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[Sephiroth]

Hey guys.

Philip Sibbering, Black Library freelance artist has in his spare time been churning out a few redesigns of 40K stuff. Amongst them is a Tau head redesign, which you can find here at the bottom of the page (posted with Philip's permission).

He's curious to know what the Tau Online community think of this redesign, if it were say, ever be put forwards as a new look for the Tau (don't panic! No such plans exist currently. This is purely a 'what if' situation ).

You can find 'official' covers Philip has done for the Black Library here too!

[Gego]

Its alright but I personally dont like it much.

The main problem I have is the super large back part of the head. If a firewarrior put his helmet on then it would be slanted downwards to accomidate the lump on his head. If you look at a firewarrior model, then you can see the helmet sit straight on its head. If you did use this design on models, then you would also have to remodel the helmets.

I suggest you size down the head size.

[MechTau]

Yea? Well I hate it. Go to hell bulb-head!

[McCoy]

I'm all for a less-humanoid appearance, but I don't know about that design. Its appropriately alien, but the abnormally large frontal portion seems to give the connotation of mental deficiency...or to put it bluntly, the mis-shapen head makes dude look mentally retarded, IMO.

I also think the hairlip is bit disturbing.  Like the head shape, it reminds me of a birth defect versus an appealing, unique facial characteristic.  I'm also not feeling the booty-chin, unfortunately. The entire lower portion of the face still looks too human, IMO, with the defined cheek lines framing the mouth too well. It looks like a human with very thin lips and a cleft. Perhaps some type of unique facial hair pattern or even some kind of appendage(s) on his chin would do the trick.

I LOVE the eye shape and placement and the "brow" lines  on the side of the head are very aesthetically pleasing to me as well.

My .02....I like the 'd like to see you re-shape the head, and try something a bit more risky with the lips and mouth. Great start, though!

[Shas'El Tael]

Moment I saw it, it was similar to the head on the 'Warriors of Vior'la cover.


Unsurprising it is the same artist.

About the picture on hand, not so crazy about the styling, certainly a nifty alien, but too full on a change to be accepted by general Tau players.

Thats not to say his work is poor, great renderings all around

~ Tael

[Mael]

It's a good painting of an alien, but the design, while still recogniseable as Tau, is maybe a little too removed.  The bulbous head definitely doesn't do it for me.

-M

[Crisis Vyper]

One thing: the head, which is his nostrils and eyes?

I personally don't like it at all.

[Valar]

This concept is very good,this does look like an alien.But IMO it's a bit too evil for a Tau.I think it'd be great for a Chaos-perverted Tau enclave

[Lycan]

I think if the head went backwards instead of upwards it'd look better, but at the moment it looks more like a 'Nid Termagaunt, I love his other works to date, as an artist myself I have tried to redesign Tau and Eldar heads, but I have not found one which feels right to me, and I do envy Phil (if i may call him Phil) that he has gone against the norm, as I have not.

If you have read this and it sounds like I hate it, I do not at all, i love it an i respect Phil for his bold move.

[Wargamer]

For realism, excellent.

For marketting, no.

People prefer people-shaped things.

[Nakasi]

It looks a bit evil for a Tau, they all seem to be nice people for some reason. I love the way it goes above the eyes though. A variation of that would look ace on a current Tau head

[Sephiroth]

Well thanks for the responces guys. Philip's just interested in your opinions on the redesign, wether they be good or bad. More comments welcome, I assure you he's reading them all.

Oh, and Philip has added a few new concepts to this this section, and one of them is a 'True Eldar' - for Wargamer.

Just for your attention, Philip's added some quick plan and profile image's to the Tau head redesign concept.

[kfc v lot]

i dont like it its got no features

[Fishpaste the elder]

love the cleft chin.  A macho Tau.   

excellent artist!

A problem with the design is lack of sterio vision.


I have to admit, along with most here, that it would be hard for me to serve this guy's greater good.  I prefer the current lizzard-ish dudes.

Wanax

[Callhan]

Heh, Wanax you said it first, but I was also thinking he was a bit wall-eyed.