So, the ZondNautica are kind of a big break from the norm for Nomads. They're fast, and they have g-sync'd dudes to frag people, and smoke LGLs. Which is pretty awesome! I need to really get into using them, I low-key thing they're possibly one of the best bike troops out there, so tell me how you use them, your experiences and tactics etc! I'm kind of thinking that it's cool we have three profiles and they're all basically the profiles you'd find interesting even if there were other generic ones there (the one that's good up close, the specialist, and the long range SWC killer). The Spitfire obviously draws attention to me though, it's the one which is the most immediately meaty profile on such a fast platform. I'm kind of thinking that they might perform better in Vanilla though, where I can clear out AROs with Intruders and such, and then go into assault mode. Also with better midfield control from Morans and Zeros, I have much more of the table to play with before hitting the enemy, so I can get the angle I want more precisely.
My first thought on Zondnautica is that they're the only useful Smoke LGL in the faction (BSG Zondnaught is 24/0 SWC vs the Morlock at 14/1SWC)*. Which is huge as an enabling function: particularly in ITSX where you can place Templates to leave very narrow holes AD can jump into. Also, always remember that you can AD:2 into Smoke. Paired with a Tomcat or Meteor there will be practically no objective you can't reach. Paired with Bran, nowhere on the board will be safe. My second thought is that they increase the number of 0 or low SWC strikers in the faction. This enables you to spend the majority of your SWC on reactive pieces: Sin-eaters, Minelayers, Riot Grrl MLs. Using your SWC defensively and taking Nomads great 0/low SWC strikers is a solid plan. My third thought is "use them like an Uberfalls + linked Moira HMG combo". Basically it punishes your opponent's deployment decisions: either your opponent invests in ARO to stop the fast striker or they hide from your superlative Gun. HD AROs and massed Camo are decent counters to this approach though. As is a canny opponent who plays a strong but conservative ARO game: mainly watching midfield firelanes rather than cross table ones. I generally actually use the Uberfalls as my reserve in this play to push my opponent to turtling (this usually also allows easier access to dominate the midfield): Kriza HMG + Zondnautica BSG should achieve similar results. Fourth thought: Suppression Fire is your friend. Relieved from the requirements of cover, nothing stops you putting your Zondnaught on Suppression in an ideal position. You can use the 'Mate to provide Warning if your opponent tries to flank the Gun. This is a great way to end a play with a Spitfire. But remember Zondnautica can be part of a co-ord order whereas Zondnaught + Mate cannot. Final thought: pair them with Morlocks. This allows you to get Smoke down and means that you can make use of your Impetuous order without having to deal with FTFs. Note: this is all theory crafting as I haven't gotten them onto the table yet. I'm enjoying FD1 MI too much at the moment. * Admittedly if there was a TM + Morlock Oznat-esque link I'd absolutely run the Smoke LGL.
Nah it's a restriction on placing Drop Zones. How that interacts with ITSX is up for debate but AD:2 certainly doesn't use a Drop Zone.
Not to detract from the initial post, but this should be addressed because it is a big deal if you can combat jump into smoke.
It's been asked elsewhere and I've just asked it directly in the ITSX QandA thread. The way I'm playing it is that no you can't Combat Jump directly into a Zero/Poor/Low Vis Zone. Landing Assistance effectively converts the Drop Zone for a solo AD into the base of the AD troop.
That's how I would do it until confirmed. Sorry for derailing again, you might not be surprised to hear that's a really relevant mechanic for me.
Just like Aragotos, they will take some practice getting used to the Impetuous order. Though at least you guys don't have to unlearn the coordinated-impetuous order thing you could do in N2...
I'll definitely agree that they're the only useful LGLs in the faction. Helps that they're paying 0 SWC for that Smoke LGL! Putting down cover for AD2 troopers is a great idea, good should. Will hugely assist Raoul in Vanilla as well! Definitely considering pairing them with powerful active turn shooters sure. Then you have to choose between stopping that Zond and getting shot, or vice versa. I really think that Intruders and Zonds will work ace together, the Zonds can deploy smoke the Intruder can see through, and the fast Zond can get into angles and places the slower Intruder can't. Also I think the impetuous order should be relatively easy to get used to, it's only regular impetuous after all and therefore no need to use it if it exposes you to a nasty ARO!
Alternatively, you can choose to use it and Shoot a BS12 Mimmetism Spitfire at the Target and then yolo your Extremely Impetuous troops down the now open firelane.
Yeah that's a very useful tactic, the ability to activate a fast trooper with Mimetism and a Spitfire during the same phase as your Morlocks or whatever. Looks like the Zondnautica brings a lot of interesting new options to Nomads, as I suspected!
Haven't used much impetuous as a Correg player but I've won two games due to Frenzy Myrmidons on one to Thorakitai so I've had a little. And yeah being able to choose the order of orders with diverse impetuous troops is a big deal.
I have nothing constructive to add to tactica around Zondnautica, I am just really excited to see how Robby the Robobiker turns out in visual concept and execution. I also hope it comes boxed with dismounted options too :)
Sadly Raoul is only fighting for Tunguska and Star Co unless you're leveraging soldiers of fortune (much like Senor Massacre only fights for Corregidor and Star Co and Avicenna for Bakunin and Star Co). What's cool though is having a reason to play a sectorial other than fireteams. And of course if you want to play them all together that's where Star Co comes in but they have no zondnauts :(
I'm curious to know if someone tried the zondnautica as datatracker (in mission where you need to kill someone like transmission matrix) ? Is the spitfire version a good tool to hunt a poor HVT ? Do you use it as a first turn killer (if your opponent is nice enough to leave you some hole to push him) or do you keep him in reserve for second turn when your heavier piece (intruder, kriza...) have already cleaned your opponent ARO ? On foot or on bike ? When do you get down from your bike and why ?
I've used the shotgun one as a datatracker yes, it's a good aggression piece, it's just trickier to keep alive. :)
