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Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:11 pm
Posts: 515
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Right. I'll do the best I can here, but short of simply quoting the codex, it may come across a bit more vague than it should[or worse, bias will slip in on my part, so others should try'n back this up if possible, and feel free to dispute!]
Squad: La'rua
This is the basic 'unit size'. In terms of Shas, this will be roughly:
6-12 Shas'la Firewarriors[Inc, sometimes, a Shas'ui][Pathfinders number 4-8]
1-6 Shas'ui 'Suits'[1-3 for Crisis and Broadside, 3-6 for stealths]
Light Skimmer Squadrons[Pirhanas]
Tank Crews
All these are the basic groupings of warriors. Together, an assembly of these, their vehicles and vehicle crews form a Cadre.
Cadre: Kau'ui
Direct Quote:
"The Cadre is a standing formation, and includes a number of infantry and vehicles units within it, including battlesuits and Hammerhead tanks. In this regard, the Tau are very different to the Imperium in the orginisation of their military, for the different 'arms' are fully integrated at the tactical level and are considered in all respects part of the same unit."
This is the crunch time bit. This implies to me that, on an Epic:Armageddon scale battlefield, each formation would be roughly a cadre[plus or minus what they wish to take in addition/leave behind].
That is, a single formation typically consists of:
X Battlesuits[any kind]
Y Shas'la Infantry & Devilfish
Z Tanks and Light Vehicles
Further:
"A Cadre keeps a large stock of equipment and vehicles, allowing it to operate in a variety of roles. By fielding an equal amount of Devilfish-mounted Fire Warrior teams and Hammerhead tanks for example, the Cadre may operate as an armoured unit. By fielding Fire Warrior teams on foot as support for specialised Stealth and Pathfinder teams for example, the Cadre becomes an infiltration force."
Now, you may disagree, but this strongly suggests to me that the Tau army appears *very* differently to how it is currently modelled in v4.4. That is: where v4.4 has individual cadres for Crisis/Firewarrior/Hammerhead, the Empire itself almost always has these all bundled together. They are widely variable, almost to the point that the entry for a 'Cadre' would take up a page in itself detailing the ins and outs of it's expense[it wouldn't be too complex, there'd just be a fair few options].
Now, for more.
Contingents: Tio've
The basic discription of these is a grouping fo Cadres. Usually 3-6. It is roughly equivalent to an Imperial Guard Regiment. By roughly equivalent, I read it as in terms of 'levels of organisation' rather than 'levels of power'.
In this sense, it seems appropriate that a typical Epic: Armageddon Tau Army will be of the rough form of a Contingent. It is generally not a fixed grouping, though it notes certain Cadres will often become experts when working together, so it is not uncommon for it to stick for prolonged campaigns.
Battle: Kavaal
A temporary grouping of contingents gathered for the express purpose of taking a given objective. Once that's done, the grouping is dissolved. This is the largest level of Shas 'organisation' that has even been put to the field.
Command: Uash'o
"The term for all the forces of a given caste, in a given location." Quite simple. Eg "Fire Caste Command Nimbosa"
Coalition: Shan'al
"...all Tau forces on a given world or system, or the forces necessery to take such an objective."
Now, as I indicated in the Cadres section, the very least problem with the v4.4 list is that it is inappropriately named across the board. Contingents is a misnomer, and Cadre doesn't seem truly representative. Not only that but it's a Gun Drone Wing damnit!  
The diagram for a 'Hunter Cadre' gives the following:
1 unit of 3 Crisis Suits in the 'Command Team'
3 units of twelve Firewarriors
2 units of ten Kroot
1 unit of 3 Crisis Suits
1 unit of Vespids
1 unit of Pathfinders[+ Devilfish]
1 unit of 3 Piranhas
1 Sniper Drone team.
1 unit of 2 Broadsides
1 Hammerhead Gunship
By the current 'unit' stats in v4.4 and the rough basing guides that is easily:
2 Crisis stands
1 Broadside stand
1 Hammerhead
1 Devilfish
3 Piranhas
6 Fire Warrior stands
4 Kroot stands
1 Vespid stand
2 Pathfinder stands
1 Sniper drone stand.
That is 22 Units in one 'set'.
Now, it notes this is the typical Tau Empire army as seen in WH40k
To cut it back a bit, I put as a general cadre proposal:
1-4 Crisis units
2-8 Fire Warrior units [inc max 4 Devilfish]
0-4 Pathfinder units [inc max 2 Devilfish]
0-3 Stealth units
0-4 Hammerhead or Broadside units
0-5 Piranha units
0-6 Drones
Now this is basic, and loosely off pure 40k. Auxilliaries can remain seperate formations for now[though the Codex makes a good argument for Vespids being part of the above formation]
Now, some other constraints should be imposed on the 'Cadre'. One, I think, is to enforce a minimum of 6 units per cadre. The second, obviously, would be to enforce an upper maximum of units in a Cadre. 16?
Unfortunately, this means that the whole costing system may be thrown totally off as you are quite likely to be forced into more 'hybridy' formations than you'd like.
If that makes *any* sense at all...
[A quick and straightforward answer to TRCs closing Qs:
Min Fire Warrior size is 6
Ratio of Armour to infantry: 1 Devilfish per squad of between 4[Pathfinder min] and 12 [Fire Warrior Max], up to three 'Hammerheads' per FO chart[Force Organisation] and up to 15 Piranhas!]
_________________
"Number 6 calls to you
The Cylon Detector beckons
Your girlfriend is a toaster"
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