Battlesuit
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Battlesuits are powered exoskeletons used by the forces of the Tau Empire. Their name derives from the term "Her'Ex'Vre", or "Mantle of the Hero".
Role on the Battlefield
Tau Battlesuits are not like Imperial Power Armor in their role. They serve as command platforms for Vre, El, and O level officers as well as heavy mobile weapons platforms, able to swiftly relocate from firing position to firing position while laying down constant barrages of long range firepower. Most of them are outfitted with jetpacks for this purpose.
Types
XV02 Pilot Battlesuit
An experimental model made for vehicle pilots (obviously) currently undergoing field testing; although it provides less protection than Fire Warrior armor, it compensates by allowing a pilot to interface more effectively with their vehicles, negating the need for multiple crew members. The only one known to exist is in the possession of Shas'la T'au Sha'ng (aka Longstrike), who was selected for his reputation as a peerless Hammerhead pilot.
XV15 Stealthsuit
Little more than modified Fire Warrior Armor, it was outfitted with stealth systems allowing it to infiltrate. Also carries markerlights. These older units are being phased out in favor of the XV25 series.
XV22 Command Suit
Officially part of the Stealthsuit line, this heavier unit is quite expensive to produce, as such it is limited in use to commanders (like Commander Shadowsun). With the right equipment and abilities you can make it go three times faster than a normal Stealth Suit (red paint optional).
XV25 Stealthsuit
An improvement over the XV15, larger, heavier and better armored while still retaining the maneuverability and subtlety of the XV15 series.
XV46 Vanguard Void Suit
Basically a Tau Terminator armor, bigger than XV2 series, smaller than XV8 and as heavily armoured as XV88 while still light enough to have jetpacks. It is designed solely for Space Hulk investigating missions. XV46 is highly effective against certain xenos species that are famous for slaughtering terminators like they are nothing. With fuckton of burstcannons, flamers and fusion guns on each of the suits little buggers would find a hard time getting close enough but then there are electroshocks and othe counter-charge systems to zzap any fuckers lucky enough to break through walls of fire. To make Tau version of Space Hulk even less grimdark this suits are even equipped with smart ejection systems which are programmed to deliver the pilot back on the board of his ship if his suit got wrecked. Being a niche equipment, XV46s are rarely seen outside of space hulk missions.
XV8 Crisis Battlesuit
The Tau's general-purpose battlesuit that can be outfitted with a dizzying array of weaponry and be built for any occasion. It also comes in with jump jets that allow it to bypass dangerous/impassable terrain and also allows it to quickly shoot at enemies and jump back to safety before the enemy has any time to react.
XV88 Broadside Battlesuit
A modified XV8 battlesuit that traded its jump packs for two smart missile systems and a twin-linked Heavy Railrifles. They provide Tau infantry anti-armor, and now, anti-air fire support.
A single 3-man team of Broadsides entrenched in cover is enough to deter all but the heaviest tanks from getting in range of it, lest he wants his warmachine to turn into an overpriced brick of burning cover.
They are almost as well armored as a Terminator, but thanks to the bulk of their weapons and portable generators needed to charge them, Broadsides are one of the few battlesuits to lack jetpacks.
XV9 Hazard Battlesuit
Unlike most Tau battlesuits, the XV9 is designed solely for fast and hard close-range engagements rather than having the option of going either close and long or being cloaked while engaging the enemy up-close, which is quite odd since this is a bit of deviation from traditional the T'au combat doctrine. XV9 series suits are noticeably tougher than any battlesuit available, can carry absurdly powerful weaponry due to their increased power output, and along with the standard jump packs, comes in by default with vectored retro-thrusters that allows them to escape close combat if they're ever charged. It should be noted that the number 9 is a significant number to the Tau given that they count in base 8 (as opposed to humanity's base 10), meaning the Tau essentially inventing a new number for a battlesuit that is cranked up to 11.
XV104 Riptide Battlesuit
A new, extra-large battlesuit (at twice the size of the XV8) that resembles the bastard offspring of a Gundam (specifically the ZZ Gundam, what with its xboxhueg build, optional missile system and rapetastic but stupidly risky energy weapon) and a Metal Gear that will be making its first appearance in the 6th edition codex. Arguably more of a vehicle than a suit of armor, the Riptide's primary weapon can be either a heavy burst cannon or an ion accelerator (with twin smart missile systems, fusion blasters or plasma rifles as backup weapons), while its defensive prowess is supplemented by a portable shield generator. All of these can be made significantly more powerful if the prototype Nova Reactor built into the suit is used to charge the weapon or shield; however, doing so runs the risk of overloading the generator, releasing deadly radiation that can injure or kill the pilot.
While incredibly powerful, Riptide's prime drawback is that the materials used to manufacture it are rare. Thus, their numbers remain fairly small within the Tau Empire's forces. Not that you'd know since every god damn Tau list has them flying out of their asses.
XV107 R'VARNA BATTLESUIT
essentially a riptide that threw mobility away for more armour and two huge guns