine friends lol

On the mobile terrain discussion: Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But if it is, my group uses so much terrain that what would be the point.

*Blip!* "Whoo-Hoo! I moved a whole 2.4" forwards! Charge!"

But if those little round thingies can zoom around, that would be kick ass.

 Sidstyler wrote:

 TheNewBlood wrote:
In all seriousness, I do hope the flyers are improved. They may be ugly, but that never stopped the Stormraven or Stormtalon from being effective.

In all seriousness, I wish the sun shark/razorshark kit would disappear, to be replaced by a plastic barracuda kit.

And inside that kit is an apology to every Tau player for not releasing a plastic barracuda in the first place.

Oddly, I enjoy the look of the GW Tau Flyers, though I admit I was put off at first.

I was curious what were the governing decisions that kept them from making a plastic Barracuda when the 'Sharks were released. I suspect there is a a business-side reason for doing so.

 derling wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:

You're missing an important part of what might be the difference:
Breachers are not coming, as standard, with Drones. Ghostkeels cannot be purchased without their attendant two Stealth Drones. "Fireteams" might very well be that each Ghostkeel and its attendant Drones might form their own "Unit" that operates independently of the others, ala a more advanced version of "Combat Squad" rules.
Additionally? Breachers and Drones are both classified as Infantry, with Drones just adding in the relevant rules for "Jump Infantry".

Your first point is well thought out, but I suspect incorrect. The name of the rulet is antithetical to its inferred military definition (being the smallest tactical unit designed to work with others in Maneuver and FIre doctrine). Being a fireteam is essentially the opposite of operating independently. (of course, The Tau Race's definition may differ in BG material, or it might be hopelessly misnamed)

I suspect it does something like allow split fire, rerolling to hits rolls,Overwatch modification, or some other form of fire discipline-based rule. I'm sure I'll also be wrong, but it seems the most logical to me based on the nomenclature.

I posted a few other guesses as to what it might be when we first got the rules photos, and Split Fire was one of them I considered. I'm starting to come around more and more to the idea that it is a rule which divides them up into individual "units" of a Ghostkeel and its two Drones.

The reason why? It could be for Leadership test purposes for a big model that comes with two little models and you can take up to 3 as a single choice(essentially forming a unit).

 Kanluwen wrote:

It really is worth noting though that Ghostkeels have been the only thing seen so far with that special rule.

That is a keen observation that has had me pondering and one I didn't expect. It has to be semi-universal in the Tau list (must show up on more than one unit) or else they would have defined the rule in WD, wouldn't they?

If I had to make a guess, the units we'd see with "Fireteam" might be those that come with Drones as mandatory options.
-Ghostkeel
-Sniper Drones(Remember that you can purchase multiple operators and extra Sniper Drones)

I could see the Riptide being forced to take its Shielded Missile Drones as well, but not getting "Fireteam" unless multiple Riptides could be taken.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 kronk wrote:
On the mobile terrain discussion: Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But if it is, my group uses so much terrain that what would be the point.

*Blip!* "Whoo-Hoo! I moved a whole 2.4" forwards! Charge!"

But if those little round thingies can zoom around, that would be kick ass.

If I had to guess, it will be something like it can move while a Tau Empire unit is embarked upon it and each individual section can move separately.

If Riptides are forced to take their shielded drones im going to be pissed. I'd rather not have them even if they are FREE because they pose that big a threat to its own well-being. Its not that hard to snipe a drone when only one model is standing in front of it, no matter how large it is, and force a leadership because 1 of 3 = 33% which is beyond 25% BAM leadership test.

Though i would be surprised if riptides arent taken in squads. If only Ghostkeels were in squads, i wouldnt expect it, but Stormsurges are squads....? Wouldnt make any sense if Riptides didnt become squads.