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Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2005 5:42 am
Posts: 201
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| Quote (Nerroth @ 08 Dec. 2005 (11:32)) | | If higher ranked officers in thew Shas were following the Earth-based examples you specify, why would a Shas'ui up wander around in a Crisis suit, instead of sticking with a pulse carbine or staying on board a Manta or Dragonet? |
Because most of the Tau fluff comes from tales of thier 40K level exploits, which do not include Mantas or Dragonets
On Taros commanders conducted leadership duties as much from the command deck of a Manta, command posts, or sutibly modified command vehicles, as they did from inside a XV8x. It would have been tactically unwise to have attempted to command large swaths of a battlefront while in a suit, on the move, under fire.
Partly due to their more advanced technology (battlesuits), partly due to their being an alien culture from the other side of the galaxy, the Tau are not supposed to mimic the kind of armed forces we see on Earth (and in part replicated by Elysians and other more 'modern' IG regiments). the Shas see their improved weapon, defence and comms systems as badges of honour as well as of office - see how fancy Shas'O R'myr, or the XV8x suits are compared to regular XV8s, which in turn are a prize dangling before any shas'la in a Devilfish! |
Weather we like it or not, the Tau are designed to mimic, or are inspired by, the ultra-modern concepts of warfare, to include non-LOS (over the horizon, ect) shooting, Precision Guided Munitions, and tightly integrated command and control. Likewise, the IG are meant to mimic early WW II era warfare, with human wave vs blitzkrieg tactics, massed arty (WEEEEEE!), hell, even mounted (on horses) units. Both ideals are given a Sci-Fi flavor (Gravtanks, las guns, ect) but they have bases in how humans have fought wars and continue to do so. From this perspective, taking a(nother) cue from the current military, by downgrading a commanders weaponary (or at least not upgrading it) while upgrading his C3 capability cannot be ruled out simply because the Tau are "alien".
You are also comparing units with modular, easily swapable weapons systems (XV8s) to units w/o. Crisis pilots will upgrade thier own suit because, why not? Its Easy! Hell, thats why the XV8s are so darn handy, cause they are customizable! Hammerheads are a different beast. You sure as hell cant hot-swap that monster of a turret on a whim.
Also, if the Tau need a leader in a tricked-out battle suit to "lead by example" then how do the stealth/pathfinder groups manage to accomplish missions?
Perhaps the all pervasive Greater Good serves to inspire them and provide them an example to follow, and not a bigger gun / blinged out SF? Perhaps the responsability and authority is enough to convey to a Tau commander that they have the trust of the Tau people without the need for any shiny fancy gear. Maybe they get a cool ring?
Thus, a Shas' might answer you such:
The responsability for the lives of my fellow warriors heavy on my mind, I entrusted our cadre's Swordfish to Tau'Bob, who has the keenest eye of us all, and his crew, and I take my place in HH A-01 along side its powerful Advanced C3 Array.
I leave the increased firepower, which some feel is due to one in my position, to my brethren in the Crisis Cadres, whom I've sometimes thought may not ascribe to the Greater good as strongly as others.
We, in the Armor Corps, teach a different mantra: The Greater Good first, our fellow warriors next, and ourselves last.
Your story made sense for a Crisis Suit perspective, but we are developing a Tank Commander here. I have told you why a Tau Tank Commander would not want or need a bigger gun, and you have answered with why a Crisis commander would. But why does a Tau Tank Commander want or need a bigger gun against all the teachings of the greater good? Lastly, you have yet to address why you feel the need to require a Tau player to chop up expensive resin in order to get a commander for his/her AMHC?
Oh, and I know your willing to chop up the fluff to make it fir the unit, but I want this army to feel different from the IG on more that a fluff level.
Arent you glad I have today off?
I thought I smelled the mix of cordite and rocket exhaust that marks a redleg around here! |
