I posted a similar thread in the RT forum, but any good 40k novels that feature Tau or Necrons? If I were doing the 40k game I'd be one of them. Any suggestions?
Necrons or Tau in the 40k novels.
The Ciaphus Caine Omnibus has both. Necrons twice. Also, a must for the Tau is the novel Fire Warrior. I also believe the first Ultramarines novel has the Necrons in it.
Milova said:
The Ciaphus Caine Omnibus has both. Necrons twice. Also, a must for the Tau is the novel Fire Warrior. I also believe the first Ultramarines novel has the Necrons in it.
Cain also runs into the Necrons in Cain's Last Stand.
The Ultramarine novel has a C'tann but no necrons IIRC.
Scourge the Heretic and Innocence is no Defence have a large Tau dropship [Manta?] but it has been jacked by human heretics.
Scourge the Heretic and Innocence is no Defence have a large Tau dropship [Manta?] but it has been jacked by human heretics.
...human heretics who have no problem ferrying a dropship half-way across the galaxy, it seems. But if you want to get the best... 
okay here we go
Tau: are in the following novels
Fire Worrier (seen from a fire worrier's perspective)
Commissar Cain (for the Emperor) (they are the primary enemy)
Ultramarine (Courage and Honour) (thye are the enemy)
and of course their codex
Necrons: are in the following novels and short stories
Ultrmarine (Nightbringer) (featuring the Nightbringer and 4 of his worriers towards the end)
Dawn of War (Ascension) (Featuring some necrons and a necron fleet towards the end)
Dawn of War (Tempest) (Featuring a necron fleet)
Hellforge (a large aremy of necrons that are serverly nerfed)
Dark Apostle (a Necron tomb with inhabitants towards the end)
Cmmissar Cain (Caves of ice + last Stand + Echoes of the tomb) realistic necrons
and of course their Codex.
more in-depth ready if you ask for it 
Kill Team (Last Chancers) is also a novel where some imperial guard penal legion psychos go under cover, with an inquisitor, as Imperial ambassadors to a Tau controlled planet on a suicide mission.
There's also the Rogue Trader novel series (not, apparently, affiliated with the new game), which covers the beginnings of the ill-fated Damoclese Gulf Crusade into Tau space.
Note, however, that the 40k games Dark Heresy and Rogue Trader will not let you play a Necron or a Tau ... 
The Laughing God said:
Note, however, that the 40k games Dark Heresy and Rogue Trader will not let you play a Necron or a Tau ...
Though it would be nice to see some sort of Xenos handbook at some part allowing PCs to be outcast Eldar, kroot mercenaries, Tau explorers/diplomats and other species.
Maybe even real rules for Squats, Ratlings, Ogryn and other abhumans, what human careers they can have and specific race careers for them. Like 2-4 racial careers and 4 human careers available to them, plus a handful of background packages and alternate career ranks.
Peacekeeper_b said:
Though it would be nice to see some sort of Xenos handbook at some part allowing PCs to be outcast Eldar, kroot mercenaries, Tau explorers/diplomats and other species.
Maybe even real rules for Squats, Ratlings, Ogryn and other abhumans, what human careers they can have and specific race careers for them. Like 2-4 racial careers and 4 human careers available to them, plus a handful of background packages and alternate career ranks.
Amen.
Since the Squats are dead, I doubt we'll be seeing rules to play them. GW policy, if nothing else.