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Battlesuit

2016-12-25T22:48:34Z

2602:30A:2E7B:F0B0:11EA:B83B:F117:5FE0:

[[File:Stitch16.jpg|right|thumb|500px|From Cool to <s>Cheese</s> <s>Cooler</s> <s>frigid brie</s> absolute godless <s>faggotry</s> butthurt.]]

'''Battlesuits''' are powered combat exoskeletons used by the forces of the [[Tau|Tau Empire]] to fill a number of tactical roles on the battlefield. The Tau have developed several different battlesuit models, each equipped with different technologies and weapons pertaining to the suit's purpose in battle. [[Stealthsuit|Some]] are built to be [[Just As Planned|small, stealthy and precise]], while [[Riptide|others]] are built to be [[RAPE|lumbering battlemechs that ionize everything in their paths]] while soaking up weapons fire like they're being pelted with [[Lasgun|spitballs]].

Each model's designation is preceded by the letters "XV", which derives from the Tau term "Her'Ex'Vre", meaning "Mantle of the Hero". Note that some sources place a hyphen between the "XV" and the numbers, and others don't. The first (or only) number in designation indicates a weight class of the suit, while the last indicates it's purpose:
# Still in development model
# Undergoing field testing
# Custom-built model
# Command and control-compatible model
# Outfitted with stealth technology
# Suit, designed for a void operations
# Suit, designed for infiltration
# Suit, designed for long range fire support
# Suit, designed for shock assault and close range firefights
Sometimes there's a secondary numerical designation separated from the first with a hyphen. Those are just number assigned to a specific loadout for heavily customizable models. Sometimes they fit with a primary purpose designation (like XV-8-06 being designed for void operations or XV-46-4 being command and control model), and sometimes they don't (XV-8-05 is not even compatible with stealth technology, XV-9-01 is a finished mass-produced model)
==Role on the Battlefield==

Tau battlesuits are not like [[Imperial]] [[power armor]] in their roles. They serve as command platforms for 'Vre, 'El, and 'O level officers as well as heavy mobile weapons platforms, able to swiftly relocate from firing position to firing position while laying down constant barrages of long range firepower. Most of them are outfitted with [[jetpack]]s for this purpose. All battlesuit pilots are veteran soldiers that have at least four years of combat experience and have passed their first trial by fire. Most [[Fire Warrior|Fire Warriors]] accept the honor of piloting these revered rape machines for the [[Greater Good]], although there are some traditional crazies who shun the use of battlesuits and instead choose to continue to lead their Shas'la as front-line field commanders, and some refuse the option of ranking up to Ui or higher ranks altogether in order to pilot tanks and speeders.

==Models==
[[File:XV02.png|thumb|right|200px]]
=== {{anchor|XV02|XV-02}} XV02 Pilot Battlesuit===
An experimental model made for vehicle pilots (obviously) currently undergoing field testing; although it provides less protection than Fire Warrior armor, it compensates by allowing pilots to interface more effectively with their vehicles, negating the need for multiple crew members. The only one known to exist is in the possession of Shas'la T'au Sha'ng (a.k.a. Longstrike), who was selected for his reputation as a peerless [[Hammerhead Gunship|Hammerhead]] pilot.

=== {{anchor|XV15|XV-15}} XV15 Stealthsuit ===
[[File:XV15.png|thumb|left|200px]]
Little more than modified Fire Warrior armor, the XV15 was outfitted with stealth systems allowing it to infiltrate, jetpacks for mobility, and burst cannons for firepower. It also carried [[markerlight]]s. These older units are being phased out in favor of the XV25 series after the Imperium got their hands on an intact helmet from one, and the Tau fear it will be reverse-engineered and countered by the humans. In a surprisingly unlikely move that somehow did not cause the AdMech to lobotomize everyone involved in the project with a siege drill for associating with xeno-tech, the Imperium did actually manage to reverse engineer the suits and learn about the technology, although the Tau were two steps ahead of them by rolling out the more advanced XV25 stealth suits as their new recon platform. The meta reason both these and the XV25's exist is because these were metal kits, and were replaced by the later plastic kits which were designed to look more like a mecha (AKA the shit that makes people buy Tau models) and less like a Fire Warrior with some extra equipment. Crunchwise, they're the same unless you consider the crunch changes between editions to be the difference. Use the models you like and have access to.

[[File:XV22.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
[[File:ShadowsunNov.jpg|200px|thumb|right|0% blueberry edition.]]
=== {{anchor|XV22|XV-22}} XV22 Command Suit ===
Officially part of the stealthsuit line, this heavier unit is quite expensive to produce; as such, it is limited in use to commanders (like [[Shadowsun|Commander Shadowsun]] and [[Shas'o Kais]], who as you can see above have different versions of the suit; Shadowsun's has a unique helmet that resemble the later XV95, while Shas'o's resembles a Crisis Suit). With the right equipment and abilities you can make it go three times faster than a normal stealthsuit ([[Ork|red paint optional]]). This was originally built as a prototype design for a next-generation stealthsuit pattern, but finding ways to mass-produce the required components proved more difficult than anticipated. After the Imperium managed to reverse-engineer some of the XV15 suits ([[Advancing the Storyline|which, for some reason, doesn't cause the Inquisition to foam at the mouth anymore]]) recovered from the battlefield, the Tau had to compromise by moving forward with the less advanced but easier to manufacture XV25.

[[File:StealthSuit.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Citadel exclusive "Tau Stealth" paint. Order it now.]]
=== {{anchor|XV25|XV-22}} XV25 Stealthsuit ===
[[File:XV25.png|thumb|right|300px]]
An improvement over the XV15 which is larger, heavier and better armored while still retaining the maneuverability and subtlety of the XV15 series. Development and deployment of the XV25 was largely due to the fact that the Imperium managed to acquire a functioning sample of the old XV15 stealth suit during the [[Damocles Crusade]], compromising its use as a recon platform. Larger and more powerful reactor allows XV25 to be outfitted with a fusion blaster instead of it's basic burst cannon, and the suit also have one hard point on it's back for an additional support system, although those are usually issued only to squad leaders.

=== {{anchor|XV46|XV-46}} XV46 Vanguard Void Suit ===
Basically a Tau version of [[Terminator|Terminator armor]], bigger than the XV2 series, smaller than the XV8 and as heavily armoured as XV88 while still light enough to have jetpacks. It is designed solely for operating in spaceborn situations at (unusually for the Tau) close quarters, which means boarding action and [[Space Hulk]]-type investigation missions. The XV46 is highly effective against [[Genestealers|certain xenos species]] that are famous for slaughtering Terminators like they are nothing. With a fuckton of burst cannons, flamers and fusion guns on each of the suits, the little buggers would have a hard enough time getting close, but then there are electroshocks, grav-repulsors, and photon grenades to zap any fuckers lucky enough to break through the walls of fire, all triggered automatically. To make the Tau version of Space Hulk even less [[grimdark]], these suits are even equipped with smart ejection systems which are programmed to deliver the pilot back on board his ship if his suit gets wrecked. Being both niche equipment and difficult to manufacture critical parts for, XV46s are rarely seen outside of space hulk missions. Even rarer is the XV-46-4 Commander variant.

The XV46 doesn't appear in the tabletop wargame; [[Fantasy Flight Games]] made it up for the [[Deathwatch (RPG)|Deathwatch RPG]]. As a result, there's no images of it. It how ever is used in [[Battlefleet Gothic Armada]], to which the tau seemingly tie them to bombers before letting them get dropped along with the payload onto enemy ships through their shields. Which suggests that the tau in some extent would have capabilities to play a serious game of blue gremlin on the wing with other species, this combination is also particularily enraging for eldar who have little to no defense against such an unusually bold action from the tau.

=== {{anchor|XV8|XV-8}} XV8 Crisis Battlesuit ===
[[File:Tau Crisis Suit Close Up.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Keep trying, Gue'La. You have a 1 in 18 chance of actually wounding me.]]
'' Main Article: [[XV-8 Crisis Battlesuit]]''
<gallery>
Image:XV8.jpg|XV8 Team
Image:XV81.jpg|XV-81
Image:XV84.png|XV-84
Image:XV89.png|XV-89</gallery><br><gallery>
Image:XV8-05.jpg|XV-8-05 Enforcer
Image:XV-8-02.png|XV-8-02 Iridium
Image:Coldstar.png|XV-8-06 Coldstar
Image:Shas'o R'Myr.png|R'Myr's special XV8.
</gallery>

XV8 Crisis Battlesuits are the Tau Empire's general-purpose combat battlesuits, capable of being equipped for a variety of combat situations. Due to the large amount of variants they have, check the main article for more information.

=== {{anchor|XV88|XV-88}} XV88 Broadside Battlesuit===
[[File:XV88.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
''Main article: [[XV88 Broadside Battlesuit]]''

XV88 Broadside Battlesuits are fire support platforms outfitted with either a large Heavy Rail Rifle or a massive array of missiles to lay waste to the enemies of the Greater Good from afar.

[[File:XV9 smug face.jpg|200px|thumb|right|I'll tell you what's a hazard: being hostile and near this motherfucker.]]
=== {{anchor|XV9|XV-9}} XV9 Hazard Battlesuit ===
[[File:XV9.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
Another Forgeworld blessing. Unlike most Tau battlesuits, the XV9 Hazard model is designed solely for fast and hard close-range engagements rather than having the option of going either close or long, or being cloaked while engaging the enemy up close, which is quite odd since this is a bit of a deviation from traditional Tau combat doctrine, which is all about far away [[Shooty|shootiness]]. Being a dedicated spear-tip suit, Hazard is designed with close combat in mind, with it's frame being more agile than other suits (which is represented by less horrible WS and Initiative on the tabletop), photon grenades to halt enemy charges and vectored retro thrusters to jump out of meat grinder.

XV-9 have three hard points, with two generally being equipped with a matching pair of guns (leaving only one for support systems) compared to Crisis' four, although given it have in-built retro-thrusters and photon grenade launchers it can and usually does have up to 5 systems with enough reactor capacity to power them all, even though weapon options available to Hazard suit are generally more devastating and power-hungry:
::'''Twin-linked burst cannons''' are for mulching down infantry with enough dakka to make Orks jealous.
::'''Fusion cascades''', which are melta miniguns, less powerful than basic fusion blasters and more short-ranged but with a higher rate of fire, so they're more effective against light/medium vehicles, monsters and terminators rather than heavy tanks.
::'''Phased ion guns''' which were supposed to be "assault cannons-lite", and are more "well rounded" choice, being decent against both light and heavy infantry or light vehicles, though heavily outclassed by the previous two gun options.
::'''Pulse Submunition Rifles''', commonly referred by a player base as "shotguns", these are the most long ranged and expensive guns available to Hazard. They cover a huge area with a cover-ignoring blasts to root out heavy cover campers.

It should be noted that the number 9 is a significant number to the Tau given that they count in an octal numeral system (there is no 8 or 9; 10 comes immediately after 7), as opposed to [[humanity]]'s decimal system. [[Awesome|This means that to the Tau, the XV9 is literally cranked up to 11.]]

Shas'o R'alai has his own XV9 equipped with a shield and experimental next-gen PSR that fires in bursts and is loaded with a wide range extra-powerful (but unstable) experimental ammo.

[[File:XV95.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|<center>Striking hard and fast.</center>]]
=== {{anchor|XV95|XV-95}} XV95 Ghostkeel Battlesuit ===
[[File:XV95 2.png|thumb|left|200px]]
Ghostkeel is a really big and powerful stealth suit that can and would fight well in a straight fight rather than relying on flanking maneuvers and infiltration to hit vulnerable flanks and retreat out of harms way like your regular Stealth teams. It's the same weight class and size as Hazard, but has extensive armour plating for nearly double the survivability. Unlike the XV15 and XV25, the XV95 doesn't have full stealth system on itself, but rather its parts are spread between the battlesuit and its stealth drones, meaning only with a combination of both can the team becomes nigh-invisible, while separately they appear to be only slightly camouflaged, which, combined with an exceptional tankiness of the Ghostkeel, and mediocre survivability of his drones makes the XV-95 one of the few battlesuits that would take hits for its drones instead of drones shielding him with their cold, expendable, mechanical bodies. But being nigh-invisible is not enough for XV-95 - it carries an electronic warfare equipment in it's left hand like a gun, and use it to fuck up enemy targeting systems even more, unless they are at point-blank range, and can overcharge it to shock-and-awe any opponent trying to gun them down, ensuring it can't hit shit, although it's a one-use trick, as the suit need to recharge for a while to deliver this sensory shock again.

On the offense, Ghostkeel has a set of twin-linked standard battlesuit guns on it's back (sadly, only limited to flamers, burst cannons and fusion blasters), and a single BFG in it's right hand, which could be a fusion collider, which is an extra bigger fusion blaster with extra barrel that shoots small blasts, or an ion raker, which looks and fires like bigger badder cyclic ion blaster with double the normal mode firing rate (for SIX autocannon-grade shots per burst), double overcharge blast size and slightly higher range. On top of that, Ghostkeel also have two extra hard points for supporting system (meaning up to five hard points total) for extra customization options.

Lastly, much like Hazard suits, XV-95 aren't half as terrible in close combat as most other Tau battlesuits. While Ghostkeel may lack the speed, agility, counter-charge systems and vector thrusters of an XV-9, what it have is a sheer brutal strength - your typical five-man space marine demi-squad would quickly find a hard way that a single Ghostkeel is not an easy prey in close combat, as its single punch is enough to turn a marine into a screaming pile of meat paste flavored with broken bones and ceramite shards. Hell its not that hard for a Ghostkeel to kick (quite literally) through a tank's armour or even fortification walls.

=== {{anchor|XV104|XV-104}} XV104 Riptide Battlesuit ===
[[File:XV104.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
[[File:Nova Reactor Energy.jpg|200px|thumb|right|"So this is the power of the Nova Reactor... Not bad, not bad at all..."]]
A new, extra-large battlesuit (at twice the size of the XV8) that made its first appearance in the 6th edition codex, the Riptide resembles the bastard offspring of a Gundam (specifically the ZZ Gundam, what with its XBAWKS HUEG build, optional missile system and destructive but stupidly risky energy weapon) and a Metal Gear. Arguably more of a vehicle than a suit of armor, the Riptide's primary weapon can be either a heavy burst cannon or an ion accelerator (with twin smart missile systems, fusion blasters or plasma rifles as backup weapons), while its defensive prowess is supplemented by a portable shield generator. All of these can be made significantly more powerful if the prototype Nova reactor built into the suit is used to charge the weapon or shield; however, doing so runs the risk of overloading the generator, releasing deadly radiation that can injure or kill the pilot.

While incredibly powerful, the Riptide's primary drawback ([[fluff]]-wise) is that the materials used to manufacture it are rare. Thus, their numbers remain fairly small within the Tau Empire's forces. Not that you'd know since every goddamn Tau list has them flying out of their asses. Then again, every Imperial Guard force on the tabletop is full of elite veterans, heavy tanks and flyers instead of swarms of regular Guardsmen...

An extremely [[Rape|cheesetastic tactic]] on the tabletop with this fella is to model it to be as low as possible (like crouching forward) and then put it behind a piece of very big cover, like a bastion. It moves out during the movement phase, revs the Nova reactor, blasts nearby enemies into oblivion, then jet boosts back behind the bastion during the assault phase to block enemy LoS.

=== {{anchor|XV107|XV-107}} XV107 R'varna Battlesuit ===
[[File:Xv-107-rvarna-battlesuit.jpg|400px|thumb|right|That's a nice gargantuan creature you have there…it'd be a shame if something were to happen to it...]]
[[File:XV107.png|left|thumb|300px]]
Essentially a Riptide (made by [[Forge World]] of all folks) that threw mobility away for more armour and two exceedingly huge pulse submunition cannons (think plasma cluster bomb) for the purpose of fucking everything up for the enemy. Its Nova Reactor also grants some unusual properties like a turn with Fleet, an electromagnetic shockwave that hits everyone around it, or double-firing weapons, but is no less risky to use. The fluff behind this involves an Earth Caste engineer from Sept Ke'lshan, called Sho'Aun, who managed to go behind the Ethereals' backs by building something so huge, expensive (even in in-universe terms), and lethal when he was supposed to make more stealthsuits. One [[Tyranids|Tyranid]] swarm later, however, he revealed this behemoth and with it helped dumpster all of the 'Nids and save the Sept.

One interesting note of mention is that in the early days of the R'varna's conception, before it was officially announced, there was indeed a rumor floating around that Forgeworld was actually designing a new stealthsuit. This was before 6th Edition Tau were even released, so it makes sense that nobody even knew about the Riptide aside from the weeks preceding the new codex, but what is interesting is that, given the fluff behind the R'varna, it's almost as though Forgeworld chuckled at the rumors and used those as a basis for their fluff, going so far as to craft the rumors of a stealthsuit into the XV107's fundamental history. '''The more you know!''' The X7 designation this suit have means it's supposed to be an infiltration unit, which is the exact opposite of what R'Varna actually does - this is likely the result of it being developed as a part of Stealth Suit program.

Unlike plenty of other things in lore, the R'varna, with its big-ass pulse submunitions cannons, is as big a rape machine on the table as it is in the fluff. With the ability to fire two pie plates a turn at AP4 and S6 (and FOUR plates using the Nova Reactor) the thing turns [[Tyranids]] to garden mulch, and [[Orks]] to fertilizer. The cannons have Cluster Fire, which means that, the bigger the target the more hits it receives and at higher strength. Thus, while anything with Very Bulky, Bike, Jetbike, Cavalry or Beast takes two hits at +1S, MCs Buildings and Vehicles take THREE S8 hits per hit. Kinda feels [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScmfbOwRreU like this] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBC1Qob27sM more like this]. All in all, the R'varna is considered to be horribly, horribly, horribly broken by non-Tau players, and by Tau players still using it to be the most [[cheese|deliciously cheddar]] thing since [[Fish of Fury|Fish of Fury]].

[[File:XV109.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Bringing the Greater Good close and personal]]

=== {{anchor|XV109|XV-109}} XV109 Y'Vahra Battlesuit===
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3lrhPeK6gU ''Hi, it's Sho'Aun with the Y'vahra, you'll be saying "wow" everytime you use this Tau'']. A regular Riptide doesn't do well too close to an enemy, this one does well at close or medium range. This is for the blobs, the Deathwing, the Armoured Ceramite'd AV14. Made in Ke'lshan Sept by Sho'Aun, you know that guy always makes good stuff. This is a Riptide that embraces its mobility and gets a super-flamer, a mega-haywire gun and has super-jetpacks able to turn it into a flying monstrous creature once each two turns. This one was made with the opposite goal of a Riptide: to jump in close and take the fight to the enemy, fling a burst of flechettes as it lands and then jump back out before it can be overwhelmed. With its S6 Torrent (at 6") Plasma Flamer that goes either AP3 Heavy 1 or AP2 Heavy 2 Gets Hot, and its S8 AP3 Haywire Cannon that also blinds, it can effectively total entire enemy units in one volley, and even more so with the Nova Reactor on (which gives it some more tricks, like the ability to Jink or move back into reserves while in close combat). As a trade off, however, it is a little bit more fragile than Riptide, and it's Nova Reactor options are also weaker, more focused on extra mobility and surviving/escaping close combat rather than blasting shit to death or, you know, the ever frustrating for your opponent 3++ against everything. Combined with extremely uncomfortable range of all of it's weapons Y'Vahra tends to go down much quicker than the Riptide.

=== {{anchor|KV128|KV-128}} KV128 Stormsurge Ballistic Suit===
[[File:Stompin on marines.jpeg|200px|thumbnail|right|Teaching [[Abaddon|certain spiky gue-la]], how to be cool despite the lack of arms]]
[[File:KV128.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUnjxftU6r0&feature=youtu.be&t=96 A WEAPON TO SURPASS METAL GEAR] The new and improved chicken walkers!

The Tau have decided the Riptide still wasn't big enough and made an even larger battlesuit. The Stormsurge is armed with a one of two giant pulse cannons: the first is much like AdMech eradication beamer in that it gets stronger but loses the blast radius as the target comes closer, except it starts at 30" with S9 AP5 large blast and finishes with the almighty D at almost point-blank range; and the other variant of the cannon is pretty much just a railgun with a large blast. Its hilariously large pair of missile pods, combined with an SMS on its back and a pair of airbursting frag projectors it can get, would vomit out so much anti-infantry firepower across half of the board in one volley you'd probably need to buy double the number of dice you already have to just resolve its shooting: entire armies of GEQs would melt the moment this thing opens fire, and even terminators or monstrous creatures would be hard pressed to survive once they start failing their saves under that hail of wounds. It also houses four Destroyer missiles, which are AP1 Seeker Missiles which become strength D when guided by a marker light, and as all four could be fired simultaneously (if you had scored enough ML tokens), could easily kill four regular vehicles or almost any other superheavy/gargantuan on turn one from across the board. But there's more! The stabilizing rods on its legs aren't just for cool looks: KV128 can stabilize itself, losing ability to move and stomp for firing EVERY FUCKING GUN IT HAS TWICE. This rape train, however, ''does'' have brakes, as the Stormsurge is extremely squishy for its size and firepower, basically being as survivable as two Carnifexes; it's pretty much a heavy artillery piece that needs to stay way back and be protected in order to take its points back, and is the one more geared for anti-infantry, so if you're looking for something to deal with Knights and Titans, look below for a proper front line Tau titan. Its squishiness probably has something to do with it being the only Battlesuit so far that has its pilots (or gun operators, looks like it has a couple of these) sitting without any cover over their heads.

=== KX139 Ta'Unar Supremacy Armour ===
[[File:KX139.jpg|200px|thumbnail|right|<center>[[StarCraft|THOR IS HERE!]]</center>]]
[https://youtu.be/2vKz7WnU83E?t=46 To fight monsters, we created monsters of our own]

A new super-heavy Overcompensator Class battlesuit, massive enough to claim the title of Tau [[Titan]]. After multiple run-ins with Imperial Knights and Tyranid bio-titans, the Ethereals were forced to admit the necessity of Titan-sized static defenses to deal with counter-expansion attempts into their own territory and asked the same Earth Caste nutter who made the R'varna and the Y'varha, Sho'Aun, to make something capable of fending off super-heavy assault forces too strong for their bombers to deal with.

He did not disappoint.

While it lacks the jet packs (much like its brother the R'varna), the Ta'Unar is armed to the teeth and damn hard to kill with T:9 and 10 wounds. Although it's a Gargantuan Creature like the [[Wraithknight]], it can fire Overwatch at BS2 with its two smart missile systems and two twin-linked burst cannons. Its main guns are no less effective- for arm weapons, it can equip either a Heavy 5 multimelta or an ion cannon that can fire either 6 shots at S7 AP3 or 3 shots at S9 AP2. The back-mounted Pulse Ordnance Multi-Driver can fire either a Strength D Massive Blast with 72" range or a S8 AP3 Apocalyptic Barrage (3) with Pinning and Ignores Cover with a range of 12-120". Defensively, it has a 2+/5++ save that improves to 4++ against shooting attacks, and it can sacrifice the invulnerable save for a turn to cut the number of wounds suffered from a "Deathblow" result on the Destroyer table in half. Its only real flaws are that it's expensive as all hell to field (both points-wise and in real-world costs, being a Forge World exclusive and all).

In the place of the Pulse Ordnance Multi-Driver, it can instead take a Nexus Meteor Missile System or a Heavy Rail Cannon Array for free. The Nexus Meteor Missile System is a Blinding Apocalyptic Mega-Blast with 24-120" range with S 10/7/5 and AP 1/4/5, because fuck that guy and everyone remotely close to him. The latter on the other hand is technically two weapons, which can be fired simultaneously. It incorporates a Cluster Shell Launcher (a 36" range Apocalyptic Barrage (4) weapon with S6 AP4 and pinning meant to lock down anyone in relatively close range) and the Heavy Rail Cannon itself, a 120" ranged monster with the almighty D, AP1, a 3" blast, and the nasty rule "Mass Induction Targeting"- when using it to attack any superheavy or GMC, you roll twice on the Destroyer table and pick the higher result. Perfect for ruining any Titan's day!

{{Tau}}

Greater Good

2016-08-13T00:56:55Z

2602:30A:2E7B:F0B0:11EA:B83B:F117:5FE0: /* But Seriously, Folks */

Space: the final frontier.

These are the voyages of the starship ''[[Tau]]’s Future Glory''. Its mission: to seek out new life and new civilizations and unify them with [[noblebright]]—and the occasional plasma blast—for the '''Greater Good''' of all, and to boldly go into a [[grimdark]] galaxy where no Weeaboo Space Communist has gone before.

And thus begins the adventures of the [[40k]] galaxy’s version of the Star Trek Federation, brought to you by unflagging belief in the Greater Good! Cake for all!

==But Seriously, Folks==

For reals though, this is the background on it:

The Greater Good is the central, guiding philosophical doctrine of the [[Tau Empire]] and its diverse citizens. Essentially, it involves always taking the course of action that is best for the majority of people (as long as those people have blue skin and forehead slits), and dictates that everyone and everything has its place in the system; as such, the system will look after you, and you after it. ([[Humanity Fuck Yeah|Real-life humans]] have thought of this too; it's called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilitarianism utilitarianism]). It goes a lot deeper than that for the Tau, who believe it is their duty to bring the enlightening message of the Greater Good to everyone in the galaxy, and subsequently join them under the rule of the Tau Empire in order to work together for a better future for all.

It was the [[Ethereal]]s who first brought the message of the Greater Good to the other Tau on their homeworld during the age of civil war and barbarism that they now refer to as the Mont'au, or "The Terror." The Ethereals preached a message of peaceful cooperation between the four major Tau tribes, and explained that each tribe's skills should be harnessed for the benefit of all to secure a brighter future. In this way, the Ethereals united them as a single-minded people, and over the next few millennia, the Tau got their shit together in record time for a sapient species, much like [[fa/tg/uys]] might were it not for the insurmountable levels of [[skub]] and [[rage]] [[Grimdark|produced by the internet on a daily basis]]. There was a massive growth in technology, science and knowledge, and the Tau became a spacefaring race very rapidly compared to [[Imperium of Man|others]]. They contacted several [[Kroot|less advanced]] [[Vespid|races]] and won them over with their ideals; these were the first non-Tau members of what would become the Tau Empire.

Since approaching the space controlled by the [[Imperium]], however, the Tau have been somewhat disabused of the notion that most of the galaxy's denizens are interested in anything but killing them, since every other major race they have encountered either rejects their overtures for unity with a bolt pistol or straightaway tries to fight or nom them. [[Tau Diplomacy|Here]] are some typical instances of the Tau Empire's [[Rape|negotiations with]] [[RIP AND TEAR|other races]].

Cue galaxy-wide [[lulz]].

As mentioned above, the idea of a greater good is not really all that new in the real world. It has existed in modern society for a while, although not in the form of an official guiding doctrine, and instead as more of a general rule of thumb to do your best by society as a whole and to not be selfish. To create in full the Tau idea of the Greater Good you will need: communism, Marxism, utilitarianism, naïveté, enough politics to make your head spin, xenophilia, the power of friendship and working together, and of course guns, lots and lots of guns, just in case 'persuading' someone to adopt the Greater Good fails. The resulting mixture resembles none of the ingredients (and would make Karl Marx chew his own beard off) but gives you a sense of the different bits and pieces [[Games Workshop]] added into its big concept cauldron to concoct the Tau Empire's Greater Good.

[[File:8812 md-Dawn Of War Humor Motivational Poster Poster The Greater Good.jpg|thumbnail|right|300px|This is what happens when you bring philosophy to a [[Thunder Hammer|thunder hammer]] fight.]]

In the first edition Tau Codex the idea of the Greater Good was pretty clean if vague, a noble goal to unite the galaxy. The book "Fire Warrior", though, which was published at this time, goes into it at great length, including what it means and what happens when a Tau has his or her eyes open to what kind of galaxy they live in (in a mature, non-grimdark way too). By the first Tau Empire book, though, there is some gritty realism, with stories of people resisting the Greater Good, and in the current situation there are clear cases where the Greater Good will be meaningless ([[Orks]], [[Tyranids]], etc.).

In the wider galaxy, if you don't like the Greater Good, you hate it. In this way it is kind of like [[skub]]. The [[Imperium]] hates it because it is a challenge to their authority and they are afraid that [[Gue'vesa|nervous, weak-willed humans]] will see it as an alternative to what the Imperium offers, and they can't have that. [[Chaos]] hates it because it is the antithesis to what each of the four ruinous powers stand for: selflessness and discipline over indulgence ([[Slaanesh]]); peace over war ([[Khorne]]); growth and progress over decay ([[Nurgle]]); and structured order over change and randomness ([[Tzeentch]]). In short, the concept of the Greater Good is in direct opposition to the powers of Chaos, and exactly why Chaos has not launched a [[Black Crusade]] against the Tau Empire so far is unclear.(Probably because Chaos hasn't had a codex update and because the Riptide spam is too stronk) [[Necrons]] and [[Eldar]] dislike the Greater Good simply because they consider it to be the starry-eyed drivel of a young species (although the Eldar have a soft spot for the Tau), and the [[Orks]] and [[Tyranids]] couldn't care less, obviously. They will fight (and eat) anyone.

So all in all, pretty hard times being a missionary for the Greater Good in the 41st millennium.

==Accusations of epic trolling on GW's part==

When the Tau first came out, it was believed all this Greater Good lovey-dovey business was an epic example of trolling on GW's part against their franchise and the fan base, what with the 40k galaxy being completely grimdark previously. The presence of a race that was (shock-horror) normal by most sci-fi standards confused some and enraged others. GW declared they wanted a new, dynamic race for their setting. Fans thought they went a bit too far in this regard and had created something that clashed thematically with the setting it was in.

As of the most recent codex and [[fluff]] updates, however, the Tau and the Greater Good have been made more 'realistic' in the context of the 40k galaxy. The Ethereals have declared certain races "lost causes" which are beyond the capability of the Greater Good to help them (the Orks and the Tyranids, though this declaration should have been made upon one glimpse of those assholes). And as of the most recent expansion phase in the Empire, the Tau have at times abandoned the slow but steady option of diplomacy in favour of just annexing worlds and forcing the Greater Good onto anyone there via military might. Considering this is more in line with the Imperium's way of doing things, we shall have to see how that goes. Other grimdark things done to and in the name of the Greater Good can be found in the next section.

==Is it all really sunshine and lollipops?==

The codices and fluff hinted from the start that all was not what it seemed in the Tau Empire, and with the recent updates, especially the [[Farsight]] Enclaves supplement, the Ethereals have been portrayed as subtly evil space tyrants ruling an empire through clever mind control tricks which the Tau population is unaware of. Basically, the books hint that the Ethereals, a strange breed of Tau who appeared out of nowhere, use some form of mind control or pheromone to influence other Tau to listen to what they say and to obey orders without question. It is further hinted that this has had a diminished effect on even non-Tau. It is in this way they sell the Greater Good. It is the sort of thing the people in ''[[1984]]'' would love to be able to do and would make their work load much easier.

There has been no solid confirmation on the origin or power of the Hypnotau, and like a lot of potentially cool plot points, it has been left underdeveloped in order to [[Advancing the Storyline|drag out the plot]]. Thanks GW. Of course, ''[[Xenology]]'' really, ''really'' heavily implies that the [[Eldar]] stole some other alien race's mind-control pheromones and integrated them into Tau biology.

That said, it's also heavily implied that the Ethereals' pheromones effect the Ethereals themselves as well. They fully believe in everything they preach (as opposed to ''1984'''s leaders, who are just doing it for the lulz). In the novel ''Fire Warrior'', an Ethereal actually resists falling to goddamn [[Chaos Spawn|daemonic possession]] not because of any psychic resistance or relic but because his faith in the Greater Good gives him total balance and control over his mind, meaning no emotional flaws for a daemon to exploit.

However, one thing that people seem to forget is that even if pheromones and the like really are controlling the Tau, it is very unlikely for those same pheromones to afflict the Empire's member races in the same way, so there still has to be a solid message there for other races to latch onto... unless that's what the Nagi are for. Who are the Nagi? Oh, just a client race of mind-controlling brain worms who regularly council with the Ethereals. The fluff doesn't talk about them much, but the moment you read "mind-controlling brain worms" that's immediately going to raise some red flags. But as far as we know, the Nagi have no direct contact with the other client races. So whether or not there's mind control amongst the Tau themselves, the Greater Good is still a legitimate philosophy that is proving itself to be quite effective at uniting disparate civilizations.

==Reasons to accept the Greater Good==

* The Tau Empire is open to diplomacy and talking things through. Even if they are primarily focused on getting what they want (like every sensible person is), they will still listen to what you want as well and potentially allow room for it. The Imperium does diplomacy too, but merely as a pretense until they can get enough guns there. If they have enough guns already then diplomacy sounds like {{BLAM|'''BLAM!'''}}
* [[Faptau]] and/or [[Schlicktau]] will teach you how to masturbate like a professional.
* You can be friends or allies with other alien races unless they're ones deemed [[Orks|a]] [[Tyranids|lost]] [[Dark Eldar|cause]] by the Greater Good.
* [[Railgun]]s.
* [[Battlesuit]]s.
* Life in the Empire is significantly better for civilians, especially lower-class ones, than in most other civilizations. Hell, they even have free health care - in the Imperium you don't have ANY health care unless you're at least a valued middle class specialist or a soldier.
* You will be allowed to worship who you want, as long as it doesn't conflict with the Greater Good.
* You will not be blown up in a dickish preemptive orbital strike by [[Commander Or'es'Ka]].
* It advocates what is best for everyone and states that everyone can contribute to it in their own way, which we must agree is a better sell than Imperial zealots screaming that you owe the Emperor your life, so get busy dying for him, and no complaining or we'll make you die for him {{Blam|'''RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!'''}}
* Machines are seen simply as machines, not as holy relics with [[Machine Spirit|souls]] that need to be fawned over with ridiculous rituals, and so a lot of things are automated. You don't have to do a tenth of the awful, soul-sucking menial labour that occurs in every corner of the Imperium. This automatically makes the Tau a thousand times more practical and sensible.

==Reasons not to accept the Greater Good==

* You will be a walking target for life for [[HERESY]], and hence [[Blam|BLAMMING]], in the Imperium for even thinking about xenos in a positive light. (Just a reminder: the Inquisition is not afraid to [[Exterminatus|blow up an entire planet just to kill you]]. If not, there will always be [[Space Marine|some]][[Assassin|one]] waiting for you). This only applies if you choose to remain in Imperium territory; the Tau are expanding their territory so I'm sure they have room for at least one more.
* You are probably being compelled by pheromones and mind control to be a good person, which is to say your [[noblebright]] is the result of [[grimdark]].
* You will be horrified at how barbaric and violent the rest of the galaxy is, so make sure you cover your eyes when you're outside the Empire.
* You will be compared to Jehovah's Witnesses because your message is just irritating to anyone who is not already '''ONE OF US…'''
* You will be compared to communists by most people despite the fact that the Tau Empire only resembles such sociopolitical ideals in the most dubious of ways.
* Inter-caste breeding is strictly prohibited in the Tau Empire. Their view on Tau getting it on with non-Tau is even worse. So if you meet a stunning Water Caste babe and you're a member of the Air Caste, or a member of a non-Tau race, you're unfortunately gonna have to go all Romeo and Juliet on that shit.
* The problem above is irrelevant but only because if you're Tau, your libido is almost nonexistent, and you don't think of sex as anything more than a method of reproduction. Some, however, may think this is an advantage rather than drawback; Then again, some sources claim Tau like sex as much as humans do but their Caste system and the Ethereal's control restrict it.
* You have to accept that you won't be in charge of your own destiny. But then, no one really is in the 40k galaxy…:'(
* Although it may seem all nice and happy, be careful. Big Brother is always watching you... but Tau Big Brother is more polite and less trigger-happy or invasive than Imperium Big Brother.
* It might be an Eldar conspiracy to convince foolish Mon...Gue'la to die for a mysterious force that isn't Chaos.

==What is important to remember is this!==

Despite all the jeers about naiveté, subtle mind control and Big Brother watching you, the Tau Empire and its philosophy of the Greater Good is still the nicest option to go with in the 40k universe, especially if you're one of those rare [[neckbeard]]s who actually realizes that grimderp and sadness doesn't always equal coolness and profundity. So what if your leaders control the population like a club of puppet masters? At least you can trust these people not to throw you and your family into a meat grinder suicide war or to crush all the individuality and freedom out of you while saying it is for your own good. Some have said "give it ten thousand more years and the Tau Empire will be just like the Imperium" (don't forget the current Imperium is a lot more backwards and oppressive than the Emperor intended). But really, will it? The Tau are quite different from humans, so their response will be quite different as well. Until then, the Greater Good remains one of the few doctrines of the 40k universe that makes sense, and despite all the grimdark made of it recently, it is still so [[noblebright]] it can blind [[Night Lords]] a light year away.

==Further Imperial Thoughts on the Tau==

Another interesting point regarding Imperial-Tau relations is spelled out in the current Tau codex. If you really want to get to the core of what the Imperium's problem with the Tau Empire is, you have to look to those who actually have the bigger picture of just what the fuck is going on in the galaxy. While your average inquisitor will shoot anything not human without a second thought, the bigwigs at the top of the food chain (specifically in the Mechanicus and the High Lords) are concerned about the Tau for several "good" reasons. Not only does the Empire offer a life of something more than "make bullets for the Emperor until you die and be thankful for it" (which you can imagine sounds pretty good to your average menial laborer), but they actually see a bit of themselves in the Tau. The Tau Empire is very similar to humanity during the Golden Age of Technology, which if you know [[Age of Strife|how that ended]] the Imperium's problem with the Tau is a bit more understandable.

Its also a matter of the warp and the Horus Heresy. Regardless of how much people in the imperium now it, a major contributor was the primarchs finding things other than the emperor or the imperium to be loyal too, eventually causing a good half of them to turn traitor and put the Emperor on the Throne. Most of what came after was in response to this. The Greater Good is (in theory) separate from the leaders that expouse it. The Imperium, meanwhile, wants you to follow your leaders, regardless of the reasons or outcomes. As the Tau don't really have a presence in the warp, they don't have to worry about heretics and cults (at least for now). One can imagine the clusterfuck that develops when their human ranks are infiltrated by a cult and suddenly a horde of demons show up looking for lunch (having had the cultists for breakfast).

Regardless, the Imperium is largely willing to work with the Tau since they are the lesser of evils in a lot of sectors. [[Deathwatch]] talks about how most of the leadership of the crusade (including the Deathwatch) would rather sign a non-agression pact with the tau against the invading Tyranids. The logic being that a world under the idealogy of the Tau can be purged and brought back to the imperium, a world being nommed is of no value to anyone. Of course [[Grimdark|The pragmatic option isn't always the available one]] as the head of the Crusade is a paranoid idiot who would rather see the entire sector fall than compromise. The Tau themselves seem split between exploiting this character flaw so they will have strategic control and not having to send millions of troops to fight the imperium on one front while hordes of giant space locusts arrive from another.

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Tau]]