Advanced Tau Tactica

ATT Tau Empire Unit Designation System
The following have been compiled by Doombringer

Italics denote 'Unofficial' ATT Canon

XV-88-2


[Unit Type]

[Equipment/Vehicle]

XV is the designation for a Battlesuit. (XV-8 Crisis Suit)
TX is the designation for a Skimmer. (TX-4 Piranha)
AX is the designation for an Aircraft. (AX-1-0 Tigershark)
DX is the designation for a Drone. (DX-4 Technical Drone)
SX is the designation for a Naval Space Craft. (SX-58 Gal'leath "Explorer" Battleship)

[Weaponry]

PX is the designation for Plasma Weaponry. (PX-16 Pulse Rifle, PX-38 Plasma Rifle)
RX is the designation for Rail Weaponry. (RX-38 Battlesuit Railgun)
IX is the designation for Ion Weaponry. (IX-88 Naval-Grade Ion Beam)
FX is the designation for Fusion Weaponry. (FX-28 Fusion Blaster)
MX is the designation for General Explosive Munitions. (MX-03 Photon/Sonic Grenade)
GX is the designation for General Projectile Munitions. (GX-13 Grenade Launcher)
SMX is the designation for Self-Propelled Missile Systems. (SMX-38 Missile Pod)
LX is the designation for Laser-based Equipment and/or Weaponry. (LX-14 Markerlight)

---

[Mass Class]

The first number following the Unit Type is the Mass Class of the piece of equipment. This number ranges from 0 to 9.

[Equipment/Vehicles]

There are no dedicated values or ratios to each Mass Class that we know of - they are simply numeric representations of the size of a piece of equipment compared to other equipment of the same Unit Type.

[Weaponry]

In the case of weaponry, the Mass Class can be described as follows;

0 - Infantry-Level Variant (Small) - Variant is a small, primarily single-handed piece of equipment. (Grenade, Tracker/Surveyor)
1 - Infantry-Level Variant (Medium/Large) - Variant is a medium/large-sized, primarily two-handed piece of equipment. (Pulse Pistol, Pulse Rifle, Missile Launcher)
2 - Light Battlesuit/Exoskeletal Variant - Variant is mounted on a light battlesuit or load-bearing device/mount. (XV15's Burst Cannon)
3 - Battlesuit-Mounted/Attached Powersource Variant - Variant is mounted on a Battlesuit of Mass Class 2 or higher and/or has its own integrated powersource. (XV25's Fusion Blaster, XV8's Missile Pod, XV9's Phased Ion Gun)
4 - Vehicle-Mounted Secondary/Defense Variant - Variant is mounted on a vehicle or powered turret for use in a Secondary/Low Power Defensive Role. (Devilfish Burst Cannon Turret)
5 - Vehicle-Mounted Primary/Offense Variant - Variant is mounted on a vehicle or powered turret for us in a Primary/High Power Offensive Role. (Hammerhead Railgun)
6 - Light Aircraft-Mounted Variant - Variant is mounted on a light aircraft of Mass Class 3 or lower and can be used in either an offensive or defensive role. (Barracuda Ion Cannon, Tigershark Railgun)
7 - Heavy Aircraft-Mounted Variant - Variant is mounted on a heavy aircraft of Mass Class 4 or higher and can be used in either an offensive or defensive role. (Orca Missile Pods, Manta Rail Cannons)
8 - Naval-Grade Weaponry - Variant is mounted on a Kor Starship for use in naval or planetary engagements (Gravitic Torpedo Launcher, Naval-Grade Ion Cannon)

---

[Role Type]

The second number following the Unit Type is the equipment's specific Role Type. This number can be 1 - 9 (Decimal) or 1 - 11 (Octal). There can sometimes be two Role Type designations back-to-back in rare circumstances to better specify the specific item's distinct role on the battlefield.

Where a weapon would normally be "multi-purpose" in nature, the designation would fall under what the weapon would be primarily designed to combat.

[Equipment/Vehicles]
[Weaponry]

The Equipment/Vehicle and Weaponry Role Types can be described as one of the following;

1 - Unique - Variant is not widespread nor being considered for mass production. (XV-81 SMS-Equipped Battlesuit)
2 - Prototype/Pre-Production - Variant is a prototype being considered for mass production. (XV-22 Prototype-Chassis Battlesuit, RX-182 Prototype Linear Accelerator Rifle)
3 - Utility - Variant is a Utility Design meant to be utilized in an auxiliary or supporting role, not to be confused with a piece of equipment with no designation meant to be utilized in a multi-purpose role and reconfigured. (PX-13 Pulse Pistol, TX-63 Casevac Devilfish)
4 - Target Acquisition/Command & Control - Variant is utilized in a Target Acquisition/Designation or Battlefield Coordination role (XV-84 Target Designation Battlesuit, LX-142 Markerlight Target Designator)
5 - Stealth/Recon/Surveillance - Variant is utilized in a Stealth, Reconnaissance, and/or Surveillance role, often equipped with a Stealth Field Generator and advanced sensors. (XV-25 Stealth Suit, SFX-15 Stealth Field Generator)
6 - Anti-Personnel/Small Target - Variant is designed to engage enemy infantry and heavy infantry formations or otherwise relative Small Targets. (TX-76-2 Hammerhead Gunship, PX-16 Pulse Rifle)
7 - Anti-Air/Indirect Fire - Variant is designed to engage enemy targets at long (often beyond visual) ranges with anti-air, anti-armor, or anti-personnel weaponry. (TX-77 Sky Ray Missile Defense Gunship)
8/10 - Anti-Armor/Large Target - Variant is designed as either a Heavy-Variant version of another piece of equipment, to be utilized in an Anti-Tank/Materiel Role, or to engage relative Large Targets. (PX-18 Burst Cannon, XV-88 Broadside Battlesuit)
9/11 - Armored/Shielded/Defensive - Variant is designed as an Armored- or Shielded-Variant version of another piece of equipment or to be utilized in a Defensive Role. (DX-39 Shield Drone, XV-89 Iridium-Armored Battlesuit)

---

[Multiple Number]

When two designations for a piece of equipment should overlap due to similar design intents/purposes or mass classes, the Tau add a Multiple Number to the designation to help de-conflict them, ultimately preventing confusion and helping to promote accuracy in terminology.

A number may denote an alternate chassis in the same mass class (usually a '0' in this instance) or an alternate version of equipment with the same role type or chassis itself (1, 2, 3, ...).

---

Unit Designation Catalog

[Equipment/Vehicles]

XV - Battlesuits

XV-1 - Powered Exoskeletal Chassis 1
XV-12-4 - Prototype Target-Acquisition/Support Battlesuit
XV-15 - Stealthsuit

XV-2 - Powered Exoskeletal Chassis 2
XV-22 - Prototype Command-Variant Battlesuit
XV-23 - Fio Utility/Lifter Battlesuit
XV-25 - Stealthsuit

XV-8 - Standard 'Crisis' Pattern Battlesuit Chassis (Fireknife Pattern, Firestorm Pattern, Deathrain Pattern)
XV-81 - Unique-Variant Battlesuit (SMS-Equipped in IA3)
XV-82 - Prototype Crisis Battlesuit
XV-83 - Extra-Vehicular Activity Boarding Action Battlesuit
XV-84 - Target-Acquisition Battlesuit
XV-85 - Stealthsuit
XV-88 - Heavy/Anti-Armor 'Broadside' Battlesuit
XV-89 - Iridium-Armored Battlesuit

XV-9 - Standard 'Hazard' Pattern Battlesuit Chassis
XV-92 - Prototype Hazard Battlesuit

TX - Skimmer

TX-1 - Skimmer Bike Chassis
TX-13 - Utility Skimmer Bike

TX-2 - Tetra Skimmer Chassis
TX-24 - Pathfinder Target Designation/Reconnaissance Tetra

TX-4 - Piranha Skimmer Chassis
TX-42 - Prototype Up-Armored Piranha Skimmer

TX-6 - Devilfish Skimmer Chassis
TX-63 - Casevac Devilfish
TX-65 - Stealth-Variant Devilfish Transport
TX-66 - Anti-Personnel-Variant "Warfish" Transport

TX-7 - Hammerhead/Sky Ray Gunship Chassis
TX-72 - Prototype Swordfish Fire Support Gunship
TX-72-2 - Prototype Stingray Missile Defense Gunship
TX-76 - Ion Cannon-Variant Hammerhead
TX-76-2 - Plasma Cannon-Variant Hammerhead
TX-76-3 - Burst Cannon-Variant Hammerhead
TX-77 - Sky Ray Missile Defense Gunship
TX-78 - Railgun-Variant Hammerhead
TX-78-2 - Missile Pod-Variant Hammerhead
TX-78-3 - Fusion Cannon-Variant Hammerhead

TX-8 - Cargo/Tow Hauler Chassis
TX-83 - Vehicle Recovery Hauler

AX - Aircraft

AX-1 - Barracuda Chassis
AX-1-0 - Light Tigershark Chassis
AX-18-0 - Railgun-Variant Tigershark

AX-2 - Heavy Tigershark (Drone-Carrier) Chassis
AX-2-2 - Heavy Tigershark (Remora-Carrier)
AX-23-2 - Heavy Command & Control Tigershark (Remora-Carrier)

AX-4 - Orca Chassis
AX-43 - Casevac/Cargo Orca
AX-48 - Scorpionfish Missile Gunship

AX-6 - Moray Chassis
AX-68 - Moray Gunship

AX-7 - Dorsal Chassis
AX-78 - Dorsal Heavy Bomber

AX-8 - Manta Chassis
AX-83 - Manta Missile Destroyer Dropship Variant
AX-83-2 - Command & Control Manta (Remora Carrier)
AX-88 - Manta Missile Destroyer Dedicated Anti-Shipping Variant

DX - Drone

DX-1 - Common Multi-Purpose Drone Chassis 1
DX-13 - Comm/Messenger Drone

DX-2 - Common Multi-Purpose Drone Chassis 2
DX-24 - Sentry/Observation Drone

DX-3 - Common Multi-Purpose Drone Chassis 3
DX-33 - Command Drone
DX-34 - Markerlight/Target-Acquisition Drone
DX-36 - Gun Drone
DX-38 - Sniper Drone
DX-39 - Shield Drone

DX-4 - Common Multi-Purpose Drone Chassis 4
DX-43 - Battlefield Technical/Utility Drone

DX-5 - Common Multi-Purpose Drone Chassis 5
DX-56 - Heavy Gun Drone

DX-6 - Remora Drone Chassis
DX-65 - Remora Stealth Fighter

DX-8 - Common Multi-Purpose Drone Chassis 8
DX-84 - Orbital Observation/Reconnaissance Drone Satellite

SX - Naval Space Craft

SX-0 - Lifepods, Support/Boarding Craft, Attack Craft
SX-03 - Support/Repair 'Tug'
SX-06 - Barracuda Fighter Craft (Naval-Variant)
SX-06-2 - Se'hen Boarding Pod
SX-08 - Manta Missile Destroyer (Naval-Variant)

SX-1 - Gunship/Destroyer Displacement Space Craft
SX-16 - Kass'l "Orca" Gunship
SX-16-2 - Kir'la "Warden" Gunship
*SX-16NIC - Nicassar Auxiliary Dhow

SX-2 - Escort/Frigate Displacement Space Craft
SX-23 - Il'emaar "Courier" Transport
SX-26 - Skether'qan "Messenger" Escort
SX-28 - Kir'qath "Defender" Escort
SX-28-2 - Kir'shas'vre "Castellan" Escort

SX-3 - Light Cruiser Displacement Space Craft
SX-33 - Il'fannor "Merchant" Transport
SX-33-2 - Il'fannor "Merchant" Up-Armored Heavy Transport
SX-33-3 - Il'Porrui "Emissary" Utility Envoy
SX-36-2 - Il'Porrui "Emissary" Light Cruiser

SX-4 - Cruiser Displacement Space Craft
SX-48 - Lar'shi "Hero" Cruiser
SX-48-2 - Lar'shi'vre "Protector" Cruiser
*SX-43DEM - Demiurg Auxiliary 'Bastion' Commerce Vessel

SX-5 - Grand Cruiser/Light Battleship Displacement Space Craft
SX-55-2 - Stealth-Variant "Custodian" Carrier
SX-58 - Gal'leath "Explorer" Battleship
SX-58-2 - Or'es El'leath "Custodian" Carrier

SX-6 - Battleship Displacement Space Craft
*SX-68KRT - Kroot Auxiliary Warsphere
*SX-63DEM-2 - Demiurg Auxiliary 'Stronghold' Commerce Vessel

SX-7 - Interplanetary/Interstellar Space Stations
SX-73 - Utility Waystation
SX-74 - Vash'aun'an Monitor Waystation
SX-79 - Picket Outpost/Defensive Waystation

SX-8 - Planetary Orbitals and Other Installations
SX-81 - [Entry Deleted - Classified]
SX-83 - Kidou'tokai Orbital City/Manufacturing/Docking Platform
SX-89 - Anzen'dan Planetary Defense/Security Orbital

[Weaponry]

PX - Directed Plasma Weaponry

PX-0 - Infantry-Level Plasma Weapon
PX-03 - Infantry-Level Plasma Cutter
PX-06 - Compact Utility Pulse Pistol

PX-1 - Infantry-Level Plasma Weapon
PX-12 - Prototype Scatter-Pulse Carbine (Pulse Shotgun)
PX-12-1 - Prototype Infantry-Level Plasma Rifle
PX-14 - Markerlight-Equipped Pulse Carbine/Rifle
PX-16 - Pulse Rifle
PX-16-0 - Standard Utility Pulse Pistol
PX-16-1 - Pulse Carbine
PX-16-2 - Infantry-Level Burst Cannon
*PX-16KRT - Kroot Auxiliary Rifle (Upgraded)
*PX-16-1NAG - Naga Auxiliary Pulse Carbine

PX-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Plasma Weapon
PX-26 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Burst Cannon
PX-22 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Prototype Plasma Rifle

PX-3 - Battlesuit-Mounted Plasma Weapon
PX-36 - Battlesuit-Mounted Burst Cannon
PX-36-2 - Battlesuit-Mounted Dual Burst Cannon
PX-38 - Battlesuit-Mounted Plasma Rifle

PX-4 - Vehicle-Mounted Secondary/Defensive Plasma Weapon
PX-46 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Defensive Burst Cannon

PX-5 - Vehicle-Mounted Primary/Offensive Plasma Weapon
PX-56 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Offensive Burst Cannon
PX-58 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Offensive Plasma Cannon

PX-6 - Light Aircraft-Mounted Plasma Weapon
PX-66 - Turret/Light Aircraft-Mounted Burst Cannon

PX-7 - Heavy Aircraft-Mounted Plasma Weapon
PX-76 - Turret/Orca-Mounted Defensive Burst Cannon
PX-76-2 - Turret/Moray/Manta-Mounted Long-Barrelled Burst Cannon

RX - Linear Accelerator Rail Weaponry

RX-1 - Infantry-Level Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-12 - Prototype Rail Rifle
RX-12-2 - Rail Pistol (Research Discontinued)
RX-16 - Anti-Personnel Rail Rifle
RX-16-2 - Drone-Mounted Anti-Personnel Rail Rifle
RX-16-3 - Enhanced-Capacitor Prototype Rail Rifle

RX-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-22 - Prototype Anti-Light Vehicle Rail Rifle
RX-26 - Anti-Personnel Rail Rifle

RX-3 - Battlesuit-Mounted Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-32 - Prototype Battlesuit-Mounted Anti-Personnel Rail Rifle
RX-38 - Broadside-Mounted Anti-Tank/Air Railgun

RX-5 - Vehicle-Mounted Primary/Offensive Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-58 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Anti-Tank Railgun

RX-6 - Light Aircraft-Mounted Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-68 - Turret/Tigershark-Mounted Light Rail Cannon

RX-7 - Heavy Aircraft-Mounted Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-78 - Turret/Manta-Mounted Naval-Grade Heavy Rail Cannon

RX-8 - Naval-Grade Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-88 - Linear Accelerator Gravitic Torpedo Launcher

IX - Ion-Based Beam/Cannon Weapon

IX-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Ion Weapon
IX-22 - Prototype Light Battlesuit-Mounted Cyclic Ion Blaster

IX-3 - Battlesuit-Mounted Ion Weapon
IX-32 - Prototype Battlesuit-Mounted Cyclic Ion Blaster
IX-36 - Battlesuit-Mounted Phased Ion Gun

IX-5 - Vehicle-Mounted Primary/Offensive Ion Weaponry
IX-56 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Ion Cannon

IX-6 - Light Aircraft-Mounted Ion Weapon
IX-67 - Turret/Barracuda-Mounted Anti-Air Ion Cannon
IX-66 - Turret/Tigershark-Mounted Ground Attack Ion Cannon

IX-7 - Heavy Aircraft-Mounted Ion Weapon
IX-78 - Turret/Moray/Manta-Mounted Heavy Ion Cannon (Phalanx System)

IX-8 - Naval-Grade Ion Weapon
IX-88 - Naval-Grade Anti-Ship Ion Cannon

FX - Directed Thermal Weaponry

FX-1 - Infantry-Level Thermal Weapon
FX-13 - Infantry-Level Fusion Cutter
FX-16 - Infantry-Level Flamethrower

FX-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Thermal Weapon
FX-22 - Prototype XV-15-Mounted Light Fusion Blaster
FX-23 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Fusion Cutter
FX-26 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Flamethrower
FX-26-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Heavy Flamethrower
FX-28 - XV-25-Mounted Fusion Blaster

FX-3 - Battlesuit-Mounted Thermal Weapon
FX-33 - Battlesuit-Mounted Fusion Cutter
FX-36 - Battlesuit-Mounted Flamethrower
FX-36-2 - Battlesuit-Mounted Heavy Flamethrower
FX-38 - Battlesuit-Mounted Fusion Blaster
FX-38-2 - Battlesuit-Mounted Fusion Cascade

FX-4 - Vehicle-Mounted Secondary/Defensive Thermal Weapon
FX-43 - Defensive Incendiary Flechette Discharger
FX-48 - Piranha-Mounted Fusion Blaster

FX-5 - Vehicle-Mounted Primary/Offensive Thermal Weapon
FX-58 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Fusion Cannon

MX - General Explosive Munitions

MX-0 - One-Handed Infantry-Thrown Grenade
MX-02 - Plasma Grenade
MX-03 - Photon/Sonic Grenade
MX-03-2 - Electro-Magnetic Pulse Grenade
MX-03-3 - Smoke Grenade
MX-04 - IR Rad-Beacon Grenade
MX-06 - Fragmentation Grenade
MX-08 - Shas'tak (Thermite) Grenade

MX-1 - Infantry-Set/Placed Explosives
MX-13 - Breaching Charge
MX-15 - "Gue'ka" Dual-Purpose Mine
MX-18 - Demolitions Charge
MX-18-2 - Plasma Charge

MX-8 - Naval-Grade Explosives
MX-6 - Orbital Launched Planetary Area Denial Explosive
MX-8 - Thermonuclear Area Denial Explosive

GX - General Projectile Weaponry

GX-1 - Infantry-Level General Projectile Weapon
GX-13 - Grenade Launcher
GX-16 - Directed Flechette Discharger (Shotgun)
*GX-16GUE - Gue'la Auxiliary Automatic Rifle
*GX-16KRT - Kroot Auxiliary Rifle (Standard)

GX-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted General Projectile Weapon
GX-22 - Prototype Light Battlesuit-Mounted Airbursting Fragmentation Projector

GX-3 - Battlesuit-Mounted General Projectile Weapon
GX-32 - Prototype Airbursting Fragmentation Projector
GX-32-2 - Prototype Battlesuit-Mounted Flechette Discharger
GX-36 - Battlesuit-Mounted Pulse Submunitions Rifle
*GX-38KRT - Kroot Auxiliary Cannon

GX-4 - Vehicle-Mounted Secondary/Defensive Projectile Weapon
GX-46 - Defensive Flechette Dischargers
*GX-46GUE - Modified Battlesuit-Mounted Gue'la Auxiliary Automatic Cannon

SMX - Self-Propelled Missile Systems

SMX-1 - Infantry-Level Missile System
SMX-12 - Prototype Infantry-Level Anti-Tank Missile Pod

SMX-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Missile System
SMX-22 - Prototype Light Battlesuit-Mounted Missile Pod

SMX-3 - Battlesuit-Mounted Missile System
SMX-32 - Prototype Battlesuit-Mounted Anti-Air Missile System
SMX-36 - Battlesuit-Mounted Smart Missile System
SMX-38 - Battlesuit-Mounted Missile Pod

SMX-4 - Vehicle-Mounted Secondary/Defensive Missile System
SMX-46 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Smart Missile System

SMX-5 - Vehicle-Mounted Primary/Offensive Missile System
SMX-57 - Long-Range Seeker Missile
SMX-57-2 - Anti-Aircraft Hunter Missile
SMX-58 - Turret/Vehicle Mounted Missile Pod Array

SMX-6 - Light Aircraft-Mounted Missile System
SMX-67 - Long-Range Air-to-Ground Seeker Missile
SMX-67-2 - Air-to-Air Interceptor Missile
SMX-68 - Turret/Barracuda/Tigershark-Mounted Missile Pod Array

SMX-7 - Heavy Aircraft-Mounted Missile System
SMX-76 - Submunitions Missile
SMX-76-2 - Heavy Submunitions Missile
SMX-77 - Long-Range Air-to-Ground Seeker Missile
SMX-77-2 - Air-to-Air Interceptor Missile
SMX-78 - Air-to-Ground Tracer Missile

SMX-8 - Naval-Grade Missile System
SMX-88 - Gravitic Tracer Missile

EX - General Energy-Based Weaponry

EX-1 - Infantry-Level General Energy-Based Weapon
*EX-16VSP - Vespid Neutron Blaster

LX - Laser-Based Weaponry/Targeting Systems

LX-1 - Infantry-Level Laser-Based Weapon/Targeter
LX-14 - Markerlight Target Designator
*LX-16GUE - Gue'la Auxiliary Laser Rifle
*LX-18GUE - Gue'la Auxiliary Laser Cannon

---

Disclaimer: Please note that this isn't official canon, but instead a collaborative effort on the part of ATT's Membership to come up with a reasonable and relatively easy-to-understand method for classifying and naming Tau weaponry, based on many factors ranging from ease-of-use, logic, and common sense.

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the Challenge Thread, especially falconkline, XV-02, and ProfessorCurly for their efforts and time spent helping all of ATT's membership have a common scheme which aspiring fluff-writers can use if they ever feel the need to in their work.

Where conflict occurred in the suggestions provided in the original thread, I have made the final ruling for or against and included it within.

Where work is italicized, it is a purely unofficial ATT canon. As always, this is a WIP as long as Games Workshop continues to release fluff and information for the Tau, and I will always be open to questions, comments, suggestions, and criticism here in this thread or through PM.

Hope this helps!

~Doomie

wow...

theres really nothing else to say here...

my jaw still hasn't finished dropping...

... ...

Love it DB

Hey DB, I replied over on the BFG SG forums with an outline of the changes I'd suggested. I then thought it's probably better to double post here too.

The most important part, IMO, is this:
This thread & it's creator recieves the Xisor Seal of Approval!

So, from SG:
-------------------------------------------------
Hey Doombringer, good to see you over this way!

I generally like the whole setup. I would, however, revise the table slightly.

SX-0 - Gunship Displacement Space Craft
SX-06 - Kass'l "Orca" Gunship
SX-06-2 - Kir'la "Warden" Gunship
SX-06NIC - Nicassar Auxiliary Dhow
SX-1 - Escort Displacement Space Craft
SX-13 - Il'emaar "Courier" Transport
SX-16 - Skether'qan "Messenger" Escort
SX-18 - Kir'shas'vre "Castellan" Escort

[Defender appears a fair bit more...meaty than the Castellan)

SX-2 - Light Cruiser Displacement Space Craft
SX-21 - Kir'qath "Defender" Escort
SX-23-2 - Il'Porrui "Emissary" Utility Envoy
SX-26-2 - Il'Porrui "Emissary" Light Cruiser

(The Defeder is a pretty big ship)


SX-3 - Cruiser Displacement Space Craft
SX-33 - Il'fannor "Merchant" Transport
SX-33-2 - Il'fannor "Merchant" Up-Armored Heavy Transport
SX-34 - Lar'shi'vre "Protector" Cruiser
SX-38 - Lar'shi "Hero" Cruiser
SX-38DEM - Demiurg Auxiliary 'Bastion' Commerce Vessel


(The Protector is seemingly a lot smaller & slender than the Hero class. It ight also be wise to consider the 'Core Hull' class and 'Modules', as the individual weapon 'sockets' for Merchants, Explorers and Heroes are all really rather different)

SX-4 - Battleship Displacement Space Craft
SX-43-2 - Stealth-Variant "Custodian" Carrier
SX-44-2 - Or'es El'leath "Custodian" Carrier
SX-47 - Gal'leath "Explorer" Battleship
SX-47DEM - Demiurg Auxiliary 'Stronghold' Commerce Vessel
SX-48KRT - Kroot Auxiliary Warsphere

(I altered the numbers around a bit here. The Kroot Warsphere is truly huge. The Stronghold isn't that big all told, as it's quite flat. but there's a lot of bulk to it regardless. The Bastion, however, is a fair bit smaller, even smaller then than the Custodian, and really should be put into the Cruiser bracket. The Custodian, however, is a lot smaller than the Explorer too, which is itself (i.e. the Explorer) a huge ship.)

SX-7 - Interstellar & Interplanetary Edifices
SX-71 - Utility Core
SX-71-2 - Security & Defensive Module
SX-71-3 - Standard Waystation Module
SX-72 - Manufacturing Module
SX-72-2 - Habitation Module
SX-72-3 - Research Module

SX-74 - Vash'aun'an Monitor Waystation
SX-79 - Picket Outpost Waystation

(The Waystations and SG orbitals are composed as follows: 1 Core Module + 0-4 Additional Modules from either Security [Weapons upgrade], Manufacturing & Research [+1 Shield,Tracking Systems] or Habitation [+1HitPoint]. Additionally, if only 1 Weapon module is taken, it's a waystation [so I listed that specifically as a Waystation module appended to the standard Core]

Offhand, I've no idea about the last two!)

SX-8 - Orbital
SX-81 - [Entry Deleted - Classified]
SX-83 - Anzen'dan Planetary Defense/Security Orbital
SX-89 - Kidou'tokai Orbital City/Manufacturing/Docking Platform
(The FW Security Modules are a lot smaller than the Orbital City, I just reversed the classifications there!)


Also, to see for yourself, sortof, I've got a handy picture that incorporates most of the vessels you're looking at!



Now,
brown in centre: Stronghold
Brown/beige just right: Two Protectors
3 Greys just left of Stronghold: Three Heroes
Beige/Brown direct centre: Custodian
Silver @ back: Kroot Warsphere
Orange/Brown by Protectors & Stronghold: 2 Emissaries
Silver thing next to Custodian: Rogue Trader Cruiser
Grey Thing next to RTC: Merchant
Big-small grey things at the sides: Defenders
Small grey things at the sides: Orcas

I don't have any Wardens, Bastions, Orbitals or Castellans in that photo, but I do have another which shows the Custodian, the Orbital City and a (not to scale) version of the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D. [:I]
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b264/ ... ction=view¤t=DSCF0275.jpg
As seen in the next one: Defenders are actually pretty close in size to the Emissaries!
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b264/ ... ction=view¤t=DSCF0293.jpg

Also, this means that your post/thing on ATT recieves this, the Xisor Seal of Approval!


In any case

Don't let something's 'In Game' role affect the fact that it's zonkin' 'uge! (i.e. the Defender!)

Again, good work here!

Also, I like the sound of the Stealth Custodians, but my guess then is that they'd fit a profile something along the lines of this:



And that'd be it. A totally stripped down starship. The 6+ armour reflects that:
1- It's being stealthy (like Necrons)
2- It's probably got a whole lot of armour plating on the outside of the ship to dampen any energy emissions and things like that

Further: Shields increase energy output for Tau, presumably? Hence low shields. The ship's fast because it's fast. It makes sense, IMO, that if it's being stealthy it can have enough speed to get somewhere (plenty of momentum or something like that).

Stritcly speaking, it's an attempt to make an itneresting ship in fluff terms. Realisitically, I've created a horrible failure...

------------------------------------

And that was that!


As a final note: I'm not sure the two Emissaries really deserve a big (3-place) distinction between them. Furthermore, you might like to shift everything at the bottom up, or differentiate further.

That'd be to include:
SX0: Pods, lifecraft, boarding shells, ordnance & attackcraft
SX1: Gunship displacement
SX2: Escort displacement
SX3: Light cruiser displacement (Inc. Defender, Emissary, Exc. Protector & Merchant)
SX4: Cruiser displacement (Inc. Hero, Prot., Merch.,RT Cruiser)
SX5: Grand Cruiser through Light Battleship displacement (Inc. Bastion, Cust. & Strong.)
SX6: Battleship displacement (Explorer, Kroot Warsphere etc)
SX7: Interplanetary & Interstellar Orbitals
SX8: Planetary Orbitals & Other Installations

That'd give a more comprehensive sliding scale and account for the discrepancy between zonkin-huge spacestuff (Orbital City, IMO, is surely 10+km in diameter! SX-86?) and the teensy weensy interstellar craft (Mantas, SX-05???)

Consider that space-borne or space-operating attack craft, ordnance and such might be referred to differently depending upon area of operation. So an XV8 might be an SX00-XV8 when operating in anti-ship space actions (as described in Star of Damocles), and a Devilfish-chassis boarding pod (as seen in FireWarrior, the game) might be an SX03-[whatever it is].

Wow, this is a rambling insanity, I should've been in Physics revising over an hour ago!

Wow! I got the Xisor Seal of Approval!

Huzzah!

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To address your specific concerns, I appreciate the additional information and suggestions, but I think I'm going to take a slightly altered route (I'll update it in due time). The second numbers do not strictly represent the ship's size, but its role type, which I think got you questioning how

The first numbers handle anything there is to handle about size, and as long as two ships are somewhat within the same size bracket (Gunship, Escort, Light Cruiser, Cruiser, Battleship, etc.), that's really all the size distinction they need.

The Role Types are as follows:

Role Type Designation System wrote:[Equipment/Vehicles]
[Weaponry]

The Equipment/Vehicle and Weaponry Role Types can be described as one of the following;

1 - Unique Variant - Variant is not widespread nor being considered for mass production. (XV-81 SMS-Equipped Battlesuit)
2 - Prototype/Pre-Production - Variant is a prototype being considered for mass production. (XV-22 Prototype-Chassis Battlesuit, RX-182 Prototype Linear Accelerator Rifle)
3 - Utility - Variant is a Utility Design meant to be utilized in an auxiliary or supporting role, not to be confused with a piece of equipment with no designation meant to be utilized in a multi-purpose role and reconfigured. (PX-13 Pulse Pistol, TX-63 Casevac Devilfish)
4 - Target Acquisition/Designation - Variant is utilized in a Target Acquisition/Designation or Battlefield Coordination role (XV-84 Target Designation Battlesuit, LX-142 Markerlight Target Designator)
5 - Stealth/Recon/Surveillance - Variant is utilized in a Stealth, Reconnaissance, and/or Surveillance role, often equipped with a Stealth Field Generator and advanced sensors. (XV-25 Stealth Suit, SFX-15 Stealth Field Generator)
6 - Anti-Personnel - Variant is designed to primarily engage enemy infantry and heavy infantry formations. (TX-76-2 Hammerhead Gunship, PX-16 Pulse Rifle)
7 - Anti-Air/Indirect Fire - Variant is designed to primarily engage enemy air and/or ground targets at long (often beyond visual) ranges with anti-air, tank, or personnel weaponry. (TX-77 Sky Ray Missile Defense Gunship)
8/10 - Heavy/Anti-Tank - Variant is designed as either a Heavy-Variant version of another piece of equipment or to be utilized in an Anti-Tank/Materiel Role. (PX-18 Burst Cannon, XV-88 Broadside Battlesuit)
9/11 - Armored/Shielded/Defense-Oriented - Varient is designed as an Armored- or Shielded-Variant version of another piece of equipment or to be utilized in a Defensive or Protective Role. (DX-39 Shield Drone, XV-89 Iridium-Armored Battlesuit)

Basically, what I'm going to do is take a look at the size charts and fix what's needed thanks to the information you've given me, and respectfully request any other suggestions you may have regarding any of these ships 'specific role types in the fluff.

I do like your suggestions about the separate classifications depending on the theater though (for the Manta, perhaps), but I'm not quite sure the space-borne XV8s need a spot outside the 'battlesuit' section just yet unless we get some unanimous approval by the community.

I also like the re-structuring of the scale of the ships... Might go ahead and incorporate that now - I was originally just leaving room for something immense between Battleships and Space Stations.

Thanks!

Might I Chime In?

First off, with "SX" designations, is the "SX-0" (Doombringer's) Orca the troop transport, or space craft? (I find both fit a "gunship" role). Next, By "light battleship" do you mean a battle cruiser? Also, If you mean a Battle Cruiser, wouldn't that make a "Light battleship" and a "Grand cruiser" the same thing? Also, also,(double intended) why have a "Grand Cruiser" mass class? (Unless my rule are out of date, the Tau have no "grand cruisers".)

XV-02, The SX-0 Kass'l is the space craft. The Orca Troop Transport already has a designation; AX-4.

Regarding your other concerns, I think I'll let Xisor take a stab at them.

Hey DB,

Glad you liked it there. I knew I'd forgotten something on the second 1-8 designations, thanks for the update/refresh!

XV-02:

"First off, with "SX" designations, is the "SX-0" (Doombringer's) Orca the troop transport, or space craft? (I find both fit a "gunship" role)."

Well, my assumption was that it is the Kass'l 'Gunship' Orca. I'd happily see that unnofficially renamed to something more fitting with the rest of the fleet.


"Next, By "light battleship" do you mean a battle cruiser?"
No. This'd be the 'Custodian' profile. Well, that's what I meant. But if DB is reclassifying based on role rather than mass then I'd say the Stronghold is the only Tau-useable vessel that constitutes a battleship. Custodians and Explorers are not real-deal battleships (if we assume 'Battleship' to be akin, in role, to the superheavy stuff of the Imperium, Orks and Chaos which the Tau might have encountered before)

So a quick rundown would be:

Orca SX1
Warden SX1
Niccassar Dhow SX1
Courier SX2
Castellan SX2
Defender SX2
Emissary SX3
Merchant SX3
Protector SX4
Hero SX4
Bastion SX4
Explorer SX5
Custodian SX5
Stronghold SX6
Waystation SX7
Generic Orbitals SX7
Planetary Orbitals (FW &SG) SX8
Orbital City SX8

Also, If you mean a Battle Cruiser, wouldn't that make a "Light battleship" and a "Grand cruiser" the same thing? Also, also,(double intended) why have a "Grand Cruiser" mass class? (Unless my rule are out of date, the Tau have no "grand cruisers".)"

Grand Cruisers, in BFG, are Cruisers with 10HPs, usually, whilst 'Light Battleships' in my estimations would be Battleships with 10HPs. But even then I've bluffing somewhat.

Also, to what DB said about 'something huge' between BBs and orbitals: Sure, there's room for that, but I'd hazard that it'd be an SX8 or SX5 (SX5 would easily include both massive colony ships and 'command ships', whilst SX6 accomodates something truly powerful as a fighting force [which, I suppose, could well be the Custodian, depending]). The above list is a rough grouping which one might keep together. But I'd say the door's still open for this sort of thinking/cogitating!

080325 - Plasma and Naval Designations amended.

If you guys see any discrepancies, let me know.

Hello again,

I put this up on SG after a bit of puzzling:



* Waystations and orbitals used in non-planetary defence capacities
** Planetary defence orbitals, planet bound orbitals, Orbital Cities, Kroot Warspheres etc

And then followed up by going bonkers with:



Hopefully the format's alright!

Just a thought, but might the XV89 actually be a mistranslation of an XV8- unique varient - unique chasis (i.e the XV8-1-1)? Unless of course we are suggesting that these are Imperial designations.

Why is the Hammerhead classified as anti-infantry? Because of the submunitions?

Militant.Jester :
It depends on what weapons the Hammerhead is using. Take a look:

ATT Tau Empire Unit Designation System and Catalog wrote:The Equipment/Vehicle and Weaponry Role Types can be described as one of the following;

6 - Anti-Personnel/Small Target - Variant is designed to engage enemy infantry and heavy infantry formations or otherwise relative Small Targets. (TX-76-2 Hammerhead Gunship, PX-16 Pulse Rifle)
8/10 - Anti-Armor/Large Target - Variant is designed as either a Heavy-Variant version of another piece of equipment, to be utilized in an Anti-Tank/Materiel Role, or to engage relative Large Targets. (PX-18 Burst Cannon, XV-88 Broadside Battlesuit)

TX-7 - Hammerhead/Sky Ray Gunship Chassis
TX-76 - Ion Cannon-Variant Hammerhead
TX-76-2 - Plasma Cannon-Variant Hammerhead
TX-76-3 - Burst Cannon-Variant Hammerhead
TX-78 - Railgun-Variant Hammerhead
TX-78-2 - Missile Pod-Variant Hammerhead
TX-78-3 - Fusion Cannon-Variant Hammerhead

Hey, can anyone do me a favor and post the XV-9 weapons here? I just need names and descriptions, if possible.

In the process of compiling an updated list and want to make sure we're 100% as of Imperial Armour: Apocalypse Update.

Thanks,

There's no real descriptions of the weapons in terms of fluff in the book entry sadly, however here are the names:

Burst Cannon (twin-linked specifically)
Phased Ion Gun (functions similarly ruleswise to a CIB)
Fusion Cascade (appears to be a modified Fusion Blaster for a higher rate of fire)
Pulse Submunitions Rifle (I'm not sure if fluffwise this is a modified AFP or a small scale submunitions round as per Hammerhead Railguns)

Updated 100119 to include the XV-9 Hazard Suit and equipment.

Anybody catch anything else that's inconspicuously missing?

Will the list in the first post be altered in consideration of the information given on p12 of the Mark of the Xenos supplement for the Deathwatch RPG?

Hlali:
Very glad you brought that up. I was just about to post this info!

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According to the latest Deathwatch RPG book, Mark of the Xenos, there is a slight clarification to the current battlesuit naming system. I have out lined it here. Since numbers makes me sad, anyone who can find a way to integrate this new info into our catalog here can post their suggestions or PM them to me for addition to the main article. Thanks!

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Tau Battlesuit Nomenclature

Her’ex’vre is a Tau term, meaning “Mantle of the Hero.” It is used by the Tau to designate their single-pilot battlesuits. Imperial authorities have transcribed the Tau word, Her’ex’vre, phonetically as “XV,” and thus use this designation to identify the most common, single-pilot suit. In addition to this, two other identifiers are used to classify specific variations. These break down into two other identifiers:

1.) Mass Class

A suits' mass is measured on a scale of 1 to 8. 1 indicates the lightest of suits, while 8 identifies the largest variants so far encountered by the Imperium.

2.) Construction Variation

Suits with a specific, confirmed function have a second designator, while what the Imperium considers “utility” suits have only a single (mass class) numeral. Here the word "utility" seems to indicate suits that are not regulated to a specific battlefield role. In other words, suits that are flexible in their use.

The following roles have been identified and each assigned a numeric code by Imperial authorities. This number is the second element of the suit’s class designation. Note that it is possible that a suit might have a secondary role, in which case a third numeral may be included in its designation.

1 - Suits believed to exist only as theoretical or developmental models.

2 - Developmental suits that have progressed to field trials.

3 - Suits that have not entered mass production but have been assigned permanently to the pilot.

4 - Suits designed and approved for the command and control role.

5 - Suits intended use in the ‘stealth’ role.

6 – Suits that operate in an air/space environment.

7 - Suits intended to facilitate infiltration.

8 - Fire support units.

Examples:

XV-8 - single pilot heavy utility class
XV-88 - single pilot heavy fire support unit
XV-15 - single pilot ultra light stealth suit
XV–25 - single pilot light stealth suit
XV-22 - field test prototype light stealth suit

Discrepancies:

While this information doesn't necessarily provide a bombshell to the Tau naming system, it does bring up questions as to where the XV9 fits in. The fact that it has a single number means it is classified as a “utility” suit. However, the mass class’ identified only go up to 8. So it is assumed that this is simply an oversight. Or if one were to look for a fluffy explanation, perhaps the standards on suit nomenclature were formed before the XV9 came into production and Imperial authorities have yet to encounter it with enough frequency to add it to the chart. Of course, this doesn’t explain why it has a designation in the first place, but there ya go…