Co'tor Shas wrote:
Also, this thing is seriously BS3? Our MBTs are BS4, this should be at least that.

BrianDavion wrote:


for some reason this was the first thing I thought of

 Kanluwen wrote:
Right. Because the race famed for adapting on the fly and testing out new technology in response to battlefield threats wouldn't ever create something new...

 Peregrine wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:
Right. Because the race famed for adapting on the fly and testing out new technology in response to battlefield threats wouldn't ever create something new...

Why would they create something new when they already have perfectly good aircraft that are far superior to this abomination? And even if there's a missing role why wouldn't they follow their existing (and quite sensible) doctrine of power armor supported by tanks and aircraft? A new superheavy skimmer with these weapons would have been great. This thing is just plain stupid.

 Kanluwen wrote:
Nothing on it is remote activated via Markerlights, which has been a trend with their support vehicles/suits. This thing is pure LOS from everything we're seeing.

At the very least, we now have examples of a drone AI piloting a Broadside which could possibly justify this thing.

OK, I just got back from the event, so after posting the photo earlier, I thought I'd put up some more info that I learned on the day.

Next(?) IA book is still planned to be Tau... possibly against Imperial Knights (plus some Guard tagging along for the fun of it). Unlikely to be out for a while though ("next year"?).

On the big suit...

Rules totally undecided yet, according to Will, the sculptor. So I'm not sure if the ones listed earlier are accurate - though as it's obviously someone else that writes the rules, maybe they've written them and just not told him, it's possible.

The arms and shoulder weapons are all mounted such that they could be swapped out for other weapons. The shoulder weapons are intended as a kind of railgun, but not the same as the "heavy railguns" we've seen on the AX-1-0 for example... he spoke about this at some length, and had some cool ideas how he imagines them working. He figures that the velocity of a railgun like this could be variable: as well as the high-velocity solid rounds we know of from existing railguns, you could fire a different munition at a much lower velocity and "lob" it like a mortar, or even launch a drone-controlled shell. Flexibility was the key word, he said it several times.

The arm weapons are triple-barrelled rotary ion cannons (again, no idea what that means for their rules). The arms on the model he had on display were magnetised (he actually dropped it while I was talking to him and it fell to bits, I panicked but he was like "nah don't worry about it" and put it back together) and the model will be produced with 6mm/8mm holes in it, so you don't even need to drill your own magnet holes.

He's sculpted alternate arms already (triple fusion guns of some kind I think), but not any more shoulder weapon systems yet. Because the arms are on a magnetised mount, he isn't tied into them all having the same design, and mentioned that one variant could include a "box" of missiles (SMS/MP style) instead of an actual arm holding a gun. The shoulder systems could be different too - there could be two independent weapons (instead of three on a shared axle mount) and those could also include missiles. He sounds quite keen on drone-guided missiles.

The suit has three pilots, and you may be able to see the three entry hatches on the front in the photo: he imagined the central one to be in charge, with lesser ranks either side, much like a Princeps and Moderati for an imperial Titan.

The model will come on the round base shown as it's the largest plastic base they make! He put this model together without thinking about the base, posed differently it ought to fit the base a little bit better. It's a bit hard to tell from the photos how big this model is - it's big. Warhound big? Much bigger than a Knight, anyway.

Oh - it's "with manufacturing", i.e. finished and ready for production. When it will actually go into production and go on sale, he wasn't sure (that depends on when it fits into the release schedule, when they can write rules for it, etc. and is out of the sculptor's hands).

Overall I personally love the model, though I've seen mixed reactions to it in this thread. However - I'm not sure about the three shoulder guns (makes the model look too much "I hear you like guns with your guns" for my taste). A pair of independent missile racks would look much better IMO, and sounds like something that is very likely on the cards - indeed, it looks really cool if you just leave the shoulder weapon off completely, you don't have to have something there if you don't want to! But the arm and body weapons are really cool IMO. I'm very positive about this, and will be buying one.

 winterwind85 wrote:
The Ion Weapon is the normal Ion Canon Profile but Heavy 3, ordnance, twin linked ( per Side)
Also includes an overcharge profile and a nova profile ( for both aides)
Nova profile is strength D Heavy 2 large blast, if you fail the Nova charge you take 1+ d3 wounds..
The Artillerie like gun is like the rvarna gun, only with buffed profile, like massive blast.
If you overcharge it it goes apocalyptic barrage.
No penalty for shooting it every turn..
Rocket Mags Are the Same as on broadside but with skyfire.
Burst canon things got a Special rule, i think it was called close quarter defense whatever, my english is not the best.
Gives them the ability to Fire overwatch Even being a superheavy at full bs with the burst canons.
Able to take all the battlesuit upgrades.
No JSJ ability.
Stats were something like bs3 T 9 W 8 str10 ws 1 ini 1 armour save 2+, Invul 5+,
Can take up to 6 drones with rockets, drones can get a skyfire update.
Reactor rules were not all being told about, improved shooting for Main guns, an attack against all models in base contact with haywire and Fleshbane.
Thats all i can remember

Davor wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:


for some reason this was the first thing I thought of

Isn't that the game with the real Warhammer?

geargutz wrote:
how in the world do some of you think the tau superheavy walker isnt fluffy? did you guys forget why the tau built broadsides, or even riptides.

Tau Codex wrote:The Tau way of war stresses mobility over mass attacks and hit-and-run tactics over entrenched positions. A wise Commander is not daunted by foes that outnumber his own troops many times over, nor is he dismayed by the sheer size of the crude war machines their foes might deploy. Coordinated tactics, tight discipline and a well enacted battle plan can overcome such minor advantages.