Agreed, I'll be happy if the missile launcher is a bit less prevalent. As someone who began playing JSA before Domaru/Haramaki mixed links, the 5-man Haramaki link was a thing of beauty... But it was also an example of my least favorite things in a link team: ultra cheap profiles, with no drawback to Impetuous. Hard-hitting, low-Burst weapons that could stop the active player in its tracks. Near-immunity to short-range or close-combat "solutions" that could help break the link and make it easier to shoot. I'm not really sure how much of Haramaki equipment will cross over to Tanko, but I hope Tanko get some interesting fresh options rather than just being a straight nerf of Haramaki.
I wonder what will be going on with the Tanko's Gas Mask and Gas Container on his back, as well as the odd warning colours on his arm armour....maybe combat drugs or some sort of biological weaponry? Maybe Smoke Grenades? I think this profile will be quite interesting and hopefully fill some holes that JSA seems to have at the moment when compared to most other factions out there.
Would be a long shot, but I kind of hope some of the Tankos get access to smoke grenades. Not like it would break JSA and would give them some desperately needed smoke that is not from a unique character. Well, that and maybe some specialist profiles.
Gas filters is typically something you find on models with increased BTS (read as "above 0"; Zhanying, Celestial Guard, etc) It's very possible this is signifying traits where the new Tanko armour is a step down in production technology over the old Haramaki armours. They need those extra bits and awkward pieces to get the armour to fill the same function as the technology they no longer have access to.
So, now that we've seen a change in their CC abilities (and weaponry) but little change in the ranged abilities (other than addition of flamenspeer), what do you think of the changes? They seem pretty fair to me. Also, choosing between monoweapons and E/M from a Domaru is gonna be hard.
For players who like their HI links, they're solid. My main hanguo with that link in general is that mixing between Domaru and Haramaki (Tanko) really splits the focus of the link, and I'm never sure if im happier running all 175 points of beefy HI up the table to melee and shotgun things, or keep them back and use that missile to cover the table. I may try the Musashi Haris as my Tanko system. Cheaper than the full Core link, the missile is still there as a deterrent early game, and you can run around and get work done up close without putting most of your list in harm's way.
The thing about a link with two purposes (at different ranges, even better) is that the opponent can take out the ones who support the long-range function, and then you still have the short-range ones. Haramaki/Tankos are great for that. I love that link because sure, the long-ranged guys take a fall either in ARO or while you're closing. Then you have 2-4 nasty CC guys to set free in the opponent's midst. Even if they work super hard to Isolate or kill the link leader during their active, then you have a bunch of Impetuous berserkers in their midfield or worse. I love that link so much. And now that it can have a specialist... oh baby. The only problem is the -cost- with that specialist model. I might have to drop the Spitfire for the specialist, which is a damn shame because that Spitfire does good work (even at BS12, B5 is a lot of chances for a crit). As for Musashi: Against someone else who is definitely taking an HI link or TAGs, sure. Or a Bakunin player who thinks they're really funny because they take a bunch of Morlocks. Otherwise? Not convinced.
Por que no los dos? Japanese Secessionist Army ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5 3 OYAMA Lieutenant Chain Rifle, E/M Grenades / Breaker Pistol, AP CCW, EXP CCW. (0 | 28) DOMARU Spitfire / Pistol, E/M CCW, Shock CC Weapon. (2 | 39) TANKŌ Blitzen, Submachine Gun / Pistol, Monofilament CC Weapon, Shock CC Weapon. (0 | 23) TANKŌ Flammenspeer, Contender / Pistol, Monofilament CC Weapon, Shock CC Weapon. (0 | 23) TANKŌ Missile Launcher / Pistol, Monofilament CC Weapon, Shock CC Weapon. (1.5 | 32) 3.5 SWC | 145 Points Open in Infinity Army If you want to stick that Domaru Specialist in there, though, that's a bit pricier: Japanese Secessionist Army ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5 2 OYAMA Lieutenant Chain Rifle, E/M Grenades / Breaker Pistol, AP CCW, EXP CCW. (0 | 28) DOMARU Spitfire / Pistol, E/M CCW, Shock CC Weapon. (2 | 39) DOMARU (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle, E/M Grenades / Pistol, E/M CCW, Shock CC Weapon. (0 | 36) TANKŌ Blitzen, Submachine Gun / Pistol, Monofilament CC Weapon, Shock CC Weapon. (0 | 23) TANKŌ Missile Launcher / Pistol, Monofilament CC Weapon, Shock CC Weapon. (1.5 | 32) 3.5 SWC | 158 Points Open in Infinity Army
I like to think that they struck a flashy final pose before an explosion got to them as they were sacrificing themselves to help evacuate that place (not too clear on what happened in the fluff as I don't have the book).
It's a shame that they're so much smaller than the current models, but original JSA came from the true-28mm sculpting phase of 2009. Even the original Keisotsu are a head shorter than the Celestial Guard... I'm awfully tempted to copy the shoulder piece from the Haramaki onto the Tanko (or raid some Tau bits, whichever)...
IMHO raiding Tau bits is actually quite fluffy, considering Tankos constantly tweak their armor, and there is no two matching sets. I wonder whether som Yu Jing HI migh be converted into a Tanko. Like some JSA regiment got a hold of a factory or a storage facility with Invincible Army equipment and it got looted by Tankos.
Fluffwise, the Haramaki took a LOT of casualties in the uprising as previously mentioned. With the staggering losses as well as being cut off from additional supply of new material and repair components for their armor from the StateEmpire, the surviving Haramaki reincorporated into the easier-maintained Tanko units.
