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I've always liked the idea of a dark, Orwellian underbelly beneath the bright and shining exterior for Tau. So after reading about Farsight and the FW R'varna creator, I wanted to make something myself. Here is my rendition of a Tau Black Ops team. And to clarify, by Black Ops, I don't mean general special operations, but shadier, less than savory missions like the Water Caste who orchestrated the assassination of one of the Brightswords in Last Chancers - Kill Team. I also wanted to incorporate a Penal-Legion type feel to them. Comprised of rebellious, insubordinate, and sometimes "re-educated" personnel, the Fire Caste Redeemers unit is a misnomer as the unit recruits from all the Castes and races, save the mysterious Ethereals.

Gameplay wise, the unit is going to play like an Inquisitorial Warband with many different selection and able to be fielded in a variety of roles.

A Fire Caste Redeemers Team is an Elite Choice made up of either a Fire Caste Officer or a Water Caste Liaison and 4-9 other choices from the list below
Unit Special Rule: Unlisted Unit - In games where VPs are awarded for killing units, Redeemers don't count award VPs(First Blood Included).
Unit Option: May take a Devilfish as a dedicated Transport. If a Devilfish is not taken then the unit has Infiltrate, otherwise it has Outflank.

Fire Caste Officer[30pts][0-1 choice]
WS3 BS4 S3 T3 W2 I2 A2 Ld9 Sv4+
Pulse Carbine
Locked Frequency Markerlight - R36" Salvo 1/2, Target Acquired
-This is a networked markerlight where only firing unit may benefit from markerlight hits.

Water Caste Liaison[15pts][0-1 choice]
WS2 BS2 S3 T3 W2 I2 A2 Ld9 Sv4+
Pulse Carbine
Call of the Empire - Allows Earth Caste Engineer, Kroot Desperados, and Vespid Betrayers to be included in the team.
For the Greater Good - If the unit fails a Ld test, a single wound is inflicted wound is inflicted on the model with the highest Ld(excluding the liaison)

Fire Caste Specialist[10pts][0-4 choice]
WS2 BS3 S3 T3 W1 I2 A1 Ld6 Sv4+
Pulse Carbine
-May replace Pulse Carbine with Ion Rifle[10pts] or Rail Rifle[15pts]

Earth Caste Engineer[30pts][0-1 choice]
WS2 BS2 S3 T3 W1 I1 A1 Ld5 Sv4+
Fabrication Drone - At the start of each of your movement phases declare what ability the Drone if conferring to the unit.(Note the Drone and the Engineer should both be modeled together on a 40mm base.)
-Shield Generator - The unit gains a 5+ invulnerable save.
-Med Dispenser - Unit gains Feel no Pain
-Turret - Engineer counts as being equipped with a TL Burst Cannon

Kroot Desperados[10pts][3-8 choice]
WS4 BS4 S3 T3 W1 I3 A2 Ld6 Sv6+
Kroot Hunting Rifle R36" SX AP5 Rapid Fire, Sniper

Vespid Betrayers[15pts][3-8 choice]
WS3 BS3 S3 T4 W1 I6 A1 Ld6 Sv4+
Pulse Carbine
Sonic Disruption - Morale and Pinning Tests caused by the unit suffer a -2 penalty.

What is the reasoning behind the earth caste drone having a 5++ and FNP it seems kinda pointless.

I would have it grant FNP but I would think of an option that would increase offense and not two defensive options.

5++ is to shrug off S6+ AP4+ attacks such as autocannons and artillery shots.

FNP is for small arms fire.

I love the idea of this, I might actually gather up some of my models and make this team to play at my gaming store!

Holy cow, something in proposed rules that didn't make me want to wash my eyes with bleach! Good show sir!

So I saw the title and rolled my eyes.

Read the thread and actually really liked it, well done.

Thanks folks for the positive feedback!

Anyone criticism or areas of improvement? Additional options? I originally intended to have an Air Caste Forward Air Controller, however problems with the fluff justification and in-game implementation and diversification made me leave it out.

Here are 2 new ones:
Kroot Rogue Shaper[35pts]
WS4 BS4 S3 T3 W1 I5 A1 Ld8 Sv-
Kroot Hunting Rifle
Shamanic Totem[4++]
Psyker Level 1
Generate a single power from[Biomancy, Pyromancy, or Telekinesis]
Requires you to take at least 2 Kroot Desperados

Vespid Witch[40pts]
WS3 BS3 S3 T4 W2 I6 A1 Ld8 Sv4+
Pulse Carbine
Sonic Quake
R Template S5 AP3 Assault1, Quake(see TFC)

I think this is a good place for a Rogue Trader too. Represents a shady outsider hired by the "seedy side" of the Tau Empire to ensure the team is doing it's job. You could give him strange upgrade options to represent alternative Xeno tech (like Hrurd) or Chaos artifacts. I'd also give him a rule similar to the Lord Commissar, where he can execute other team members.

 anonymou5 wrote:
I think this is a good place for a Rogue Trader too. Represents a shady outsider hired by the "seedy side" of the Tau Empire to ensure the team is doing it's job. You could give him strange upgrade options to represent alternative Xeno tech (like Hrurd) or Chaos artifacts. I'd also give him a rule similar to the Lord Commissar, where he can execute other team members.

I can't I completely forgot about Rogue Traders. I wanted to add in Gue'vesa of one shape or form, but wasn't sure how to. Also the Overseer for the unit is supposed to the Water Caste Liaison, he even has the execute rule.

Rogue Trader
WS4 BS4 S3 T3 W2 I3 A3 Ld10 Sv4+[50pts]
Bolt Pistol, CCW
Orbital Strike Relay[See GK]

The Rogue Trader must be accompanied by at least 3-8 Vassals

Vassals[10pts][3-8]
WS3 BS4 S3 T3 W1 I3 A2 Ld8 Sv4+
Lasgun, Laspistol

Up to 5 vassals may replace their lasgun with the following:
Flamer[5pts]
Power Weapon[10pts]
Meltagun[10pts]
Plasmagun[15pts]

Additionally, 3 different Vassals may replace their lasgun with:
Medipack - FNP[30pts]
Storm Shield[10pts]

Also Eldar Rangers:
Eldar Sharpshooters[20pts]
WS4 BS4 S3 T3 W1 I5 A1 Ld8 Sv5+
Sniper Rifle
Stealth
Sharpshot[See Eldar]