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The Armies of 40k => Tau Empire => Topic started by: Kaiizen on March 4, 2008, 04:03:39 PM

Title: Female Tau
Post by: Kaiizen on March 4, 2008, 04:03:39 PM
With the Exception of Shadowsun there isn't a single female Tau that I have seen either in fluff or the model range. What gives? Since there is Shadowsun, I can logically assume that both male and female tau go to war. Shouldn't there be more mention of them somewhere?

Right click View image to view the full picture.
(https://www.40konline.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffc01.deviantart.com%2Ffs28%2Ff%2F2008%2F064%2Fa%2Fa%2FTau_Female_2_by_Kaiii.jpg&hash=335ecb7c0fa64005666c12b7844e0ab462a754d5)
Maybe someone could make a story based around this one =P.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Shas'Oink on March 4, 2008, 04:15:44 PM
how do you know??? i mean, whos to say that some of your fire warriors arent female!? you are assuming that they would manufacture different types of armour for female tau, perhaps you shouldnt look at it like that...
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Kaiizen on March 4, 2008, 04:36:23 PM
I guess from an anatomy standpoint female tau could be similar to males. The problem is that the would be constricting and they don't have hips like you'd expect.

Like I said though, female Tau could be closer looking to males than I'd expect. But shadowsun DOES have some uniquely feminine features in her battle suit. Smaller waist, larger hips and a larger chest area than is typical.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: ShasO Kodel on March 4, 2008, 04:41:14 PM
Shes also wearing a prototype suit, so you don't necessarily know a Tau's unsuited physical features. And while its rather arguable that most line warriors are male, you could say that females have better hand-eye coordination and are primarily tank crews.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Kaiizen on March 4, 2008, 04:47:07 PM
True, but from the fluff we never really get a sense of any of that.

Next thing you know there will be pictures of Tau women in aprons fixing dinner while taking care of the kids. THEN we're going to have a feminist movement and no one wants that =(.

Seriously though, if the case of better hand eye coordination were true, then female firewarriors would still make better standard sharp shooters. Since the tau look down on close combat anyway, physical size would matter very little.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: rightfire on March 4, 2008, 04:59:51 PM
Modern Military mostly focuses on Ranged combat too, but female warriors are still rare.

It's less to do with accuracy, but more to do with the whole military culture where women aren't allowed to be front line infantry.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Heretek on March 4, 2008, 05:00:10 PM
The Ethereal in the Xenology book is female, and she looks very similar to male Tau. It seems that there just isn't much difference between the male and female Tau bodies.

Quote
It's less to do with accuracy, but more to do with the whole military culture where women aren't allowed to be front line infantry.


True, but you're thinking in human terms. We don't have an entire Caste bred solely for combat. Are you suggesting that female Fire Caste members just sit on their hands all day? There must be female Firewarriors, since I believe inter-caste breeding is taboo, and it seems unlike the Tau to waste half of their fighting force because their sex organs are on the inside.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Theocratic_Shenanigans on March 4, 2008, 05:02:50 PM
So... due to the "adapted" armor, she gets... a 2+ cover save?
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: The GrimSqueaker on March 4, 2008, 05:07:15 PM
It's also to do with stamina and upper body strength but we really should leave such discussion vague when it comes to gender roles in the armed forces as  people just get all silly about it.  (http://www.40konline.com/index.php?topic=114657.0)

A common mistake in SF is trying to make aliens too human in appearance when they're supposed to be, you know, alien. An example being that many female aliens are portrayed as having an appearance attractive to human males while the male aliens are far different. An example of the example - long hair, big tits, and softer faces.  ;)

Tau do not appear to share these qualities based upon their different ancestors. Consider the Air Caste who look creepy different even to the other Castes. Same with the Deadlords Ethereal Caste.

So, Tau females should more strongly resemble Tau males then they should human females.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Shas'Oink on March 4, 2008, 05:12:07 PM
True, but from the fluff we never really get a sense of any of that.

but again, from the fluff, there is no distinction made between male or female warriors... generally speaking it seems that the tau do not consider a warriors gender. you are fire caste, or air caste. your gender is incidental in that regard. i would have thought it is something similar to the eldar... both races are able to fight equally without prejudice or stigma. perhaps thats why there is never a point made out of it!?
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: rightfire on March 4, 2008, 05:12:26 PM
Even though Commander Farsight has far better rules and uses than Shadowsun,

The main reason people like Shadowsun is because she's a hot female chick leading an entire army and kicking ass.

So, their models should have Sex appeals.

Gamesworkshop should consider their client base.

In my opinion, Regardless of commen sense logic, all alien females should be hot and attractive.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: The GrimSqueaker on March 4, 2008, 05:16:17 PM
Thankfully wiser minds are at the helm and such opinions are given little regard.  Here's the thread (http://www.40konline.com/index.php?topic=155350.0) for people to fap over. Feel free to close the door on your way out Rightfire.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Gornon on March 4, 2008, 05:35:33 PM
    Looking at pictures of shirtless male tau page 5 of the new dex, page 61 and page 53 of the old Dex, shows that they have different muscles on their chests and tend to have a long lean body, suited to the grace they are supposed to have.  Also, I do not see any nipples on the males, leading me to thing that females do not have mammary (heck they might not even be mammals) glands.
    After all, why should Tau have the same birth cycle/raising system as humans do?  In fact I would say because they live a different amount of years, I would be it is almost a given with quicker maturity rates.  In so many words, I think I agree with the statment that Tau females look like Tau males.

Xenology as horrible as it is, does provide a look at Tau musculature, and IIRC that is a dead female Tau.  Of course, it also has toes and orks have beer bellies.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Jehan-Reznor on March 4, 2008, 07:47:45 PM
Female Tau just have glands on their chest that look like breast but are for an undefined purpose (well getting kids in their puberty to buy female aliens ;))
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Annenkov on March 4, 2008, 08:36:42 PM
Also, I do not see any nipples on the males, leading me to thing that females do not have mammary (heck they might not even be mammals) glands.

Nipples on a male are superfluous maybe tau males have thrown that out of their Gene pool. But other than that I would think that LIKE humans tau females are similar to males.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Kaiizen on March 4, 2008, 11:15:44 PM
Like it was said, there is no garauntee that Tau are even mammals. We could make certain assumptions about them based on the way they look and where they live. They seem to be most at home in temperate climates like their own home world, that would seem to indicate that they might be closer to reptiles. Personally I think that they are closer to Avian than reptile. Either option leaves little room for live birth, and therefore breasts would be useless.

However, I think we've strayed off topic a little here. I drew the Tau the way I did purely for aesthetics, but whether it was right or wrong wasn't really the subject.

I could have drawn her like this...
(https://www.40konline.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffc02.deviantart.com%2Ffs25%2Ff%2F2008%2F064%2F9%2F5%2FTau_Head_by_Kaiii.jpg&hash=6fd7d38ede1858a5d6a6ae3492241c7d19fa961f)
Sexy no? =)
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Gornon on March 4, 2008, 11:42:12 PM
^^^^

By the Emperor... Well, I am not getting any sleep. :D


I actually think they are closer to avians too, despite the hoofs.  The dexterity and lighter structure matches.  However, that does not fit in with the poor focusing eyes.  Maybe on the planes, it was more important to have sharp vision to see things at a distance.  They could have evolved from one of Eagle type birds.  High up in the sky, sharp vision is more important that rapid focusing, and descending from raptors would explain why they like to hunt.  I am just speculating though.

I did like your first drawing by the way.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Russ, Gue'Vesa from the Tiny Red Dot on March 5, 2008, 03:03:24 AM
Shadowsun actually looks good. Cool kind of good in that sense. I thought she was a really young and cool Tau when i first saw her model. Anyway, female Tau might have a little different body structure, because the XV22 in dawn of war and shadowsun's one is a little different. Unless, DOW is not a good place to compare.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Kaiizen on March 5, 2008, 04:06:51 AM
It's hard to say one way or another, there isn't a lot of fluff (that I'm aware of) that deals with Tau culture. Most of what I see is based around military, this is a war game after all but I'd still like to know my Tau a little better.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Shas'Oink on March 5, 2008, 04:15:22 AM
It's hard to say one way or another, there isn't a lot of fluff (that I'm aware of) that deals with Tau culture. Most of what I see is based around military, this is a war game after all but I'd still like to know my Tau a little better.

agreed. i suppose this means you can make the tau whatever you want them to be... until we are told otherwise (or not) that is.

ps: i dont think you have been complemented on them yet but i'm loving the artwork.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Heretek on March 5, 2008, 04:19:54 AM
It's hard to say one way or another, there isn't a lot of fluff (that I'm aware of) that deals with Tau culture. Most of what I see is based around military, this is a war game after all but I'd still like to know my Tau a little better.

Have you read Kill Team, by Gav Thorpe? Despite what the name suggests, it offers a pretty good look at Tau society. It's set from the perspective of an Imperial Soldier, and that does colour it a bit, but it still comes across as relatively accurate.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Shas'Oink on March 5, 2008, 04:24:00 AM
well, despite a (relatively) poor writing style theres no denying that Gav knows background... i'll have to pick it up and see how i get on with it. thanks for the heads up.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Andro Ist Keine Schwedischen on March 5, 2008, 11:49:51 AM
Why do people assume that female Tau would be weaker then the males?  That's often only true of humans*, even on this planet.  Throughout nature females are often the stronger sex, so why might that not be true of the Tau?

* And actually, when humans are first born the girls are the stronger sex and tend to servive more often.

Hell, it's very possible there's no difference between them at all.  They have been selectively breed for many generations after all, and if they are all treated and trained the same way from birth then any differences would be minimal.

Not to mention there's nothing to say Tau even reproduce the same way as humans.  They may spawn in the same way as fish do, which means they'd have zero use for breasts.  Thus it's easy to assume that under their armour all Tau look pretty much the same - and even removing their helmets would do little to change things for the average human.  A Tau is a Tau to them, after all**.

** Same princible with Kroot.  They probably lay eggs like birds, and no human is going to be able to tell their genders apart from looking at their faces.  The same doesn't apply to Vespid, however - their females wear helmets that the males are literally too stupid to be able to use - thus, they are easy to spot. 

~Andromidius
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Rudkin on March 5, 2008, 12:12:07 PM
Thus it's easy to assume that under their armour all Tau look pretty much the same - and even removing their helmets would do little to change things for the average human.  A Tau is a Tau to them, after all.
I wholeheartedly agree. I figure at least 25% of my army is female; I just don't know which 25% that is!  :P

The only difference that I can think of for sure (and even this is debatable) is the 'nose slit' that the Tau have; if you compare the helmetless Fire Warrior head to Shadowsun's helmetless head, the slits are different. The Fire Warrior has a single vertical slit. If I remember correctly, Shadowsun has a sort of Y-shaped slit.

I'm not sure if that's gender-based or not, but it's certainly possible that that's how one tells them apart without looking too closely.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Kaiizen on March 5, 2008, 12:17:55 PM
Quote
agreed. i suppose this means you can make the tau whatever you want them to be... until we are told otherwise (or not) that is.

Indeed! Maybe I'll start a Gareth style all female Tau army. Lets see now... where did I put my milliput...

Quote
ps: i dont think you have been complemented on them yet but I'm loving the artwork.

Thanks, I think the drawings were drowned out in a sea of controversy, not necessarily a bad thing though =).
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: The GrimSqueaker on March 5, 2008, 12:21:53 PM
Have you read Kill Team, by Gav Thorpe? Despite what the name suggests, it offers a pretty good look at Tau society. It's set from the perspective of an Imperial Soldier, and that does colour it a bit, but it still comes across as relatively accurate.

Kill Team was also written prior to Tau fluff being solidifed around common grounds so there's a few things in there that appear out of place now where before it was colourful (Tau dietry habits and hiring psykers for example).
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Shas'Oink on March 5, 2008, 12:31:43 PM
i think the only difference between male and female tau heads seems to be the shape of the face bum they have... note how shadowsun has this crazy three pronged one...

perhaps thats a sign of the sexes...

i dunno if its right to assume that the female tau would have longer (or more) hair... but they certainly look nice with it...
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Andro Ist Keine Schwedischen on March 5, 2008, 01:23:26 PM
There's nothing to actually prove that Tau have hair at all.  The locks that some Fire Warriors wear could actually just be a form of decoration or rank (in a similar manner to Ork Hair Squigs).

Thus it's quite easy to assume Tau females are, infact, completely bald.

~Andromidius
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Kaiizen on March 5, 2008, 05:52:36 PM
Eh, bald women aren't my thing, and since theres nothing in the fluff that says otherwise, I'm just going to assume that Shadowsun is the ugly step sister.

Speaking of which, here's the original topic culprit here, finished.

Right Click View image to see the whole thing
(https://www.40konline.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffc05.deviantart.com%2Ffs26%2Ff%2F2008%2F065%2F6%2F6%2FTau_Female_3_by_Kaiii.jpg&hash=4a3067bd6fd0e19d3202dfde1a85230aca0abca3)

I wash my hands of it, I need to get back to my real work =].
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Fasor'ith on March 6, 2008, 02:42:48 AM
Andromidius, what you said about woman being stronger and surviving through the hardships closer to birth is merely because woman are immune to certain diseases whereas men aren't. Like Alexi, he suffered from Hemophilia, when he got cut the blood would not clot, this is merely an example of a disease transported by women who are immune to it unto men who can now be treated (occasionally).

I agree with Kaiizen, bald woman, don't appeal to me either but i don't think they appeal to any man for that matter.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Andro Ist Keine Schwedischen on March 6, 2008, 02:54:43 AM
Why would Tau appeal to anyone?  They are aliens after all.

And my point still stands about girls being stronger then boys.  Strong doesn't always mean huge muscles, it can mean being able to resist injury more effectively.  And since girls suffer far fewer genetic defects, that makes them more able to survive and thus stronger.

~Andromidius
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Kristovich on March 6, 2008, 05:09:55 AM
Interbreeding between the Castes is forbidden IIRC, so there have to be Fire Caste females, and it wouldn't make much sense to have part of your warrior caste sitting around doin' nothin'.

As how to tell them appart, if you take your avrage man and woman, dress them up in combat gear, then you won't be able to tell much difference unless you're close enough to see the faces. Shadowsun has the experimental suit and all that, so she doesn't count! I really don't think there's any need for Tau female models as such.

I do like to think that Tau females keep their hair while the males migh shave it off for some reason.

Just my two teef...
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Heretek on March 6, 2008, 05:20:21 AM
Interbreeding between the Castes is forbidden IIRC, so there have to be Fire Caste females, and it wouldn't make much sense to have part of your warrior caste sitting around doin' nothin'.

As how to tell them appart, if you take your avrage man and woman, dress them up in combat gear, then you won't be able to tell much difference unless you're close enough to see the faces. Shadowsun has the experimental suit and all that, so she doesn't count! I really don't think there's any need for Tau female models as such.

I do like to think that Tau females keep their hair while the males migh shave it off for some reason.

Just my two teef...

I think one of those teef is mine, considering I'd made the point about inter-caste breeding already...

As for Tau males being bald, all of the Ethereal models and bare-headed Shas'la sport scalp-locks, as do the Water Caste diplomats that appear in For the Emperor. Ciaphas Cain theorises that the degree of ornamentation present on an individual's braid could denote seniority, and believes that they may have assimilated the idea from their Kroot allies. But Cain is hardly an expert on the Tau, and those are simply his observations based on an earlier encounter with a Kroot Shaper.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Sihylm on March 10, 2008, 08:57:34 PM
It is a well known fact that Tau are decended from Cows and infact have small udders and chew the cud.

May the God-Emperor bless the Uplifting Primer.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Kaiizen on March 12, 2008, 02:04:01 AM
Quote
It is a well known fact that Tau are decended from Cows and infact have small udders and chew the cud.

Ah shoot! I should have left room in the armor for udders =).

Seriously though, I drew her this way for no more reason than 'I felt like it'. I'm not saying that tau women look like this, in fact there is quite a bit of evidence in the codex alone to contradict it. I guess I could say I was 'inspired' to try something different.

I do think that Tau female might have a smaller jaw than males, as this seems to be indicated on the miniatures and even hinted at in pictures in the codex. They DO have some vaguely feminine features when compared to humans, but it gets a little foggy when they are so very very far from human looking.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Gornon on March 12, 2008, 12:14:06 PM
Quote
Seriously though, I drew her this way for no more reason than 'I felt like it'. I'm not saying that tau women look like this, in fact there is quite a bit of evidence in the codex alone to contradict it. I guess I could say I was 'inspired' to try something different.

And it looks great for it.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Sihylm on March 13, 2008, 08:34:44 PM
If I were to hazard a guess at what make tau females look different I'd say slightly different facial structure, a Y shaped face crater and a slightly more rounded body (There's a reason wimminz look like that and it's not to do with looking hot).

As for big fat tau tats I'm not sure, I figure they've probably lost them due to selective breeding.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Gornon on March 15, 2008, 12:50:12 AM
Hey did you do this one too?  Though I admit I am rather poor in the art section and telling different artists apart.

(https://www.40konline.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi231.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee243%2FGornon%2F1205539409948.jpg&hash=07b2c9ce0b9b8c14794bf26adaecc8aeadadf422)
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Kaiizen on March 15, 2008, 01:42:15 AM
Yeah, that was my first attempt. Kinda drew myself into a corner there so I elected not to show it everywhere =\.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Irandrura on March 15, 2008, 08:46:09 AM
To add a few thoughts myself...

If we take seriously Xenology's claims seriously, and in this particular case it seems reasonable to take it as a broad outline (though remaining skeptical of the specifics, naturally), the Tau are a mammalian race, possibly originally herbivorous ruminants, though the origins of the Fire caste in hunting groups suggests an omnivorous diet. In any case, that does suggest certain broad similarities with the human race and other primates. I see no reason why the Tau would not follow the same basic pattern as our terrestrial mammals, and so, like our races, their females would tend to be more lightly built and more flexible than the males. The degree to which they are may be less pronounced than in humans, but it seems to me that Tau females would look more 'feminine' than Tau males, by human standards of femininity.

As such, I quite like your pictures, Kaiizen. In a general sense, I would imagine Tau females looking something like that. Perhaps not exactly like that, but it fits the basic idea. I must say I'm pleased that those Tau women aren't over-sexualised - something this game is often at risk of. Some Sister of Battle artwork springs to mind, which is kind of creepy, as they're supposed to be chaste and modest.

That said, sexuality isn't irrelevant either. What Tau taboos exist and don't exist could be an interesting question, though I hesitate to proceed with that line of thought. Rummy, do you think we can handle a few thoughts on that?

On another note, Khemri mentioned hair as a status symbol before, and I'd be inclined to agree with him. One also has to point out that in some areas, particularly the Fire caste, long hair can be a practical liability. Contrary to the pictures, I'd guess most Fire caste Tau would have shaven heads or keep their hair closely cropped. The Tau are usually represented as a quite pragmatic race, after all. Perhaps as time goes by more ostentation is allowed, for ceremonial purposes. Speaking of hair, any hints on colour? Most artwork we see sticks to plain black; is that all of it, or would Tau have a greater range of colours? They're advanced enough to have invented hair dye, if worst comes to worst. ;)
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: skalnok on March 15, 2008, 09:33:10 AM
in the book firewarrior ( and yes i know it was horrible) there are several efemale firewarriors in kais's squad,and im pretty sure that their armour covers any "womanly gifts" and they look very similar
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Gornon on March 15, 2008, 11:24:28 AM
Quote
I must say I'm pleased that those Tau women aren't over-sexualised - something this game is often at risk of.
I like the way he presented the women, too.  Far too much in the land of geekdom, there are Twi'lek dancers.

Quote
Some Sister of Battle artwork springs to mind, which is kind of creepy, as they're supposed to be chaste and modest.
I know what you mean; things like the page 12-13 artwork.  At least their armor is full plate.

Quote
Contrary to the pictures, I'd guess most Fire caste Tau would have shaven heads or keep their hair closely cropped.  Perhaps as time goes by more ostentation is allowed, for ceremonial purposes.
I think you might be on to something.  It occurs to me that hair would not be so much of a problem in a Battle Suite cockpit, would it?  It won't get caught on branches or have trouble fitting under a helmet.  So, one of the benefits, fringe in the case, of being in a suite is the right to grow your hair long.  It would be a way to state that you have a reached a higher status.  That way Suite pilots could be recognized and given honor for their deeds.  If hair is a pallet for decorations signifying a persons exploits, it might be inferred that the rights to talk about those exploits only apply once a Warrior has demonstrated that he is dedicated enough to the Greater Good to be able to brag about those exploits, but still keep his mind on the Greater Good, and hence also be worthy for a Battle Suite.  I think being able to keep ones ego in check is a requirement for earning a Suite, IIRC.

Quote
Tau have a greater range of colours?
Shadowsuns is red, I think.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Irandrura on March 16, 2008, 04:36:56 AM
I think you might be on to something.  It occurs to me that hair would not be so much of a problem in a Battle Suite cockpit, would it?  It won't get caught on branches or have trouble fitting under a helmet.  So, one of the benefits, fringe in the case, of being in a suite is the right to grow your hair long.  It would be a way to state that you have a reached a higher status.

There could also be a traditional element to it, going back to the ancient Fire caste tribes. The codex mentions Fire caste squad markings as deriving from pre-Ethereal warpaint - use of hair as a status symbol may have a similar origin. As such longer, more elaborate hair could be associated with more traditional septs, such as Sa'cea or Vior'la. The role of such traditions within the Fire caste are potentially interesting, counterpointing the more modern, technologically advanced techniques we associate with the Fire caste.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Gornon on March 16, 2008, 04:07:14 PM
Quote
The role of such traditions within the Fire caste are potentially interesting, counterpointing the more modern, technologically advanced techniques we associate with the Fire caste.

The Fire Warriors are very traditional.  One thing that is stressed about the Fire Cast is how much weight they place on honor and tradition, rather odd considering their normally pragmatic approach to situations.

I think that in this case, hair braids are a Tau thing, not just limited to the Fire Cast.  Glancing at page 9 of the new dex shows that all Tau have their hair braided.  I think that, to the Tau, hair beads, braids, and ribbons are similar to our tattoos, piercings, and clothing style.  Hair decoration would be a compromise between the unity that they stress and still being able to point out individual accomplishments.  Hair decorations means everyone has to show off the same way, and hair decorations means that everyone can wear similar cloths to show they are not better then anyone else.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Irandrura on March 17, 2008, 04:49:03 PM
I think that in this case, hair braids are a Tau thing, not just limited to the Fire Cast.

Possibly, though as we are dealing with four distinct ethnic groups, it seems likely that each caste would have its own traditions. I agree with you that the Fire caste, and the Air caste too for that matter, would be among the most traditional, owing to their greater isolation from Tau society as a whole, but all castes likely have distinct customs.

Then, naturally, different septs and worlds will have their own ways, and even different groups within those groupings according to social links across caste lines, and so on and so forth. As such I wouldn't generalise that all Tau will braid their hair (just as, in your analogy, not all humans are tattooed or pierced). It may be traditional, evoking images of honour, respectability, the martial pride of the ancestors, etc., but I'm sure their sense of style goes beyond just that.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: loko shas-o on January 21, 2009, 01:36:07 PM
i always felt that Tau were not far removed from an insect stylised society; various castes fulfilling specified roles which have determined their intellect and physical properties, one ruling caste which the others follow without hesitation, allowing productivity and purpose beyond the normal levels.

this would explain the high speed adaption and technological advancement and also the ethereals strange powers over the other castes, also a plausable explanation for the suspicious interaction with the vespid.

how this concerns females is that it would make sense that the females are infact physically equal to the males however are capable of increasing greatly in size to a 'queen' in order to spawn, younger fire&air caste females would be allowed to serve militarily, this would act as an advanced form of natural selection in order create a next generation of smarter and stronger tau from the surviving females.

i don't know if any of these points have been made before but i hope i made sense, i'm new to tau and warhammer in general however i think it's reasonable
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: Tethesis on January 21, 2009, 01:43:15 PM
The BL book Xenology features a Tau dissection, and the Tau itself is supposed to be female, though if you look at the picture, there isn't really any distinguishing features that separates them from males. They just have the corresponding equipment but no breasts or even different facial features. From what I could see and understand from the text.
Title: Re: Female Tau
Post by: The GrimSqueaker on January 21, 2009, 01:43:35 PM
Female Tau are everywhere.

I'd heard that Tau women are kept primarily out of the army to ensure a breeding line for the Caste though I'm not sure of the veracity of this, word of mouth, or if it's been retconned in later editions. 

That awful book Fire Warrior mentioned mixed sex Teams in operation as well as in training.

Late Edit:
Quote
Kais recognised the squat physique of the shas’la on point: a female named Keth’rit who had trained with him on T’au.

Really late edit 2:
Quote
KorÕvre Rann TÕpell, ensconced within the comfortable confines of the second shuttle’s cockpit, nodded in satisfaction at the sensor displays. Glancing at the concave grid of viewscreens before her, she noted that her sister vessel had finished deploying its cargo of fire warriors and was beginning to lift clear. Nodding, she finalised her smooth descent with practiced ease and tapped at a control, remotely informing the deck officer that disembarkation could begin.


However, this thread was from last March and it's generally not a good idea to reply to anything more than a few weeks old.  ;)

Welcome to the Forum all the same.

Cheers.