Shadow Warriors  by Ethan Buckman
This Themed Army Idea for the Tau takes its inspiration from the ninja of Japanese history and legend. Take it away, Ethan....

Background
The Shadow Warrior Cadre is a raiding army which operates mostly at night to eliminate enemy leaders, conduct reconnaissance, or recover items. Any unit that can must take blacksun filters and, if points allow, markerlights. If they ever fight without using the Night Fight rules, just imagine that their mission has carried over into the next day or that they are fighting shortly after dawn.

Philosophy
The Shadow Warriors prefer to fight at night, usually as the precursor to an attack by a larger, more conventional Tau force. The Shadow Warriors eschew vehicles, preferring stealthy infantry. They will not allow themselves to be captured, preferring to flee or commit suicide—all for the Greater Good, of course.

HQ
No Ethereals are allowed in this army, as the missions carried out by the Shadow Warriors are usually extremely dangerous, with a low probability of survival. Typically, a force is lead by a Shas'o with an apprentice Shas'el. Either or both of these Commanders may have a bodyguard.

Elites
As per Codex: Tau.

Troops
As per Codex: Tau. A maximum of one Fire Warrior Squad may be transported in a Devilfish. If the Shadow Warrior player knows ahead of time that the mission to be played will use the Infiltrate rule, then at least one Kroot Carnivore Squad must be taken, as the Shadow Warriors often make use of them. 

Fast Attack
As per Codex: Tau. 

Heavy Support
The Shadow Warriors use only Broadside Battlesuit Teams, as Hammerheads and Krootox are hardly stealthy.  
 
Modeling and Painting
Tau regulars and battlesuits should be painted black with gray highlights and subtle squad markings—remember, the Shadow Warriors operate at night and don’t want to attract attention to themselves. Kroot should be painted black with dark underbellies and clothing in gray or dull brown tones.

General Tactics
Infiltrate or Deep Strike any units you can. Use markerlights to target particularly tough enemies for seeker missiles. Send the gun drones and battlesuits wherever needed. And, of course, avoid hand-to-hand combat. 
 
 

Related Pages
Other Tau Themed Army Ideas
 

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© Copyright Ethan Buckman, November 2003. Used with permission.
 

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