XV104 Riptide Battlesuit - Tactical Role: A wonder of Earth Caste engineering, the XV104 stands well over twice as tall as the XV8 Crisis Battlesuit, though its movements are more like those of its smaller cousins than the mechanical stiffness displayed by Imperial combat walkers with their crude servo-motors. While the Riptide is huge and bears a number of weapon and support systems, it is still a T'au Battlesuit -- worn and controlled by a lone warrior.As with all T'au Fire Caste warriors, the Fire Caste doctrine laid down in the Code of Fire instructs all warriors to fight closely together, with each member of a team doing his utmost to protect not just his comrades, but also nearby teams in his Cadre. With this training, T'au units can use overlapping fields of fire to provide all teams with mutual support on the battlefield in the case of enemy assaults.The XV104 Riptide Battlesuit's greatest strengths, much like the smaller XV8 Crisis Battlesuit, lies in mobility and ranged firepower -- it is designed to fulfil the same roles and deal with the same types of missions as its smaller cousin. XV104s are extremely versatile in that they can be equipped with a selection of weapons and combat support systems to best suit their intended role or upcoming missions.This allows the battlesuit to effectively engage almost any type of enemy it encounters, whether they be heavy or light, infantry or vehicle; the XV104 is capable of tackling any enemy units that other T'au infantry and Battlesuit teams cannot handle. The XV104 is also capable of operating in almost any tactical environment, including extreme low-light conditions where their advanced sensor arrays can be combined with a Blacksun Filter to allow for the accurate identification and targeting of enemies.XV104 Riptide Battlesuits will often be found in combat where the fighting is thickest and will take the brunt of any enemy attack so that the rest of a T'au Hunter Cadre can advance or retreat. XV104s are usually deployed from the T'au transport aircraft called Mantas, where their Jetpacks allow them to descend from high altitudes safely. Their Jetpacks also allow them to quickly plug gaps in T'au lines and provide covering fire for their colleagues whilst shielding their allies with their armoured bulk.In essence, XV104 pilots use their battlesuits to serve those who fight beside them. XV104 Riptide Battlesuits are potent forces to be reckoned with, and are commonly used as part of a powerful reserve held by a T'au Commander, to counter-attack against advancing foes or to deliver the final hammer blow to break the opposition once and for all.However, despite the XV104 Riptide's obvious power, production of the new battlesuit has proven slow -- the materials for its dense nano-crystalline alloy armour, called Fio'tak in the T'au Lexicon, are difficult to obtain and the sheer volume required ensures that the XV104 is a rare commodity in the Fire Caste.The honour of wearing such a mighty battlesuit is only given to those who have nobly served their Commanders as Crisis Battlesuit Bodyguards, and these Fire Warriors are always of the honoured veteran rank of shas'vre. XV104 Riptide pilots are chosen to don the greatest of T'au Battlesuits and fight for their cadre mates; they are exemplar "sword saints" amongst their peers.