And then compare the fact that you're getting the Duo option for Ratniks and all the goodies that TAK itself is bringing while Blackjacks are just (for lack of a better descriptor) "there". HRL Ratnik is also rocking a Heavy Shotgun and a Heavy Pistol, Trench Hammer, and Knife. AP HMG Blackjack has Chest Mines+D.E.P. and a Heavy Pistol+CCW. The point of my post wasn't that "Ratniks are better Blackjacks! OP nerf!". It's that the concepts we're seeing for the Ratniks feel like unused Blackjack concepts, given the little excerpts we had been given on the Blackjacks of them being the anchors of the USARF lines or the linebreakers.
There was a reason I opted not to continue collecting USA after getting starter and seeing sectorial and how released stuff looked. TAK will end up being what USA wanted to be as it seems, as in better fleshed out sectorial with better models.
The sad part is that a lot of TAK's "dominance" simply seems to be the result of "new shiny" syndrome where as new skills and weapons get introduced, the lack of backdating becomes extremely clear. Mavericks and Blackjacks with Mine Dispensers would add a hell of a strategic depth to USARF. Marauders with NCO, Unknown Ranger with Fatality, etc.
What part was confusing for you? He expressed a statement about how he felt like TAK is going to be what USARF was billed as. I added a bit of my own wishlisting, but right now it's clear that a lot of the strength seems to be the new gadgets and skills that have come out since the HSN3 book or that for whatever reason wasn't really used in USARF.
That's like say that Tunguska is what Bakunin whas wanted to be. Both a re sectorials launched in diferent moments.
What? The standing around stiffly looking serious poses didn't do it for you? Didn't do it for me either.
It really isn't though. Tunguska was a faction that had basically nothing to its name(Szalamandra, Spektrs, Interventors, and Securitate were their only units prior to N3 and the addition of the Grenzers and then later the Kriza Boracs) while Bakunin was considered fairly complete by the time Tunguska the Sectorial finally rolled around. TAK was considered to be in a fairly good place with its unit counts but is seeing an inordinately large influx of new units many of which seem remarkably similar to USARF units/wishlisting/balance suggestions, and seemingly an influx of new profiles, skills, and weapons for existing units. CoC Tankhunter is a great example of this as is the Frontovik, Vasilly, and the Streloks.
I'm actually a fan of the USArf poses. I realize they are not as dynamic or interesting as many others, but the army is supposed to be less mobile in general so it kinda fits. Also, I do tend to be a fan of the more "shooting," "advancing," and "awaiting orders" poses on everything but the more unconventional profiles
I rather dig the USASF poses and aesthetic. But I do agree that they are in a dire need of a bit of an update. I dug quite a few of Kanluwen's suggestions. A sapper option on grunts, maybe a mine dispenser or two. NCO I'd rather see on minutemen to give them something. Though I still would love them to get NWI. I love the idea of Fatality on the unknown ranger. But I'd really love to see him get the ability to join grunt or minutemen links.
If someone were to start up a thread about wishlisting for updates for USARF, I'll gladly contribute...as it stands let's move it to there instead of cluttering up the TAK speculation thread. ;)
I am just here to sow hate and discontent for the eventual USARF/Rodina conflict, where we put them filthy commies back to the corner where they belong! USA USA USA! On a more serious note, I always thought the Russian options were top tier, which is what secured Ariadna as one of the strong factions. Of course I was expecting new models and options, but holy crap these upgrades all look really scary.
Guys, the more I check the TAK profiles, the more I think they are balanced specially compared with USARF. Each troop profile has a balanced set of strengths and short comings. Foxtrots and hardcases are optimal. Yes streloks at first glance can seem better but I say they are more or less equally good. Foxtrots have the specialist profile with suppression fire in the middle of the table. streloks have a cheaper option not as close to the middle as the foxtrot but with a shotgun and substantially less fis (11) you gain an extra camo and lose suppression. On the other side the streloks with smg or marksman rifles have other roles and should not be compared with foxtrots, because foxtrots have just a couple of jobs and they are optimal in those (literally compared to the rest of troops in the game). I think the same about the blackjack, the T2 profile is extremely good to have and far more useful than the ratnik. The ratnik in itself is kind of okeyish but to be fair is not that spectacular specially when USARF has access to the marauder haris, once again it seems a more efficient option. The hmg blackjack seems designed to be useful inside usarf and it's a well balanced hmg platform for specific situations. Also I rather take the pectoral mines than the trench hammer. Usarf can easily reach the 18 or 20 orders list with TAK even using the 16 points streloks and the line kazaks is going to be a challenge to reach that number with a good list. Bikes are going to be the same story, mavericks and desperados are EXCELENT troop choices, and some of the best bikes in the game. In general and as a personal opinion vanilla ariadna is a bit stronger than usarf. Tak is going to fall in the same place. Usarf has some problems (minutmen core, limited insertion, D-charges) but i don't see TAK as a better USARF by no means.
I have a hard time believing the idea that TAK is going to "have a hard time" getting 18-20 model lists, given that if your claim is USARF can do it--which has similar points on their units as TAK--then TAK should easily be able to do it. And quite frankly? All one has to do is look at this: Spoiler This is where the idea of TAK being "a better USARF" is originating from. Compare the Tankhunter character to Unknown Ranger's profiles. Sure, they're different "styles" of character but there is no real denial that Ranger is either suffering from bloat or the Tankhunter is way too optimized as a Specialist Lieutenant there. Hell even the Frontovik Engineer is cheaper than Unknown Ranger and Frontovik has quite a bit more impressive gear on him. Again, important to note: This isn't saying "TAK IS OP PLZ NERF!". It's simply saying that there seems to have been a massive design shift from when USARF hit to now, and for whatever reason it seems like Merovingia's schtick as the "camo and specialist" sectorial is now being folded into TAK, along with whatever TAK's original schtick was going to be.
Frankly USAriadna are designed to be a "defensive" long range engagement force and TAK seems to be for all terms and purposes an "offensive" short range force, maybe for many short range aggressive gameplay is what they look and view TAK as more powerful than USAriadna. The difference with Blackjack and Ratnik in their roles indicate this direction one been equipped for long range duels and the other been equipped to close in.
I pers. think of the Frontovik more Rosie+. More expanded weaponry, skills etc. Vassily on the other hand is strong. A 4-4 MI Lieutenand specialist with Wip 14, BS 13, T2 Sniper, D-Charges and Ambush Carmoflage.... that's a very good profile and i'm a little envious about him as USARF player. @psychoticstorm Well, "offensive" short range force is little understatemend if you look at speznatz, vet kazak, tank hunter and co ^^ But this "old" profiles arent the point of this discussion. The new, shiny toys are.
And USAriadna has some decent close range/ close combat troops, but most of the sectorial is geared towards long range firepower. I am assuming Speznatz and Tankhunters would be those long range units, the rest of the sectorial needs to be revealed so we can have a more definite view of the sectorial.
