Tau Army List
This section of the book is given over to the Tau army list, a listing of the different troops and vehicles a Tau commander can use in battle, or in your own games of Warhammer 40,000. The army list allows you to fight battles using the scenarios included in the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook, but it also provides you with the basic information you'll require to field a Tau army in scenarios you've devised yourself, or as part of a campaign series of games, or what ever else may take your fancy.
The army list is split into five sections. All of the teams, squads, vehicles and characters in an army list are placed in one of the five sections depending upon their role on the battlefield. Also every model included in the army list is given a points value, which varies depending upon how effective that model is on the battlefield.
Before you can choose an army for a game you will need to agree with your opponent upon a scenario and upon the total number of points each of you will spend on your army. Having done this you can proceed to pick an army as described below.
Using a Force Organisation Chart
The army lists are used in conjunction with the Force Organisation chart from a scenario. Each Force Organisation chart is split into five categories that correspond to the sections in the army list, and each category has one or more boxes. Each box indicates that you may make one choice from that section of the army list, while a dark toned box means that you must make a choice from that section.
Using the Army Lists
To make a choice, look in the relevant section in the army list and decide what unit you wish to have in your army, how many models there will be in the unit and which upgrades that you want (if any). Remember that you cannot field models that are equipped with weapons and wargear not shown on the model. Once this is done subtract the points value of the unit from your total points, and then go back and make another choice. Continuing doing this until you have spent all your points. Now you are ready to continue the dynamic expansion of the Tau empire.
Standard Missions
Compulsory
- 1 HQ
- 2 Troops
Optional
- 1 HQ
- 1 Troops
- 3 Elites
- 3 Fast Attack
- 3 Heavy Support
The Standard Missions: Force Organisation chart is a good example of how to choose an army to begin with you will need at least one HQ unit and two Troops units (dark shaded boxes indicate this must be taken). The values shown in the chart are minimum values to choose from each category. For example, if you choose a second HQ unit then you may not make other choices outside the chart.
Army List Entries
Each army list entry consists of the following:
- Unit Name: The type of unit, which may also show a limitation on the maximum number of choices you can make of that unit type (0-1, for example).
- Profile: These are the characteristics of that unit type, including its points cost. Where the unit has different warriors, there may be more than one profile.
- Number/Team/Squad etc: This shows the number of models in the unit, or the number of models you may take for one choice from the Force Organisation chart. Often this is a variable amount, in which case it shows the minimum and maximum unit size.
- Equipment: These are the unit's standard weapons and equipment.
- Options: This lists the different weapon and equipment options for the unit and any additional points cost for taking these options.
- Character: Some entries may include an option to upgrade one team member to a character. If a team is allowed to have models with upgrades then these must be given to ordinary team members, not the character.
- Transport: If a unit is allowed to be mounted in a transport, this is mentioned here.
- Special Rules: This is where you'll find any special rules that apply to the unit.
Special Tau Notes
Strategy Rating
The Tau have a strategy rating of 1.
Sentries
When required to deploy sentries, the Tau player may use either 6 gun drones or 8 Kroot.
Experience
When playing Tau in a campaign in which experience is being counted then experience is accumulated in the same way as normal. Drone squadrons never gain experience. The experience deduction for being reduced below 50% only takes effect if the unit loses more than 50% of non-drone models.
A Tau unit which captures the survival pod at the end of the Hostage Situation mission (page 62) receives +300 experience if it is Tau, or +100 experience if it is Kroot.
Tau XV battlesuit units roll on the Bike/Cavalry Battle Honours table, Hammerheads and Devilfish on the Vehicle Battle Honours table, and all other units on the Infantry Battle Honours table. Any unit which rolls the Steadfast Infantry Battle Honour must re-roll it if they are bonded. If they are not bonded then they may be upgraded to bonded at no extra cost.
Tau vehicles have a Leadership of 7.