why are tau grey? - 40K Terra

captian phez · 05-31-2007

the question

why are tau grey?

Cagarner · 05-31-2007

As far as a know, its just the pigment in the skin. Same as humans with dark or tanned skin. It can also be attributed to colour of blood, like orks (yes that's right, orks have Green blood, contrary to GW painted models).

Khemri_Daemon · 05-31-2007

That seems to be the most logical explanation, if the Tau had blue blood, which I think they do, it would be responsible for their grey skin.

Icarus Athrasuriel · 06-03-2007

I would be more inclined to beleive it's to reflect light off of their skin. They have light skin, therefore they absorb less light/thermodynamic energy, keeping them cool in the hot climate of their home planet.

Cagarner · 06-03-2007

Yes, that would be the reason why they evolved to have that skin pigment.

Scrap-miester · 08-13-2007

Tau actually have red blood, if you read the Bonding Ritual fluff in the old codex, it says that "the red blood trickled down the blade of the knife"(that's not exact, but basically it says the blood was red).

-Eric

P.S. I believe blue is simply an adaptation to reflect light and stay cool as Icarus has already stated.

Warmaster Romulas · 08-13-2007

do you think the Tau are the "greys"?
have they ever been to terra and crashed in say idont know Roswell?

Stubber · 08-13-2007

I very much doubt that...
According to the fluff the Tau were only discovered in the 36th millenium as a primitive race, then the age of Apostasy started and the Imperium was a little preoccupied.
Read the Librarium article for all the details...(It's already linked in every post with the word Tau in it)

Cirative · 09-25-2007

I remember watching an episode of the Magic School Bus when I was younger, where they discussed that the food you eat basically colors your skin.

In an example, they demonstrated that if all you ate was carrots, your skin would be orange.

Likewise, if you ate nothing but lettuce, your skin would be green.

However most species need a variety of foods to survive, so the mixture of foods we eat are what give us our complexions.

So maybe the Tau eat only a grey/blue food from their homeworld or something?

Gregor Xenos · 09-25-2007

orkses must eat alot o boogers!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha booger-ha ha

DeAd_cOmMaNdO · 09-25-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by captian phez

the question

why are tau grey?

cuzGW says so. what other reason do you need?

Wakim · 09-25-2007

Omg, i`ve read something completly different at first glance

But yeah, because that`s the way they`re meant to be

Heroka Vendile · 09-25-2007

"Bluies" is the most common Imp Guard nickname for them IIRC, they have a grey-blue skin tone.
And yes, red blood, which is what Orks have too - and not just to avoid dead Orks looking like burst gooseberries (a statement I'm dredging up from the depths of my memory that i once read in white dwarf some moons ago).

EDIT:
Okay, just checked my 1st Ed Codex:Tau properly and there is no mention whatsoever of blood colour - not even in that narrative description of the bonding ritual.

masterofweirdness · 09-25-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heroka Vendile

"Bluies" is the most common Imp Guard nickname for them IIRC, they have a grey-blue skin tone.
And yes, red blood, which is what Orks have too - and not just to avoid dead Orks looking like burst gooseberries (a statement I'm dredging up from the depths of my memory that i once read in white dwarf some moons ago).

EDIT:
Okay, just checked my 1st Ed Codex:Tau properly and there is no mention whatsoever of blood colour - not even in that narrative description of the bonding ritual.

IIRC the idea of Blue Blood comes from BL books involving dead Tau.

Heroka Vendile · 10-01-2007

to my knowledge that would just be Fire Warrior and Kill Team, the later of which I have recently finished reading. No mention of blood colour, despite Kage smashing in the face of a Tau at one point.

manacycler · 12-03-2007

Tau are grey because tan and green were taken already. And no wants to have purple or yellow skin.

UltraMar · 02-01-2008

Arent they fish though? so like fish are weird colors

Dragoon King · 02-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirative

I remember watching an episode of the Magic School Bus when I was younger, where they discussed that the food you eat basically colors your skin.

In an example, they demonstrated that if all you ate was carrots, your skin would be orange.

Likewise, if you ate nothing but lettuce, your skin would be green.

However most species need a variety of foods to survive, so the mixture of foods we eat are what give us our complexions.

So maybe the Tau eat only a grey/blue food from their homeworld or something?

Like Flamingos. They are born white, but their diet consists of shrimp, and their bodies absorb the pigment. For some reason, I picture Tau blood exactly like that of the Horseshoe Crab (very blue).

Rellik · 02-02-2008

there grey for the greater good.

Torquemada Coteaz · 02-02-2008

I always throught Tau were more of a bluish tinge than full grey? That's just me.
As previously stated, I think it's that their blood is blue. Skin its self is probably what's grey (i.e. the lack of color. In humans we have white, but for them it's grey).

Oh and most people seem to make tau bleed red anyway.

so whatever.

Chaosrocks · 02-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torquemada Coteaz

I always throught Tau were more of a bluish tinge than full grey? That's just me.
As previously stated, I think it's that their blood is blue. Skin its self is probably what's grey (i.e. the lack of color. In humans we have white, but for them it's grey).

Oh and most people seem to make tau bleed red anyway.

so whatever.

Besides, who cares about tau anyway(no offence to tau lovers).

UltraMar · 02-10-2008

Again, there fish,what more do you need to now?

Captain Slow · 02-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaosrocks

Besides, who cares about tau anyway(no offence to tau lovers).

dont go there. im sure you anger davidus if he gets wind of this, hes a die hard TAU player. anyway
i suppose it is important, i know they bleed blue in most offical GW art and books etc, but that begs the question in a rich and fluffy world like 40K is there a decent explaination for why tau are grey? truthfully, i have no idea. ><

Wakim · 02-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by UltraMar

Again, there fish,what more do you need to now?

Wasn`t there a pice of fluff that puts them closer to being MOO-MOO`S?

Scoutmaster477 · 02-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wakim

Wasn`t there a pice of fluff that puts them closer to being MOO-MOO`S?

Moo-Moo's? Come on now. They are blue/grey because GW says so. Unless you want to paint them different.

Warmaster Romulas · 02-15-2008

tau players care about the Tau
im one i care about tau
i care about all the other races too
im a fluff nut so i like to know about all the races
i also think a good player should own every dex
so they can know the rules strenghs and weakness of evey enemy

05-31-2007	#1 (permalink)
captian phez Primer Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 44 Rep Power: 0 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	why are tau grey? the question why are tau grey?

05-31-2007	#2 (permalink)
Cagarner The Omnissiah Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Posts: 1,442 Rep Power: 3 Thanks: 46 Thanked 50 Times in 22 Posts	As far as a know, its just the pigment in the skin. Same as humans with dark or tanned skin. It can also be attributed to colour of blood, like orks (yes that's right, orks have Green blood, contrary to GW painted models). __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-31-2007	#3 (permalink)
Khemri_Daemon Trooper Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 112 Rep Power: 2 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	That seems to be the most logical explanation, if the Tau had blue blood, which I think they do, it would be responsible for their grey skin. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

06-03-2007	#4 (permalink)
Icarus Athrasuriel The Emperor's Yesman Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Candy Cane Forest of LIES!! Or Glasgow. Posts: 902 Rep Power: 2 Thanks: 8 Thanked 27 Times in 14 Posts	I would be more inclined to beleive it's to reflect light off of their skin. They have light skin, therefore they absorb less light/thermodynamic energy, keeping them cool in the hot climate of their home planet. __________________ My favourite quotes: "There is something infantile in the presumption that somebody else (parents in the case of children, God in the case of adults) has a responsibility to give your life meaning and point." ~Richard Dawkins "Man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all." ~Aristotle "Must not all things at the last be swallowed up in death?" ~Plato

06-03-2007	#5 (permalink)
Cagarner The Omnissiah Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Posts: 1,442 Rep Power: 3 Thanks: 46 Thanked 50 Times in 22 Posts	Yes, that would be the reason why they evolved to have that skin pigment. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-13-2007	#6 (permalink)
Scrap-miester Primer Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 34 Rep Power: 0 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Tau actually have red blood, if you read the Bonding Ritual fluff in the old codex, it says that "the red blood trickled down the blade of the knife"(that's not exact, but basically it says the blood was red). -Eric P.S. I believe blue is simply an adaptation to reflect light and stay cool as Icarus has already stated. __________________ "SPACE FOR RENT"

08-13-2007	#7 (permalink)
Warmaster Romulas Captain Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: U-S-A!!U-S-A!!U-S-A!!U-S-A!!U-S-A!! Posts: 1,479 Rep Power: 1 Thanks: 108 Thanked 75 Times in 64 Posts	do you think the Tau are the "greys"? have they ever been to terra and crashed in say idont know Roswell? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ""A true patriot is a lover of his country who rebukes and does not excuse its sins." Frederick Douglass To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. * new items added 4/6/08 * tomb king army up for trade

08-13-2007	#8 (permalink)
Stubber Confused and Enraged Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South-east Ireland Posts: 965 Rep Power: 2 Thanks: 13 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts	I very much doubt that... According to the fluff the Tau were only discovered in the 36th millenium as a primitive race, then the age of Apostasy started and the Imperium was a little preoccupied. Read the Librarium article for all the details...(It's already linked in every post with the word Tau in it) __________________ The thing that inspires men to kill is Hatred. -Sun Tzu To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Vote On The Battlefield: For any concerned I'll be online much more often once exams end friday 23rd.

09-25-2007	#9 (permalink)
Cirative Arch-Magos Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 494 Rep Power: 1 Thanks: 36 Thanked 33 Times in 19 Posts	I remember watching an episode of the Magic School Bus when I was younger, where they discussed that the food you eat basically colors your skin. In an example, they demonstrated that if all you ate was carrots, your skin would be orange. Likewise, if you ate nothing but lettuce, your skin would be green. However most species need a variety of foods to survive, so the mixture of foods we eat are what give us our complexions. So maybe the Tau eat only a grey/blue food from their homeworld or something? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

09-25-2007	#12 (permalink)
Wakim Lieutenant Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 989 Rep Power: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 56 Times in 44 Posts Blog Entries: 2	Omg, i`ve read something completly different at first glance But yeah, because that`s the way they`re meant to be __________________ *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.*

09-25-2007	#13 (permalink)
Heroka Vendile Sergeant Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Inquisitorial Fortress, near Glasgow Posts: 655 Rep Power: 2 Thanks: 49 Thanked 49 Times in 29 Posts	"Bluies" is the most common Imp Guard nickname for them IIRC, they have a grey-blue skin tone. And yes, red blood, which is what Orks have too - and not just to avoid dead Orks looking like burst gooseberries (a statement I'm dredging up from the depths of my memory that i once read in white dwarf some moons ago). EDIT: Okay, just checked my 1st Ed Codex:Tau properly and there is no mention whatsoever of blood colour - not even in that narrative description of the bonding ritual. __________________ My Projects: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. My Reviews: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Other: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by Heroka Vendile; 09-25-2007 at 03:55 PM.

10-01-2007	#15 (permalink)
Heroka Vendile Sergeant Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Inquisitorial Fortress, near Glasgow Posts: 655 Rep Power: 2 Thanks: 49 Thanked 49 Times in 29 Posts	to my knowledge that would just be Fire Warrior and Kill Team, the later of which I have recently finished reading. No mention of blood colour, despite Kage smashing in the face of a Tau at one point. __________________ My Projects: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. My Reviews: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Other: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-03-2007	#16 (permalink)
manacycler Trooper Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 112 Rep Power: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Tau are grey because tan and green were taken already. And no wants to have purple or yellow skin. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-01-2008	#17 (permalink)
UltraMar Trooper Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Im with him <-> Posts: 100 Rep Power: 1 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: why are tau grey? Arent they fish though? so like fish are weird colors __________________ "AND THEY SHALL KNOW NO FEAR" Yes, Even, Wolves To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-02-2008	#19 (permalink)
Rellik Pancake Madman Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wichita Kansas, or as we like to call it the dub k Posts: 1,329 Rep Power: 1 Thanks: 80 Thanked 91 Times in 69 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Re: why are tau grey? there grey for the greater good. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. This is Rellik and i approve this message To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. come on by and visit

02-02-2008	#20 (permalink)
Torquemada Coteaz The Grammar Cop Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: the TC personal =][= estate on Encaladus Posts: 1,745 Rep Power: 2 Thanks: 56 Thanked 25 Times in 18 Posts Blog Entries: 4	Re: why are tau grey? I always throught Tau were more of a bluish tinge than full grey? That's just me. As previously stated, I think it's that their blood is blue. Skin its self is probably what's grey (i.e. the lack of color. In humans we have white, but for them it's grey). Oh and most people seem to make tau bleed red anyway. so whatever. __________________ My Site: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. All of my stuff are there. Current Projects, etc. General Wargaming Guide: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Picture/Art Blog: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. (BT) Asomrof: Crusade Fluff: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Crusaders Fluff: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. (BT) "2k7-2k8 NHL Season" Crusade (i.e. Ottawa Senators) [WIP] To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-10-2008	#22 (permalink)
UltraMar Trooper Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Im with him <-> Posts: 100 Rep Power: 1 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: why are tau grey? Again, there fish,what more do you need to now? __________________ "AND THEY SHALL KNOW NO FEAR" Yes, Even, Wolves To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.