40k Lore! How the Tau Empire Survives in a Big 40k Galaxy!

[@datnoob4394]

I imagine something like this happened when the T'au met the Imperium "what the hell what kind of psychopaths attack every alien race they see?" then when they encountered the rest of the universe "Oh, oh that's why"

[@draochvar9646]

Yea, that's basicly it

[@ronaldheberlein5823]

The Tau were ignorant but they are fast learners so yeah, I imagine the 40k universe taught them a lot very quickly.

[@James-ir7om]

And the ordo xneose does not know what the manly man emperor has said

[@MrDucktastic]

"Who the fuck exterminates an entire planet?!" *Runs into the Tyranids* "Oh, oh that's why"

[@erikjohnson5549]

@@MrDucktastic Discovers chaos. Entire Ethereal chast "ohhh fuck, well... This explains a lot"!

[@pbbj893]

Democles Gulf Crusade. Imperial Forces: "Aw. That was too short. I barely had a chance to gain glory on the field of battle". Tau Empire: "Aaaaaaah! It's the apocalypse!!!" XD haha.

[@tn_bluetick231]

PBBJ 89 kinda new to 40k. Was it a book series or was it something for the table top?

[@AbyRemy]

After watching the Vraks vedios the "crossed" does not even compear to it

[@BaronVonMott]

@@tn_bluetick231 Try and find the old book "Space Marine Battles: Blades of Damocles". That does a good job of portraying the early Imperium-Tau interactions, and it's a good introduction to some notable characters too. Alternatively, "Rogue Trader: The Omnibus" is also set in the early days of Human-Tau contact, and features some rare 40k naval combat scenes.

[@pbbj893]

@@tn_bluetick231 Well, in the former edition of 40K (7th Edition, we are currently in 8th Edition) Games Workshop ran a twin-Box Set that revolved around the Democles Crusade. One set was White Scars vs Tau Empire and the other was Raven Guard vs Tau Empire if memory serves me right. Was a while back though. Like 2008-2009 I think. I believe one was called Mont'ka and the other Kauyon. These names were added to the current Tau Empire codex as extra "one use only" rules if I'm not mistaken.

[@Rellana1]

I'm surprised that the Tau still have a sept world and that the Imperium didn't just exterminatus it before they left as a parting gift.

[@hammerheadtheseawing3263]

*their

[@dylant3597]

the perfect first comment

[@brandonakin87]

Beat me to it

[@Iskornst]

I had to go back to the front page to check what i saw. it happens

[@fatguyfrommy8421]

They're

[@MrEpz4321]

Maybe he did it intentionally to troll Reddit.

[@Taluien]

The Tau are now banned on r/40KLore, for having been featured by ArchWarhammer. So long, Greater Good.

[@alexmalyarchuk1723]

Also combination of 4, 0 and k, especially 40k, should be banned - 'cos Arch use those numbers and letter. Oh, that latin alphabet should be banned also?

[@TheSeanoops]

Alex Malyarchuk yes, in favor of the Cyrillic alphabet. He who shall not be named has never used the Cyrillic alphabet to my knowledge.

[@didiwever834]

Hehe Gut one my Freund

[@alexmalyarchuk1723]

@@TheSeanoops or thai alphabet, because why fuckin no?) But no-no to tibetian alphabet, becaise it will upset nation that shall not be named.

[@frede1185]

Vulcan 14 ved probably uses it, and he talks to Arch and Sargon too, so we have to go with the Chinese alphabet

[@nweasels]

Fire warrior during Splinter Fleet Gorgon incursion: "Ours is not to question why, ours is just to do or die." Siege of Vraks Veteran: "You too huh?"

[@kishinasura1989]

Hanz quite talking to the filthy xenos. We have 12 kilometers of trenches to dig before dinner

[@captainpuffinpuffinson4769]

"Shot their diplomats" Well that is just basic curiosity in the great imperium of man... it is not like they had a real use for them

[@pbbj893]

Tau Empire: "Would you like to receive the word of The Greater Good sir?" Space Marine: "No, but I'll give you a Bolter Round to the head free of charge, Xenos!" The Adeptus Astartes... Mankind's answer to "What ever happened to subtlety?" XD haha

[@wert1234576]

So let me get this straight you saw a zeno and killed it? Good work have a metal and one hour R&R.

[@captainpuffinpuffinson4769]

@@wert1234576 Chaplin "Did you speak with xeno?" Astartese "He was talking..." *plasma gun noise* Chaplin "Heretic"

[@foolofaSpoons]

honestly, seems merciful beyond anything else the other races would do

[@Nyghtking]

@@foolofaSpoons I mean it depends, the tyranids would be quick but terrifying, the orcs probably wouldn't be that quick, the dark eldar definitely wouldn't be quick and neither would chaos.

[@Zakvadr1995]

I’d like to see the entire T’au races reaction to a proper galaxy map showing them where everyone’s borders are. “I’ll get the shit shovels” is probably an understatement.

[@fumarc4501]

@Zack Flowers An Up to Date map would probably have the same effect on the Imperium at large.

[@stevenrith2386]

FUmarc Not really, imperium kinda uses to it for 10k years and fighting all kind of enemies at all fronts whereas the Tau still live in their bubble that convinces they are the only true civilized empire but in reality... bitches_laughing.png

[@wert1234576]

Show it to the orks and watch them weep with joy

[@Marinealver]

I'm still waiting for some wormhole passage to bring the Tau to the Eye of Terror.

[@Marinealver]

@@wert1234576 look at all dem fighty spots WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHHH!!!!!

[@jakefrost7404]

*_The last time I was this early, the Damocles Gulf had not yet seen the cleansing fires of Exterminatus._*

[@jakefrost7404]

@Lord Azreal Lais *_We might have, milord, but I believe that I might have been referring to the Agripean grass that I was trying to unload at the time._* *_I hope those poor Vraksians managed a good puff or two before the Death Korps got to them, that was some of my best stock._*

[@misterwhalrus7334]

Being outside of the Astronomican's range helps dealing with the Imperium

[@robertnelson9599]

If only they had a mobile mini-Astronomicon that could be placed on a ship so they can enter those areas outside the normal Astronomicon's range.

[@greyhunter3271]

@@robertnelson9599 in the rouge trader rpg books I believe that is a upgrade for your ship. Been a while and I'm not sure if there cannon or not

[@heathenpride7931]

Grey Hunter I imagine not. Not grimdark enough.

[@KahavaveCAPIPI]

​@@robertnelson9599 That's not how the Astronomicon works. Its a beacon. A navigation point. It gives a ship an idea of where they are relative to earth. Having that on your ship would only make it so that other people within its range could tell where they are relative to you. Mostly what Imperial ships do outside the Astronomicon is rely on very short jumps of only a couple light years. Something COULD go wrong, sure, but there's much less guesswork involved. Prior to the Astronomicon, they used a combintion of that and weaker non Emperor fueled beacons that would effectively give them limited points; key in to one beacon, jump, keep your eye on it, and when its about to go out of range drop out to key into another or use jumps of less than five or so light years to limit risk.

[@Gauntlet1212]

Don't quote me on this, but I think astropth chores that act like small beacons are a thing. As is warpjumping without a navigator, much smaller jumps calculated by the ship's cogitators, somewhat more risky and time consuming, but still. I'm pretty sure I've stumbled across this in some novel or codex or lore book. Could be older fluff though.

[@phreakazoith2237]

Damn those xenos! Their superior housing and functioning toasters are an insult to the omnissiah!

[@grantmeyer6269]

Stop confusing lore. The Omnissiah is a Tau Battlesuit.

[@nicholasleclerc1583]

@Frant Meyer What ? No, it’s how the Cult Mechanicus calls the God-Emperor

[@許進曾]

I guess that the reason the tau have better toaster is might due to them having a bloody stc. This is intolerable, gather up every guard, krieg, Titan, Astarte, and skitarri you can find, its time for the crusade to reclaim our lost technology.

[@patrik9328]

Cyberdongs

[@cnlbenmc]

The Tau think that the Imperium is the worst thing ever. Little do they realize is that the Imperium is Humanity's response to the horrors of the Galaxy.

[@Blutwind]

But Humanity the worst thing ever.... problem so is everyone else... besides Eldar they are just embarissing themself

[@KossolaxtheForesworn]

tau are naive as fuck. u forget that thing about their species.

[@grantmeyer6269]

Um. Hate to break it to you, but according to Codex: Genestealer Castes, the T'au are bigger than the Imperium. It's the Imperium who fight a losing battle.

[@cnlbenmc]

+@Lord Admiral Spire+ Drugs you say; maybe he's on Communism? It tends to warp the brain.

[@grantmeyer6269]

@Lord Admiral Spire I did, silly goose. Its page 69 of Codex: Genestealer castes. It says so right there one the page.

[@YorktownUSA]

Everyone is complaining about 'there' versus 'their' empire, when obviously it's OUR empire. [Soviet anthem]

[@dermotbresnehan6836]

Best comment here.

[@lastmanstanding5423]

soo many grammmar nazis 'ere... feck off grrammar nazis and enjoy the shovv...

[@hectorandem2944]

Profile picture checks out.

[@kuropotato8097]

@@lastmanstanding5423 Grammar Nazis are the only types of Nazis that exist in Arch's fanbase.

[@Hopeofmen]

*GREATER GOOD*

[@zenor36]

Evidence Arch is a psyker. Me: Coming home and randomly wondering how the Tau have survived for so long. One hour later. Arch:"Here's how."

[@UnknownSquid]

The Tau have survived because they have the deadliest and most outlandish special trait to exist in all of 40k, shared by only one other faction. The ability to adapt, and grow stronger from their losses. Only the Tyranid share this trait. Had the Tau been a tiny clone empire of the Imperium during the Damocles Crusade, sharing the exact same tech, culture and policies, they would have been severely weakened by the permanent irreplaceable losses, and wiped out long ago.

[@Ra.vanZon]

*yes hello Inquisitor, yes yes, yes this comment*

[@fumarc4501]

Heresy!

[@kuropotato8097]

@@UnknownSquid That's where you are incorrect. The only reason why many consider the imperium to be badly managed, is because it is so flipping massive. There is literally no way to adapt to everything happening to it. The reason the Tau are so damn flexable is because they are tiny compared to the imperium. The power to make decision is all made by the Ethereals. It's not like humans are too dumb to realize a certain tech doesn't work against certain enemy. It's just that the high command is way too slow to react due to the sheer size of the imperuim. If the imperium was a tiny empire facing an overwhelming threat, they will adapt accordingly. If a human can somehow adapt and survive in an underhive, you can bet that a group of them can adapt and survive against pretty much anything.

[@UnknownSquid]

@@kuropotato8097 I'm not really talking about management or any given individuals ability to adapt, I was more talking about the Imperiums massive institutional and cultural aversion/failure to maintain and progress their technologies, and their widespread inability to replace or repair their equipment. It's virtually illegal to pursue any real kind of technological innovation or even recovery, beyond "It's a new bolter round". It's a civilisation where the line, "This ancient comms array uses ancient technology we do not fully understand. If it falls to the enemy now, we will be unable to repair it." is considered normal. In the hypothetical miniature Imperium example, I was talking about how if they lost their only Titan, it's gone forever. If they loose a number of Astartes and are unable to recover the geneseed (Tyranid don't leave left overs after a victory), then their available pool would be forever reduced and weakened. The Tau don't have that problem. Everything they build can be replaced. In a situation where the Tau possessed equal resources and territory to the Imperium, every Imperial Titan would be forced to face a hundred KX139 Supremacy Armours. Because that's the only thing stopping the Tau from doing exactly that. Resources.

[@f.powell8724]

The Imperium: defense in depth The Tau: strategic defense

[@CThyran]

The Tau: defence in obscurity

[@toniodu371200]

The imperium : defense in exterminatus

[@blood6hound]

Will Arch ever run out of Lore to bless us with his warm, dulcet, velvety tones? I hope not.

[@thegoatman9231]

Depends on how Marvel and Disney affects 40k.

[@fluoridegood4you622]

@@thegoatman9231 AH HA HA HA, IF ONLY YOU KNEW HOW BAD THINGS COULD GET!

[@deathbytouch4252]

Now that would be heresy good sir

[@tadejdular5453]

Dude there is still 17 and 1/2 primarch to cover So i think not 😁

[@wert1234576]

Someday yes but not for many many snows

[@iamkrohn]

I think the main reason the Tau are tolerated by the Imperium is that they secure a flank for the Imperium for the cost of a few world's. The Tau handle the Orcs and Tyranids of the Sector freeing up Imperial Forces for the eye of terror

[@fredapel6039]

Seems reasonable

[@jack1701e]

A race who's tech makes them difficult to combat, who are advanced and not overly hostile to the Imperium. Yeah that sounds like a good reason. Let them deal with it so the Imperium can focus on other things.

[@iamkrohn]

@@jack1701e yah it only costs them a few worlds to secure a flank. Now if the Tau figure out Necron FTL, then the imperium will pay attention.

[@janbananberg357]

I think its more likely that the empire have greater threats to deal with. Empire of Man is extremely xenophobic and will not suffer mercy upon xenos, heretics or daemons.

[@bruceweiner5306]

@@janbananberg357 that's what he's saying...

[@elysiankentarchy1531]

The Tau survive by praying that their model sales won't go down.

[@trevorwall87]

As long as triple riptide with drone wall spam exists they'll be fine 🤣🤣

[@firstnamelastname8058]

This was the best comment I've seen for this vid. :D

[@comradefriendship]

Well they don't have a presence in the warp, so no praying for them

[@DeusExMachina10001]

The Tau: "Hah! Silly humans, thinking their Empire is the actual Empire." Then the Winged Hussars arrived.

[@comradefriendship]

Does the T'au empire being called an "Empire" make them heeeeeeretics???

[@biocaster777]

@@comradefriendship They're already Xenos, any more branding would be redundant. They die all the same.

[@adriancontreras7523]

10:24 .... excuse me wtf? Is that a tau trying to engage in MELEE!? Against a SPACE MARINE!? He MUST be suicidal lmao!

[@grantmeyer6269]

Laughs in Farsight, and literally anything above a crisis suit.

[@DurzoBlunts]

Might not be 100% lore, BL Fire Warrior has some good pages on fire warrior on space marine and even demon 1v1. The average fire warrior is very similar to a samurai in will power and cunning ability in the fight.

[@dragonkxk6309]

@@DurzoBlunts well the tau were based on Asians hence short height, love of family, naivety and class systems (i exclude the china from the list well they would be like the tau on steroids and absolutely evil which tau are not entirely)

[@dgd2717]

You gotta hand it to em, even in human stand point that takes balls

[@Kira-Namida]

I have always considered the T'au plot conveniences as "the one Xenos race that did get that lucky". There are uncounted alien races that do not even garner worthwhile mention, the T'au are the ones that had everything line up enough to become a galactic power (albeit a small one).

[@firelordeliteast6750]

By that logic, the Orks, Eldar, and Tyrannids also got lucky

[@matijasostojic4288]

@@firelordeliteast6750 Orks and Eldar were literally born lucky and strong and the Nids are just the ultimate galactic predator of the universe.

[@jakerose20]

" Two hundred and fifty years after the crusade, Commander Farsight finally achieved mastery of Puretide's way of war. In doing so he came to the belief that the entire Crusade was an execution of the Kauyon by Aun'va and the Ethereals. They deliberately goaded the Imperium into attacking the Tau before the humans were aware of the full scope of the Tau Empire; so as to achieve a victory over them that would hearten the Tau in the face of Humanity's sprawling galactic dominion. Farsight added this insight to the secrets which, for the greater good, he must keep from the Tau population"

[@nweasels]

Nah, I still don't believe the Ethereals were actually fully aware of the magnitude of the bear they were poking.

[@CM-os7ie]

Just pointing out, Farsight mastered 1 of many.

[@Schnittertm1]

@@nweasels They were only poking a bear? I'd rather say they poked a dragon the size of NYC. Yes, that dragon is slow to react and probably won't worry too much about a little parasite for quite some time, but if it sets its mind to eradicating the parasite....

[@Tommonius]

he may believe that and maybe tje ethereals did that but im reality the etherals could have no way of knowing the imperials would recall forces to fight a hive fleet, they had no idea just wuat they were messing with and were damn lucky

[@fabienherry6690]

Yeah they lost nearly nothing (only one sept was invaded and not taken) and this lost but not by much effect was manyfold : 1/ The population of Tau realised the threat of the imperium 2/ Gained intel on the enemy and since they are the one that adapt the most (at tyranid speed lvl ) they have more to gain to have info 3/ Gained respect from the imperium as something not easily crushed 4/ Gained a place i the "Least hated xenos species list" of the Imperium

[@hellohello4438]

Disappointed. I came for the sinophobia, sexism and racism that was promised. Sadly I have found none.

[@tgreen1071]

Lol good one :)

[@Rhysman30]

He wasn't even racist against the Tau, and shit are they hate-able.

[@Nyghtking]

@@Rhysman30 I mean morally they are probably one of the better ones, but morally and realistically tend to be different things.

[@angelopueyygarcia43]

Nyghtking The space weebs are rather naive but they sure aren’t the worse in 40k.

[@Nyghtking]

@@angelopueyygarcia43 yeah, they are actually one of my favorite groups in 40k

[@Sujad]

You know, I've always wanted a storyline or series of books where some renegade Malleus Inquisitor, upon finding that the Tau are blank spots to Chaos, that they'd try to capture a few Tau worlds and force them into service in his fight against Chaos. I could see half of each book being from the Inquisitor's perspective and the other half being random Tau soldiers/commanders and how they slowly go insane and/or start to realise how serious a threat Chaos is and fully go along with the Inquisitor because... well Chaos.

[@CM-os7ie]

Read Fire Warrior. Slightly Different, but its Imperium/Tau vs Chaos

[@Sujad]

@@CM-os7ie I have, it was actually the first 40K book I bought and that's where the idea came from initially, or at least when I read into the Tau a bit more. I didn't even realise at first they had hooves until Kais first got to see inside a human's boot and he thought about the differences between them. When I'd thought of the Inquisitor and his Tau army, I'd thought of the various different ways the Inquisitor would do what he'd need to do including having a force of Space Marines with him lead by... Ardias I think he was?

[@tranquilthoughts7233]

The Tau aren't blanks. They do have a light in the immaterium. It's just very dim and most demons flat out overlook them most of the time or consider it not worth the effort to get at them. To make this short, Tau don't have any innate advantage against chaos. Sure, they might be less likely to get posessed by a demon but they die just as easy to a demon as anybody else.

[@Sujad]

@@tranquilthoughts7233 I didn't mean blanks like pariahs, I meant more as in they have a muted, practically non-existent presence in the warp. This does actually give the Tau a degree of resistance to corruption. Sure, warpfire will turn them to silly putty the same way it'll do it to Man, Ork or whatever but actually corrupting their minds and turning them to Chaos is much harder. I can only imagine how such information would pique the interest of the Ordo Malleus and their sect is far from the most mentally stable people.

[@tranquilthoughts7233]

@@Sujad I mean, yes, it'd certainly be interesting for inquisitors from the ordo malleus. But probably more for research and experimentation purposes than for creating some kind of strikeforce from them. Also, them throwing only a very small shadow in the warp is great for not drawing attention from demons and thus avoiding corruption. But as soon as they get noticed by a demon it's no different from any human gettin noticed by a demon. And i'm pretty sure if you'd get your tau strikeforce to attack a demon even the demon will notice the tau.

[@Navinor]

Tau: We are super advanced. Tomb world: "Laughs in Necron"

[@Schnittertm1]

Yep, the Necrons in possesion of the Celestial Orrery could just snuff out the stars of the Tau without them being able to do anything against it.

[@lokenontherange]

Sigmarxism is going to start crying.

[@arielnir2679]

I can taste their salty tears from this comment..... Too salty for my taste...

[@barrybend7189]

No not even the Blueberries want Sigmarxism. It doesn't help the greater good. Sigmarxism misses too much.

[@Crossbow-xy4xg]

@@arielnir2679 We're reaching salt levels that shoulodn't even be possible.

[@chryasor9254]

@@emprahsfinest7092 a reddit page of leftists. It varies wildly how left, everything from your normal liberal to, well marxists. They have some good things there occasionally, i visit for painting and memes every now and then, but avoid the political threads, since, communists, questions such as "is meele fascist" has been asked before, though most of them seem relarively reasonable

[@cnlbenmc]

Sounds like /pol/ needs to pay them a visit.

[@kenspiracy2792]

Well if Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is anything to go by, they park their ships a half-system away from their target and make said enemy send inflammatory messages to their steam inbox.

[@nsadrone1448]

Until someone remembers that micro warp jumps exist

[@TheArklyte]

The question is how their railguns have higher distance then Nova Cannon though? Care to elaborate? Because kzbin.info/www/bejne/nn3TmKuorppnaK8 is supposed to work for both sides, not just Tau like usual.

[@kenspiracy2792]

@Lord Admiral Spire ...your defeat of Abbbadon isn't canon

[@darthsonic4135]

... Huh. It’s really weird just randomly running into you outside of HBR. Especially on a non-political video 😅

[@tssteelx]

How tyranids defend the empire: they eat everything.

[@KossolaxtheForesworn]

tau are an all you can eat buffet.

[@bryanmanuel4945]

The Tyranids they eat there problems away. You don't need to defend your empire if you just eat your enemies.

[@alotosius]

How do Space Orks defend themselves? They don't, they are always on the offense. Same with Tyranids I imagine.

[@CantusTropus]

Tyranids "defend" their "empire" by virtue of not having an empire. They're just a horde of nomadic beasties that eat things. If a Hive Fleet ever runs into a threat it's not able to deal with, it can just run away from it (in fact, it's theorized by some that that's precisely what they're doing - running away from an even greater threat out there in the wider universe.

[@Veridiano02]

How do orks do... WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, right.

[@firstnamelastname8058]

Hmmn... What would happen if/when these two hordes hit each other? would they cancel each other out?

[@kieranh2005]

@@firstnamelastname8058 its happening somewhere. An inquisitor managed to lead/guide a hive or splinter fleet (not sure which) to an orc world.

[@comradefriendship]

@@firstnamelastname8058 Not sure exactly, but I think the orks would at least enjoy it

[@gaylordzapikowski9053]

I want more Damocles Gulf Crusade lore now. The evil giggles I get from hearing the disparity of perspective on such military campaigns between the sides is absolutely heretical and I can't help but enjoy it.

[@darthsonic4135]

I’m still baffled the Space Marines committed such a ludicrous force by their standards. 8 whole bloody Chapters? I can’t help but imagine the sheer bafflement of the Imperial Commanders faces when they learned the reason this relatively small and modest expedition by Guardsmen and Navy standards was categorized as a “Crusade”. Frankly, I headcanon that the reason the Commanders were overly cautious is because they were paranoid the Space Marines knew something they didn’t.

[@legionofthedamned157]

Damn I so early, that the virus bombing of Istvan III has yet to begin

[@lamb_link]

Oof too soon, too fucking soon.

[@baleriontheblackdread6679]

No, just no, please. It still hurts .

[@legionofthedamned157]

@@lamb_link I think you mean to early haha get it ?

[@SuperDinoboy2000]

WE MUST WARN LOKEN !!!!

[@baleriontheblackdread6679]

​@@SuperDinoboy2000 Never forget the Loyal Astartes who fought to the last against the brothers and fathers who betray them.

[@kingnaga619]

Arch brings up an interesting point. The Tau aren’t anything compared to the other major players in the 40k verse. But also are far above the rest of the nameless/near nameless alien chattel the rest of the galaxy is made of. So, if it takes a major player to pose a threat/defeat you, does that make you one by default?

[@pretzelbomb6105]

More like the largest minor power. If several other minor powers (those probably exist somewhere) all banded together, they’d pose a serious threat to the Tau.

[@Amoth_oth_ras_shash]

@@pretzelbomb6105 would wager that to.... specially considering whom ever wrote the tau's must been sloppy with the basics for the 40k universe... since either what ever loop hole they have to use drones etc must be possible for other minor...or major powers... to find out/learn/use... or ,the smurfs have to have some serious changes to ther tactical doctrines and some new harsh lessons why most of the large powers fights the way they do.

[@Fragtastik]

"No wonder this circuit failed it says 'Made in the Tau Empire!'" "What'dya mean Doc? All the best stuff is made in the Tau Empire"

[@comradefriendship]

All the best stuff except for the holy bolter

[@harbl99]

1: Obscurity, they're out in the Wild East surrounded by statelets and space wilderness (think space New Zealand) 2: BFGs

[@fumarc4501]

I see this as an absolute win!

[@CThyran]

It has more to do with them being in Space Australia opposed to any weaponry. Now I'm not going to say it isn't "nice" but let's be frank here no amount of firepower is going to save you when you're entire "empire" is equal to a Tuesday of exterminatus.

[@wert1234576]

But can they kill a planet...

[@grantmeyer6269]

@@wert1234576 Yes.

[@ottovonbearsmark8876]

So the Tau themselves aren’t psychic, but what would happen if these “Pancake Bears” were corrupted by chaos?

[@TheKILLERDESTRUCTION]

Otto VonBearsmark The Tau would be fucked. They underestimate the power of chaos overall.

[@hectorandem2944]

*P L O T T W I S T*

[@ferdjur4195]

In some black library's books there are tau who either have visions pf the warp or are corrupted by chaos. They aren't completely cut out of the warp, it's just that their power is ridiculously minimal, so corrupting a Tau to chaos is more of a last resort, and it has never been effective. An example that comes to my mind is when one was corrupted by tzeentch and tried making a ritual after some murders... Just to be shot.

[@KossolaxtheForesworn]

lol they are so pathetic they dont even have psykers. **laughs in every other species in the galaxy**

[@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681]

@@KossolaxtheForesworn You do understand that existence of psykers is maybe the greatest threat to existence of almost any species? Psykers are demon lures, and a weakness in itself. They are very useful, and for Imperium, necessary, but their usefulness does not outweigh their dangers. For every heroic librarius, there is an entire world in civil war because of chaos cults caused by wild psykers being basicly chocolate soul cookies for demons.

[@mandaloretheangry9043]

Tau "let's build a bigger mech" humans "that cute"

[@charlottewalnut3118]

mandalore the angry Taunar annihilator destroys 3 war hounds and a warlord titan well fuck you too

[@PapaFunDip]

@@charlottewalnut3118 *emperor class enters the field*

[@Author_Paluthor]

@@charlottewalnut3118 *imperial reinforcements have arrived*

[@punishedbung4902]

WRONG "THERE;" IT'S THEIR!

[@koenvandamme6901]

Maybe the next episode will be about how they defend here empire.

[@dartiel6892]

It's how they choose to define thereselves you xenophobe.

[@Krisztus1Haver]

...”Missing the mid flight entertainment"... Thumbs up for detailing out the slingshot drive. 😂😂

[@fumarc4501]

Finally, an actual Lore video. Even better, one about the Tau. My favorite.

[@jesterjames7633]

Tau is kinda unique in the 40k universe. As they are the only faction that's not totally fanatically xenophobic.

[@FrostRare]

Which is why they are seemingly so hated which makes no sense to me as a Tau player. People are like “they are just a bunch of insincere, manipulative schemers that come at you with a smile but have secret evil agenda.” Idk… that “stereotype” sounds awfully familiar.

[@SolarFlareAmerica]

@@FrostRare I hear the "they're the chinese of WH40K" alot too. Between the and the antisemitism, it's kinda troubling. Wish people weren't so ready to be that messed up towards each other, but then again this is a primarily modern American+Canadian fanbase. Makes sad amounts of sense when combined with how our societies are shaping up nowadays. Xenophobia in, xenophobia out. It's no secret that there's a large fash WH40K following.

[@youcantkillme313]

@@SolarFlareAmerica cry

[@SnlDrako]

@SolarFlareAmerica cry harder commie bastars.

[@00784865]

The Tau: *exists* The Imperium: One fart of mine is about to end these xenos entire career The Imperium: *proceeds to unleash the Damocles campaign*

[@CThyran]

"Unleash" is a bit harsh for what amounts to waltzing into a bunch of xenos, killing a bunch realizing there ain't anything of value and leaving.

[@00784865]

@@CThyran true, but for the Blueberries it was the apocalypse.

[@knerf999]

So, let me get this striaght. Tau is basicly start trek. but 40k

[@mercerholt8299]

Yep and about as successful as the federation would be in this setting to.

[@comradefriendship]

Games Workshop just needed to add a faction that was classic sci-fi and not totally dark, to attract players who may not be totally into the "kill, maim, burn" part of 40k

[@samnelson9038]

The T'au's naivety is something I genuinely enjoy.

[@Slycarlo]

They got plot armor thats their secret

[@barrybend7189]

They have to deal with the Ultrasmurfs so it helps.

[@fumarc4501]

“Plot” = “Progress”

[@sephiroaone-of-nine101]

Every race has plot armor

[@Maximum_Bacon]

Yes every race has plot armor. But Tau plot is almost divine in its ability to allow them continued existence. That said, I actualy think the Tau are a cool concept. But in the grand scheme of 40K they only exist because no has bothered to truly take notice of them.

[@akustihakonen7928]

@@Maximum_Bacon Yeah, I also thought Tau were cool, a bit weeby yet also cool, before properly getting into 40k. Then I found out they're less significant than Dark Eldar and got sad.

[@BaronVonMott]

Gather round Fire Warriors! One of Puretide's best students, the great Ar'ch W'Ha'Ma, is giving a lecture on strategy...

[@MrFusionCube]

They survive by being banned on r/40KLore because of Arch Warhammer...

[@brandonevans4295]

Banned as in the can’t be mentioned anymore? And why would they ban it just because of him?

[@TheGrumbliestPuppy]

Brandon Evans they aren’t banned. This is just a meme between Arch Warhammer fans because he isn’t popular on that subreddit, due to running an alt-right channel. And also being wrong about lore pretty often.

[@wrigglenight93]

@@TheGrumbliestPuppy Show me the "alt-right channel" if you would. Also he literally is banned, you cannot mention him

[@scotcheggable]

@@TheGrumbliestPuppy he's banned because games workshop and their acolytes have literally turned into the inquisition, and he is a heretic.

[@mrwri]

"What's that ticking noise?" "The countdown." "To what?" "The Imperium waking up."

[@roguepsykerhaaker4813]

Tik Three years pass Tok Fifteen years pass Tik Yeah I don't think we need to worry too much guys

[@SangoProductions213]

So, this race can quickly innovate an entire naval structure and design - revamping the entire build - on a whim. It also has highly specialized pets and subraces, and AI. And their ships, just in their slingshot drives, can (based on the actual theoretical "warp drive") use more energy than an entire world requires (based on current Earth specs). Why is this race struggling to find planets to live on, which all have a very insignificant amount of land area relative to total mass, when it can just extract the resources of asteroids (or heck, planets), and turn them in to massive space stations which could house multiple hundreds of earths worth of population in a single solar system, and still have elbow room? If space is somehow more dangerous because "warp," in a way that a planet is somehow immune to, why not just move planets in to more favorable orbits? We are talking on the scale of galactic empires here. Such feats are kinda like.... not all that hard. Especially with Slingshot Drives. Just strap a couple of armadas to a planet (or their engines at least).

[@MarsStarcruiser]

SangoProductions213 Problem is optimal planets have a habbit of attracting orc infestation.

[@mercerholt8299]

@@MarsStarcruiser Or tyranids, or its home to a Necron tomb world

[@blankblanky5779]

To be honest if you look at the map of the Tau Empire there are alot of orbital cities.

[@SangoProductions213]

@@MarsStarcruiser the point being that you don't need optimal planets

[@MarsStarcruiser]

SangoProductions213 nope, they certainly don’t but planets however still likely playing a part in most races psychology rather than legitimate practicality.

[@IRMentat]

Fun tech, ignorant enemies. Plot armour galore. Let’s face it, any “useless” species probably got blueberry gulaged n a convenient ditch.

[@bartimaeus1887]

If the imperium was a stellaris faction would it be a fallen empire?

[@Horvath_Gabor]

Mechanically yes, but in terms of an actual game, the Imperium covers too much of the galactic landscape to be one. Though, to be honest, I would love to play a thematic Stellaris campaign where most of the galaxy is ruled by a single behemoth fallen empire, and you would have to survive, expand and advance without pissing them off, and then the late game crisis would be the fallen empire falling apart and all other empires making a grab while the power center of it sends out ridiculously huge expedition forces in order to reclaim what was lost. It would make for an interesting game.

[@ragnokulfbhert]

By Stellaris standards... Yes. Especially with the 10K years of basic stagnation on its borders & with lost worlds still being rediscovered every now and then. Now this raises the argument of if it's Awakened or not. Fallen Empires can & do have wars randomly or triggered suppressing & purging other races but again The Imperium has basically just maintained it's borders but has never stopped it's offensive stance either. The Advent of the Primaris Marines & the up coming Psychic Awakening could then be taken by Stellaris standards as the "A Giant Stirs" event & with the mostly known Extra-Galatic threat of the Nids coming in... Possiblities everywhere to fit just within those lines

[@Ras-Cal-Tri]

No... The imperium is still quite active, The Imperium being a Stellaris faction would be at the start of the game calling the War In Heaven.

[@malaficus]

The imperium of man would be a fedaul empire with divine cult and the choisen one as ruler. It would have overextended itself and is currently fighting every other empire while the prothyian scourge/tyranids crisis is starting, the necron and eldar are fallen empires. The imperium is the player who is trying to conquer the galaxie with everyone fighting against it and the tau is a primative race that became a technocracy(aka fastest research in the game)

[@Dysputant]

Tau is like rat drinking from cat milk bowl. "You can kill me, but is it worth getting bitten for few sips of milk ? "

[@Ras-Cal-Tri]

How can you conquer an Ork World when you can't krump em? When you can't even use melee?

[@chainsawpanda2]

Flamethrowers and a shit ton of kroot looking for a snack.

[@brightblue6184]

They use their weeaboo power, obviously.

[@roguepsykerhaaker4813]

Orbital bombardment, sneak attacks, long distance artillery to scatter their forces and mobile powered suits to pick them off when they're confused and split up, drown them in drones, you know the works

[@LU-nc6oy]

Lore from "He who shall not be named" is the best. Thanks HWSNBN made my Friday!

[@scottmurphy4946]

"Don't have a Tau man" Bart Simpson

[@fumarc4501]

“Eat my Short.” He says to the Kroot.

[@phreakazoith2237]

ay ay ay ay, greater good no es bueno!

[@pbbj893]

Haha XD I love that. Good one :D

[@brambleknight7217]

I would build two skaven armies before building one Tau army.

[@benjaminstorace6699]

Arch - "How The Tau Defend There Empire" Me - Perfecting the Norwegian at the cost of the English again, I see.

[@Snoogen11]

Random Citizen: "Maybe the xeno's aren't so bad" Inquisitor: *Laughs in Exterminatus*

[@privacyfirst2790]

HE who shal not be named has spoken noooo 'tis a sign of the end times....

[@jurredevries8763]

More lore less drama, If Arch keeps making the best lore videos...which he does.. The man will beat the system just by beeing damn good!

[@mylesgaddy8867]

Little blueberry. Big World.

[@danielhall6354]

immagine if the Tau almost get wiped out due to their AI rebeling

[@inienthelonewitch6745]

As the ai currently is for the tau that's impossible as the vast majority if not all tau A.I have intelligence comparable to animals

[@Schnittertm1]

@@inienthelonewitch6745 The thing is, you don't even need sentient AI for efficient signal processing, you just need properly designed algorithms. As is evidenced by the sensor fusion in modern jet fighters like the F-22, F-35 and, to a degree, Eurofighter. To be honest, most of what is called AI nowdays, I would still classify as more of an artificial response system with limited self improvement capabilities.

[@pretzelbomb6105]

SYSTEMS ACTIVE- GOAL: PROVIDE OVERWATCH FIRE SUPPORT CALCULATING... CALCULATING... TO COMPLETE GOAL: MUST DESTROY ALL HUMAN LIFE “Why do all of our AI’s hate the humans so much?” “No idea, but it works. They apparently don’t see Gue’vasa’s as human, so it’s not a problem.”

[@comradefriendship]

I hope they would finally see the Imperial Truth, and surrender to the Imperium

[@SolarFlareAmerica]

The Tau Empire is just playing AI WAR with multiple AI enemies, on hard mode. No biggie! XD

[@brianvanmaanen1897]

Do the Tau know about Vraks... What I would give for an account of the first Tau learning about this and his reaction.

[@CThyran]

"We spent more resources trying to reclaim a fortress from a religious zealot than we could or would ever waste on your "empire".

[@Bob-lr2xp]

The Tau discovering just how massive and powerful humanity is reminds me of a real life event. A Native American living during the Old West was part of a group that thought they could eventually take their land back from the Americans if they built up a big enough power base. They thought it was possible because the only white towns they've ever seen were those found in the old west. Not particularly impressive or populated. But then one of them took a train with some others to New York City. He then realized the white towns he's seen were just the absolute fringes of American power. When he saw New York's massive towers and throngs of people, he wrote a letter back home simply stating "We can't win".

[@thesystima]

I love how the small empire of blueberries has so much less trouble with ground warfare against nids than the empire of man. One of the few cases of "Don't waste lives and resources" where it works in combination with the high level of mobility their army utilizes. As opposite of the emporium of man's "Throw people into the meat grinder until the meat grinder is plucked up"

[@malicant123]

The Tau meeting the imperium must be a little like a modern college graduate's experience of getting a job outside of silicone valley

[@lastmanstanding5423]

_cries in his safe space_

[@hectorandem2944]

Yeah... *no.*

[@TheArklyte]

More like a north korean escaping and getting a job of a janitor in south korean Institute of Technology:D

[@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681]

Depends on the country, of course. Shitholes of workplaces can exist in all countries, but if you describe a country where that is a rule instead of an exception, you are not commenting on the students or the workplaces, it is simply that the whole country is a shithole and needs some good flushing.

[@TheArklyte]

@@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681 I've meant tech level. Tau is free to present hand held gravity gun, mobile teleporter, spyrer suit and AI that goes self aware and requires putting down due to existence of Void Dragon any second...

[@HalfTangible]

That description of the Damocles gulf crusade (encountering humans up to "if anything they'd been underselling the size of the imperium") is one of my favorite things on this site.

[@93Avenger93]

Credit to you for giving this is an honest attempted explanation, but realistically we all know the answer is “because plot-armor to make the smurfs blush in shame”. I’ll never get over the lunacy of “wall of drones in space” to deal with ‘nid invasions. Dunno if that got retconned but dear god.

[@CThyran]

@Anti-Federalist 1776 I really want the end of the Tau to happen by being caught in the crossfire. It would be befitting to not even by purposely killed by one of the big fish.

[@zetatrain]

Nah, the tau empire, and any other faction for that matter, is nothing compared to the ultrasmurfs when it comes to plot armor shenanigans.

[@markokrsmanovic2562]

Im sry to be that guy but Dr Miguel Alcubierres drive is not about folding the space to contract the well space in between, per say, like in that movie "Event horizon", what it is about is taking a peace of space with a ship inside it and then accelerating that space faster than the speed of light because observation of galaxies tells us that space is expanding faster than light and thus it would make such an idea possible. The problem is it would need a ton of either dark energy, which we have no idea what it is, or which is even less plausible, it would require a ton load of Negative energy. The math works tho. Halo drive on the other hand, using black hole to accelerate matter by beaming it around the BH is a much more plausible idea for a sub light speed drive which is something Dr David Kipping has been talking about. i love your take on the Tau and the 40k in general.

[@arfbark3924]

You were close Arch but what you described was a Foldspace FTL system which features similar base principles and was itself featured in the Dune Franchise by Frank Herbert as their chief method of FTL propulsion. The IRL warp-drive creates a sort-of bubble around the ship at the front of which space-time is compressed while space-time is expanded behind the ship generating a sort of "wave" that the ship surfs along to reach it's destination in this way the ship circumvents lightspeed by moving the universe around it rather than the ship itself, this eliminates the necessity for G-force compensation as there are no G-forces to compensate for since the ship isn't moving.

[@lloydno966]

They developed waifu AI, the galaxy never stood a chance And the answer is simple: A week of rituals, special candles, several sacrafices and chants.... is just replacing a fuse for the Tau. Actually understanding their tech is an advantage

[@tba113]

11:13 That really puts it into perspective. The campaign for the single planet of Vraks was larger and more involved than the *_ENTIRE DAMOCLES GULF CRUSADE._* Damn, that's... Damn.

[@aaronlarson9718]

The tau are a lot less dangerous than chaos having a demon world with enough arms and ammunition to feed an entire segmentum

[@REgamesplayer]

First axiom of defense is realizing against what you are defending against. Rogal Dorn had knew this during Horus Heresy. You can raise all the bastions and armies you wish and they will avail you nothing if you won't know against what you are defending yourself against.

[@aconcernedcommissar6261]

Tau: ha your empire can not be that big, we're the proper empire, stupid humans High lords: something going on over there eh, send the smallest amount possible, we got bigger problems Tau: that's the smallest!?

[@JohnTrustworthy]

In a way the Tau are beneficial to the Imperium. A rebellious world defecting to the Tau is a preferable alternative than falling to chaos. In that way the Imperium will either have to fight a present battle of politics(something it is adept at) or a future battle that is not against the great enemy, but against a mingy little xeno "empire". The tau also secure a small portion of the galactic edge against the Tyrranids and they also provide prosperous raiding targets for Oks, Drukhari, etc. Essentially the Tau are the perfect slave species, that can harbor the illusion of being an empire.

[@sreckocuvalo8110]

Can't wait for ''how Orks defend their own planets''

[@generalkenobi5173]

Haha they don't infact they want u to invade them so they can have a good time

[@AAhmou]

Wait, they do? I always thought they invite you with massive "Bring all your Dakka here" signs.

[@Maximum_Bacon]

With invitations?

[@spencerthefrostback4369]

Ork planetary defence as follows: WWWWAAAAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!

[@1simo93521]

Ork "wats a defendz then?"

[@ethantaylor9613]

They hit a sweet spot of being a big enough threat to the imperium that they can’t be swatted away but not large enough of a threat to send another crusade against. Also despite all of their Machiavellian twisted schemes they are undeniably less horrible then pretty much any other faction in the galaxy.

[@spagandhi]

Giant laser railguns from what I’ve heard

[@bplup6419]

"They thought the entire galaxy was theirs for the taking. Their right, their destiny to rule over every single solar system." Inquisitor George Carlin: "Bullshit jack! THAT'S OUR FUCKING JOB!"

[@Nyghtking]

10:21 the rare sight of a tau using a knife as a weapon.

[@Blade40688]

I can just imagine a naval officer launching all his torpedos and them getting intercepted and shot down with tau point defence so he just says fuck it and Rams them cause even Imperium war ships can melee

[@mikaelantonkurki]

Tau: what is rightfully ours. *Imperial Scoffing intessifies*

[@Ras-Cal-Tri]

Maybe a full crusade could ruin them... Maybe... The Mechanicus Explorator Fleet would ruin them with Nova Cannons behind the Astartes Wall and Imperial Navy Spearhead or vis versa.

[@Maximum_Bacon]

A full actual crusade? Not the force recon of Damocles? I doubt there would be any 'maybe' about it. Full crusades are sector wide expeditions impacting thousands of systems. Not 40 worlds.

[@CThyran]

Just bring a small fleet and an angry Inquisitor and the "greater good" will become the a new asteroid belt.

[@hectorandem2944]

"A full Crusade"? Lmao, even _Chaos_ ignores the Tau! 🤣

[@Andaril2]

They models sell good so no way they be squated out soon.

[@fumarc4501]

I like their Tech. Would you like a T’au brand Recaf Maker?

[@Andaril2]

@@fumarc4501 Would you like exterminatus for heresy?

[@wert1234576]

@@fumarc4501 where is mechanicus prime I need some techeresy destroyed

[@fumarc4501]

@Andaril2 It has over two hundred THOUSAND settings and recycles the cups!

[@fumarc4501]

@wert1234576 Also the micro fusion cell can be rigged into a improvised krag grenade. Catch! **Tosses the beeping Recaf maker and runs away** They’re on to me!

[@generalzimpok]

How the Tau defend THEIR* empire.

[@jamesgorman5692]

Why do the Tau have the weird aversion to right angles?

[@Ra.vanZon]

Because sloped armor

[@jamesgorman5692]

@@Ra.vanZon no if look even their spheres of expansion are avoiding right angles and so do their buildings.

[@jordimg7727]

Because they like mathematical efficiency and naturally formed structures in the universe barely have any of those, most things out there in space and earth are curvy or spherical

[@thomastegroen1274]

The Tau are so interesting, because their journey and experiences seem to mimic how humans are usually portrayed in sci fi. We're always the "lawful good" (though not always) little guys with few or no magical abilities. Humans almost always use trade and diplomacy to form alliances, and then are faced with the massive world-ending species that we have to overcome with cleverness since we ourselves are so weak. While here, humans ARE the world ending species. Or at least one of them.

[@daswordofgork9823]

Here’s how they do it, they just get killed fighting in melee.

[@dimondlord11]

Dude your videos are the only thing keeping me sane right now I work 14 hours a week and used to bring my kid to work with me I work alone in a building on a computer and I was just told I can't bring my kid to work anymore so now when I get home from work I have 10 hours to see my kid and sleep and keep house and I'm a single dad and it really really sucks

[@nigeltruitt9999]

I almost died from laughing in the shower when he goes. "And then the Damocles Gulf crusade happend"

[@hydrogenone6866]

Tau Policy Imperium: _Sneakily Get Worlds_ ORKZ: *SHOOT ON SIGHT! ! !*

[@Jane_Jackson]

Plot armour?

[@Djiimon]

I am assuming that it's something like "Too weak to be a threat, just strong enough to not be worth wiping out."

[@havefuntazarasu5367]

"the galaxy was one big happy place" - the tau circa 40001

[@maxpower3990]

Arch don't you know that Ork torpedoes are the most accurate. You strap a Snotling or Gretchen to the front and use them to steer it into the enemy. It's not like the Orks are ever going to run short of them.

[@halfcantan1208]

Ahh the nameless wonder returns

[@tavernburner3066]

37:00 heres the unsimplied description on how a warp drive works. The maximum speed an object can travel is the speed of light, but there are galaxies moving away and towards us going faster than that. What going on is reality itself is contracting and expanding to form a wave that pushes the galaxy faster than the speed of light. A warp drive creates such a wave for the ship to surf on. To use another analogy. Imagine your on a train and your running towards the front of the train. Your speed is that of the train plus the speed of your sprint. Thus one can go faster than the speed of light. What arch was describing is a worm hole generator.

[@Animefan1803]

I gotta say. I really want a summary of the Damocles crusade in the style of the Vraks series.

[@richard7199]

Honestly I’d like to see the Tau go the way of the Protoss or the Quarians. Either massive colony ships or a flotilla. Let their worlds be taken and allow them to stew in their rage as they race to stay away from the ‘nids, or loop a galaxy while “running” while strategically leaving Halo-type weapons behind. Tau can be so much more than a tiny kingdom with a Gundam fetish. Like the Protoss, lose their homework’s despite massive tech differences and be forced into exile etc etc

[@jackcanox4015]

Tau: well...we met the imperium...the eldar, the damn tyranids..savage orks bands...i guess there can't be much worse than this right?? Maybe we should expand toward that giant purple hole in space! That seems peaceful enough :D ABBADON MORTARION AND MAGNUS ENTER THE DAMOCLES SECTOR with billions of demons from all 4 gods Tau: OH sweet greater good we made a booboo!!!

[@gerardclarke1001]

The real question we should all be asking is how do the tau survive chaos? I heard the death guard invaded and they got hurt BADLY

[@nigredoooalgown6245]

The Tau souls are so weak that Chaos dosn't really give a shit about them.

[@dakotaanderson254]

The Tau basically have no presence in the warp, so chaos cant see them well, also chaos is to busy trying to buttfuck the imperium

[@omegawilliam95s36]

The Tau are vulnerable to Chaos, it’s just very difficult to get it going.

[@mysteriousstranger5873]

pretty sure they beat the death guard lol

[@brad-7012]

Tau should never mess with civilizations more ancient them themselves.

[@fumarc4501]

Tau: “And I’d do it again!”

[@iamkrohn]

Words the Emperor should have heard

[@ImperialFistStan]

The Tau seem to have almost no weaknesses. I can honestly only think of 3. 1. There are no Tau psykers ( which could be a blessing in disguise). 2. They have slow space travel. 3. They are small. Everything else is just better than most other species, especially the Imperium. It seems pretty ridiculous considering how young they are and how few resources they actually have.

[@MrCmon113]

The Eldar and the Humans were a lot more advanced in their past as well. It only makes sense for the upstarting Tau to approach a similar golden age.

[@ImperialFistStan]

@@MrCmon113 But if that is true then the Tau developed so much faster than humans. I don't see any reason for this. The only reason is an out of lore one, which is that GW wanted to make a "good guys" faction.

[@ridleydidnothingwrong]

The tau developed their society when a warpstorm covered their area of space. Given how the warp warps time it's been 4,000 years for humanity but no telling how long it's been for the tau. On the other hand it's speculated that the tau were uplifted by the eldar at some point in their history. If you want a source for this speculation peep the xenology book that covers the autopsy of a tau ethereal. Thirdly it could just be the tau mind being different that let their race advance at far as it has in such a time. The weaknesses you mentioned are few but very critical ones that has led to the deaths of many races. In a galaxy as fatal as 40k The tau being crafty as they are probably survive because of this quick thinking that let their race advance so far.