I keep building lists with the Heavy Grenade Launcher version of the Lizard, but it feels like it needs so many points devoted to the gimmick(for pi-well, zero observers, etc) that it isn't really worth it. What do you guys think?
It's worth it for several missions. Besides that it depends. If you're Bakunin the lizard is a fun addition. It benefits from your ample supply of Spotlight which I'd always use. Without that it's an effective tag that can stand up to most other things, but not really the asymmetric angle you want to use with nomads.
I've used it both ways a ton, but in the end I prefer the flamethrower. The HGL can be effective, but you make two significant trades: You have zero up-close defense, means an extra Morlock is required exclusively to defend the TAG The .5 SWC can buy you White Noise, which is unusually strong in Lizard-based lists (no friendly visors) The no-extra-points is deceptive... you're forced to pay elsewhere since the Lizard absolutely sucks at defending itself up close.
I highly recommend using the hgl in spec fire with targeted. 17s will out perform almost everyone's dodge roll. It's a great way to punish enemies that group up. Then, once they spread out send the chimera or zeros to pick them apart. Don't rely on this model doing all the killing himself, but he'll set the terms of the fight. My problem with the hft is that with this kit he's very similar to a lot of other tools I have or other tags have and I'm not getting my points worth in "different" vanilla a kriza with suppressive plus a bevy of morlocks gets better zone control. I like him as a swiss army knife but honestly I was better off with the jsa tag.
In those "kill the designated target with your data tracker" missions it's superb, can net you 5vp very quickly. It's also very good at hosing down dakini, batroid links etc as they're particularly poor at dodging and have low Phys. Clearing rooftops of prone skulking line troopers is also well within its capabilities and makes hiding obvious lieutenants very dangerous for your opponent
I am happy to see everyone is finding use for it. Do you take certain things with it to make it more effective or do you take a normal list and just add it in?
I normally go with a moderator link for points and bodies. Chuck in some khd and/or HD+ and some morlocks for screening duties and you're getting near 300pts
I think you'd have to build around it. I've never had 100~ points left after building my core strategy. Clockmaker and helper . Hackers. Lunokohd is good synergy. It brings what the lizard hgl lacks and also enjoys the support of the clockmaker. Chimera. Not really because anything I just like that unit. But seriously, her eclipse grenade and pups are more screen for the lizard, if you push with the lizard (and you should even with hgl) it makes a wall for chimera to move behind until pouncing, and yet again STR synergy with the clockmaker.
Going to try out the lizard with hgl in a limited insertion tournament tomorrow. I’m planning on running it in a duo with the red fury taskmaster. I figure the koalas and red fury will make up well for the lack of close range and the tinbot will help in case a hacker gets too frisky.
They can't duo. If the Lizard gets a duo option I'll run it more, though... don't even care who it is. Limited Insertion helps the Lizard though; much less likely that something will approach. Bring a Custodier and you're all set.
I ended up not using a duo team at all running the hrl taskmaster up the left flank while the redfury taskmaster went up the right flank. Lizard went up the middle. It worked really well. I am curious though why they cannot DUO? I can not find anything in the Wiki that says tags cannot be part of a duo team. They are both Bakunin and the Taskmaster has the skill so according to the wiki requirements are met. Can anyone explain this to me?
You cannot Duo a zero either and you won't find that restriction anywhere in the wiki. You don't get to pick whichever other model you want to pair up with taskmaster duo. Both members of the duo has to be from the same unit*, or a special case indicated on the sectorial chart (it is a rule specific to Duo, and also specific to almost all fireteams too). So a taskmaster duo can team up with another taskmaster. And if there was someone with wildcard, that person could replace a taskmaster. Like in corregidor, you can take 2 gecko in a Duo. Or you can take 1 gecko TAG and pair it up with Lupe (who can be part of any fireteam). Or you can have 1 gecko with 1 mobile brigada because the charts allows for that special fireteam. *edit: same unit does not mean both in bakunin, that is a sectorial. The unit is the group of same soldiers (example taken from the wiki, not the best as the unit selected is a AVA 1 character):
