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INTERVIEW·WHITE DWARF 400

Battlesuits: The Riptide Unleashed

April 2013·pp. 86–87

THE SHORT VERSION

Matt Holland begins the Riptide project by asking why the Tau need a larger suit rather than simply a larger gun. Cardboard mock-ups test scale before the new concept settles into the existing battlesuit family. The pilot becomes an elite protector who can quickly reinforce a weak point and shield comrades. Risking an experimental reactor supports that narrative of service to the Greater Good as well as explaining the model’s equipment.

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Find this article in White Dwarf 400, pp. 86–87.

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EditorialWD 400 · p. 1

Opening Salvo

Jes Bickham celebrates four hundred issues with a larger magazine and a substantial Tau release. A retrospective investigates their battlesuits, while the team builds an industrial battlefield for their first battle report. Dave Andrews, Mark Bedford and Phil Stutcinskas help complete the project within two days. Former editors’ reflections connect those current hobby projects to the magazine’s longer history.

Warhammer 40,000T’au Empire
April 2013Read summary
ReviewWD 400 · pp. 6–7

Sun Shark Bomber and Razorshark Strike Fighter

The new Tau aircraft kit offers a bomber and a flexible strike fighter with a shared sleek silhouette. The Sun Shark generates pulse charges beneath its hull and can detach Interceptor Drones to defend it. The Razorshark instead uses a rotating quad ion turret and concealed wing missiles. Extended fold-out descriptions explain how these mechanisms distinguish Tau aircraft from the more conventional weapons of other armies.

Warhammer 40,000T’au Empire
April 2013Read summary
ReviewWD 400 · pp. 8–11

XV104 Riptide Battlesuit

The Riptide introduces a much larger suit without abandoning the established battlesuit family. A nova reactor, large shield and interchangeable main weapons give it a clear experimental identity. Numerous articulated joints allow varied poses, with locating pins simplifying a standard assembly. Dan recommends keeping the arms and jet pack separate during painting, and identifies compatible support systems and the accompanying Shielded Missile Drones.

Warhammer 40,000T’au Empire
April 2013Read summary