I don't think there is (atm. hadn't read 3rd Offensive yet) little to no fluff reason to that. There is also no fluff reason for Joan being very picky lady and needing exactly 4 Hospitaller to tag along (otherwise she will say no).
Probably because their order is fleet based and concentrated on fleet/ boarding actions, they are trained to be an add hoc unit for ground combat operations. No solid explanation though.
I see the salt. I just ordered my Military Orders Big Box yesterday, and in light of the Army update, I'm pretty happy overall. I think Joan is the only possible dud, but I have DeFersen to swap in if I want. EDIT: I think the fragility of the Crusade Link may make the box much friendlier to play against my 300 point Icestorm lists, so that's a plus! That said, there is now one Santiago models that have no profile to go with them.
Given their status as Marines they're likely to work as small detachments to other Navy/Army units, and are probably trained to mesh easily with different chains of command. The only questionable decision is loss of that Boarding Shotgun.
There is no fluff for recent mixed fireteams. Why do elite spec ops kamau link with line fusiliers? Why do dakini link with csu? Why does one sergant links with a knight fireteam? I doubt these questions will be answered.
There actually is an in-setting explanation for the mixed Fusilier/Kamau/ORC teams, it's part of the VIRD training. As to the Santiago? I think that @psychoticstorm is on the money, it's because they are a Naval unit.
Get your spitfire running, Head out on the spaceways, Looking for adventure, In whatever comes our way, Yeah Darling going make it happen, Take my sword in a love embrace Fire all of our guns at once, And explode into space. Seriously this just writes itself about the Santiagos.
Now available, the salacious new spring break hit "Santiagos Gone Wild XVIII" Order now and receive a half price copy of "Teutons their own horn" and "Choke me harder Daddy-Knight"
"Monastery Moments" - Sorry, daddy. I've been bad... - FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, IT'S "FORGIVE ME FATHER, FOR I HAVE SINNED"!
This old meme is achieving a rare thing of being hilariously hilarious while at the same moment. making me extreme sad that it even exist.
I was actually surprised that the proper formula is "Bless me, Father" rather than the memetic "Forgive me, Father". We just use the standard "Praise be upon Jesus Christ" that's used when greeting a priest. I still insist that it should have been Father-Knights that got the Wildcard treatment, as every Order is bound to have a few priests in it.
Well "Forgive me, Father" makes more sense in case of confession Yes, this is common, yet in this can the ORC is not greeting the FK but requesting an "immidiete" confession and absolution.
Wait few more years, we might get it ;) But from gameplay perspective I don't think it would be as big as FK linkable inside OS. Most "true" knight links would much more prefer Magister as linkable option.
IMO the FK in OS link is competing heavily with the Hospitaller link. You get: low/similar cost as old magister link, just as good B.S. better armor on FT lead, you still get super-heavy specialist in link, you still get great weapons etc, and you can rock the uber cheap OS variants. The OS link can also bring in MSV in two different options, and can still get the KHD or super cheap Spitfire Santiagos like any other link. The Hospitaller Harris is practically a no-brainer now, since the Harris option is a Doctor which is incredible; usually the Harris leader is an obnoxious plain-profile dude that you'd rather not take, and so the option for the other two link members is very limited. MO can now easily get a Core, Harris, and Duo in a list is desired, and every link has a specialist, an SWC gun or two, and multi-wound models. The magister link felt uncreative before. Now you have to be a little creative to want it. I like that.
If the FK was a Wildcard it would still be linkable with OS... Unless you mean missing out on the ML profile. Is the linkable ML good now or is it overshadowed by OS HRL? Jury probably still out considering we just got these options, but I have enough OS to try linked FK. Maybe to avoid proxying too much I'll even go with Montesa Tik to try it out. Edit. My Twin Knights list became Twin Knights + Cousin Tik Spoiler: List Military Orders ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 8 2 BLACK FRIAR (Albedo, Biometric Visor L1) MULTI Rifle, Nanopulser, Drop Bears / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 28) FATHER-KNIGHT Lieutenant Spitfire / Breaker Pistol, DA CCW. (2 | 50) ORDER SERGEANT Heavy Rocket Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 15) ORDER SERGEANT Paramedic (MediKit) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 15) ORDER SERGEANT Paramedic (MediKit) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 15) TIKBALANG OF MONTESA (Religious Troop) AP HMG, Heavy Flamethrower / DA CCW. (2 | 92) CRABBOT Flash Pulse / Knife. () KNIGHT OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE (Forward Deployment L2) Combi Rifle, Light Grenade Launcher / Pistol, DA CCW. (0.5 | 55) MACHINIST (Father-Engineer) Combi Rifle, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 15) TECH-BEE (Remote Assistant Level 1, Specialist Operative) Flash Pulse / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 5) WARCOR (Aerocam) Flash Pulse / Stun Pistol, Knife. (0 | 3) PALBOT Electric Pulse. (0 | 3) PALBOT Electric Pulse. (0 | 3) 6 SWC | 299 Points Open in Infinity Army