Eye color of the Tau?

[Reivax26]

I am trying to paint up my Tau and I am lost as to what color the eyes are for the Tau? If anyone knows please tell me.

[Dhurrin]

From I've seen from codex art and studio painted miniatures it seems to be red/orange... Although don't quote me as gospel on this.

[Exitas-Acta-Probat]

all the tau ive seen have black eyes. although that doesnt seem quite right to me, i thought it would be much like our eyes, with a large variation in colour depending on what planet they were born on and who mummy tau and daddy tau were, gentics etc.

[Ronin no Matsu]

They definitely have red eyes, go look on game workshop website : http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/ca...0287a&section= .

[Asi the Red]

According to page 55 in Codex: Tau (note, not Codex: Tau Empire) Ethereals at least have solid black eyes.

[Reivax26]

Thanks for the help guys.

[The Devourer]

The models aren't a good source of information like this as aside from basic details (skin colour) the painter has free choice on colour so is likely to paint what looks good as opposed to what is fluffy.

[Ronin no Matsu]

Yes but every not helmeted tau have red eyes on the game workshop website, all of them.

[Chem-Dog]

It's worth pointing out that Tau are quite at home with all kinds of artificial physiological enhancements, implants, grafts, utility jacks and bionics seem to be fairly standard amongst at least the fire caste, so red (or any other) colouration could be down to what they've had their eyes replaced or enhanced with.
Another thing to consider is how reflective a Tau's eyes might be, their homeworld is pretty sunny is it not? This could lead to any eye colour being significantly altered by what light it's filtering out and what light it isn't.


Personally I think they have dark brown eyes, like Moties.

[Ronin no Matsu]

It's worth pointing out that Tau are quite at home with all kinds of artificial physiological enhancements, implants, grafts, utility jacks and bionics seem to be fairly standard amongst at least the fire caste, so red (or any other) colouration could be down to what they've had their eyes replaced or enhanced with.

I never read or heared anything about any Tau's body being altered artificially. Where do you get it from Chem-Dog?

[Shas'o Lar]

There's only a small mention in Codex: Tau Empire. Not sure if there's anything interesting on this topic in Codex: Tau, can't remember now.

No models can pick the same item twice, and all equipment, other than hard-wired wargear (which is assumed to be worn as warrior jewellery or cybernetic systems) must be represented on the model.

[Ronin no Matsu]

That's a good eye of yours Shas'o Lar and you are right but I don't think we can say it's «fairly standard» as Chem-Dog is suggesting. (Sorry if we get a little off topic here!)

[Shas'o Lar]

I'm not sure about it being standard, but I believe it's not extensive. It's not like the Tau are more machines than organics, but given their technology and possibly good understanding of genetics, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have at least some enhancements that would be fairly standard among Caste members. For example, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the Fire Caste had some kind of retina HUD interface connected with their equipment. You know, basically giving you info like in a FPS. It's not very invasive (IIRC even nowadays we aren't that far away from such things) while providing quite an advantage for the Tau. After all, they can have a hard-wired Blacksun Filter, which strongly suggest eye augmentation (relevant quote about hard-wiring below).

Also, there is the often disputed issue of battlesuits. Some sources point to them being controlled through some kind of neural interface (think direct connection to the machine, a la The Matrix), possibly involving jacks, cables and whatnot.

Of course, this is mostly speculation with no hard proof. All we know for sure is that they use cybernetics, mostly as jewellery implanted in their bodies or inside their helmets:

In addition to their battlesuit systems, some Tau have support systems hard-wired in. These systems are cybernetic in nature and are either contained within the battlesuit helmet or are implanted as warrior jewellery and cannot be removed without surgery.

EDIT:
Also, there was once a short story on the GW website, where the Tau tested the early prototypes for the rail rifle that modern Pathfinders use. It managed to cook the poor guy's brain because of a malfunction. More evidence for augmentation.

[Chem-Dog]

I never read or heared anything about any Tau's body being altered artificially. Where do you get it from Chem-Dog?

Shas'O Lar covered most of the bases, the Codex piece and the Rail Rifles were the two stand-out mentions I remember. I was sure I had seen an illustration of a Tau with a Bionic eye somewhere too, it might have been fanart though.
OT a little, but I like the idea that they augment themselves in a pragmatic way rather than the Imperium's pay-grade based prosthetics policy.

[Col. Tartleton]

They can see into infrared. Thus their eyes are red. It's GW don't over think it.

Worked for the Salamanders...

[Dhurrin]

They can see into infrared. Thus their eyes are red. It's GW don't over think it.

Worked for the Salamanders...

If I recall correctly, they can't see into the infrared, rather they see into the ultraviolet.

[Ronin no Matsu]

Shas'O Lar covered most of the bases, the Codex piece and the Rail Rifles were the two stand-out mentions I remember. I was sure I had seen an illustration of a Tau with a Bionic eye somewhere too, it might have been fanart though.
OT a little, but I like the idea that they augment themselves in a pragmatic way rather than the Imperium's pay-grade based prosthetics policy.

Now that you mention it, I kind of remember this illustration but it looks more like a monocle to me. Anyway I got to admit I had no idea they have some bionic upgrades, thanks guys!