Sept'ember: Fist of Mont'ka Painting Competition Results

 Our second "Fist of Mont'ka" annual painting competition has finished. We had over a dozen entrants, but only 8 finished their projects on time. A wonderful showing from everyone and we're extremely excited for future competitions. 

In no specific order here are the Honorable Mentions. The Imgur Albums will be accessible by clicking the image for each entry:

And We're Back: Some slightly unrelated news

 Hey everyone,

Redrix and Calmsword are the main editors and article writers here at NewsCaste and... sometimes life gets at us. I (Calmsword) have only just gotten back from a pretty extreme job out in the desert-interior where I had to face things like downed planes, an insane project manager (who yelled at said planes saying they weren't allowed to emergency land) and in general the hottest (on record) July the world has ever seen.

Gearing back up into PodCaste episodes and NewsCaste articles is going to be our priority especially as we gear up for Sept'ember! There will be a lot of announcements and opportunities for you to enjoy all things Tau.

But, until then, enjoy this (slightly) unrelated article that gives a morale boost to espresso drinkers as it might help in preventing Tau-Clumping and keep Alzheimers at bay. 

See? We're pretty funny too!

Rumors: Epic

 Rumors of new Specialist Games

I've been a big fan of Faeit 212 for as long as I can remember and they've always been a good source for rumors (even now when we don't really get the kind of far reaching snippets 10+ years ago). In their more recent post they've posited the likelihood of an re-expansion of the Specialist Games ranges starting with a reimagining of Epic which they're calling Legions Imperialis. 

Currently this scale of war is only in 30k, but via Faeit's source we might be getting it in the 40th Millennium before too long:

The work on Epic began in 2018. Epic Horus Heresy will be the last production by GW with Jervis Johnson involved. Before he left GW in 2021, he was one of the Designers and an important advicer for those who work further on the game. He also was the biggest advocate within the company to bring the game back. This new Epic is his Baby like the past "Editions" were and will be part of his legacy.

Epic will be the first one of the "nextgen" of Specialist Games with others to follow. Like Necromunda the game comes to stay - they know how they will expand the game in the future. They have plans for expanding the Game out of the HH into the Great Crusade, M31, M41 ect. if the Game becomes strong enough." via Faeit 212

Regularly fielding Chapter's worth of marines against literal Waagh!'s like a boss.

The exciting thing about this is the fact that most of strongest Tau lore comes from Specialist Games before the doors shuttered on it and most of Forgeworld's more independent books and it got turned into the 30k factory. The Tau actually had Epic scaled Cadres which you can still get with a crafty google search:

Courtesy of OnyxBlog

But we also owe Specialist Games our newer Battlefleet Gothic ships which was another game that fell by the wayside but has an excellent online community. It's an example of how strong some of the 40k Community has to and continues to be. We don't always need the support of Games Workshop and, honestly, we're never going to get the attention of the Space Marine/Imperial factions but we do have one another and that's important to remember.

The concept of us getting back to other ranges is extremely exciting though and I hope that's something we can all look forward too.

Community Feature: Neoteric Miniatures Interview Transcript

Interview with Neoteric

The breadth and scope of the artists that take on exploring the Tau concept as a range of miniatures as well as the story tellers and tacticians is something that initially inspired the PodCaste as well as the NewsCaste.

Not to banner wave too much, but it's hard being part of a faction that gets its share of internet meme-logic and forum hate and, frankly, it's just easier to be an Imperial hobbyist if only because the lion's share of currency is exchanged on their side of the fence (can we get another Lieutenant release please already?!). That's why when artists like Poyper or El_Mutanto it's up to this publication to spread the word and show off what these artists are creating as proxies since it takes decades to get new pieces...

Looking at you, Vespid.

2023.

One day I was wandering through the Tau Subreddit I came across this image:

Bullets? How quant.

And I was instantly intrigued. I reached out to Shape who would expand my understanding of how deep this new rabbit warren goes and, perhaps most intriguing, where it's going.

Oh, that? I have no idea what that was but it's a crater now.

Neoteric Miniature's approach to showcasing their work is phenomenal, atmospheric and a step above just turntables and model pictures. They tell a story, one that invites you to add your own.

In their own words:

When I'm visualizing designs it often feels like even after producing a 3D print it doesn't fully capture what I have in my head, I think this is why I have always loved the classic box art with the dramatic scenes depicting your model mid battle or striking a classic pose. It just bridges that gap and allows you to really visualize what it would be like. I want to try capture that feeling and use my artistic background to give my kits a bit more life, allowing the community to enjoy that extra context around these models and come up with there own narratives and ideas.

So, about that 2+ save...

It's exciting to see a new artist add their talent for us all to enjoy. You can support them here on their Patreon.

 

Test print.

PodCaste episode available here

Exciting things to come!

The Battledome: Tau Index Top Picks!

 Hey everyone, Redrix-3 here! I'm sure we're all very excited (or apprehensive) regarding the newest edition of Warhammer 40'000. With the release of the points I thought I would do a quick post regarding my initial top 6 picks! Hopefully this helps guide you in the right direction. Keep in mind these aren't objectively the best units, just what I'll probably test out first!

#6: Crisis Battlesuits

 Army-wide we received some heavy nerfs to our AP values, losing pips on our Plasma Rifles, Missile Pods, Airbursting, and even on the base profile of the Cyclic ion blaster. However! We did gain a very unique ability for a non-battleline unit especially with the amount of available mobility. Tubro-jets is huge in what I think is going to be a very movement dependent meta with how some objectives can be moved, some "razed", and even spawning new ones! Being able to throw a unit with the honestly not bad shooting (especially since we get free wargear!!! INCLUDING DRONES) onto the mid board with a Commander can shift a side of the board entirely in your favor. On top of the fact that they can sit at 3+/4++/6+++ at 6 WOUNDS (from the Stimm Injector Strategem) you have an relatively hardy unit which we definitely lacked in the previous editions. All at 195 points per 3 models! They also can hit on 3+ BS with a Spotter, along with ignoring modifiers from the Weapon Support System. Since they're vehicles they can also shoot out of and into combat even when they're the unit engaged. If you get tagged in melee you can also overwatch out! 

    

#5: Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit

While the Coldstar did take some heavy nerfs with the loss of its High-altitude Manoeuvres I think it still came around pretty well. With the ability to give a unit of Crisis ASSAULT when they automatically advance 6" for a total of 18" they can threaten any mid-field objective, potentially even a backfield depending on placement. Then afterwards you can spend 2 cp to move them 12" again. We did get knocked down to 3+ BS on our commanders, spotters bring that back up to 2+ anyways. Exemplar of the Kauyon to give the unit its leading SUSTAINED HITS 1 or 2 on Turn 2 instead of 3 is especially nice. 

#4: Breacher Team

I'm sorry, 3+ BS on our BATTLELINE unit? While we did lose the AP, so did almost everything else in the game. Breach and Clear is effectively rolled into the profile, and they get -1 to wound, free turret (though they probably will not be Stationary often), and Devilfishes can have them get out after advancing. Cadre Fireblades can get them up to 3 shots per model with their Volley Fire ability, and makes that SUSTAINED HIT bonus from Kauyon even better. 

#3: Stealth Battlesuits

    

Slap a Markerlight drone with these bad boys and you have the perfect Observer unit. 75 points per model, Infiltrate, AND can Rapid Ingress for extra cheekiness. They also are our only source for giving out reroll 1s and man they are perfect for it. Free upgrades means your Shas'vre can have 3 wounds and be able to advance and provide MARKERLIGHT. There also is a world where you can give them a Gun Drone so they are "eligible to shoot" after advancing for cheeky mission secondaries. Honestly they just got better overall.  

#2: Piranha

    

55 points. Run the Fusion and your free Seeker missiles and you have a real good bully. Super fast to move block, good spotters, and a really good ability. Sure they only have a 4+ and T7 but 7 wounds is not anything to sneeze at, and will take at least a small amount of shooting. Having a few of these move up Turn One will keep your opponent on the back foot! 

#1: Ghostkeel Battlesuit

BY THE PATH! IT'S GOOD. LIKE REALLY GOOD!! It has Lone Operative, Infiltrate, high strength Fusion, Saviour Protocols, and can fall back and shoot for free! And it is only 170 points! You can run it with the Fusion and be hyper aggressive or have it sit back with the Cyclic Ion Raker and just chuck shots downrange with nothing firing back. 2+ Save too! I have high hopes for our big sneaky fella. 

Final Thoughts:

We have a bunch of other good datasheets! Honestly I think there will be some clear favorites and best units but everything is at least somewhat decent. Between the Riptide being able to get DEVASTATING WOUNDS on its main weapon, Broadsides being able to hit on 2s with their Heavy Rail Rifles, Stormsurges having TOWERING, and even Commander Farsight getting to roll 10 base dice for a tank shock we have TONS of good options. I'm hopeful for the Forgeworld datasheets, maybe even the Y'vahra and R'varna will get some love!

Thanks for reading, 
    Redrix-3

Focus: Tau Auxiliaries

Tau Auxiliaries

When the Tau first came out back in the early 2000's the idea was that we'd get something never before seen in the war-torn galaxy of Warhammer 40,000.

No, not Mechas, they're cool, and no not just a faction that doesn't use skulls as its primary aesthetic. No.

We were told the Tau would be a rare coalition of dozens of alien species actually cooperating together to survive and thrive. There would even be humans who had joined this cause!

And we got a grand total of two purchasable units in the last two+ decades!

sad Tau noises

But in the face of adversity and the lack of attention from GW (sometimes I almost wish we had lieutenants) our community has risen to the challenge and come up with some absolutely incredible interpretations and inventions this hobby can contain.

Take a look!

Official List

Let's kick off with the official species mentioned over the years from Black Library to White Dwarf Community articles.

As a quick primer; not all species mentioned are fully integrated or even really a "part" of the Commonwealth. There appears to be several 'ranks' of membership, which, makes sense since the Tau break everything from hierarchy to colonial types into these categories.

All races seem to have full access to void-travel be it by their own vessels or the Tau commerce fleet. Additionally, all races seem to have an affinity for one Caste or another with the exception of the Gue'vesa (humans) who have adopted all of the Castes with the seeming exception of the Ethereals.

There are "Full-Member" species like the Kroot or Vespid. They get colonial rights like we see on Kronos. They also have a more liberal access to Tau weaponry and technology as well as the ability to lead Tau forces.

Then there are "Member" species which seems to be a little more restricted. These might include untested or newly incorporated Gue'vesa.

Lastly are "Client" species which seem to include ideal mercenaries and trading partners and seem to operate completely autonomously from the rest of the Commonwealth.

Incredible artwork by Nictanova

The Patient Painter Contest

 The Patient Painter 

2023

The Tau Discord has two annual painting contests. In Sept'ember we have the Fist of Mont'ka but, after such an eventful spring, we thought it would be great to add another one in honor of the release of Commander Farsight.

And so was born The Patient Painter, a month long painting contest where our contestants share their work on the Discord and then submit final photos which we have below.

Things are really growing for the Tau fanbase in terms of community engagement be it on Reddit or Discord or Facebook and it is the hope of this blog to continue to intertwine those communities so that we can work together in pursuit of our shared hobby and our love of the blue xenos of the Warhamme 40,000 universe.

As a part of our growing coalition is the Puretide Program headed by Kyle Grundy who has risen to tabletop fame in recent years and now has his very own community which he uses to promote tactics and community events.

He joins us now with Z0rr0, to discuss painting, hobbying and our contestants!

                                                  Our contestants!

ONYX GAVEL IS OUR PATIENT PAINTER FOR 2023!

Holodiscus

                                   

Admiral Skye 

Synnimin

I'd also like to share the work of wEstp0le who couldn't get in under the wire but has some incredible line work for his Farsight:

And if you want to go and check out some of Z0rr0's work... it's incredible as well:

Thank you so much for your participation in the painting contest, it was wonderful to watch you work and to see these models come to life. Thank you to the judges and to the community for it's continued support!

~Calmsword