Commander
is a position of great honor for Tau of the Fire caste.
It is attained only after years progressing through
the ranks of Fire Warriors to fight first in the Battlesuit
teams and then as part of another Commander's
Bodyguard. Proof of accomplishment in not only the
tactical but also the strategic arts of war may then
earn the Commander's approval and elevation from
Shas'vre. Tau Commanders are formidable warriors,
frequently sporting scars, bionics and disfigurements
earned in their career. According to their renown they
may be called upon to command anything from a Cadre
to a Battle. The number and size of previous commands
is reflected in the rings confining their long scalp
locks. A Shas'el can only progress to the rank
of Shas'o after repeated success in the field.
The most reliable and commonplace of battlesuits,
XV8 suits are the mainstay of the elite Crisis teams
of the Fire caste. Crisis suits are Jump Infantry subject
to the Jetpack special rules, as described in the Warhammer
40,000 Unit Types Rules section, and the wearer and
any attached drones may be deployed using the Deep
Strike special rule if the mission being played permits
it (though he may not make the additional 6" move
in the turn he arrives). In addition, the advanced
sensor suite employed by the battlesuit grants the
wearer the Acute Senses special rule, found in the
Warhammer 40,000 Universal Special Rules section. The
battlesuits are designed to compensate for the recoil
of light weapons fire, so they do not count as moving
when they fire Rapid Fire weapons. This ability does
not extend to heavy weapons, however, and the user
must be stationary to fire them.
You may take an XV8 Crisis Battlesuit Commander in
your Tau army as an HQ choice. |