Rumor: New Plastic Kits

As you might have gleaned from the title, this little ditty is less concerned with the new codex per se, as the actual physical models themselves. The rumor itself, presented many times over on nearly every list of Tau related rumors, is that in addition to getting a new plastic Crisis Suit, all of our current pewter kits are going plastic. A few other places have mentioned that we'll be getting a Baracuda, but I think that just might be a case of speculation turned “rumor”. I'm going to do a Forge World round up sometime soon, where we'll take a look at their units and see which ones would make a good fit for a new codex, we'll talk about the Barracuda again then.

This rumor isn't surprising though, given that GW is apparently shutting down it's metal model production. There's no official word yet from GW on this, but it's popping up everywhere, not to mention obtaining certain pewter kits had become almost impossible in recent months. With company wide financial reform, it doesn't take an accountant to figure out separating themselves from the ridiculous cost of bulk metal will shave off some of the bottom line. I've seen a couple of spins on this one, saying they may go to a cast on demand service (which seems nuts to me, to be honest), or switch over to resin (clearly the more likely). But at the core of this story though, is the fact that the days of the metal blister are at an end.

For the immediate future however, our pewter kits include...

• Pahtfinders*, Rail Rifle Pathfinders, and Pathfinder Shas'Ui
• Vespids*
• Krootox, Kroot Hounds, and Kroot Shaper
• x3 Ethereals, Aun'va, Aun'shi
• Broadsides (those parts which aren't from the Crisis Suit sprue)
• Crisis Suit*, Crisis Commander and O'Shovah components
• XV15 Stealth Suits, XV15 Shas'Ui
• Commander Shadow Sun
• Sniper Drone Team
• + New Units

Though they're not metal, I gave a nod to the potential new units and Crisis Suit to give you a full appreciation of the work load. Those units marked with an asterisk* are reportedly ready to go into production right now, according to some (source).

Goodnight Sweet Prince

Obviously, I don't think we're going to see a lot of those models making a come-back. Aun'shi didn't even exist in the last codex, and Shadowsun's current rule set is deeply connected with the Cities of Death expansion (which is a shame, because I think the XV22 sets an excellent precedent, but one we'll talk about another day). It would also be fair to assume we won't see many of these units until a second wave – though which ones might get pushed back (or released at all) is hard to tell given the rumors running around at the moment. But if I had to hazard a guess, I think we'll see the new Crisis Suit, plastic Ethereals, Pathfinders and Shapers make the first cut, along with whatever new units are in route. This is with consideration given to some of the other respectable rumors out there, and is entirely my opinion.

This shows a comparison of the Forgeworld Shas'O (left)
with the Standard Crisis Suit Commander (right).

The Crisis Suit bares special mention as well. It's a strong opinion of many Tau players, myself among them, that the existing XV8 is set at odds with the rest of the Tau line up. It's a model composed of harsh lines, and sharp angles in an army that usually opts for a more organic, curved aesthetic. As the Crisis Suits already exist as a plastic kit, news that a new one will potentially be forthcoming seems to indicate GW feels the same (remembering Forge World has already redesigned the Crisis Suit as well as the Broadside several times, with multiple variations), or is at least listening to their player base. It might also be a shadow of changes made to the Crisis Suit's rules, rearranging their wargear, and potentially boxing multiple suits together, playing nicely into the rumors currently circulating. One other impact that seems entirely overlooked by the parent rumor, is the repercussions it will have for our Broadsides, who rely heavily on the existing Crisis Suit sprue. Theoretically, it wouldn't be difficult to give the Broadside the same treatment as the XV8, but as far as the rumor goes, this remains a grey area.

While this is all just internet buzz for the time being, I'm sure many Tau enthusiasts will be disappointed that Fire Warriors went without any mention. Fire Warriors, while enjoying several superb poses are often considered to be lacking in upgrade and detail pieces, and with a potentially greater role in a new codex, it's a complaint that might have some weight behind it. Fielding an army of generic Fire Warriors might be fine for some, but for those who crave more, their cookie cutter nature might detract heavily from their appeal. I am fond of pointing out that rumors are just rumors though, and while this one mostly boarders on the obvious, the dubious nature of hear-say may have left some details out, like say, a new upgrade sprue being included in the Fire Warrior box. Again, only time will tell.

No matter how you dice it, it's a tall order. Even if you were to subtract the models that could be dropped entirely, you're still looking at a robust line up of 10+ kits. That puts a “quick and dirty” launch out of the question, and would certainly lead to a multiple wave release. How do you feel this will affect our line up? Will new Tau armies be forced to rely on proxies? Will we forever be hunting down antiquated metal Sniper Drones on e-bay? Or worse, will we be left waiting for our Tervigons, or Thunderwolf Cavalry? Let me know in the comments below, and as always folks, thanks for reading!