Simple question: I'd like to use the Tau, 'nids or Necrons as an enemy. Where might a poor gm find their stats?

I don't have my books on hand (laptop), but all three of those feature pretty heavily in the Deathwatch line.

Black Crusade is better for Crons, but yeah you want Deathwatch or Salvaging Solace for the Tau and Nids. More so Deathwatch.

I recall Tau and Tyranids are in the DW Core Rulebook. Kroot to accompany Tau forces as auxiliaries are in OW's Enemies of the Imperium.

When you convert anything from DW to OW, keep in mind to double-check their stats; those enemies had their stats written up to be fought by Space Marine characters, and are thus likely to be somewhat tougher than how they'd look like if they were written for Human PCs.

When you convert anything from DW to OW, keep in mind to double-check their stats; those enemies had their stats written up to be fought by Space Marine characters, and are thus likely to be somewhat tougher than how they'd look like if they were written for Human PCs

Understatement. And yes, 100% listen to this. The Tau/Nids/Whatever in the DW rulebook are meant to be put against not simply Space Marines, but the baddest ******* Space Marines in the galaxy in a game that very much treats space marines as demigods.

So, keep that heavily in mind when bringing them over to your cardboard wearing standard crap-their-pants human Guardsmen.

So, keep that heavily in mind when bringing them over to your cardboard wearing standard crap-their-pants human Guardsmen.

Or not, and give the guardsmen a reason to believe in strength in numbers, cooperation, and force of arms via a leman russ turret or emplacement.

=D

Oh the hilarity that ensues!

I like you.

This is why I'm giving my guys a Russ and Centaurs to fight the Tau.

Not sure how a group of four to eight PCs, and their Comrades, will represent the mass numbers that is usually the Guard's main strength, but I like the idea of hitting them with more massed enemies, rather than sneaky DE, for instance. A lone Guardsman, even a PC one, is supposed to be nothing (no offense to your characters), when compared to the cheese that is many xenos, and I think if they have to fight something like Nids, Tau, or even Crons, they will get that feeling, or dead, but that's the risk. New or Oldcrons are a bit ridiculous, though, so I hope they see Nids or Tau. Crisis Suits, and their variants, will do a nice job of holding up against much Guard fire, supporting their fire lines of Fire Warriors, and swarms of Gaunts will just be hell, but the fun kind, if they are given some options to use surroundings, or plan a little. Best of luck to them.

As an offshoot, I know that no FFG line REALLY sets it up, but I sort of wish I could see a group have to tackle Aspect Warriors. I love Eldar, and am often sad that they are usually used purely as a "they exist" support bit, or their cheesy glass ships, in RT. Dark Reapers, Striking Scorpions, and Howling Banshees could be awesome for a group of Guard, and the Spectres might see play, where their Forge World cost doesn't limit them, for a change.

Not sure how a group of four to eight PCs, and their Comrades, will represent the mass numbers that is usually the Guard's main strength

Just like you'd do on the tabletop: treat their battle as just one focal point on a wider front. Other squads, even other companies could operate left, right or behind of them.

That being said ... if you want, you could also help playtest my Squaddie rules .

I know for sure I've seen stats of them somewhere ... I think it was a DW adventure or supplement? But for some reason they seemed hilariously underpowered for DW characters. I'd almost think they might be suitable for Only War "as if", though I would have to re-check their stats before I would be able to make a final recommendation.

They're statted in the Koronus Bestiary en masse for Rogue Trader. Check it out.

Tau and Tyranid stats are mainly in the Deathwatch core rulebook, as has been mentioned, plus the DW 'monster manual' Mark of the Xenos . I don't know how many Necrons are stat'd in Black Crusade or which book(s) they appear in, but the DW supplement The Outer Reach has an extensive Necron section.

And, yes, these adversaries are dramatically more powerful that standard Only War bad guys. If you want to convert them over, I would start by cutting all of their Armour Penetration values in half, and reducing their Damage by 4 or 5. For starters...

Yeah, I've seen their stats in RT and Children of Isha, and am VERY happy for it, but nothing ever uses them. RT rarely focuses on Craftworld Eldar, giving more screen time to the Corsairs Rogue Traders are likely to encounter, and most of the other materials just use Dark Eldar, or none at all. I sort of like that, in many cases, the Eldar aren't just relegated to the "mandatory bad guy" slot, and can often be reasoned with, etc., but they usually aren't the opposition, or just one is, like in Edge of the Abyss. It can add to their "dying race" theme, having so few, and having to play them smart, rather than throw a squad of Aspect Warriors at the party, watch the party trounce them with their player stats, realize the loss that one squad of Scorpions was to the Eldar people, but just once, I'd like to see a group of Guardsmen, maybe even Space Marines, if that's what it takes, go up against a standing Autarch, and their three groups of "pick your poison" Aspect Warriors, along with some Guardian gun lines and grav tanks. Maybe not the preferred way Eldar would fight, despite them being a table top minis war army, but I'd enjoy it, nonetheless.

Tau and Tyranid stats are mainly in the Deathwatch core rulebook, as has been mentioned, plus the DW 'monster manual' Mark of the Xenos . I don't know how many Necrons are stat'd in Black Crusade or which book(s) they appear in, but the DW supplement The Outer Reach has an extensive Necron section.

And, yes, these adversaries are dramatically more powerful that standard Only War bad guys. If you want to convert them over, I would start by cutting all of their Armour Penetration values in half, and reducing their Damage by 4 or 5. For starters...

Or maybe not. Some of them could benefit from the "holy crap, what are these things?!" feel you'll get when you point a flashlight at an 8-foot tall metal skeleton with a gun that splits molecules. In truth, I'd probably argue to tone them down, too, if only to give the crew some chance, but a key aspect of OW CAN be the feeling of hopelessness, as you are crap, holding crap, going up against ridiculous baddies with the best equipment there is, while the Imperium continues to arm you with crap, and more of your fellows. That being said, I've never been a fan of no-win scenarios, so if you don't want to Kobiashi Maru the party, a little turning down won't hurt, unless they have played into much better weapons, health, and have access to tanks, etc. RT can get to the point where you are so ridiculous Greater Daemons cease being challenging, and OW NEEDS to be challenging, so keep an eye on the scale.

Find Crons in Black Crusade. They're much more reasonable than in DW. I've already pitched them at players.

Yeah, there's a certain sweet spot where battles should feel bloody and gritty, yet still survivable. The former element can also be relegated to NPCs dying left and right, of course.

I'd actually wish Comrades would play a greater role here (as sacrifices) - hence the "Watch Out Sir" rule in the Squaddie system, obviously inspired by the tabletop.

I'd actually wish Comrades would play a greater role here (as sacrifices) - hence the "Watch Out Sir" rule in the Squaddie system, obviously inspired by the tabletop.

Regarding crons, it may be feasable to delete their TB entirely, and instead up their armour considerably. I also gave them regeneration 1 and put their formations in permanent volley mode. It worked pretty well.

Find Crons in Black Crusade. They're much more reasonable than in DW. I've already pitched them at players.

Which book(s)?

The Handbook has stats for several Crons (Scarabs, Flated Ones, Immortals, Warriors and Tomb Stalker).

Yes, I recall at least one for the supplements having more necrons.

Tome of Fate most likely, based on the description on FFG's site:

The Tome of Fate introduces four new Tzeentch-centric Heretic Archetypes, as well as foul daemons, arcane weaponry, mighty daemon engines, and vile minions for followers of the Master of Fate. Players of all alignments will also gain potent new psychic powers and daemonic rites to fuel their struggle against the hated Imperium. The fallen forges of the Hollows, the mutants of Dread Korvaska, and the ancient Necrons awakening from within the Pillars of Eternity: these and other secrets of the Screaming Vortex shall stand revealed. All this and more lies within The Tome of Fate, including a dangerous new adventure on the sorcerous world of Q’Sal!

I'll check when I get home.

Guys. I have an amazing tool for you to check out to resolve all this digging, searching and querying.

www.40krpgtools.com/bestiary

That website covers all vehicles and all critters that have been published by FFG in so far as I know, in terms of what books to find them in.

It doesn't provide stats, it's just so that you know which products you need in order to use those resources.

If in doubt, there are community members usually willing to offer up help and advice if you have issues with the existing material.