Under the active symbiote rules, The wiki says the model can voluntarily cancel the state. But, no where does it say of a model that does this can re-activate the armor after... For the Gorgos, this matters because it's the only way the specialist pilot can get out to fondle an objective... But implies that unlike other tags, once the gorgos pilotdismounted, they can't get back into their tag (as it is no longer on the table),
For tickets to the Salt Party, please contact your nearest Nomad TAG Operator. You’ll be able to locate them by their ejection systems. Edit: There is no game mechanic that allows the trooper to re-enter the Active Symbiote state. Just like there's no way to un-eject from the operator (not pilot) driven TAGs.
Yup, once the Symbiont armour is gone there's no getting it back. Leaving it voluntarily is usually an emergency tactic such as IMM-2'd with no nearby engineer. Or a last turn scoring run on an Objective. On the other hand, the pilot actually generates an order when the TAG is gone, and counts for full points when securing zones, so it's got that going for it.
Bear in mind that, no matter what misleading name the blister pack calls it, the Gorgos does not have a Pilot and does not use any of the Pilot or Manned TAG rules - it has a Symbiont Armor Inactive profile like all other troopers with Symbiont Armor. So as the others have said, deactivating Symbiont Armor is a one-way process.
That TAG have some serious dissadvantages, Fire can one shot it, can be Sepsitorized, AP Spitfire instead of HMG... just stay away for that thing.
It also accepts Symbiomates, is fairly cheap (for an MBT statline) and comes with a Pulzar REM. It's not so bad compared to most other 80's TAGs. Still... most people stay away from those TAGs, too...
My problem with Gorgos is how many vulnerabilities he has. The symbiomates/bomb are a nice extra but that's also support you must buy for him (and symbiomates right now just pop after the first hit). TAGs have some big dissadvantages, they are hard to hide, Hacking programs and E/M may be pretty punishing, are prime target for assassins... but this one must also care for fire ammo, sepsistor, guts rolls... I do like 80-90 point TAGs, it let you include one and you can still have a nice 14 point list or include some extra nice attack pieces; I just don't like this one... Compare it with a Szali or a O-Yoroi, these have limitations but are much more usable imo; the first is an amazing ranged fire platform with a flamethrower just in case and a solid 8/9 ARM/BTS. The latter is more fragile (7/6) and his ranged weapon is not that good (AP HMG), but has stealth, koalas and a decent CC value plus MA, becoming one of the most autosuficient TAGs. Gorgos has a worse weapon and armor similar to O-Yoroi (but better BTS), he has a Chaksa and with a Symbiomate and a Symbiobomb he may have an auto success in the first hit and a "free repair" with Revitalis; but I'm not sold these 2 offset the extra dissadvantages...
For what it's worth, the only one of those that's specific to the Gorgos is Fire ammo. Most Manned TAGs suffer from Sepsitor and Guts Rolls as well.
Look, the O-Yoroi is fun, but it has a blind spot range of 6-16" and the Szally is 8 points more expensive and doesn't come with the external body that'll let you lay down both a template and shoot the main gun at the same time. Szally's gun on the other hand is so bloody excellent and the pilot inside is so overgeared compared to others that I'm hesitant to call it a "plain TAG" like I like to throw around. In either case, I'm not saying Gorgos is excellent, but I'm saying it's most likely not any worse off compared to other plain TAGs with a similar role, even with the extra disadvantages considered. Also, you wouldn't belive the amount of Maghriba that has had to stop in their tracks due to Flash Pulse :p
FWIW I find the AP Spitfire a better choice in a faction that has near limitless access to eclipse smoke. It's hitting as hard as the HMG or better against ARM 2+ and lets the Gorgos push forwards without worrying about short range penalties as much. Still wish they'd kept the second flammerspeer though.
While I am disappointed that the goros can't mount/dismount like other tags, I get that its a restriction. Guess i just gotta hope for some new pheroware in the future that let's it happen.
