So where does the new Shasvastii leave our Dire Foes star? Is he just a cheaper alternative to Sheskiin? Or in games where you're not running Sheskiin are you opting for a cheaper more defensive link team? Hasht does seem to get quite a bit more value as a gunfighter in the Nox core compared to an HMG Nox. I've toyed with the idea of running him in the Gwailo haris too, but that really pushes up the points of the team.
He's the only MI in the faction, so (currently) he does get to deploy a little further forward (in spitfire range), is a specialist, and is good for a few classifieds. Rather than being a cheaper sheskiin, he's more of a pocket Gwailos.
Sheskiin is actually better off operating alone, while Hasht makes for a good choice to lead a Nox link. He's a much better gunfighter than HMG Nox, just with less range. And there should be other things in the list to deal with long range threats.
@Stiopa , why is Shekiin better off on her own than with a Nox team? Doesn't the extra Burst and +3 BS help her, as long as it doesn't push her to-hit number above 20? Assuming most targets will be in cover, wouldn't she be best backed by the team (and able to be hit with a Paramedic if she goes Unconscious and your doc is far off, having a specialist or two nearby, someone to guard her back, etc...)?
I think the theory goes that Sheskiin is deadly enough by herself, and adding her to a Fireteam slows her down (nothing else gets 6-4 Move) and makes her more cumbersome to move around. It can also mean dragging what might be a primarily defensive Fireteam out of position to support her rampage. I like the idea of her in a Haris, with Messer and either Gwailo or Jayth, though you have to be aware of things like TO KHDs punking Vic, and any Fireteam's inherent Vulnerability to templates. It also stops her being in Suppression Fire without breaking the link.
@colbrook is right. Sheskiin is perfectly fine on her own, without a fireteam to slow her down or stumble into templates. This also means that instead of concentrating your strenght in one point you can threaten opponent in two different spots. You can of course back her up with one, I just never felt it's necessary, she performs just fine without it.
Thanks guys, those do sound like good reasons not to drag a team along. Against a really nasty dug-in linkteam or specialized ARO opponent (like Kamau Snipers, Sin Eaters, etc.) it seems like having the team around for her to join if you -do- need it could be helpful, especially if you need to kill something at longer ranges and you long-range shooters are either dead or suboptimal. Also Nimbus Plus from a Nox LGL seems useful for that sort of thing (B1 from the reactive player vs B4 from Sheskiin, and -6 to both sides' shooting but her crit chance still ungodly). I might stick a helpful Nox link in lists with her as mooks and a just in case measure.
Hasht falls into that same bucket though, where he wants to be played aggressively in the mid field, but he hampered by being tied down to a group of squishy line troops. I do agree that he provides pretty good classified cover. Shas in general is in a really interesting space with its wildcards. They have a pretty wide array of wildcards, but they're all pretty pricey characters, which is at odds with how other factions often get to use wildcards.
He arguably makes a better inclusion in a Gwailos/Jayth Haris as they're the same speed and he provides a specialist to tag along. I think Hasht's biggest problem is that he's not as good a fighter as Sheskiin, and not as useful a specialist as Vic, falling somewhere in the middle.