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Bakunin Wild Wishing

Discussion in 'Nomads' started by Hachiman Taro, Mar 22, 2019.

  1. Zakalwe

    Zakalwe Bomber Harris, Do It Again!

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    Taskmasters are a straight downgrade from Kriza or Geckos, which are relatively equivalent units in the other two Nomad factions. This could be fixed by just giving them a Fireteam:Duo or Fireteam:Haris with some kind of specialist. Even letting them drag two Moderators upfield would be something that puts them in a position where people might be more willing to take them.

    It would be better to keep Moderators as relatively defensive fireteams: a Vertigo mixed team would give Bakunin the missile launcher shenanigans other newer factions get, while not giving them too much active turn punch. This would make them more viable, without also putting them in a position where they supplant Moiras or Riots in the roles those teams fill. The only use they really have now is as a Fireteam:Core link with a Multi-Sniper to act as a sacrificial ARO piece, the ability to mix up the link, even if very slightly, vastly increases their utility.

    Reverend mixed links is obvious. Unless you're going against something with little to no MSV, Reverents are overshadowed right now by Riots.

    Prowlers need a rework. They're significantly underpowered for what you're paying, and nine times out of ten you are better off just using that spot to chuck in another Zero (Minelayer). I can envision a move to a Light Flamethrower and D-Charges being stock standard on every profile, with a SMG, Combi, Boarding Shotgun, and Adhesive Launcher being there for variety. Maybe move the Specialist Operative profile towards being an Engineer or a Forward Observer?

    Moderator named Spec-Ops character: Holo 1, some kind of specialist, biometric visor, SMG, maybe Chain of Command... but no profile improvements over the standard Moderator. The point isn't to make a beatstick, it's to introduce some kind of strange utility that tends to typify Bakunin over other factions.
     
  2. Tourniquet

    Tourniquet TJC Tech Support

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    This is probably never going to happen in Nomads, especially Bakunin. I could see it TJC which is more elite and disciplined, and maybe CJC at a stretch.

    TMs really aren't a down grade (HMG profile excepted) to their counterparts in the other two sectorials, they each have their role of big ol' beat stick(Kriza), area denial/ control and close assault (TM) or budget TAG/ half decent specialist(Gecko). If you try to apply a TM to a problem in the same way you would a Kriza or a Gecko it's not going to end well. Now the other two do have the option to bodyguard a half decent specialist in their respective sectorials which is probably biggest thing it's "missing".
     
  3. neostrider

    neostrider Well-Known Member

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    The TM isn't a beat stick, but that's exactly what Bakunin would want in a HI. The utility it provides is barely more than a zero or lunokhod with half the cost.

    Kinematic on a unit that would rather shoot than dodge, free agent I can only find useful if everything else in my list is dying, MA is an expensive way to give this guy stealth and courage.

    You'll never see one in vanilla, no matter the mission or match up and that's an alarm bell. It is never optimal to bring it.

    New idea: give it the new Total Immunity, lose kinematic, and adjust the points appropriately. It's fluffy because they are supposed to be tackling anything that bakunin can throw at it. For balance concerns compare it to karakuri. Some longer range firepower and + 2 armor for about 25 points.
     
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  4. loricus

    loricus Satellite Druid

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    I like the TM and would be taking them in Corregidor.
     
  5. SmaggTheSmug

    SmaggTheSmug Well-Known Member

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    Compared to Kriza and Gecko Taskmaster definitely looks harder to use. Not as durable as Gecko and not as shooty as Kriza. Main advantage over the other two is that it's better at withstanding close combat, thanks to MA and Koalas, and HRL, which Nomads have limited access to. But lack of Koalas on HMG puts a damper on that profile and BSG is just a weird choice (if a fluffy option).
    For a straight up beatstick he's a bit underwhelming compared to competition. HMG doesn't provide anything special over even basic Brigada. In Bakunin unlinked Moira can outperform him, unless fighting MSV2 (but that's what White Noise is for).
     
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  6. loricus

    loricus Satellite Druid

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    Free Agent is particularly useful for an HMG that can use a small second CG pool on the first turn. The Heavy Pistol and CC mixed with good turn-to-face rolls makes them much more survivable in self defense as well. And then you get the BTS boost. The points are well worth it over the Brigada. Personally the HMG is the main one I rate, its only problem is that the Kriza is stupid good.
     
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  7. SmaggTheSmug

    SmaggTheSmug Well-Known Member

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    He is a bit harder to kill, but in the basic role (i.e. shooting) he's exactly the same as Brigada, while also being a bigger target. I give you Free Agent, but personally I would put an HMG HI in the main combat group at list building.
    IMO a vanilla player should consider either HRL or Red Fury, for the template and/or board control. For HMG duties there's guys like Kriza or Intruder.
     
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  8. loricus

    loricus Satellite Druid

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    I suggest giving it a try with the Taskmaster HMG starting in CG2 with something like 4 orders for someone looking to expand their Bakunin playstyle.
     
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  9. inane.imp

    inane.imp Well-Known Member

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    But then you can't duo the HMG with the BSG :'(

    That's hilariously fun to shove down someone's throat T1. Everytime I've done it I've still been left with a HI deep on my Opponent's flank for T2/3 shenanigans.

    I'm actually ok with the HMG not having the Koalas. It's the Pulsar I think is missing.

    Group 2 TM HMG + group 1 Uberfalls would be a nice set up. You'd probably get more value out of a solo-Moira HMG + Reaktion (for fighting Shock AROs) though. The exception would be if you were planning on using the TM as a DT or to do something like hold the Armoury T3.
     
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  10. Jason839

    Jason839 Well-Known Member

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    So about Taskmasters, I like them as they are a lot. I don’t know how you guys play Bakunin but for me Bakunin is about controlling space and controlling order usage, and not about crushing people with overwhelming firepower. This usually means a link of moderators to power orders, bran to deal with the annoying pieces, zeros and lunokhods to lay down mines and koalas to dictate how the enemy must move, kusanagi to kill all the things and do all the stuff, morlocks to be generally annoying. and a whole lot of suppressing fire to make advancing as order intensive as possible.

    The problem with this style of list is everything except kusanagi is glass cannons. You can fit a lizard in if you wish but that’s a lot of SWC being used up and lizards require dedicated support that doesn’t mesh with the board control play style.

    This is where the Taskmaster comes in. It brings similar board control tools as the lunokhod but on a heavy infantry body. Deploy those koalas if you have them, then set the hmg/red fury taskmaster up in cover. Declare suppressing fire and deny and entire section of the board to the opponent or watch him waste 10 of his precious 45 total orders on removing it. It’s amazing.
     
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  11. NorthernNomad

    NorthernNomad Well-Known Member

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    Another sweet thing about the Taskmaster is he is very resistant to hacking, one of the main vulnerabilities of most HI. Martial arts gives him stealth, letting him slip by hackers/repeaters in the active turn, while Koala's make him hard for the opponent to hack on the enemies turn. Plus the redfury profile also comes with a tin bot for further resilience.

    As others had said, while he isn't as focused on offense as the Kriza or as resilient as the Gecko. His equipment makes him a great Jack of All trades as he is deadly at all range bands and difficult to catch at a disadvantage. His, weapons, Koala's and Hacking resistance all come together to make him a great unit for holding down fire lanes and/or objectives.
     
  12. DaRedOne

    DaRedOne Morat Warrior Philosopher
    Warcor

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    I agree with this. If the HMG had a pulsar I'd probably consider using it.

    And I don't get the TM dissing either. While I'd love if he could duo or haris with some specialists (order efficiency is a thing), I don't think the profile is overshadowed by anything, really. As good as they are at wrecking face, Krizas tend to fold if the enemy gets too close, and the combination of DTW and perimeter weapons makes the TM quite good at area denial, better than a Kriza even.
     
  13. neostrider

    neostrider Well-Known Member

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    I don't hate it, I just wish I brought it as more than a thematic or experimental piece. I fight a lot of defensive links, tend to own the hacking on the boards, and control the mid field just fine with zeros and chimeras.

    And then my TM tends to barely outperform a Prowler, which my meta or skillset rewards me for playing a lot more. And I still find issue with the Prowler after trying out other faction skirmishes.

    If I could walk the TM mid field, then I could have probably gotten a Luno up and saved lots of points. A riot girl ML is better long range option and cheaper. For a swiss army knife I find he gets countered by a lot of things that only need to keep doing what they do against the TM which does just enough to soak an extra order, maybe.

    TI would let him soak a lot more reliably and maybe pull off a 30%~ heroic stand.
     
  14. loricus

    loricus Satellite Druid

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    The lack of Duo options, particularly with a specialist, makes the TM less often a go-to for solving a problem in a mission. I think that would go a long way to giving it a niche.
     
  15. helsbecter

    helsbecter Ultrademocratic subSenator, #dominion Module

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    If I could pair a taskmaster with a custodier I think I'd drop my lunokhod to try it. Could be interesting.
     
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  16. DaRedOne

    DaRedOne Morat Warrior Philosopher
    Warcor

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    I think a more realistic pairing would be Taskmaster+Moderator or Taskmaster+Clockmaker. Observance stuff seems more contained.
     
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  17. Tourniquet

    Tourniquet TJC Tech Support

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    TM + Stempler could be interesting.
     
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  18. Jason839

    Jason839 Well-Known Member

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    For fluff reasons I want a Zoe+Pi-well+Bran Harris, but a Zoe+Pi-Well+Taskmaster Harris would be cool as well.
     
  19. inane.imp

    inane.imp Well-Known Member

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    Taskmaster + Moderator.

    And Morlocks count as Moderators for Fireteams.
     
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  20. Hachiman Taro

    Hachiman Taro Inverted gadfly

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    For me Bakunin is all about shoving Uberfalls and Riot Grrl missiles down people throats ;)

    I can see your point though. I find Kusanagi a bit soft as a Lt / Dt at times so maybe he's worth it for the extra durability.

    Still 53pts (!) is hard to swallow. Given the options other factions have now linking Taskmaster with Moderators or Morlocks or even as a wildcard would seem to suit both the way the game has gone mechanically and the fluff.
     
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