So I’m thinking about the access to jammers and things like linked super jumpers. Tools like these should be on one maybe two units tops? The whole faction doesn’t need to be different, but I feel like a lot of what haqq could do uniquely is now shared with other sectorials. Wildcards, jammers, nomads got a super jump link before us, but rtf was all the hype when I started years ago and people said that super-jumping links were gonna be our thing. Obviously the game changes and with growth, diversity can falter. I’m not really talking about the play style, just some unique items and tricks. This isn’t a complaint, just an observation. It’s not something to argue against. Merely reflect on. My buddy who plays Varuna keeps talking about how he feels like our armies are becoming less diferentiated each time he plays me.
I would argue that Varuna is unlike any sectorial that we've seen before – as a long time PanO player and current Varuna player, it feels rather unique in it's builds and how it leverages it's power pieces.
We’ll just have to agree to disagree. My statement wasn’t an assessment of Varuna, but rather, a reflection on the dissemination of a lot of things that make Haqqislam special. You aren’t a Haqqislam player, and your faction has benefited from some of the exact things I’m talking about. You aren’t in a position for me to take your opinion on the matter with more than a grain of salt. I do appreciate, however, that Varuna is an awesome sectorial, and I’ve said elsewhere that I think CB did a great job putting it together. I also think it could be just as great without a hammer. I’m not saying this because I think it adds too much, but rather, because it was unique to Haqqislam for quite a long time. Obviously, what’s done is done, so my thoughts are merely wind across the sands.
I got you man, no worries. My usual opponent mainly plays Haqq. I've had a ton of experience playing against it, imo, the jammers are nice – but they're merely a dollop of frosting on an otherwise very well put together cake. If you're worried about the design space I would point you to the recently released Hakim – a uniquely "Haqq" feeling unit. seriously who else can even come close to the pure specialist power of that guy while bringing distinctly low-tech but reliable firepower
I think if you’d play Haqqislam, you might have different feelings about the Hakim. The medijector rule is cool, sure. But the model doesn’t “look” Haqqislam. Furthermore, in a faction that is supposed to excel at trading up against powerhouses like PanO, the unit is noticeably expensive and is outperformed by a ghulam doc+ This is in my own experiences of course, and I’ve only got about 35 games with the Hakim. I’ve enjoyed him, but I’m not a huge fan. As to who can come close in pure specialist power with low tech weapons? Depends on what you call powerful, I guess. The hunzakut would be my answer to your question, and I don’t think the Hakim comes close to it. But hey, guess what? DBS get to take hunzakuts, so they aren’t unique to Haqqislam.
As far as RTF goes, the Tuareg possibly being the only infiltrator, and a focus on Janissaries, Khawarij, and Zhayedan, I think the strategy of piece trading might not be viable. while this means that its going to function mechanically different than Hassassins, that doesn't mean that its going to necessarily play like IA. I would be interested to know why your friend feels that Varuna isn't wholly original, or what play style it is akin to. I think any comparisons about homogeny with NA2 is a little unfair – because that's kind of the point, they're made up of nothing original. of course they're going to borrow strategies and units form other factions. Regardless if he is exclusive to haqq or pops up in one or two NA2 armies, he is still a haqq unit. I think the Hakim is a great specialist, his ability to not start on the table coupled with his sturdiness makes him a pretty powerful unit. No other faction can bring a turn 3 objective grabber like the hakim.
I fail to see why you've come to the Haqqislam subforum to argue and then wave off comparisons as unfair? Doesn't really make sense to me. Piece trading wasn't exclusive to Hassassins, as QK does it rather well through other tricks. Its been a defining feature of Haqqislam as a whole. As for no other faction being able to bring a turn 3 objective grabber ... What? And if you think Varuna is wholly original, I don't know how to explain its not? The desert may have blinded you on your journey over here. Inshallah your senses return. I'm done with this conversation, as you've been driving the cart in circles.
uh.... alright? sorry if I upset you, I really didn't mean to offend you or anything. just discuss some new releases.
I’m not offended, but thank you for taking a step back. As I have said, I’m really not interested in arguing. I appreciate you throwing up the link for the release and I’m really excited for the khawarij to drop.
@oldGregg some baklava and a nice glass of mint tea perhaps, effendi? Playing both QK and HB I'd say they do play very, very different from each other. QK being usually pretty straightforward, not dissimilar in application to my Corregidor. They come in hard and knock teeth out rather than "trade up". Open an approach vector on the board, neutralize opposing models there, and then take the fight to the enemy. With Hassassins, save for the ever-favourite Ghazi, it is pretty difficult to "trade up", as most of our troops are rather expensive, while being fragile. As for uniqueness - Hassassins still have their Impersonation and Viral Ammo. Sure, it is not absolutely unique to them - but it never was absolutely unique. Speculo Killers were a thing for as long as Fidays were, and when Viral shown up in 2ed Human Sphere, it was on Lasiq, Muyib Minelayers - but also on Father Sforza and Loup Garou, all in the same book.
Please no. FA2 is already brain dead and lame enough to play against as it is without giving it another dice.
If they just hard capped the burst to something lower like Marksmanship LX does it'd be fine. Especially if it's moved towards a reactive turn model like a sniper rather than an active turn model. Annoying rules are always less aggravating if you're given the option to play around them instead of having to tackle them head on.
Mk12 MSV2 will be an extremely popular loadout. That and the Zhayedan MML2 Sniper will be my go to direct shooters in RTF, hopefully linked too.
Yeah, I play both sectorials as well, as I own the entire Haqqislam line of minis. I understand they play differently, but I’d still say they trade up. Sure, some pieces are a bit pricey, but they still punch well above their weight. Both sectorials just do it differently. Thanks for the n2 references. It kind of just leads me to think the game as a whole is losing uniqueness across factions. I guess no one else thinks of it like I do, so consider the subject dropped. Ummm ... read the rest of the conversation? This is what I was talking about ...