Character Progression
No matter where you were found, what rank you were and role, the members you have selected will start at a Shas'ui given the chance to prove himself amongst their peers. Only the best would get the chance to become a Shas'vre, and only if they survive! Every mission you send your Cadre into will be worst than the last. The higher rank you promote your members, the more difficult opposition you'd be tasked to.
The best way we've developed to find out the kind of resources to be given to each Leader of yours is to record their combat experience and performance by;
- Any enemy your Cadre kills, you get half of their Point Value into Experience Points
- Any enemy your Leader kills, you gain their full Point Value into Experience Points
- Any Side Objectives your allies get gain you 2.5% of the enemies Points in the match
- Any Side Objectives your Cadre get gain you 5% of the enemies Points in the match
- Any Main Objectives your allies get gain you 5% of the enemies Points in the match
- Any Main Objectives your Cadre get gain you 10% of the enemies Points in the match
- If you kill the Cadres designated enemy you get a 25% Point bonus on that kill
The Experience Points needed to get to the next rank is 150. The cost to unlock any new suit, ability, equipment, hard wiring and experimental tech is to reach 150 xp then go over into the value of that item example;
150 Points= Shas'ui-Shas'vre
150+54 (204) Points= Sniper Drone unlock
Should take it slow in the ranking up until you unlocked all the right abilities, equipment, hard wiring and experimental tech that will make your Battlesuit feel like what you'd like to pilot. Spend less time in larger high profile suits like the Riptide until you unlocked decent stats to add to it. Tau ranks are;
- Shas'Ui - The second rank among the Tau. A Shas'ui would be the leader of a squad of Fire Warriors (equivalent to an Imperial Space Marine Sergeant), or a Tau Battlesuit pilot, while a Por'Ui would be a mid-ranking envoy or diplomat.
- Shas 'Vre - The third Tau rank. A Shas'vre is a Battlesuit team leader or bodyguard, a Fio'vre would be the foreman of a Tau factory, and a Kor'vre a fighter pilot. +1 to BS and WS
- Shas 'El - The fourth and second highest Tau rank, acknowledged as one of high esteem. Shas'el are Commanders, Kor'el command Tau spacecraft, and a Fio'el would be an engineer.
- Shas 'O - The highest Tau rank. Kor'o would be the title of a fleet admiral, while Shas'o would be of the highest levels of command and fearsome warriors (usually placed in command of one or more cadres), and an Aun'o is the highest rank of Ethereal as Ethereal Supreme and head of the Ethereal High Council, revered by all Tau as the leader of their race. This is who you're, in command of your Cadre
Shas'els get a +1 BS to a max of 2+ Ballistic Skill, and 3+ Weapon Skill
The first completed Trial by Fire doesn't require you to use excess xp you unlock your first suit, cadre position, or vehicle.
Abilities
Based on what your group likes, you can either use the advancements and abilities from this rule set or play with 40K narrative character creation, or a hybrid of both.
Deployable Force
Experience Points can be used to request extra equipment for your next battle. Once the units are chosen for deployment, you may use your xp to suppliment. Every point value of any model is worth one xp that you gained in battle,once your xp is used to request more forces, you loose that xp permanently. These new models must be announced after all Deployable units are chosen and the fact you used xp to request them, example; Every side of the battlefield has 300 points each deployed, you have 140 xp and see that you're going to loose this battle or it'll be close so you bite the bullet and spend 69 points on a Crisis suit with 2x CION Blasters and ATS to assist you on this mission. The enemy cannot match your Deployed Force post spending your xp, but they can spend their own xp on more assistance as well. These requested models are no longer under your control after this battle. This model can come in at anytime including with the main force. Be creative and have fun