Tau
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| This article is part of the Dawn of War Player's Guide. From RelicWiki |
The Tau Empire are a relatively young civilization in the 40k universe, yet they have made their presence known via great technological achievements. On the Eastern Fringe of the galaxy, a they have emerged to challenge the might of the Imperium of Man and the other established races in the 41st millennium. They are a surprisingly advanced civilization that has organized itself around a single guiding principle known as "The Greater Good." By setting aside individualism to serve the needs of society as a whole, the Tau Empire has developed and expanded at an astounding rate. In just over 6,000 years, they evolved from savanna dwelling primitives to space-faring colonists.
This unhindered progress has given the Tau confidence that there is no obstacle that their society and their science cannot overcome. Indeed, they believe that they can help the rest of the galaxy find their way to peace and prosperity. All the other races must do is accept the Greater Good and obey the Ethereals, the mysterious Tau leaders.
Not surprisingly, the established races have other plans. To help "bring them around," the Tau have invented some of the most lethal ranged weaponry in Warhammer 40,000. Their basic troop type, called Fire Warriors, are armed with pulse rifles and carbines that penetrate armor like a comet through a dust cloud.
Pulse weapons would be devastating enough, but the Tau also have powered armor and anti-gravity vehicles galore. Their Crisis and Stealth battlesuits have unrivaled mobility on the battlefield, popping out from behind cover, firing a thunderous barrage, and disappearing again before the enemy can react. The Tau's Hammerhead and Skyray gunships, along with XV88 Broadside battlesuits, pound opposing forces to bits while their Devilfish Troop Carriers reposition Fire Warriors for better shots. At a distance, the Tau can lay waste to all but the hardiest of enemies.
Yet, the Tau disdain up-close fighting and are unskilled in hand-to-hand combat. They have hired the mercenary Kroot and inducted the insectoid Vespid to make up for this lack, but the Tau still try to avoid close-quarter engagements. Despite this limitation, the Tau are an emerging force in the galaxy that the established races cannot ignore.
Backstory
A race that advanced several technological millennia in 2,000 years, the Tau were given ion drives by the Squats, which they studied and then created their own technology from. They have a hierarchical socialistic government, where each caste fights for the Greater Good and supports the other castes, Fire (Warriors), Water (Diplomats and Merchants) Earth (Laborers and Constructors), Air (Pilots and Navigators) and Ethereal (Ultimate Authority). The Tau's alliance with the Kroot was created when a Tau armada came across a band of Kroot War Spheres under attack by Orks. The Tau aided the Kroot, and helped them reclaim the Kroot-colonized Planets. The wasp-like Vespids have also joined, supposedly due to interest in the Greater Good philosophy.
Dark Crusade
The Tau Empire was introduced in Dark Crusade
With the rise of the Necrons and the arriving of other invading factions, the Tau forces and Kroot allies could not sit idly by with their thriving empire in danger. The Tau defend their recently acquired world of Kronus from the invaders, including the planet's original owners, the Imperial Guard. The Tau Forces on Kronus are led by Shas'o Kais.
As the Tau forces and allies deploy on the many critical locations of Or'es Tash'n, Shas'o Kais leads them into the war zones of Kronus. With the Ethereal Aun'el Shi'ores supporting them, the Greater Good could not fail. The Tau forces saw through the Eldar's treachery and tricks. They withstood the God-Emperor's mighty Blood Raven Space Marines at North Vandea. The Imperial Guard survivors, even after the vicious fight at Victory Bay, were allowed safe haven within the Tau society. Although the Necrons proved to be a bothersome infection on Kronus, they too were gunned down by the Tau squads. The Word Bearers of the Chaos Gods tried to bring forth their twisted daemons on Kronus, but the Tau forces resisted the whispers of Chaos and purged them. The Orks, led by Gorgutz, proved a great challenge to the Kroot Warriors, but they too were eliminated for the Greater Good as the Tau attacked the Green Coast.
As the Tau remake Kronus into a Tau colony, the remaining humans on Kronus were sent to reeducation camps. Though the human population dwindled down to a fraction of its former size, the Tau would still be willing to welcome any man, woman, or child into the Greater Good.
Soulstorm.
In Soulstorm, the Tau settle on a moon and quickly develop a very strong bastion. The Tau target is to colonise the system. The Tau are situated near the Blood Ravens and the Orks. The Tau are lead by the battlesuit commander Or'es'ka. The Tau set out to dominate the galaxy for the greater good.
Tau Units
Earth Caste Builder
"Each caste does its part for the Greater Good."
The Earth Caste Builder Drone is the basic building unit for the Tau Empire, provided at the beginning of every game.
Despite its lack of weaponry, the builder drone can move quickly to avoid enemy fire and may be "danced" to buy time for your Warriors to move into position to eliminate the threat.
XV15 Stealth Team
"The technology of Tau makes us strong!"
Built from the Cadre Headquarters, the XV15s have the natural ability to infiltrate and can only be detected by enemy detectors. A leader, known as a Shas'Vre can be purchased as well as a jetpack upgrade.
Vespid Stingwing Strain
The Vespid Stingwings are a close-combat unit available early in the tech-tree, recruited from the insect-like "Vespid" in the Tau Empire. Vespid units excel at destroying buildings with their Destabilization ability.
Fire Warrior Team
"Don’t let the prey get away."
Fire Warriors are the basic Tau fighting unit. Like most Tau units, they are terrible in close combat but their advanced ranged weaponry, the most powerful of all basic DoW troops, more than makes up for it.
Kroot Carnivores
"The Kroot and Tau stand as one."
Kroot Carnivores are a close-combat unit recruited from a barbarian race in the Tau Empire. They may "Cannibalize" chunks of the dead (enemy or ally) to give all Kroot Carnivore units health bonuses.
Kroot Shaper
"I will lead our warriors."
The Kroot Shaper is a leader for Kroot units, be they Kroot Carnivores or Kroot Hound Packs.
Pathfinder Team
"Pathfinders lead the way!"
The lightly-armored Pathfinder Team does ranged spotting for the Tau army. Although individually weak, they are paired with other hard-hitting units (such as the XV88 Broadside Battlesuit) to inflict heavy damage on specific targets.
XV88 Broadside Battlesuit
"Where do you need firepower?"
A slow-moving mobile turret, the XV88 Broadside Battlesuit is armed with heavy railguns, which are more powerful than turrets. However, because they are Tau warriors in suits and not machines, they may not be repaired (although this also maes them immune to Sabotage.
XV8 Crisis Battlesuit
"Where do you need the elite?"
Equipped with jump jets and heavy weapons, the XV8 Crisis Battlesuit is Tier 3 infantry available only to Tau forces following the Path of Mont'ka.
Kroot Hound Pack
Kroot Hounds are close-combat specialists which are more durable than Kroot Carnivores, supporting any Tau force following the Path of Kauyon. They are one of the most capable melee units in the game.
Tau Commander
"I will spread the Greater Good."
The Tau Commander is the primary hero of the Tau Empire. Encased in an experimental XV22 Battlesuit, he can use jump jets to quickly get into battle, ready to unleash a barrage of firepower from the many weapon systems his battlesuit can be outfitted with.
Ethereal
"The Ethereal Caste leads for the Greater Good."
The Ethereal is a member of the Tau Ethereal Caste and a secondary hero/commander unit for the Tau Empire. While physically weak, he is able to spawn his own units and give bonuses to the entire Tau army.
Shas'Ui Bodyguard
"Our bond is strong, we will not fail."
The Ethereal's bodyguards consist of specially trained Shas'Ui outfitted with the most advanced portable infantry weapons available. Their precision allows them to fire on targets from much further away than regular Fire Warriors, long before they can ever pose a threat to the Ethereal.
Devilfish Troop Carrier
"Devilfish swims silently."
Naturally cloaked, the Devilfish Troop Transport hold two squads of Tau forces, which cannot include Kroot units.
Skyray Missile Gunship
"You needed fire support?"
The basic tank for the Tau Empire, the Skyray Missile Gunship can be augmented with the Missile Barrage ability to quickly take out tough targets.
Drone Squad
"All systems ready."
The Drone Squad is a cluster of flying Tau gun drones which may lie buried and invisible in order to surprise invaders.
Barracuda
"The Air Caste serves Tau!"
The premiere combat aircraft of the Tau Empire, the Barracuda soars over ruined battlefields, delivering anti-air and anti-vehicle support for the Tau war effort. The Earth Caste designed the Barracuda's weaponry to attack hardened targets effectively, while ensuring that it had the speed and maneuverability to battle against other dogfighters.
Drone Harbinger
"Drones ready to go, sir."
The Drone Harbinger is a mobile Drone factory that can continue to churn out cheap gun drones, overwhelming the enemy with sheer numbers.
Hammerhead Gunship
"The fist of Mont'ka is here."
The heavy-hitting tank of the Tau, the Hammerhead Gunship is available only to Tau forces following the Path of Mont'ka.
Krootox
"Kroot and Tau stand as one."
A Kroot gunner riding a gorilla-like mount, Krootox is available only to Tau armies following the Path of Kauyon. Counts as a vehicle but is essentially a close-combat unit, like a Space Marine Dreadnought.
Greater Knarloc
A giant dinosaur-like monster kept by the Kroot, the Greater Knarloc is the Relic unit of the Tau.
Tau Buildings
Cadre Headquarters
The Tau Cadre Headquarters serves as your main base of operations. The building lets you create Earth Caste Builders, Stealthsuits, and Vespid Stingwings. Outside of infantry creation, the Cadre Headquarters lets you research new infantry upgrades and also allows you to build other structures in a perimeter around it.
Listening Post
The Listening Post can be built upon any captured Strategic Points or Relic sites. Once built, the structure will increase the rate at which you accumulate the Requisition resource from that point, as well as make it more difficult for an enemy to capture. The Listening Post can be upgraded a number of times with more advanced weaponry to make it more effective against various enemy units.
Plasma Generator
The Plasma Generator is your main means of acquiring the Power resource. Once built, the Plasma Generator can be upgraded a number of times to increase the rate at which you can accumulate Power. A Tau Cadre Headquarters can only support a limited number of Plasma Generators. Once destroyed by enemies, Plasma Generators will damage any nearby units or buildings.
Thermo Plasma Generator
The Thermo Plasma Generator operates much like the regular Plasma Generator, but must be erected directly on a Slag Deposit. Once built, the structure will let you accumulate the Power resource at a much higher rate, but like its Plasma Generator counterpart, it is very unstable. Once destroyed, it will damage any nearby unit or structure.
Tau Barracks
The main Tau infantry units are created at the Barracks, including Fire Warriors, Kroot Carnivores, Pathfinders, XV88 Broadsides, and XV8 Crisis Suits. You can also train a Tau Commander at the Barracks, a powerful infantry unit adept at both combat and supporting other nearby Tau units.
Kroot Shaping Center
This building is required if you wish to requisition the many Kroot infantry units, including Kroot Shapers, Kroot Hound Packs, Krootox, and the Greater Knarloc.
Path to Enlightenment
The main Tau research structure, the Path to Enlightenment serves a number of important roles. Once built, the structure will allow you to upgrade infantry and vehicle capabilities, as well as increase both your population and vehicle cap. The Path to Enlightenment will also allow you to build either a Mont'ka Command Post or a Kauyon Command Post.
Vehicle Beacon
The Vehicle Beacon allows you to call in the use of Tau vehicles, including the Devilfish Troop Carrier, Skyray Missile Gunships, Drone Harbingers, Drone Squads, and Hammerhead Gunships.
Mont'ka Command Post
The Mont'ka Command Post guides the Tau in the ways of the Mont'ka, or the "killing blow". The structure is needed to requisition XV8 Crisis Suits and Hammerhead Gunships, as well as build the Coalition Center structure. If you choose to build a Mont'ka Command Post, you are prohibited from building a Kauyon Command Post.
Kauyon Command Post
The Kauyon Command Post guides the Tau in the ways of the "patient hunter". The structure allows you to requisition both Kroot Hounds and Krootox, research more advanced upgrades for your units, and build a Coalition Center. Once built, you are prohibited from building a Mont'ka Command Post.
Coalition Center
The building of this structure further pushes the Tau in their quest for the Greater Good. The Coalition Center allows you to requisition the Tau Ethereal.
The Dawn of War Player's Guide
| The Dawn of War Player's Guide - Thought of the day: Knowledge is power, guard it well. | ||||||||
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