This is a massive compilation of Tau information from Faeit 212 (check out the blog here:
faeit 212 ) this is most if not all of the information that has appeared from around the internet for the past week of so, rather then me make a hash of it here is his post as he seems a pretty good source for rumours, please as a result can i recommend you check out his blog and subscribe, its well worth it.
Please remember that we are still early in the discovery
process and that everything should be taken with a little bit of patience and
salt.
A huge thanks to Tastyfish over on warseer for putting all the work
in to get this together.
via Tastyfish on Warseer
Tau
rumours
Tau are going to be released in April with the following kits,
information is mostly compiled from Kirby on 3++, Nafka on Faeit212 and Neko
here on warseer:
The new cover is of a Crisis suit. The suit is posed with
one leg on a boulder, whilst shooting a target to the suit's right with a fusion
blaster
New Battleforce - £80
3 Crisis suits, 12 Firewarriors,
Piranha, 3 Stealthsuits with marker drones, 8 gun drones
XV104 Riptide
battlesuit - £50/US$85
Plastic kit sculpted by Matt Holland, Dale Stringer
and Tom Walten
Elite choice
Monstrous creature with T6 W4 2+ save, 5+
invulnerable save and a jump/jetpack of some kind
Primary Weapon options are
upgraded versions of the Ion cannon and burst cannon, Railcannon may also be an
option
It also mounts "Crisis level" weapons (missiles/SMS and plasma rifles
in pictures) on it's shoulders and underslung beneath the primary
weapon
Comes with two shielded missile drones (a new type)
Equipped with a
Nova reactor, which it can activate to boost weapon power (changing the Ion
cannon from S7 AP 2 3shots to a large blast, possibly at S8 AP2), increase it's
invulnerable save to 3++ or to do other things (increase stats and maybe
required in order to jump).
Can buy an option granting
Skyfire
Is poseable enough that weapon arms can be switched around and can be
assembled in a kneeling position, similar to that of the Firewarriors
Around
7-8" tall, comes with multiple 'FW style' heads that look compatible with
current crisis suits
Sunshark Bomber/Razorshark fighter -
£40/US$65
Plastic kit sculpted by Colin Grayson
Fast Attack
choices
Fighter/gunship is armed with nose mounted burstcannons, and an array
of ion weapons mounted in a turret underneath the fuselage. It also has two "pop
up" seeker missiles.
Bomber is armed with a plasma generator which it uses to
launch balls of plasma instead of having conventional bombs and a bomb
bay.
Bomber also has two drone fighters, armed with railrifles, that can be
launched to defend itself.
Pathfinders (10+ 3 drones) -
£20/$US35
Plastic kit sculpted by Ed Cottreil and Matt Holland
Still a
Fast Attack choice
Markerlights work more or less the same as they do now
(boost BS, reduce cover etc)
Have access to more experimental weapons, as
well as Railrifles and pulse carbines.
Pulse carbines are assault 2
The 3
drones in the kit are Grav inhibitor, pulse accelerator and recon drone (which
can fit in the turret cupola of a devilfish and provide communication relays and
fire support).
It's unknown as to whether other units can take these or if
drones are now specific options for each unit
Special character Pathfinder
called Nightstrider
XV88 Broadside Battlesuit - £30/US$50
Plastic kit
with two drones (box art appears to show shield/missile pods), sculpted by Samir
Battistotti and Matt Holland
Sniper pose
New drone options
Carry
the mid range rail weapon - S8 AP1 (looks to be Heavy 1, no rumours of Salvo
2/1)
Slow and Purposeful, 2+ and T4 now.
Can take plasma or missiles as
well.
They have a suit upgrade that let's them at the start of a shooting
phase have skyfire (with it, they are 85 points).
They don't have
interceptor, nor do they snap fire ground targets.
Also appears to be a
missile pod variant, with a suit mounted seeker missile
60mm base
XV8
Crisis suit team - £45/US$75
Plastic set of 3 models, current
models
Just a rebox, no new sprue
Almost certainly can't be taken as
troops
Lots of new bits of wargear, but it's currently how much standard
suits can take and how much is special issue wargear.
Information about this
has been put at the bottom under "Miscellaneous rumours"
Commander
Farsight - unknown
Finecast
Might have rejoined the returned to the
Tau'va, Dawn Blade is now a Power Glavie with Tau symbols and designs on
it
Looks almost exactly like the test model Matt Holland did that appeared at
GD 2009
Comander in Crisis Enforcer Armour - unknown
Finecast
(presumably)
Very little information, mentioned in Riptide design
article
Apparently has hands extended out for some reason.
Cadre
Fireblade - unknown (probably £9)
Just visible in leaked WD pages with the
other kits, opposite the three finecast sets so probably a plastic
character
Firewarrior upgrade called Cadre Fireblade (maybe be SC or just
'unique')
IC with split fire, markerlight, supporting fire, volley fire (+1
shot for Pulse Rifles/Carbines if unit and IC do not move).
Other
units
Special character is "like" Chronus for tanks.
Tank Hunters.
Potential cover boost. Tank can overwatch.
Hammerhead roughly 160-170 WITH
character.
Firewarriors are 9 points
Stealthsuits can overwatch at
BS2
Skyray can shoot and ground and air targets (one assumes at full
BS).
Piranhas get cheaper
Shadowsun may get split fire
Kroot and Vespid
are in, but no new units*
Miscellaneous rumours
There is something
called.... Puretide engram neurochip probably a reserve modifier, Steal the
Initiative boost - Tastyfish
Supporting fire allows other Tau units within 6"
to overwatch a charging unit as well. Not sure if this is all Tau units or just
specific types.
Repulsor field. D6 s4 ap- hits to attacking units at
I10
All Ion weapons have a 'supercharge' option but at a risk (gets hot?).
Drones can have Ion weapons.
Disruption pod gives a boost to cover
saves
*The Future
The Kroot rules (headhunters, kroothawks, giant
beasts) that have been rattling around for a while might turn up in the near
future in an Allies supplement, similar to the monsters and magic supplement WFB
had with the Storm of Magic.
Older rumours are below, there may be bits
there that have been missed about from the list above (Kroot and vespid point
costs and updates for instance) as this is primarily made up from information
leaked from the April WD, which is focusing heavily on the Tau aspect of Tau
Empire.
These have been circling about for the past few days, surprised
I've not seen them pop up here yet. Not sure where he originally posted them,
but from Stickmonkey (apart from the first one, which was on Faeit's blog, with
the original author wanting to remain anonymous as far as I can and I saw them
first on BoLS.
Rumors
I have been seeing a lot of
play testing for the tau empire and have seen some new models as well. They look
so new and epic it makes me really excited. Now I did my hands on some rules and
names for units, If you are to pass these on then PLEASE send it to only
reliable rumour sites.
I will start with the new sky ray orbital blast
ability. From what I can remember on top of my head is that the sky ray has to
forgo his full turn of shooting for a single unlimited range blast that
is:
strength X AP 3 (wound on 2+,plasma corrosion, blast)
plasma
corrosion - any enemy model hit under the blast rolls a d6 every turn for the
remainder of the game on a roll of 1-3 the unit or model suffers d6 strength 4
AP5 hits. On a roll of 4-5 the unit suffers 2d6 strength 5 AP 4 hits. On a roll
of a 6 the unit is hit with 2d6 strength 6 AP 2 hits with the blind special
rule. (these are test rules and subject to change)
Tau fire warriors will
have the OPTION to upgrade their tau fire warriors to bs 4 (I put option in bold
to show it is an option for all those fluffy players)
I believe the upgrade
at the moment is being called 'advance training'
battle suits are
getting/got new models but have the same profile as now with the inclusion of an
option to make them toughness 5 (cost or name is unknown)
The kroot is
getting a HUGE monster that looks like something from fantasy. It has kroot
riding it but is under going constant rule changes due to either dying to
quickly or for lack of usage. From what I remember seeing it has 5 wounds but
only a 5+ save and was over priced IMO.
kroot gain furious charge and
move through cover and start with a 6+ save that can be upgraded to 5+ with
shaper for an additional 2pts per model (making them 8pts per model) - remember
this could change!
finally their is options to make all your battle suits
have 2+ saves for 20pts per model - all war gear that is in the current codex
has been reduced slightly.
the tau dread knight walker rumours you have
read are 100% TRUE - I have seen the concept art/profile and from the top of my
memory it is something like this.
WS4 BS4 S6 T8 W4 I2 A4 LD8
SV2+/4++
I will not share rules because they were on the next page of
document of which I did not see. I did see the points which were :
210pts
Stickmonkey's rumours
Units
Crisis Suits: Look for
more posable new models. Unit keeps its high level of customization, with
several upgrades to stat lines possible. New flakk missile pods. New combi-kit
includes Broadside parts.
Stealth Suits: Models unchanged. Have stealth,
(obviously), plus optional drone granting shrouding.
Sky Ray: Last
edition's trainwreck gets a new lease on life. Flakk missiles, plus has orbital
bombardment (much like SM version, but with a lingering effect).
Fire
Warriors: Same nasty gun. Still BS:3, but with a Shas'O can upgrade unit to
BS:4.
Equipment
Drones: Any drone can be used for Look Out Sir rolls
for any model in the unit they are attached to.
Markerlights: A single
hit increases BS of all other units targeting the victim by +1. Multiple
markerlights have no additional effects. OUCH - look out for possible BS:5, Fire
Warrior volleys now! Markerlights improve snapfire against marked flyers to 5+
instead of 6, but must first hit the flyer with a 6 themselves.
Networked
Markerlights: A longer range twin linked version. Vehicles
only.
Units
Ethereals: These now grant army wide special rules and
bubble rules, but there are different options. They function roughly much like
those recent Dark Angels banners. So one option might be army wide Ld rerolls
while in play, plus units in 12" are fearless. Another option might be one unit
in army gets salvo once per turn, and all units in 12" get rerolls to
hit.
Kroot: Everyone's favorite birdmen get Scout, Furious Charge, Move
thru Cover. Kroot Hounds and Kroot hawks! Shaper can unlock additional unit
upgrades.
"Sneaky Kroot": Look for an ELITES Kroot unit that can hide in
terrain like Ymgarl Genestealers.
Knarloc: The new big beasty model, very
similar to the Forgeworld Great Knarloc (see below). Monstrous Creature, with a
trample attack allowing it to run 3d6" and cause 2d6 S6 AP6 wounds to any unit
it crosses. It may additionally use this special move to charge a unit, gains
+2A and the assault-grenades ability when charging in this
manner.
Vespid: The maligned bug men are redeemed! Big improvements,
weapon range increase, point reduction, hit and run.
Vespid Flyer:
Smallest flyer in game, like a jetbike, single blaster as weapon,
vector-dancer
Fortifications: Deep striking turrets as fortification
options. Burst cannons or missile pods options.
Tau Flyer Transport: 13
13 12 armor, holds a full Fire Warrior or Crisis Suit squad, or single
Uber-suit. Not a lot of weapons, but HP:3, and has a save from wargear that can
be taken. Deep strike. Rules-wise is focused on getting units reliably to a
location.
The Uber-suit: So many options currently it's hard to keep them
straight. It's a mobile weapon platform, with rail guns as it's main weapon
system, - which can be upgraded to a plasma weapon system or ion cannons.
Classified as monstrous creature. 2+/4++ save. It can forgo shooting and
movement to gain 2++ save. The Uber can move as jump infantry if it does not
shoot it's main weapons. VERY HIGH toughness, no existing weapon can instant
death it. Although it can smash if it has to, it is not designed as a close
combat unit at all. Cost is comparable to a Terminator squad. It can take drone
support.
Odds and Ends
FOC: Some specific HQs move Crisis Suits to
troops. One moves two Kroot units to troops.
Psykers-defense: All Tau
have some base immunity to psychic powers, and thus any Tau unit can deny the
witch, with the suits gaining an improvement to this roll.
Some new info
from Faeit
Originally Posted by Faeit 212
I want to say that
this bit comes from a very much in the know source, who occasionally helps us
filter through some of the rumors. The last few days we have had 4 sets of Tau
rumors, and this email is in response to this one, and clarifying other rumors
that are putting Firewarriors at BS4.
"The krootox giant has the
following rules and stats - these I believe will change as we have had much
discussions upon this unit and cannot be certain if it is powerful enough for a
competitive environment.
Krootox Giant: WS6 BS3 S8 T6 W4 I1 A5 LD7
SV4+
Special rules: Smash, monstrous creature, rage,mental without
control, move through cover,fleet
mental without control: If your krootox
giant loses his krootox rider then the Giant must pass a leadership test every
turn otherwise will attack the closest enemy unit. If the Giant cannot reach a
target then it misses it next turn while it cools down."
via the Faeit
212 inbox (has to remain anonymous)
I've never seen those kroot giant rules
before (currently named the Krootonne).
There is a new large kroot model,
but it's nothing like what's written, doesn't have a rider and doesn't have
guns.
Fire warriors can't be upgraded to bs4, the squad leader has an
upgrade that raises their BS though for (currently) 50 points and goes away if
he dies.
I have like three versions of the rules, but I think some people
are wish listing after getting hint of some stuff that's leaked.
Little bit
more by SM
So, to give more info for the masses.
The information I
recently provided BigRed comes from a late 2012 playtest, I believe Oct or Nov
timeframe.
The psychic defense boost I mentioned was described as Tau are
just harder to target with warp powers, they have very little presence in the
warp. I asked my source more on this, and he said during playtest all Tau got a
DtW reroll. Tau in Suits got a 5+ DtW.
The Kroot monster is very cool
looking, but I fear rules wise its going to suffer from Pyrovore syndrome. Its
expensive, and shortlived. A beast in CC, but it's hard to get it there. Roughly
the size of a Maulerfiend, its like a hybrid between the Krootox and the Great
Knarloc. Beaked head. 4legged. Over muscled. Kinda apelike pose and body
structure.
The "uber-suit" is NOT at all like a wraithlord. It is not
suited for CC, and really cant be outfitted for that role. Last I saw the T was
only 7, but others are saying it is T8. I was talking about it with my source
earlier and he made mention of the plasma weapon having ignore cover and
thinking it will be the load out of choice. He felt that it was very balanced
points to capability wise for its role in the codex. Visual wise it is
definitely in line with the battle suit. Reminds me a lot of the old BattleTech
line merged with Tau aesthetic.
I don't think the Vespid Scooter made the
cut. It was in a number of early drafts, kind of like the genosian fighters in
Star Wars. Yes, flying creatures with a flying vehicle... Named after a famous
motorized bike.... 80s GW may have done this, not 10s.
Hope this
helps.
Cheers
The Ubersuit may be called the Emergency Retaliation
Suit or ERS (Thanks Shas'o iceborn!) and we also have this
Originally
Posted by Archibald_TK
I spent some time checking the list of models in
the different modules and can confirm that the Crisis are the only model out
that I've noticed. The Stealth suits on the other hand I missed the first time
but they are still in, so to make a summary:
- Firewarriors, Hammerheads,
Piranhas, Stealth Suits did not move, so there is a very high chance they won't
receive any new models
- Crisis Suits disappeared from the modules so *may*
be updated
Originally Posted by Avian
Over in the fantasy release
thread, Hatings said that High Elves for Fantasy will be out in May (pre-order
in April). With Tau before the elves and Daemons in March, that puts Tau quite
firmly in April.
Originally Posted by shaso_iceborn
There will be no new
races (no Demiurge after all). Kroot will be expanded, New Vespid were
play-tested I am awaiting confirmation as to whether or not they made into final
print.
There are multiple fliers and and new units.
This post is
intentionally vague until I can gain confirmation of units.
via an Anonmyous
Source from the Faeit 212 inbox
None of the Forgeworld suits will be in the
new Tau codex.
There are two new suits*, however and the crisis and
broadsides are both being redone and are very distinct from one
another.
The hazard suits will remain as a Forgeworld supplement and are
even referenced in the fluff in a few places. They're just non-standard issue
and still considered in prototype for various reasons.
The Kroot hq
replaces the 1+ requirement on fire warriors with a Kroot unit.
And the
book is finished. Has been for a while.
This has been restated on the same
blog as "suit options" and doesn't include the Ubersuit, so might new weapons
and equipment rather than actual units - Tastyfish
Originally Posted
by Elaith
Could well be nothing but in reading through at least a couple
of articles in this months White Dwarf, there are references to Staffers working
on Tau forces.
Jeremy's article starts with him working on a FW
Battlesuit and later someone is mentioned to be working on a Tau
force.
Likely nothing, but are staffers getting their Tau forces moving
prior to release... only time will tell.
Originally Posted by
superawesomeraptorman
Heard a couple of things through the grapevine. They
COULD be complete tosh, they could be awesome insights. I'd say the usual dosage
of salt.
HQ
- New firewarrior leader - can give certain squads
special abilities
- Ethereal have auras - apparently they are ok, nothing to
write home about
- no honor guard
- New tank commander special character -
has preferred enemy imperial guard (?), use on a hammerhead apparently (best
tank to use)
- no HQ alters FOC apparently
Elites
- Crisis
suits no new sprue, getting repackaged into 3. This seems to contradict people
hearing about a new recut - apparently commanders sprue (special issue weapons)
will sneak in here?
- no stealth on stealth suits, will have something to
make them harder to shoot still (maybe?)
Troops
- fire warriors 9
points - no idea about new upgrades etc
- kroot lose one point of strength
(really that sounds lame)
Fast
- Pathfinders don't take devilfish
anymore
- piranhas are cheaper, but not much different
- flyers go here -
apparently one is anti air. Not really much news, but apparently dual kit but
neither version amazing (more like a dark angels rather than necron flyer
kit)
Heavy Support
- Submuntions purchased for hammerheads
-
Broadside have strength 8 rail guns -_- BUT can buy skyfire (expensive) but
cannot buy A.S.S
- Giant new walker here - pretty tough to kill, apparently
his weapons are interesting. I wanted more details, couldn't get them
New
abilities
- Single squad gets charged - every unit within 6" can overwatch
into the charging squad
- Squad ability from commander (can't remember which
one). If unit does not move AT ALL (no relentless, S&P tricks) every model
gets extra shot. I got the impression that you can't use jet pack move with this
either
- Two marker light hits = NO cover at all (not a marker light hit per
-1 cover). Usual BS upgrade
- Seeker missiles can skyfire
- Multi-trackers
come standard on crisis suits (or free? dunno which)
General Stuff
-
Haven't heard anything about new kroot or vespid stuff
- Haven't heard
anything about ANY new race, but wasn't exactly told no new race as opposed to
nothing was mentioned
Honestly all I can remember, it might fly in the
face of everything we know, and a plastic kit seems to be missing (fire warrior
HQ, Flyer, Big Suit plus something?)
Again might be true might not, ce le
vi.
Originally Posted by neko
Right, just gotten off of the comlink to
my contact in the icy north. Let's see now...
The codex is by Vetock.
The
Ubersuit will not be competing for your Heavy slots.
Ion weapons will be
overloadable.
Units will be able to overwatch to defend nearby comrades.
A
new item of support gear will grant skyfire.
The new models are absolutely
fabulous, much to the dismay of my future bank balance.
Neko has also
confirmed that the ubersuit is the Riptide, and it is an Elite choice rather
than Heavy Support
Originally Posted by neko
[Regarding any
redesign of the Crisis suit's look] There is a new XV8 varient, but mostly
they're the same.
Originally Posted by neko
I've not been told anything
about our alien allies.
I have just been told that the new interesting
tidbits with regards to the Broadsides however:
- The railguns are now
different from the vehicle mounted version. Think of these as light
railguns.
- The Broadsides now have sniper style pose.
- Broadsides are to
cost the same amount as their Forgeworld counterparts
From Faeit's blog,
regarding the look of Crisis suits
The new suits are very similar to those
old ones.
The heads don't have a neck and are now lowered into the torso
about 25% of the head is below shoulder level.
The arms are a bit shorter
too.
Again from Neko
- Skysniper drones are carried by one of the new
aircraft, similar to the devilfish drones
- There is a piece of equipment
that improves BS during overwatch
Bit collected by Faeit
regarding Broadside stats and points
[quote]via 3++ is the New Black
(from inside the Chatbawks)
Broadsides - 85 pts with S8 Ap1 Skyfire; not sure
if this is in place of old S10 AP1 or if the 85 points + skyfire is an option
but its there.
Here is a response from a very reliable rumor checker that
sometimes comes in to help us take a closer look at rumors.
via an anonymous
source
They're not 85 points base, that's including their Skyfire
upgrade.
They are indeed STR 8 AP 1 however on the broadside suits, then
pay to add skyfire, but not interceptor.
via shaso_icebornMarch 13,
2013 at 2:10 PM
or Rail Rifle S6 Ap3, Rail Gun S8 Ap1 Skyfire (with
option for interceptor) and Rail Cannon S10 Ap1.
Some more from
Shaso_Iceborn
The mini ally dex has to my understanding been incorporated
into the codex at the beginning of the book and will no longer be a separate
compendium.
There is a Kroot HQ, but not in the conventional sense and he
cannot command "Tau" forces (unless they bring back Prok but I have heard
nothing on him)
Farsight will have a new model, it looks similar to the
gamesday one.
Rail Rifles, Rail Guns, and Rail Cannons are the way they
are distinguishing different rail type weapons in the new codex.
There
will be 2 "new" special characters, one we may have seen before. (Aun'shi I
think but do not have confirmation)
And a bit from Neko
No new crisis
suits, just a repackaging. I do believe the pathfinders are plastic though, and
with a Big Drone too
BTW, the 2 flyers are a bomber and a gunship - no
transport. Incidently, they look a little like upscaled TX-42s
And a little
bit more clarification regarding broadsides from one of Faeit's
sources
*Broadsides are Slow and Purposeful, 2+ and T4 now.
*They are twin
linked str8 ap1 railguns and can take plasma or missiles as well.
*They have
a suit upgrade that let's them at the start of a shooting phase have
skyfire.
*They don't have interceptor, nor do they snap fire ground
targets.
*The only thing I notice is that the unit chooses to skyfire or not.
So if you use split fire, you can't mix firing at ground targets and flyers
easily.
*They're really, really good.
*Semi mobile and very durable.
They're the only non interceptor skyfire unit in the game that can survive flyer
alpha strike.
