Forward Operating Base Sphinx ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 10 MENTOR Lieutenant Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 22) VICTOR MESSER (Hacking Device Plus) Boarding Shotgun, 2 Nanopulser, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 28) SPHINX Spitfire, 2 Heavy Flamethrowers / EXP CCW. (2 | 106) SCINDRON Flash Pulse / Knife. (0 | 0) NOCTIFER Missile Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 32) CALIBAN Engineer Submachine Gun, Pulzar, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife, CC Weapon. (0 | 28) SHROUDED (Minelayer) Combi Rifle, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 25) SHROUDED (Minelayer) Boarding Shotgun, Dazer / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 24) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) ÍMETRON . (0 | 4) ÍMETRON . (0 | 4) GROUP 2 4 4 TAIGHA Chain-colt / AP + Shock CCW. (0 | 5) TAIGHA Chain-colt / AP + Shock CCW. (0 | 5) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) 6 SWC | 300 Points Open in Infinity Army Been brainstorming a Combined Army List based around the idea of setting up a Forward Operating Base with the Sphinx. The idea is that you have two Shrouded minelayers (one with Dazer and the other with AP mines) who own part of the midfield with their overlapping area-denial abilities. The Dazer makes folks who don't have multiterrain not want to swing in, and the AP mines force catch-22s on people (like skirmishers who have multi-terrain) to reveal+dodge/eat the mine. Your Sphinx of course doesn't care about any of this, since it has Multiterrain and can happily duck in and out of the mine-ridden Dazer field. It is disgusting Shaas synergy. The Dazer is actually an incredible piece of kit. I'm not sure that I'd make it my reserve piece, but it could be worth it, just so you can have complete and perfect information about which firelane to shut down (and where to put down your roots for your FOB). The Sphinx uses this Forward Operating base and therefore allows it to stay in the midfield as opposed to having to run back to its own lines for the reactive. This in turn gives you more effective orders during your Active turn, which helps alleviate it being a Limited Insertion list. Messer is there as a semi-durable Toolbox (White Noise+++, though wasted utility in the since he can't Cybermask). Mentor is there as camo Lt despite the 1 SWC since Vanilla Combined gives me Imetrons + Gakis which let me scrimp a few points here and there compared to SEF. Doctor Worm is missing as I don't think there's really a need for a Doctor given that all my pieces either stay mostly in Marker State/Have NWI/Are a Tag/I don't care if they die (Taighas, Gakis); so he's replaced by a midfield Caliban Engineer who also fulfills the role of camo specalist. Do you think that instead of the two shrouded, you could instead get away with a single Malingos KHD who has both Dazers and AP? The only thing I don't like about him is that I need to burn orders to set up the Forward operating base and while he's doing so, he's vulnerable to say another enemy TO model who through dumb luck started right next to him. Also, not having the mine/dazer field makes me feel a tad exposed. My kingdom for like 20 more points, so I wouldn't have to take Imetrons and could make them Flash Pulse bots, etc. Another option is also replacing the two gakis with a throw-away Libertos. Idea for the list came from playing around with the SEF list, wanting to run a Sphinx, realizing that Sphinx killed a meaningful fireteam - leading me to think Vanilla Combined is the proper home for a Sphinx. Obvious weakness with the list is that its another "all-the-eggs-in-one-basket" due to the Sphinx. Would be keen to discuss what pieces can play an effective second fiddle. My first thought was a Q-Drone HMG, but to do that, I'd have to give up my Imetrons, etc. Open to feedback - and want to continue brainstorming the list since there's some time before all the new Shaas models rock out.
SEF Version of Sphinx FOB ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 10 MENTOR Lieutenant Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 22) VICTOR MESSER (Hacking Device Plus) Boarding Shotgun, 2 Nanopulser, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 28) SPHINX Spitfire, 2 Heavy Flamethrowers / EXP CCW. (2 | 106) SCINDRON Flash Pulse / Knife. (0 | 0) NOCTIFER Missile Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 32) CALIBAN Engineer Submachine Gun, Pulzar, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife, CC Weapon. (0 | 28) SHROUDED (Minelayer) Combi Rifle, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 25) SHROUDED (Minelayer) Boarding Shotgun, Dazer / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 24) NOX Combi Rifle + Light Grenade Launcher (Normal and Nimbus plus) / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 17) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) 5.5 SWC | 300 Points Open in Infinity Army This is the SEF version of the list, swapping out the beast-screen for a Nox LGL with Nimbus Plus who could potentially set up some nasty Heavy Flamethrower hits with the Sphinx.
I still think that Onyx is the best Sphinx delivery system. Purely sticking to Shas I like your second list more.
I like the idea of using dazers and the like to create a forward position for a Sphinx. I have a few thoughts regarding your lists. First, I am not sure about the pair of Shrouded minelayers, as neither provide you with a specialist. I'd probably go with the Malignos KHD and Liberto if you want a minelayer that can get up the midfield and an option for the dazer placement. The downside is spending an order to lay the dazer, but the plus side is having another specialist with a KHD to help cover the Sphinx's other weakness (hacking). I also think having a secondary attack piece, particularly one that can function in long range, would be good to help cover the other side of the board or deal with ARO pieces. If I were running Onyx or Shasvaasti Sphinx lists, I'd include their core links (Unidrons or Nox) to fill this roll. In Vanilla, I'd probably get a Q-drone HMG. Add a Q-drone would probably shift your list around a decent bit, but something like this might work: Otherwise, I think your lists struggle with long-range ARO pieces on more open-tables that you can't flank out or maneuver to with your mid/close range units. Combined Army ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 10 SPHINX Spitfire, 2 Heavy Flamethrowers / EXP CCW. (2 | 106) SCINDRON Flash Pulse / Knife. (0 | 0) MALIGNOS Hacker (EI Killer Hacking Device) Submachine Gun, Dazer, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 33) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) CALIBAN Engineer Submachine Gun, Pulzar, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife, CC Weapon. (0 | 28) NOCTIFER Missile Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 32) Q-DRONE HMG / Electric Pulse. (1 | 26) R-DRONE Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8) NEXUS Lieutenant Hacker (EI Hacking Device) Combi Rifle, Nullifier / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 24) ÍMETRON . (0 | 4) GROUP 2 3 2 LIBERTO (Minelayer) Light Shotgun, Chain-colt, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 10) TAIGHA Chain-colt / AP + Shock CCW. (0 | 5) TAIGHA Chain-colt / AP + Shock CCW. (0 | 5) 6 SWC | 299 Points Open in Infinity Army There are a couple weaknesses to the above list: 1) Obvious Lt in the Nexus instead of a safe Mentor Lt 2) Without Counterintelligence from the Mentor, I think it might be better to just try to cut the second group to go with an LI list, so you don't get hit by Command tokens on your alpha strike, when you're also going to be putting an order into the Malignos for dazer. It depends on how much you wanted the Taighas in there. You may not need them as much if you have a Q-Drone + Noctifer. You could pretty easily drop Group 2 on that list, as well as the Imetron, and go back to running the Shrouded minelayer (antipersonnel mines). Also, here is a different take on an SEF Sphinx list. It's not my list, it was developed by a player named Dimitry who talked about it on a podcast (White Noise, I believe). It shows a Nox Link + Sphinx combo that gives you both a defensive link and an offensive attack piece. It also has a good number of orders for a Sphinx list. It's lacking a Dazer, but you could swap the Seed Solider + Speculo Minelayer in group 2 for a combination of Shrouded if you wanted that particular setup. I do like the Speculo minelayer though, as it seems particularly troublesome for your opponents. Dmitry Sphinx Shasvastii ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 10 SPHINX Spitfire, 2 Heavy Flamethrowers / EXP CCW. (2 | 106) SCINDRON Flash Pulse / Knife. (0 | 0) NOX HMG / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 21) NOX Lieutenant Combi Rifle, Zapper / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 14) NOX Combi Rifle, Zapper / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 14) NOX Combi Rifle, Zapper / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 14) NOX Combi Rifle, Zapper / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 14) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) MED-TECH OBSIDON MEDCHANOID Combi Rifle, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 23) R-DRONE Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8) SLAVE DRONE Electric Pulse. (0 | 3) GROUP 2 2 2 2 SPECULO KILLER (Minelayer) Combi Rifle, Smoke Grenades, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Monofilament CCW, Knife. (1.5 | 39) SEED-SOLDIER Combi Rifle, D.E.P. / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 16) TAIGHA Chain-colt / AP + Shock CCW. (0 | 5) TAIGHA Chain-colt / AP + Shock CCW. (0 | 5) 4.5 SWC | 300 Points Open in Infinity Army
You have Victor Messer, but no remotes to buff. Changing him to Kerr-Nau saves a point and 0.5 SWC, while keeping White Noise. You can then get a Liberto in there, and a Seed Soldier FO. The next thing to iterate on would be if you want the Noctifer or not. Forward Operating Base Sphinx ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 9 1 MENTOR Lieutenant Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 22) KERR-NAU (UPGRADE: White Noise) Plasma Rifle + Pitcher, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0 | 27) SPHINX Spitfire, 2 Heavy Flamethrowers / EXP CCW. (2 | 106) SCINDRON Flash Pulse / Knife. (0 | 0) CALIBAN Engineer Submachine Gun, Pulzar, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife, CC Weapon. (0 | 28) SHROUDED (Minelayer) Boarding Shotgun, Dazer / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 24) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) LIBERTO (Minelayer) Light Shotgun, Chain-colt, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 10) ÍMETRON . (0 | 4) ÍMETRON . (0 | 4) SEED-SOLDIER (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle, D.E.P. / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 17) GROUP 2 1 4 4 TAIGHA Chain-colt / AP + Shock CCW. (0 | 5) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) NOCTIFER Missile Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 32) 6 SWC | 300 Points Open in Infinity Army
I like Kerr-Nau & Libertos Minelayer. Just feeling a bit silly since I just got Rosie from split-box :P In terms of the Noctifier ML, at this stage I'm still for it since I think he like the Sphinx, synergizes really well with the Dazer. At this stage, I more value the "big oopf" factor of the TO missile launcher compared to perhaps the more consistent gains that a Q-drone would give me. A potential option is dropping the Libertos Minelayer to the 8-point version to free up the requisite 1 SWC for the Q-drone, though finding the points might be a hassle. There's another version of the list (sans Sphinx) below where you have your Dazer Shrouded as the reserve model, set it up in front of their key ARO piece then coordinated order with 3 Notificiers and maybe Sheskin through it - forcing a catch-22 of a dodge/2 unopposed ML shots, allowing Sheskin to run rampant. Coordinated Surprise Attack Noctifier Attack through Dazer Field ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 10 SHESKIIN Lieutenant Red Fury, Pulzar, D-Charges / Pistol, DA CCW. (1 | 54) NOCTIFER Missile Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 32) NOCTIFER Missile Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 32) NOCTIFER Missile Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 32) CALIBAN (Chain of Command) Submachine Gun, Pulzar, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife, CC Weapon. (0 | 29) CALIBAN (Chain of Command) Submachine Gun, Pulzar, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife, CC Weapon. (0 | 29) SHROUDED (Minelayer) Boarding Shotgun, Dazer / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 24) SHROUDED (Minelayer) Combi Rifle, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 25) MED-TECH OBSIDON MEDCHANOID Combi Rifle, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 23) SLAVE DRONE Electric Pulse. (0 | 3) SEED-SOLDIER (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle, D.E.P. / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 17) 6 SWC | 300 Points Open in Infinity Army
