As we move past the Warriors of Chaos release, and slide by the impending minefield of “if ” and “when” a flyer supplement will be sprung on all of us, we now have Tau rumors.
As always to be taken with a grain of salt guys, these things change in a New York minute!
From Faeit
The Latest in Tau Rumors: Kroot Monsters and Walkers
I received this late last night, and it gives us some insight on Tau playtesting that is going on at the moment. Everything from a Tau Dreadknight type walker to a new Kroot Huge Monster is here.
Please remember that these are playtest rumors.
via the Faeit 212 inbox
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.
WS BS S T W I A LD SV
4 4 6 8 4 2 4 8 2+/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
note the points were highlighted in red marker which means they are subject to change at next play testing.
More Tau Rules: Wargear and the Krootox Giant
Even more Tau playtest rumors have come across my desk late in the night, and I thought I would get these out right away. There is a small line or two that I removed, and it seemed to indicate that a deadline of sorts was very near or already had arrived for playtesting material.
Please remember that these are playtesting rumors. Playtesting gives us insight to what is being worked on, but not exact details in how things will look in the codex once released.
via the Faeit 212 inbox
War gear:
Gatling ion blaster: 30” S:6 AP:3 Assault:3
plasma storm blaster: 40” S:9 AP:1 Assault:1 (lance,system failure,implosion)
lance: rulebook
system failure: If you score a glancing or a penetrating hit on a roll of a 6 you cause a system failure in the enemy tank/flyer. The tank/flyer cannot move or shoot for the remainder of the turn. The tank/flyer controlling player must roll a d6 every turn for the remainder of the game, on a roll of 1 the tank/flyer has a system failure again and may not shoot or move again.
implosion: if you score a explosion on a tank/flyer then it explodes 2d6 inches instead of the normal d6.
The new big kroot model is actually the krootox giant, from what I have been told fluff points to the tau making the krootox genetics being advance and in doing this increasing the size, strength and toughness.
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: WS BS S T W I A LD SV
6 3 8 6 4 1 5 7 4+
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.
this unit at the moment costs : 200pts & can upgrade it’s armour save to 3+ with a piece of war gear from the kroot armoury
Tau bits seem to keep coming out of the woodwork, and here is the very latest on the Tau Happenings. Included are stealth and crisis suits, fire warriors, the sky ray, and equipment.
Just to be aware, these are mentioned as being very early rumors (ie playtesting).
via Stickmonkey over on the Bols Lounge
Caveat: Many of these are said to be “in process”. Don’t look for *exact match* rules to survive to the printed codex.
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.
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
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About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
