This is the funny reason I don't play some proxies (albeit completely my fault). I would like to play the MK12 mk5 proxy, but the dual smg one is gooooood. Why not play that mk2 Sniper ? hmmm I really would like to have a Hidden shotgun in my list. I would like to use the mk3 proxy, but the Mk4 are right there.
That is your opinion, and not universally shared. I think Nomads are interesting, but I also think Aleph is interesting. (perhaps even cooler) I think PanO is interesting. I think JSA is interesting. Haqq, Tohaa, and Combined army don't interest me, but I can see where they might appeal to some people. Yu Jing did get the shaft this year, but while they are down, I don't think they are out, and they will make a comeback. MRRF got sidelined, but no one cares (I kid)
Even with FRRM being placed on indefinite hold, they got some tweaks that keep them viable in the game, so not a total loss.
So - if we're getting a linked Missile Bot (which we know we are), does that invalidate the likelihood of a Missile Launcher profile appearing on any other troop profiles? ala Arjuna/Deva? I wouldn't be too upset by this, so long as some other long range anti-tank options were included... Feuerbachs maybe?
In this case I'm expecting at least one heavier weapon somewhere. Regardless of their linkability Samekhs are AVA 1. I wouldn't be surprised if Arjuna would turn out to be a specialized anti-armor unit.
I am not trying to dismiss your opinion, but saying Pano brings enough particularily Fun / Original things to be as interesting as Nomads is far fetched. With Pano you have that +1BS across the board and you can have fun with a wide variety of TAGs.edit : adding locusts, cause locusts are fun. With nomads you also have somewhat a big range of TAGs, you also have quite a large number of skills on several troops, very cool warbands, and faction exclusive skills aka puppets / AI Motorcycle. I am taking both ends of the spectrum here, but I'd say 80% of the cool stuff is in Nomads + Haqq + Tohaa + Ariadna
This is my guess/hope... and as much as @Nemo No Name would hate it, I wouldn't actually mind them having an MSV However that steps on the Agema a bit too much so I doubt that will be what it is (and how I wish we had gotten Atlanta instead of Andromeda - she would have worked so so much better). Given the bow thing, maybe we'll get a dart/locust hybrid. SMG (to keep the cost down ;) ) Bow, smoke grenades, ODD, forward deployment L2. I'd be quite happy with that load out too ;)
We got MULTI Rifles on both Shukra and Yadu. I think CB sees this as our assigned complement of AT weaponry. You forgot Ariadna. I love MSV as an idea. But MSV3 is ridiculously overpriced, and in a sectorial without Smoke it'd be just another slap in the face. Therefore I expect it. Same as K1 Sniper being an impressively bad weapon.
There's also linked Dakini MULTI Snipers with Marksmanship for pretty effective AT duty. Arguably better than almost any Missile Launcher option.
Sorry, I meant new stuff. I also forgot MULTI Rifle Rudra and the new Asura HD+ MULTI Rifle. From old stuff, we also have Samekh - AD+DA+Template is also very nice for anti-armour, especially if you buff it with Marksmanship. Although I still would like Missile Launcher Dakinis.
I mainly play Onyx, I know all about the Unidrons. ;-) Burst 2 DAM14 EXP+AP has an edge in terms of damage output, but at the cost of a noticeably higher chance of the firer dying.
I would rather go with the Marut for that. MULTI HMG has the potential to do 4 DAM 16 AP hits. Linked MSR is 3 DAM 15 AP, which is correct, but comparing it to linked ML which is 6 DAM 14 AP ... Ultimately when facing a TAG you want to be able to disable it in a minimum number of orders, and with a MSR it can take a while ...