Agreed with @Stiopa , I'm skeptical about getting a Kamau SWC box now. Stiopa's good idea of having Kamau as the flexible linkable unit would really help offset that though... If you're just buying 1 or 2 Kamau for your mixed link teams, having 2-4 Combi Rifle models to fill out a Core link won't be as important. You can really put the emphasis on just using and owning the heavy weapon models. Lots unknown right now. Possible options for Kamau links? Kamau Haris? Kamau 5-man Core? Kamau Special link with Fusiliers? Kamau Special link with ORCs? Kamau Special link with Helots (@TheDiceAbide mentioned this one to me)
If I interpret PanO helmet design correctly six "eyes" is an MSV. Now the Baghs have yellow ones Spoiler while the Nisse Spoiler Blackfriar Spoiler and Echo Bravo Spoiler are sporting a red one. Let that sink in for a bit, seems oddly consistent, doesn't it? If whoever makes the dossiers cares as much about colour coding as Angel Giraldez, we're looking at an MSV2 AD troop here. It's not like the combination doesn't already exist in form of Ko Dali. So it isn't even much of a stretch, really. In case I am right about this, that is a gamechanger. We're looking at an affordable MSV troop that gets to reactively exploit successful Smoke AROs, can drop in and shoot TO Snipers with 4 dice on 13s and hardcounters midfield Warbands like the dreaded Mutts thanks to the Red Fury. I'd run that guy for 40 points, but with a cheap Red Fury, lack of CCW and secondary equipment he seems to be rather lean and mean in the low 30s. A Fusilier retcon out of Varuna seems unlikely, my guess is they get the Acon Regular treatment. We've actually seen their possible evolution already - Zulu Cobras. They have Combis on their dossier, Spitfire and Shock MMR isn't too far away from what Regulars have. And we've already seen TO Profiles for Linetroops with Ordersergeants. The AssPistol is a bit concerning but there is also a regular one. Best guess is they'll have a few additional stats and maybe a Skill to put them at 12-13 points to match Securitate or OS. AssPistol+MMR is an interesting loadout, although I'd hope we'll find it on one of the Camo/TO guys Call me crazy but I've started to stop using Fusiliers as sacrificial ARO Links in NCA. I'm also drifting away from using them as a link to spread them out, prevent Lt hunting and save the points and SWC to fit in an extra SWC weapon for Garuda/Hexa/Deva for additional punch and AROs. If there are viable alternatives to the usual 5 man core team in Varuna I'd be happy to jump on it Gotta disagree there, the knightly order of doorkickers are as close to an anti terror SWAT team as you can get with Knights. They're what every generic FPS with a terrorism theme would take to represent the "good guys" in Counterstrike, COD etc if they had to pick someone.
You are right there although that's not a Fusilier, but an Indigo Spec Op. He has a normal Fusilier head and the 6 red eyes one is 'optional', wouldn't be surprised if CB included a MSV2 head because it has been a PanO trademark piece of equipment since forever. /edit: most of the Spec Op models have a gun or piece of equipment their Linetroop doesn't have access to. i.e. Intel Spec Op sports a heavy Pistol
The issue with the unit 'boxes' is that it seems to vary wildly as to what the contents are. It's why I stress so heavily on the idea of these boxes needing to move to a point where we get alternate arms OR the boxes themselves need to have more models in them. The Druze Shock Teams box is a great example of this. It's effectively a SWC box, so we need an actual box for the basic profile and variations of it. One proxy model is not the same thing.
If we're talking about the Indigo Spec Ops, I don't think that model is a firm indicator. It's wargear is variable, not fixed, and could have easily been conceptualized at a time when Spec Ops might very easily have gotten MSV. @Teslarod got it. Yeah, I'm very much on track with the Echo Bravo Visor idea. I do wonder at the stylistic difference, but maybe the different look on the Echo Bravo is just a reaction to the community wail that "all PanO troops look the same." This could easily be an MSV2 with a different stylized look, though I still think 360 visor or x-visor is possible. If this is a BS12-13 Red fury with MSV2... That's a major boon for PanO. High tech, useful, dangerous. @kanluwen Kamau do certainly still need a box, but who knows if we'll get one? The Druze comparison is a good one, but Druze are also in a weird spot because they're not part of a Sectorial or faction starter, and only kinda-sorta have a single release blister, so clearly they needed a box to make their profiles available. I really hope we see a stand-alone Kamau box, but I think there's a very good chance they will be "done" like they've done with Acon Regulars in their starter.
The helm was a nod to the original PanO Fusilier models in starter sets, which had one model featuring that style of helmet(with the top of the helmet down though).
The old, helmeted Fusilier had four. Spec Ops is a special case. My bet is on some kind of Visor, but not MSV. X-Visor and Biometric seem most likely. Unless it is simply a style change. Seems unlikely, though.
I would be extremely surprised if Fusiliers get an Acon Regular treatment in Varuna. They've been shown as "Varuna Fusiliers" several times over the years.
I've recently been able to enjoy MSV2 ZOC shenanigans with JSA. It's hard to put into words how much I suddenly want that EB to have that MSV2. Screw Eclipse, don't care, don't want, screw useful Orcs, Bolts, Teutons, KothS or Blackfriar MSRs. Give. MSV. AD. CB. Pretty. Please. (it would make YJ salty, as their beloved Ko Dali is the only other one and PanO would get what they want - should suffice as a reason, eh?) Alright then, thanks. Dreams are free friends, we've been a bit down on our luck and it hasn't been a stellar experience overall. Sval is gonna take a while for the next ray of hope to come around. It's time to go big or go home for us.
While still a possibility it's really hilarious that "stample" PanO Line Infrantry is missing AVA:TOTAL in every of PanO sectorials xD
If they are not given link options, what would be their point of presence ? Just looking pretty and being costly?
Well MO starter seems quite "standard", only thing I don't understand though is why to put 2 Magisters into it ?:D
The issue is that the "box to make their profiles available" replaced the box that had the other profiles available. It's funny you mention the lack of a Sectorial/Faction starter though, because back during the run-up before we saw Coldfront formally announced? I figured out an actual list that could be used as a 'starter' for the Druze and Ikari Company as part of a 2 player army pack: Spoiler Druze Bayram Security ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5 2 DRUZE Lieutenant (X Visor) Combi Rifle, Chain-colt / Viral Pistol, Knife. (0 | 23) DRUZE (Fireteam: Haris, X Visor) Combi Rifle, Chain-colt, D.E.P. / Viral Pistol, CCW. (1 | 25) DRUZE (X Visor) Combi Rifle, Chain-colt, Panzerfaust / Viral Pistol, Knife. (0 | 25) DRUZE (X Visor) Combi Rifle + Light Grenade Launcher (E/M and Nimbus) / Viral Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 27) DRUZE (CH: Mimetism) MULTI Sniper / Viral Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 32) BASHI BAZOUK (Specialist Operative) Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 17) BASHI BAZOUK Combi Rifle, E/Mauler / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 17) 3 SWC | 166 Points Open in Infinity Army Yeah, it's Druze heavy...but that was the only way that I felt the Druze Box made sense. Since that didn't happen, I could see a big army pack down the road and a "Sectorial" starter set maybe.
Why the heck are people writing about Biometric visor on a AD troop? It's completly useless warger ;/
Remember that CB pull ideas from this forum now. Maybe we can plant a crappy one that they end up giving to Tohaa or something. Give them a pity release so they shut up about the god damn Sakiel box.
Well, AD troop against impersonation sounds a bit silly. Against holo it's usually easier to just shoot.
If it were a Biometric Visor, it can always be brought in close to the Impersonator to deal with them, then use the Red Fury and it's reach to engage additional targets. It's actually not a terrible piece of gear for AD, because it prevents an impersonator counter deploying to stay away from the visor. It really fits the notion of rapid response, though it's still a bit too corner case for me. MSV is sounding better and better. Am having lovely dreams of Red Fury shocking piles of Galwegians to death.
I'll be fine with either one. Or none. Just let Echos be useful and different from Akalis and Crusaders.
