Login |  Register |  FAQ
   
Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 4
  [ 52 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next

Thoughts on the Tau Empire
Cuban Commissar
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:20 pm 
Purestrain
Purestrain

Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:32 am
Posts: 2934
Location: Colorado, USA
In general being a GW lurker means I have seen a lot of new stuff for the upcomming Tau Empire codex.

Now I'm not a Tau player nor ever intend to be.  I took a pill to prevent me from buying the really cool FW stuff.  But I'm curious what other players, especially Tau players, think of this new "marketing image" for the Tau.

Me personally I think this new view is a good thing. This image of a multicultural, multi species, empire that all contribute to it's defense allows for many modeling opportunities that would not exist if their was only a pure Tau army.  

GW can create just a few Xeno models without a need to develope a whole army.  I like the models that don;t have upgraded Tau weapons because they can used in multiple armies.  

So what to you guys think.
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
colonel_sponsz
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 10:38 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother

Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 6:14 pm
Posts: 390
I like the idea, even if I'm a Tau purist with my own army, but I'm afraid to say that I don't like the look of the new stuff I've seen both in terms of models and artwork.  On the flip side at least the Tau are getting developed.

Orde

_________________
"I'm smelling a whole lot of 'if' coming off this plan."

Tau Army List Archive
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
Lion in the Stars
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:25 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother

Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 11:01 pm
Posts: 1455
I agree with the Colonel.

_________________
"For the Lion and the Emperor!"
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
CyberShadow
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:48 pm 
Swarm Tyrant
Swarm Tyrant
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 6:22 pm
Posts: 9350
Location: Singapore
I must admit that I am a late convert to the Tau concept. Initially, I was not keen on the new race or the background and idea behind them. They seemed to be the Eldar in different suits initially.

They have developed beyond that however, and have become a force in their own right. I admit that I was wrong and that they do fill a unique niche. The Eldar are a group of specialists, while the entire Tau force deals in one primary principle of warfare. However, conversly, I do think that this could be their downfall. If the Tau Empire is expanded too far, and more auxilia races are brought in, there is a danger that the combined Tau force will begin to mirror the Eldar, in that each type of troop has a defined role and purpose on the battlefield.

However, I do think that the concept of a 'Dogs of War' force is overdue for 40K, and while the Tau do not necessarily represent that, they are interesting. Personally, I would like to see their development go more towards development of other aspects such as the drone technology.

_________________
https://www.cybershadow.ninja - A brief look into my twisted world, including wargames and beyond.
https://www.net-armageddon.org - The official NetEA (Epic Armageddon) site and resource.
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
Nerroth
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 3:18 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:00 pm
Posts: 573
Location: Canada
I like the fact that from the beginning, the fluff reasoning for diverse army types (loads of alien auxiliaries in a Dal'yth force, plenty of Stealth and Broadsides for Sa'cea, heavy on the Crisis teams for Vior'la etc) allow players to base their particular army preference on solid background material, in Epic, BFG and 40K (and Inquisitor, too)

I've been a fan of the tau'va from the beginning, bt I'm a sucker for the good guys... and the Greater Good is as close as you can get in this universe! (Except from the PoV of my Biel-Tan, but the term has a very different meaning for them!)


Gary

_________________


Gue'senshi: The 1st Kleistian Grenadiers

v7.3 pdf

Human armed forces for the greater good.
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
MaksimSmelchak
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 3:52 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Luis and Gang,

I see the Tau as a potential unbalancing force in 28mm 40k, but I also don't play 28mm 40k so I don't have a lot of romm in which to speak. Not only that GW finally priced themselves out of my local market so I rarely even see 28mm 40k played anymore. War Machine and 15mm Flames Of War have taken over in my area.

With the current Tau background, I dont see that there's anyway that they won't end up conquering Imperial space. The only force more technologically advanced are the Eldar and the only other real threat are the Tyranids. The Tau also don't have a number problem like the Eldar and a combination of their mobile shooty ground forces and their star navy should take care of the 'Nids.

I haven't invested heavily in an Epic Tau army, but would like to when I get a better job.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
Lion in the Stars
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:45 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother

Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 11:01 pm
Posts: 1455
"Don't have a number problem like the Eldar" ?

There are at least a Dozen major craftworlds, plus minor ones, plus Exodite Worlds.  That sounds like the Tau will eventually outgrow the Eldar, but not for another thousand years or so.  The Necrons wipe the floor with Tau; unit for unit the Tau fleet sucks compared to the Imperial fleet; shoot, the Ultramarines alone control about as much territory as the Tau!

_________________
"For the Lion and the Emperor!"
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
MaksimSmelchak
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 8:17 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Lion,

Quote (Lion in the Stars @ 01 Dec. 2005 (18:45))
"Don't have a number problem like the Eldar" ?
There are at least a Dozen major craftworlds, plus minor ones, plus Exodite Worlds. That sounds like the Tau will eventually outgrow the Eldar, but not for another thousand years or so.


I don't own the Tau book, but I thought that the limits of the Tau empire weren't known?

I thought that the Tau Empire is assumed to be roughly as large as the Imperial (human) Empire.

And I also thought that everyone outnumbers the Eldar including the Tau in great droves. I bet that even the Tau allies outnumber the Eldar. They're a culture in decline, right?

Quote (Lion in the Stars @ 01 Dec. 2005 (18:45))
The Necrons wipe the floor with Tau;


I can see this, but the Necrons have little in the way of numbers. They're another dead culture (pun intended) that will have to build up their numbers before they can be a true challenge to the other players in the universe.

Quote (Lion in the Stars @ 01 Dec. 2005 (18:45))
Unit for unit the Tau fleet sucks compared to the Imperial fleet;


Really?

One would think that rail guns rock. I've never played them in BFG.

*** What's their fleet (Tau) like in BFG? ***

Quote (Lion in the Stars @ 01 Dec. 2005 (18:45))
Shoot, the Ultramarines alone control about as much territory as the Tau!


Yes, but the Ultramarines are stuck with cruddy leadership from a dead space vampire.

Sooner or later, cruddy leadership will take down even the best of warriors.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
Xisor
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 8:34 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother

Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:11 pm
Posts: 515
Quote (Lion in the Stars @ 01 Dec. 2005 (18:45))

The Tau fleet unit for unit is whupped by the Imperials? I see absoluetely no evidence for that, at all.

Hero vs Lunar, Hero is the better ship.

Explorer vs Dictator(10pts difference), Explorer is wildly better giving their intent as carriers.

Barracuda vs IN Fighters: Okay, the IN Win that one.

Mantas vs IN Bombers: Mantas every time.

Defenders vs Cobras/Swords: IN are better as escorts, but Defenders used akin to cruisers(where they should be) are far far better.

Orcas vs Swords/Firestorms: IN ones are faster/more heavily armed, Orcas are dirt cheap, win for the Tau.

Merchant vs Dauntless: True, the IN win here easily, the Merchant is simply a poor ship. However, the Merchant does have distinct benefits that if it were correctly costed/correctly statted(ie 4->6HPs to 6->8HPs).

Ship for ship in the CPF, it should be balanced, perhaps even more so than the IN fleet(no Emperor Retribution price swapping sillyness).

Allies & Mercs:
Demiurg: Excellent battlecruisers and battleships for the fleet, certainly not outdone by any Imperial Equivalent.

Kroot: A win there, they're utterly useless.

Nicassar: Decent ships, either a points reduction or FP4 broadsides are needed though.

Again, I don't see how the Tau are intrinsically worse. At all.

On side for the Tau Empire book, I'm all set for it. Hopefully the fluff in it will be decent, the army list looks set to be good. I'm not too overwhelmed by the new artwork or models, but I think there'll be excellent potential in them, hopefully all adding nicely to my army. What I really want to know is all the more 'in depth' in and outs of the fluff. If they're good, I'll love it, if they're bland like Black Templars then I'll be disappointed.

Xisor

_________________
"Number 6 calls to you
The Cylon Detector beckons
Your girlfriend is a toaster"
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
Cuban Commissar
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 8:36 pm 
Purestrain
Purestrain

Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:32 am
Posts: 2934
Location: Colorado, USA
In the fluff the Tau empire is about 12 - 20 worlds or systems. ?So on the Imperial scale they are a knat fly.

But the Tau are expanding at a fast rate; manifest destiny or something...:D

The real power of the Tau is that thay are new and they are adapting. ? Unlike any other race in the 40K universe they are advancing in technology. ?They also do not "conquere" but include many cultures they encounter.

so they have the greatetst potential of any race in 40K. At least in fluff terms.

They remind me a lot of the the Empires of the East, Persia and such, that exsisted on the frontier of the Roman Empire. ?Rome was never able to conquerer them and in time always had to deal with threats from Central and Eastern Europe, like the Goths.

The other thing about the Tau is that it gave an army for those people who really wanted a real "Good Guy" army.

Now I consider my Space Marines "Good guys" but that is only compared to the horrors I defend against, the Eldar (yes I consider them evil they would wipe us out in a heart beat if they had the chance :p), Chaos, and ths Orks.
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
Xisor
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 8:52 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother

Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:11 pm
Posts: 515
Some marines are "good", most are "gits", but it's still quite subjective, as for being 'good for marine standards', I'd wager Salamanders and Space Wolves rank quite highly.

However, the Empire is ~200 Light Years in diameter, 8 major Septs, and I think it was ~90 Worlds from before the 3PE. After the 3rd Phase had consolidated(ie after the EoT campaign), we'd extended to 132.6% of the starting size.

What the exact implications of it are, are unknown, 32.6% up on diameter, population, volume, worlds, waystations???

Xisor




_________________
"Number 6 calls to you
The Cylon Detector beckons
Your girlfriend is a toaster"
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
Lion in the Stars
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:56 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother

Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 11:01 pm
Posts: 1455
Hmmm... I guess they've fixed the Tau since Armada came out then.  I was never impressed with their stats, and there are very few people in my area that play BFG.

One craftworld is at least the size of a Major Sept, and I'd assume that there are many more craftworlds than the big 4 (shoot, there are at least 3 more mentioned in passing in the 3rd ed Eldar 'dex)

_________________
"For the Lion and the Emperor!"
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
Mojarn Piett
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 10:28 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 7:35 am
Posts: 5455
Location: Finland
Maybe I'm just an old cynic. But to me the Tau attitude of "There are two ways of doing things. First, there is our way. And then there is the wrong way." does not differ that much from Imperial doctrine. They are just better at packaging it.  :/

_________________
I don't know and I let who care. -J.S.
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
MaksimSmelchak
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 12:11 am 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Guys,

The Tau do seem to be remarkably arrogant, but their empire seems much less corrupt than the Space Vampire-run Imperial forces and they're certainly not as xenophobic as the Imperial faction.

Shabbat Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
Cuban Commissar
 Post subject: Thoughts on the Tau Empire
PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:55 am 
Purestrain
Purestrain

Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:32 am
Posts: 2934
Location: Colorado, USA
Quote (MaksimSmelchak @ 03 Dec. 2005 (23:11))
The Tau do seem to be remarkably arrogant, but their empire seems much less corrupt than the Space Vampire-run Imperial forces and they're certainly not as xenophobic as the Imperial faction.

But it's all wrapped up in a nice surger coating.

Never underestimate the power of marketting.
Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
  Print view Previous topic | Next topic 
Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 4
  [ 52 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  


Powered by phpBB ® Forum Software © phpBB Group
CoDFaction Style by Daniel St. Jules of Gamexe.net