Shas'o Saki
10-03-2011, 05:48 PM
Yep you Heard it in the Title BOLS, under this Tau Fandex the Shaper is finally a proper HQ choice, and what a choice he is. My peeps and I worked real hard to take the Shaper from a the position of a slightly more durable sergeant to the closest thing the Tau have to a close-combat specialist. The Shaper can be a real beast if you spend the necessary points on him, but like all Kroot he's still fragile, so throwing him up against someone elses dedicated assault troops isn't a good idea.As punchy as a Shaper can be, his real strength lies in making his fellow Kroot much more powerful and versatile.
Kroot Shaper................75 Points
Although the Kroot possess no true political system on their home planet of Pech, the Shapers are considered by the Tau as their defacto leaders. Shaper’s are distinguished by their inherent understanding of the Kroot’s ability to extract useful genetic traits from the bodies of devoured foes. This skill is considered invaluable to the Kroot as without guidance as to what to consume and what not Kroot evolution would grind to a halt, or worse. While their abilities may be inherent, achieving the rank of Shaper is no easy task. An acolyte must spend many years in front line combat learning from another Shaper before leading a Kroot army out beyond the boundaries of the Tau Empire. Only upon returning with a force of Kroot who show the obvious genetic benefits of the Shaper’s guidance will he take his place on the Shaper Council.
Special Rules:
Kroot- Like all Kroot a Shaper has the Infiltrate and Fleet Special Rules.
Evolutionary Guide- The Kroot a Shaper leads to war have served with him for many campaigns. Over the years the warriors will have benefited greatly from his genetic expertise. For each Kroot Carnivore squad in your army you may roll once before deployment on the Guided Evolution chart to see what kind of genetic enhancements that squad has gained through the Shaper’s guidance. A Shaper that has joined a Kroot Carnivore squad benefits from the same enhancements they do. Having multiple Shaper’s has no affect on the results.
Guided Evolution Table
D6.....Effect
1.......Enhanced Agility- Kroot gain the Move Through Cover Special Rule
2.......Expanded Neo-Cortex- Kroot may re-roll all rolls to hit in close combat.
3.......Enlarged Adrenal Glands- Kroot gain the Furious Charge Special Rule
4.......Chameleon Skin-Kroot Gain the Scout and Stealth Special Rules
5.......Adaptive Nervous System- Kroot gain the Feel No Pain Special Rule
6......Vestigal Wings-Kroot now move as Jump Infantry
Mercenary Weapons Stash- Every Shaper completes a tour of duty with the Mercenary armies the Kroot have fighting beyond the borders of the Tau Empire. Since the Kroot have little interest in money or wealth Shaper’s often asked to be compensated with the one thing Kroot value on the battlefield, weapons. By the time a Shaper returns to Pech he will inevitably have accrued quite a collection of exotic wargear from across the galaxy. Before a battle, a Shaper will break open his stash and distribute some of these weapons to his chosen warriors. Kroot are exceptional mimickers, and it won’t be long before they are using the weapons with the same skill as their former owners. For every Shaper in your army you may select one Carnivore Squad to be outfitted with weapons from the Shaper’s weapons stash. For every 5 Kroot in the squad, one may exchange his Kroot Rifle for one of the weapons below. Although these weapons may take many forms and be from many species for simplicities sake they are the following.
- Power Weapon and Bolt Pistol..........15 Points
- Flamer.......................................5 Points
- Storm Bolter................................5 Points
- Melta Gun..................................15 Points
- Plasma Gun............................... 20 Points
- Heavy Bolter..............................15 Points
- Missile Launcher..........................20 Points
Uneasy Allies- Although the Kroot are valued allies in times of war, it is a known fact that the Tau do not fully trust them. The Kroot’s habit of devouring dead enemies sickens Fire Warriors and their practice of sending armies to fight as mercenaries goes against the principles of the Greater Good. While the Ethereals continue to hold out hope that prolonged membership in the Tau Empire will cure the Kroot of these backwards traditions, most Fire Warriors only tolerate the Kroot on the battle field. A Kroot Shaper may only join other Kroot Carnivore Squads or an Ethereal’s Council as an Independent Character.
STAT LINE
WS...BS...S...T...W...I...A...LD...SV
6.....4....4...3....3...6...3....9....5+
Unit Comp.
1 Shaper
Special Rules.
* Kroot
* Independent Character
* Evolutionary Guide
* Uneasy Allies
Unit Type.
Infantry
Wargear.
* Shaper’s Staff
* Friendship Amulet
* Kroot Grenades (Counts as Assault Grenades)
Options.
* The Shaper may Exchange his Shaper’s Staff With:
- Kroot Rifle............Free
- Raptor Talons......5 points
- Wind Blade...........25 Points
* May take any of the following:
- Hunting Hound.....15 Points
- Kindred Totem......20 Points
- Gene Sequencer...25 Points (One per Army)
New Weapons and Wargear:
Shaper’s Staff
Made of Jagga Wood and decorated by the Shaper’s kindred, the Staff is the traditional symbol of office for a Shaper. The hardened Jagga wood is as strong as steel and capable of an impressive degree of flexibility. The Shaper’s Staff counts as a close combat weapon that grants the Shaper +1 Strength.
Friendship Amulet
First gifted to the Kroot Angok Prok when he swore allegiance and eternal friendship to the Tau, Friendship Amulets are now gifted to every Shaper by the Tau as a symbol of the Empire’s ongoing commitment to their alliance. The Amulet’s incorporate a simple shield generator designed to keep the Shaper safe in combat. A Friendship Amulet gives the Shaper a 5+ invulnerable save.
Raptor Talons
Paying homage to their avian ancestry, Raptor Talons are a set of vicious daggers fitted to both the hands and feet of a Kroot. The Kroot employ these lethal weapons like a true bird of prey, using their powerful muscles to leap into the air and crash down on their foes for maximum damage. Attacks made by a Kroot with Raptor Talons count as Rending. The Kroot does not however gain the additional attack bonus for being armed with two close-combat weapons.
Wind Blade
Shaper’s that have distinguished themselves in the eyes of the Empire are often awarded with a Wind Blade for their exploits. Forged by Earth caste metallurgists using the most advanced alloys known, the wind blade weighs practically nothing, and in the hands of a skilled Shaper moves too quickly for most eyes to follow. A Wind Blade is a Power Weapon that strikes at Initiative 10.
Hunting Hound
Some Shaper’s are accompanied into battle by a pet Kroot Hound who has been specially trained to harass his foes. A Shaper equipped with a Hunting Hound may re-roll all rolls of 1 to hit.
Kindred Totem
The Shaper carries the Kindred symbols of the Kroot under his command on a flag attached to his back. The totem reminds the Kroot present that they fight for the honor of their families. A Kroot Carnivore Squad led by a Shaper with a Kindred Totem may re-roll all fail morale tests.
Gene Sequencer
Although the Tau publicly disprove of the Kroot’s tendency to devour their still living foes, the Earth caste are quietly fascinated by the species ability to self-evolve by extracting useful DNA. Some Earth Caste geneticists have even begun secretly sending the Kroot portable DNA Scanners so that Shaper’s may more easily identify useful strands, so long as the Shaper’s agree to send back genetic scans of their warriors after a feeding. Such an arrangement is full of risks of course, and both the Shapers and scientists are careful to keep their exchanges secret. If a Kroot Shaper is equipped with a DNA Sequencer you may choose to re-roll any result from the Guided Evolution Table at the beginning of the game. You must accept the second result. A Shaper with a DNA Sequencer may not join an Ethereal’s Council as an Independent Character.
Kroot Shaper................75 Points
Although the Kroot possess no true political system on their home planet of Pech, the Shapers are considered by the Tau as their defacto leaders. Shaper’s are distinguished by their inherent understanding of the Kroot’s ability to extract useful genetic traits from the bodies of devoured foes. This skill is considered invaluable to the Kroot as without guidance as to what to consume and what not Kroot evolution would grind to a halt, or worse. While their abilities may be inherent, achieving the rank of Shaper is no easy task. An acolyte must spend many years in front line combat learning from another Shaper before leading a Kroot army out beyond the boundaries of the Tau Empire. Only upon returning with a force of Kroot who show the obvious genetic benefits of the Shaper’s guidance will he take his place on the Shaper Council.
Special Rules:
Kroot- Like all Kroot a Shaper has the Infiltrate and Fleet Special Rules.
Evolutionary Guide- The Kroot a Shaper leads to war have served with him for many campaigns. Over the years the warriors will have benefited greatly from his genetic expertise. For each Kroot Carnivore squad in your army you may roll once before deployment on the Guided Evolution chart to see what kind of genetic enhancements that squad has gained through the Shaper’s guidance. A Shaper that has joined a Kroot Carnivore squad benefits from the same enhancements they do. Having multiple Shaper’s has no affect on the results.
Guided Evolution Table
D6.....Effect
1.......Enhanced Agility- Kroot gain the Move Through Cover Special Rule
2.......Expanded Neo-Cortex- Kroot may re-roll all rolls to hit in close combat.
3.......Enlarged Adrenal Glands- Kroot gain the Furious Charge Special Rule
4.......Chameleon Skin-Kroot Gain the Scout and Stealth Special Rules
5.......Adaptive Nervous System- Kroot gain the Feel No Pain Special Rule
6......Vestigal Wings-Kroot now move as Jump Infantry
Mercenary Weapons Stash- Every Shaper completes a tour of duty with the Mercenary armies the Kroot have fighting beyond the borders of the Tau Empire. Since the Kroot have little interest in money or wealth Shaper’s often asked to be compensated with the one thing Kroot value on the battlefield, weapons. By the time a Shaper returns to Pech he will inevitably have accrued quite a collection of exotic wargear from across the galaxy. Before a battle, a Shaper will break open his stash and distribute some of these weapons to his chosen warriors. Kroot are exceptional mimickers, and it won’t be long before they are using the weapons with the same skill as their former owners. For every Shaper in your army you may select one Carnivore Squad to be outfitted with weapons from the Shaper’s weapons stash. For every 5 Kroot in the squad, one may exchange his Kroot Rifle for one of the weapons below. Although these weapons may take many forms and be from many species for simplicities sake they are the following.
- Power Weapon and Bolt Pistol..........15 Points
- Flamer.......................................5 Points
- Storm Bolter................................5 Points
- Melta Gun..................................15 Points
- Plasma Gun............................... 20 Points
- Heavy Bolter..............................15 Points
- Missile Launcher..........................20 Points
Uneasy Allies- Although the Kroot are valued allies in times of war, it is a known fact that the Tau do not fully trust them. The Kroot’s habit of devouring dead enemies sickens Fire Warriors and their practice of sending armies to fight as mercenaries goes against the principles of the Greater Good. While the Ethereals continue to hold out hope that prolonged membership in the Tau Empire will cure the Kroot of these backwards traditions, most Fire Warriors only tolerate the Kroot on the battle field. A Kroot Shaper may only join other Kroot Carnivore Squads or an Ethereal’s Council as an Independent Character.
STAT LINE
WS...BS...S...T...W...I...A...LD...SV
6.....4....4...3....3...6...3....9....5+
Unit Comp.
1 Shaper
Special Rules.
* Kroot
* Independent Character
* Evolutionary Guide
* Uneasy Allies
Unit Type.
Infantry
Wargear.
* Shaper’s Staff
* Friendship Amulet
* Kroot Grenades (Counts as Assault Grenades)
Options.
* The Shaper may Exchange his Shaper’s Staff With:
- Kroot Rifle............Free
- Raptor Talons......5 points
- Wind Blade...........25 Points
* May take any of the following:
- Hunting Hound.....15 Points
- Kindred Totem......20 Points
- Gene Sequencer...25 Points (One per Army)
New Weapons and Wargear:
Shaper’s Staff
Made of Jagga Wood and decorated by the Shaper’s kindred, the Staff is the traditional symbol of office for a Shaper. The hardened Jagga wood is as strong as steel and capable of an impressive degree of flexibility. The Shaper’s Staff counts as a close combat weapon that grants the Shaper +1 Strength.
Friendship Amulet
First gifted to the Kroot Angok Prok when he swore allegiance and eternal friendship to the Tau, Friendship Amulets are now gifted to every Shaper by the Tau as a symbol of the Empire’s ongoing commitment to their alliance. The Amulet’s incorporate a simple shield generator designed to keep the Shaper safe in combat. A Friendship Amulet gives the Shaper a 5+ invulnerable save.
Raptor Talons
Paying homage to their avian ancestry, Raptor Talons are a set of vicious daggers fitted to both the hands and feet of a Kroot. The Kroot employ these lethal weapons like a true bird of prey, using their powerful muscles to leap into the air and crash down on their foes for maximum damage. Attacks made by a Kroot with Raptor Talons count as Rending. The Kroot does not however gain the additional attack bonus for being armed with two close-combat weapons.
Wind Blade
Shaper’s that have distinguished themselves in the eyes of the Empire are often awarded with a Wind Blade for their exploits. Forged by Earth caste metallurgists using the most advanced alloys known, the wind blade weighs practically nothing, and in the hands of a skilled Shaper moves too quickly for most eyes to follow. A Wind Blade is a Power Weapon that strikes at Initiative 10.
Hunting Hound
Some Shaper’s are accompanied into battle by a pet Kroot Hound who has been specially trained to harass his foes. A Shaper equipped with a Hunting Hound may re-roll all rolls of 1 to hit.
Kindred Totem
The Shaper carries the Kindred symbols of the Kroot under his command on a flag attached to his back. The totem reminds the Kroot present that they fight for the honor of their families. A Kroot Carnivore Squad led by a Shaper with a Kindred Totem may re-roll all fail morale tests.
Gene Sequencer
Although the Tau publicly disprove of the Kroot’s tendency to devour their still living foes, the Earth caste are quietly fascinated by the species ability to self-evolve by extracting useful DNA. Some Earth Caste geneticists have even begun secretly sending the Kroot portable DNA Scanners so that Shaper’s may more easily identify useful strands, so long as the Shaper’s agree to send back genetic scans of their warriors after a feeding. Such an arrangement is full of risks of course, and both the Shapers and scientists are careful to keep their exchanges secret. If a Kroot Shaper is equipped with a DNA Sequencer you may choose to re-roll any result from the Guided Evolution Table at the beginning of the game. You must accept the second result. A Shaper with a DNA Sequencer may not join an Ethereal’s Council as an Independent Character.