So with the new changes dropped - an update not a full redesign, mind you - I figured I'd hash out some of my own thoughts on what I feel could be done to make the Morats more interesting, unique, similar to fluff, other justifications... Step 1 - Who are the Morats? The Morats are a professional military machine. They, more or less, live to fight - and their continued existence has only been assured through realising this fact about themselves and directing their aggression outward - toward the stars and their denizens. But they are not unrestrained in their aggression - 'Morats consider themselves Soldiers first and foremost, and their personal worth stems from their ability to follow orders and destroy the enemy as professional combatants." One interesting thing when reading the fluff of their unit types is their allocation to regiments - this allocation is done once their Murdat, cliques of young Morats who were recruited together, disperses. This indicates that the different Regiments, which reflect the different unit types, are not so much designated by experience or rank - but rather purely by allocation. With this in mind, the idea I had for starting out a Morat redesign was settling on a generic standard for Morat Soldiery - a profile that would apply to all unit types of the *professional* soldiers, with some wiggle room for tech enhancement. This is because they would all have the same baseline military training and experience before allocation to their respective Regiments. And this was where I landed. This is, more or less, the standard profile for the Raktorak, Rodok, Yaogat and Raicho pilot (plus or minus some CC). This would form the basis for all Morat troops - with the units then being differentiated by their additional skills and equipment. As one further thought at this stage, my desire for the Morat army would be for it to be full of Morats. With this in mind, I would remove Dr Worm from the sectorial. To maintain the gruff and unapologetic demeanour of the Morats, there will be no substitute Doctor profile - instead, all Morat Paramedics would come equipped with the Medjector (ala the Haqqislam Hakim) - this at once fills the role of a Doctor, makes better use of the Morat's baseline good Ph, BUT doesn't give them anything more effective that a PanO Doctor in most cases. Step 2 - Troops Here is where we have to nail down what would set each troop type apart, now that we have a vanilla Morat profile. Vanguard - Here is where the next concept I had kicks in - breaking the mold of the old "standard" sectorials, and leaning into a more USAriadna style. Make them Medium Infantry. With the improved base statline, all I think is needed to help these fellas stand out is Arm at 2 or 3, a BTS of 0, and Forward Deployment L1. They are the "Vanguard", afterall. When it comes to armament, I think the standard Combi Rifle for a baseline troop is sufficient for a main weapon. On top of this, the standard Pistol and CCW/Knife, and we'll tack on Grenades. Morats have wonderful Ph and PC gaming has grown a love for tossing handheld explosives at people. To fill out the profiles - FO, Paramedic, Hacker as now. HMG, (H or L) Rocket Launcher,Multi Sniper Rifle. Because K1 Sniper is the worst, and because Morats have Engineers and Siege troops for bringing the properly destructive heavy stuff. Kurgats - Assault Engineers These guys are pretty solid in the current edition - just outshined by Dr Worm and better, linkable troops. For these fellas, I feel Arm 2, BTS 3 would fit their role - the would of course be running with the Engineer skill. Like the current profiles, I think that Boarding Shotguns, D-charges, and AP Mines make for a solid profile. For additional profiles, I'm also cool with the Autocannon staying - but on an unlinkable, Sapper profile. The boosted BS and the mods afforded by Sapper would, I believe, make it a viable option. From here I would make adjustments, removing the Mk12 in favour of a K1 Combi. This would provide a viable threat vs armoured units and make it a valid, linkable addition. I also have mixed feelings on this profile about whether adding Minelayer (with no SWC cost, ala Muyibs) would be the best place to make the addition - or if it is better left to the Zerat infiltrators. Rodoks - Rodoks are, probably, the best Morat profile in the game at present. They really hit home on what I feel represents the Morats... Except, they have the most counterintuitive SWC weapons. Like the existing profiles - I would leave them at Arm 2, BTS 3, Super Jump and Mimetism. Similarly, the base profile of Boarding Shotgun, AP mines is fine as is. The Combi/2x LSG profile feels inappropriately priced, however, and I'd happily see it dumbed down to just a Combi to make it a more feasible team member. As I said, the SWC loadout presently available makes little sense. The normal profiles are toold for close quarters combat and ambush - through mobility or setting traps with mines. HMGs and Missile Launchers are long ranged weapons. I feel the Rodoks would be better served with a Spitfire or Red Fury in place of the HMG. In keeping the unit sensible, and true to it's purpose as a skirmishing, mobile unit - I would scrap the Missile Launcher entirely, and opt for mid range armaments - something like a Multi-Marksman Rifle or an Light Rocket Launcher. Specialist-wise - again, they re solid as is. AHD, KHD, and Paramedic. Yaogats - Yaogats have been a staple for Morats since the beginning - the original MSV2 link. But, these are the days of Mixed links, and it is just silly to run entire squads of MSV2. Like their existing profile, these guys can rock and roll at Arm 3 and BTS 0. I would see them retain the characteristic MSV2, but not on all profiles. SWV weapons would retain MSV2, as would one or two of the baseline profiles, and then they would expand to MSV1 on the others. This is an efficiency saving, yes, but also fairly logical and in line with similar troops (Bao subbing in Biovisors). Further to this, I could see them having Marksmanship added to their profile to demonstrate their lethality in the field. Loadouts - Combi/Panzer would stay, as it is the staple, with options for MSV 1 or 2. Boarding Shotgun and Grenades would also stay, but only at MSV1. For SWC weapons, the Spitfire fits the urban pacification theme, as does the Multisniper. In addition, adding a profile with Sniffers or Deployable repeaters would also fit their role as counter insurgency troops. Specialist-wise I would see these guys upgrade from a normal Hacking device to an Assault Hacking Device, and a Specialist Operative profile as they don't seem particularly suited for Para/FO/etc Raktorak The NCOs. For these guys, I feel a slight alteration in profile is needed - a bump to the CC stat as representative of the above "promotion process". Their current defenses are maybe a little imbalanced - I would set them around Arm 3 / BTS 3. Skill wise, NCO fits due to the name of the troops, but I feel I would remove the Specialist Operative skill. Instead, it would be replaced by Number 2. Additionally, this is the profile I would add Fireteam: Haris to - something I'll cover when I do a section on linkability, but essentially they would be that glue that holds together/forms the link teams. As these soldiers blend into the ranks, I feel he really needs two major profile options - one for the foot troops and one for the Rodoks. Therefore to suit the units they would be leading, there would be a Superjump to match the Rodoks, and the others would have FD L1 to match the Vanguard or lead from the front with Yaogats. Armament-wise, Breaker Combi and E/M Grenades for the Rodok-Superjump leader. For the foot troops, a Vulkan Shotgun / Drop Bears profile and another Breaker Combi and E/M grenade profile. To make use of the slightly higher CC stats - possibly the addition of an AP CCW or something similar. Enough to be handy, but not to be expensive dead weight.
Zerats For Zerats, I would continue with using the baseline racial statline for the Morat, with defences left as is - Arm 1, BTS 0. Her skills would also be retained; Mimetism, Infiltration, Multiterrain - this is a great start. To this I would further add Stealth (because they're the Silent killers) and Climbing Plus (Because Anyat has the skill and her fluff is as an ex-Zerat, IIRC). Loadouts - these are also mostly fine as is, with the combos of Boarding Shotgun/Grenades or Combi/LFT, both backed up by AP mines. For specialists I would add KHD on top of the FO and AHD options. I would also add profiles with Minelayer (per the comment in Kurgats). There would also possibly be room for adding Sensor to the FO profile to aid in midfield skirmishing. The MSR profile I'm not to keen on as is - this feels like the prime opportunity to make use of the revamped Marksmanship LX talent. Suryats Here is where we see a break away from the standardised Morat statline - because they're all juiced up in servosuits. I'm quite happy with the Suryat statline as it is presented now - EXCEPT they need a bump to Ph14. None of this "can't win an arm wrestle against a Brigada" nonsense. Suryats are an odd one - I've always felt they were too Vanilla, but their overall concept doesn't really lend itself to any particular skills to flesh out their character. I think perhaps adding a Lt option with the new Tactical Sense skill, and adding Number 2 to a handful of other profiles - partly because I feel these guys are a tight knit unit as is, and less in need of the Raktorak to glue them together. Loadout wise - per the fluff, they kill Tohaa. So I can't really argue with the plethora of Vulkan Shotties, and rifles with attached Flame Throwers. In light of the above lack of Raktoraks for these lads, they could probably use some cheap filler profiles, something like SMG and Heavy Flamethrower. Perhaps some other "bargain" profiles where the weapon attachment is a Flammenspeer or they have an LRL instead. Additionally, a profile or two with grenades - I know I'm sounding like a broken record by this point, but we have the Ph... It's nice to show it off. Sogarat The big lads. Once more, I have to cave to the existing profile as meeting my expectations - I am fine with the stats as is. However, I disagree alot on skills/equipment. Automedkit is a pretty much signature Shasvastii tech, so why is it on a Morat? Further, Sogs were the original big boy s5 HI, and have always been tough and stoic - but they're now being left in the dust by newer profiles rocking V:NWI to back up their high Arm and 2 wounds... So this is the same treatment I'd give the Sogarat. Loadout wise, I like the AP HMG and Feuerbach. Especially the latter, as it is an under-represented piece of kit. Per the recent updates, I like Full Auto L2 on the Feuerbach as it really boosts what the weapon can do. However for the HMG profile, I feel I'd be more inclined to opt into Fatality L2 at the expense of dropping the AP ammo from the weapon. Ideally, I'd like Fatality on both - representative of the absurd size of their weapons - but Fat and FA is overkill, so I think the split between the two weapons balances out the options a bit more. Raicho The Raicho is in a good place right now - the Mine Dispenser profile that was released is pretty on the nose when it comes to versatility. I really love it. However, it doesn't particularly fit the fluff as above. As such, I would advocate for the Raicho to retain it's Mine Dispenser profile as is, but for it's alternate profile to change; dropping the HFT and adding Full Auto L1/2 instead. This would be more representative of the fluff that was created for it - and lacking an secondary gun suits the blunt nature of the TAG. I would, however, add on an AP CCW to such a profile, for when the pilot gets a bit too carried away and plows into the enemy's ranks. Rasyat still to come
Rasyat The Rasyat is a cool profile - one of the best/most interesting for fulfilling a specified role. In fact, I'd argue that he probably feels more like what an AD troop should represent than most other AD troops in the game. Tweaks - I'm not sure there is much you could/would change on the Rasyat to improve it. I would probably revise the Eclipse grenades down to normal smoke - both because of the synergy with MSV and because it seems an out of place inclusion for them to be the sole carrier of Eclipse in the faction. I would probably also look focussing more on the close quarters style and add a Vulkan Shotgun profile. We could probably do without the Combi+E/mitter profile - I doubt it sees any serious use. On the flip-side though - if you take the stance that Eclipse grenades exist on the Rasyat for him to be "the answer" to "that problem thing" on the enemy side - you could consider going all in on that notion and have on profile with Eclipse grenades and Nullifier. He goes in and denies the best tech the enemy tech and puts the enemy on the back foot. The less "Soldierly" profiles will go here; Daturazi Witch Soldiers These profiles are good. They solidly represent the troops type they aim to. So, leaving the profile as is - Loadouts is the only place I'd look to make changes. First and foremost, my main criticism of them would be locking anti-material CCWs behind expensive Combi Rifle profiles - there are plenty of other Warband profiles with exotic CCWs on their baseline DTW profile. It feels like an old N2 carry over that has been overlooked. (Even the Krakot has a DA CCW on it's base profile) Secondly, Daturazi worship the EI code. On this basis, their lack of hacking device has always confused me - moreso when KHDs were released into the game. I would think that warrior priests worshipping code would be trained in removing the human stain from the cybersphere. To avoid abuse of this kind of upgrade to a strong Warband profile, I would have it locked away behind one of the expensive Datz profiles - Combi/AP CCW - ie, no Smoke LGL, no Anti-material CCW. He is a honed weapon, not a Classified mission toolbox. Oznat Here is probably one of the bigger changes I'd make to the current state of MAF. CB started to lean into it a little with the newest Oznat profile, but they didn't lean hard enough. Hungry links are a crutch. They're a bandaid of design to patch the high cost/low order count of Morats without addressing why they suffer these problems. As such, I want them gone. G:Sync'd Oznats seem the most logical way to address this - making the unit somewhere between a Kerail Preceptor from Tohaa and the Uberfall Commando from Nomads. It would still provide the same mine clearing and anti-camo template capacity, but no longer be an order crutch for Morat design, nor take up a valuable Core link slot from the faction. Krakot The Krakot is another already-well-designed unit that I don't feel requires any touching up. If I were to force out any kind of change, it would probably by to given the a Duo option - ala CSUs and ABHs. Additional With my earlier suggestion for removing Gakis/Pretas/Dr Worm - I will have eliminated all non-Drone unit entries to allow for a more pure Morat force to be fielded. Here, I would take one sideways step on that theme though - and ask for an EI Warcor. A Nexus-style unit who has been attached to the Aggression force as a non-combatant observer. The EI just keeping an eye on what is being done. Similarly equipped to the Warcor to fulfil the non-combat role; Flash Pulse, stun pistol, etc. This is not something specific for MAF, but rather something I'd like to see added for Combined Army on the whole. A little bit of Alien jealousy at the human Warcors and the Tohaa diplomat :P
Linkability Here is where Fluff interpretations will jar against the needs of Gameplay. Morats were one of the first factions to field Mixed Links - via Raktoraks and Kornak - but I have always felt they suited the feel of the professional soldiery. And where I feel they presently fall over vs newer/more up-to-date factions is due to their rigid inflexibility with links. How I would address this - Firstly, Raktoraks. These troops would be Wildcard, like the new update, as well as being the only MI profiles to have FT:Haris (so no Rodok, Kurgat or Yaogat Haris). They would be the key to forming the Haris links of those units. As previously covered, all Raktoraks would also be bringing Number 2 to the table, to help keep the link going as it takes fire/casualties. Next, Kurgats and Yaogats would be allowed to link with Vanguard. This would allow us to construct more toolkit links, able to address a wider variety of threats - even a limit of 1 of each of these would quite drastically improve their versatility. Rodoks, as previously covered, would have a Raktorak profile to match their manouverability, but would otherwise be linkable only with themselves. Daturazi would be linkable with themselves and Raktoraks. I also don't see any reason to prevent them being enabled for a Haris through the Raktorak either. Suryats I would have have linakble with themselves, and perhaps Raktoraks... But I feel they suit working amongst themselves better, as a more Veteran and armed unit. Sogarats, with the changes suggested, don't feel as though they need a link. Oznats, with the changes suggested, would be unlinkable.
I like the approach. A few thoughts: Removing Medchanoid from the sectorial is one thing, but leaving them without Doc at all would limit their Classifieds. If you want to remove Dr Worm, I'd add a Morat Doc in his place. AVA 1, Kurgat statline, Eclipse Grenades. Hell, it might even be a specialized Kurgat with Doctor instead of Engineer and EG instead of Mines. And it'd open door for MAF Support Pack, Kurgat Engineer with Mk12, Kurgat Doc with a shotgun, two Servant bots. Vanguards as MI with FD1 are a nice idea, but this would be upgraded to FD2 in ITSX. Might be too strong for such fireteam. They might work similarly to Grunts, though - no FD in standard, select loadouts with FD1. Kurgats - I feel that they should be MI even more than Vanguards. They also look better armored, so MI with ARM 3 and BTS 3 would fit them well. And I'd love to see them getting a loadout with HGL. Big guns really fit them. Raktoraks - NCO and Number 2 in standard really fit them. I'm not sure if they should get skills to fit other units, but it's an interesting idea. If it should be in, then I'd add it as a special skill - "Cross-training", allowing it to copy skills from a list if linked with a unit having those skills: While it's counterintuitive to have the unit lose skills after leaving the squad, it'd help with book keeping, and prevent making Super-Raktoraks that would jump between squads to get everything :P It could be justified as officer focusing on the specific tasks and skills at the moment. Though Rodok SJ is most likely equipment-based, which would make this skill a bit silly :P Still, I like the idea. Zerats - I'd exchange her MSR with Vanguard's K1SR. It's still not the best weapon, but Zerat will be better able to maneuver to use it efficiently. Especially with Marksmanship LX. I agree on the Raicho, Suryats, and Sogarats, though I feel the Automedikit fits the latter. They're valuable, elite soldiers. Command would want to ensure their survival, needs of the army outweights any honor considerations here. Also, I'd add NBW to the mix. Linkability - I'd limit the Yaogats and Kurgats to 1 per link (so 1 Yaogat, 1 Kurgat, 3 Vanguards would be a valid fireteam). Otherwise, I fully agree. I'd also add a number of high-profile Lieutenant options, so the army can capitalize on the Morat skill. All Raicho and Sogarat loadouts would have a Lt. option, and Suryat Lt's would get upgraded to Lt.2.
Well I would say the fluff to Morats doesn't lend them to be anything special all things considered. All the HS armies are professional and all of them send you as a recruit to whatever regiment you will spend your career in (i.e. your regiment is the macro concept of your job).We don't need all this stuff justifying linkability. Infinity represents special strike teams and not usual battlefield formations (like what is done in real life all the time). Morats could probably use an entire fluff reevaluation because all the things that make them "special" is literally just basic military ideology lol. Which is why I have a conspiracy that Morats actually suck and hit a huge road block when they encointered the superior war fighting talents of the HS. Thus why they feel slightly under powered lol.
Dr Worm is MAF best specalist. Removing him is a really bad idea. Hes should be an auto-include in any MAF list anyone makes. Again, full auto on the Raicho is a terrible Idea. I don't want my basic TAG costing 10+ points more in an already expensive faction. The Raicho doesn't need any help in killing most targets in the game. I'd rather keep its the costs low. Also, I don't think this would be very balanced, TAGs with multi-hmg don't need any help in killing targets. The big weakness of TAGs is their massive expense. Making a TAG more expensive is often detrimental because it severely restricts the type of lists you can play such a TAG in. Fatality L2 is SO powerful its not being given to the Sogarat. I would agree though that theres no reason for the AP HMG profile not to get a full auto L2 option as well. I feel like the Full Auto option should be far more exciting for people. It makes me actually consider using a Sogarat in generic combine army and I'd never do that before. What I do agree with you on is that MAF could use more mixed links. Morats are one of the most restricted sectorials and the best way to compensate this is to follow the example of the merc teams and give MAF a lot of mixed linked options. One exception, Oznat link with hungries needs to be kept. Its one of the strengths of MAF, now made even better by being able to include Raktorak.
Lol I juatvwant grenades on everything. Well, that's not the only thing. Now I want ava3 raktorak, and up to 2 Suryat in a vanguard link.
Morats are one of the few non black-ops / special-forces type factions in Infinity - what we have with MAF is their actual front line army forces fighting on Paradiso, so it makes sense they'd feel more like a full military force and less like hyperelite wetwork specialists with billion dollar sneaking suits.
On these entries I mostly disagree. Rasyat is perfectly fine right now, and with all other improvements this is the place MAF could do with none. Eclipse Grenades are useful for blocking down MSV units, and there's Smoke on Anyat, Daturazi and Oznat already. Same goes for Oznats - they're fine, and I don't see Hungries links as a crutch. I'd let them be as they are. I agree on the Daturazi - I'd give them DA CCWs across the board, and access to KHD on the Combi.
I get that some people feel this way. I don't though. I feel they run fairly counter-intuitive to the rest of the sectorial's design. (Non-linked Hungries I have no issue with, though.) Thinking further on it - I think the concept behind denying the DA CCW on Datz might be because they have MA4? The ability to double swing having a potential for 4 saves when using a DA CCW. Rolling them back to MA3 with a few extra points of CC would probably resolve that contention without really hurting the Datz too much... MA4 is only generally useful against non-CC troops anyway.
Would love to see hunting packs ranging from 18 to 28pts, 0-2 hungries in each arranged similarly to preceptors. Smoke Launcher + Gakis and Shotgun + Pretas works for me just fine, but I think both kind of hungry needs have Poison back as well, and Oznats should also have NBW or something equivalent, to reinforce their alpha status in the hunting pack.
Purely from a fluff perspective, I kind of wish Pretas had chest mines rather than chain rifles. It feels like a better way of representing the symbiote than the chain rifle does. No idea what it would do to the cost or balance of them though.
Hahaha - Poison. That skill is now limited to... Khawarij and Man-tank Mansuri? Hungries historically had bio-mines (though I think it was the Gaki profile?) - which were mines that had no Friend-or-Foe targeting. So there's history to support it @RobertShepherd
In the lead up to HSN3, my personal Morat suggestion was to update the Morat special rule to include Number 2. This would reflect their professional character and mirror their existing immunity to loss of lieutenant. It doesn't matter if you shoot the "leader" model, whether of the fireteam or the entire army. The rest of them still know the mission and are well trained and experienced enough to resume the fight without any hesitation.
So If I were king for the day: Vanguard: rather than bumping their stats to give the impression of their training I’d instead use skills, probably marksmanship L1, the models also suggest to me arm 2, since they’re meant to be glory hungry warrior monkeys referred to as vanguard in an aggression force I’d also give them frenzy making them less able to hold a position, which should also affect the cost of the unit and the theme of the force. If the vanguard LT must cost 1 SWC then LT L2 for a kosturat gives a reason they’re in charge of the operation rather than a bigger monkey higher up the food chain. Kurgats: Kurgats are meant to take a beating so probably dogged. If we’re looking at removing Dr worm also perhaps mimetism + forward deployment and potentially sapper profiles Raktoraks: Natural born warrior, NCO; all profiles. Add an MAF only Chain of command + free agent (without the specialist operative) and probably add a haris loadout. Rasyats: armour 3 and frenzy. Daturatzi: they’re pretty perfect as they are, potentially an assault pistol or heavy pistol loadout and the return of the EXP CCW. Rodoks: I think they’re absolutely fine as is, I’d potentially add frenzy as they are meant to be the most prove themself regiment out there and would consider a L.flamethrower option on a combi or BSG Suryats: PHY 14+ Suryats now! Along with a tactical awareness profile on something like the vulcan shotgun, no SWC attachment and gives you a reason to take one over the link filling vulcan raktorak. Couple of other weapon types would be nice as they are currently the only linkable HI in combined army. Zerats: Stealth. Please… Wouldn’t complain at some 6th sense or linkable as beyond climbing plus they have basically no advantage as a skirmisher. Sogarats: Impetuous and BTS 6. They are a stormtrooper regiment, HMG could gain a flame unit or even just a chain colt. Other potential options drop bears + H:shotgun although I think that’d step on the raicho a little closely. Maximum aggression. Also make the FAL2 NCO or Lt Yaogats: Mixed links could potentially fix yaogats but that doesn’t feel particularly fluffy, 6th sense would suit yaogats as anti insurgency troops but the Maakrep already has that, however a tactical awareness profile on a loadout like the combi or boarding shotgun could offset a lot of their cost disincentive as a link and shows them as proactive, cold anti insurgency nasties in a different way to frenzy. Add a sensor profile Oznats: Stealth, maybe natural born warrior, and a loadout with adhesive launcher (hunter/beast wrangler) other than taking a hungries link it has very little point next to datz and krakots. Dr Boobworm: medical doctor, remove him, make kurgats better, give morat paramedics medjectors or add a vanguard doctor profile and he’s no longer required. Make no mistake he’s a fantastic specialist but he’s as much of a crutch as a hungries link. Hungries: I’d change nothing on a hungry, what I’d potentially do here is add a caveat on hungries control device that the link remains (or gains in the case of wildcards) extremely impetuous, this link is a massive crutch for the faction and leads to MAF lists which should have a label “may contain traces of Morat” Links: Vanguards, Core, special core +1 Suryat, special Haris (with suryat haris) Yaogat, Core, haris, duo and special: hunting duo (add a daturatzi) Rodoks, Core haris Duo Suryats, Core, Haris, Duo, Special (+Kornak) Sogarats, Duo, Haris (FTO on none FAL2) Raicho, special: Huntress duo (add Oznat) Daturatzi, Core, haris, Zerats, Haris Kurgats, Haris Krakots, Core (around raktorak penal sergeant) Hungries, Core with oznats Overall design intent: A sprinkle of barely restrained sociopathic rage offsets a slight increase in eliteness. Looking at probably overall having slightly higher costed troops but with that offset by link efficiencies. When the links holding your plan fall apart this gives way to additional psychotic rage orders, the hierarchy and order that hold morats together starts to fragment and they go back towards a more primal, aggressive and predatory state. Crap at holding ground, very good at taking it.
Duo is a severely underused rule, particularlty in order starved forces like MAF, As said in my grand vision you use duos to hold back the savage elements of morats. Also I revise my statement on hungries, give them a sensor loadout and allow duo with an oznat, the syncro stuff is nice but I feel that'd be more moratty
