If we're talking fluff reasons, Onyx should have COC profiles that are exclusive to it. Probably a Nexus and/or the Umbra Legates
please, CoC for Nexus on Onyx, Umbras with 2 true Ws and Maakrep with Transmutation like the Fraacta!
For the Maakrep I'd rather see Automedikit made good. Having them activate automatically before the order count would make them so much more useful, and feel less like bloat (Soggy Rats would also like this change).
I'd love to test this or hear about a testing experience with it at some point. Part of me worries that they'll still lowkey just be autoeuthenasia kits a lot of the time (Sogorat obviously an exception) but that still beats the current expectation that you'll spend an order for the same privilege.
Having it happen before the order count, and therefore having the extra order to play with that turn, makes the risk a lot more palatable.
That's a good point. Would you approach regeneration the same way, roll it into a single rule, or differentiate them further?
In this case I would say that automedkit is ripe for removal, and just un-nest regen and shock immue. So all profiles with AMK get regen skill instead, and all current regen skill troops get regen and shock immune. I can't see any reason to have both a skill and equipment that do exactly the same except one contains a nested skill and the other doesn't Edit: I'd just like to see some new toys for MAF, don't know what exactly and I appreciate as a faction we have some problems with current units needing retooling, but it would be nice to see some new shinies (not just updates to existing profiles), if only to combat that 'new shiny syndrome' that always comes when other factions get redone and your's get a bit left in the dust, I dunno maybe like a taigha control device or something for oznats
My hands-down biggest issue with CA is that all my lists look more or less the same. Playing vanilla? Take an aspect (Charontid), a few Shas infiltrators, some Unidron fillers, and a few beefier guys (Hasht, etc.). Maybe throw a Morat (Daturazi) in there. Playing Onyx? Take Unidrons (Umbra Legate for BS15 Spitfire), some more drons, an infiltrator or two. (I have yet to play new Shas, but I am looking forward to it!) In short, I find that CA lacks the variety that many other vanilla factions have. As a (chiefly) vanilla player, I almost always disregard Morats (that's one whole sectorial's worth of units!), and always take a costly EI - because that seems to be the biggest draw to vanilla. More useful variety would be nice :)
Mate, that's on you, not on the army options. If you are getting way too comfortable with a list build that you don't want to change, that's not because the army is not giving you options, it's because you're not looking at the ones you have. I think complaining about list variety makes more sense when you're looking at sectorials with a very limited unit selection (Druze and Caledonia come to mind). That being said, I am not advocating that Combined as is does not need to be improved. It certainly feels like it's lost some luster, especially the aspects, that often feel like they pay too much for too little (Anathematic hacker costs 88 points, for crying out loud!). Our units could definetely use a rebalance, but we are not strapped for variety.
Ooooh the traditional wish listing/setting myself up for disappointment thread: Umbra, I see lots of people bash the umbra (either flavour) but I find them to be very effective when I use them and think the potential fragility is nicely on theme and that mimetism phy 14 and a flash pulse or hyperdynamics phy 12 offset it rather nicely. CoC and NCO on all profiles would be my immediate go to here since they are basically the officer class of the CA. links could definately use some work even if it's just a duo option or updating them to wildcard, the two should also be mix and match in fireteams. Suryats, phy-14+-suryats-now I'm in a better place with the suryat these days, tactical awareness has made one profile far more useful. however some more versatile profiles would certainly be appreciated, heavy flamer+SMG perhaps? currently they feel like they want to be big heavy shock infantry but are just out gunned or out tech'd by every other option, hyperdynamics, berserk, FAT 1, X visors, any sort of edge would be good. Sogs, echo's Da red one above, wouldn't mind Kornak's stag do coming back either. Yaogats, Not bad not great, and in MAF to expensive for a core link and a runner up to suryats, kurgats or rodoks in haris. Maybe a sprinkle of tac awareness or NCO since they're meant to be anti insurgency troops and work on initiative. also feel like they should have mixed links or limited wildcard. Aspects, LT L2 on all profiles and a BTS or deflectors to match being a supreme warrior entity of the highest tech level, if an asura can have MSV3, a hacking device plus, LT L2 and be in a link team I don't see why the things they copied it from lack that skill set. Vanguard, occasionally phy 12 is useful, morat definately is, but as the best trained regular line infantry in the setting they could do with either MI armour or BS 12. kurgats, sapper, minelayer, forward deployment. delete as applicable but add two. Maakrep trackers, Haris or triad X, Y and Z Dron batroids, more drone types please, such as actual HI to compete with the suryat with plasma weapons (plasma rocket launcher for example) more wierd bots such as some S4 rems with mechanical transformation into turret modes, drop drones, stealth drones with TO and climbing plus. So much that could be done with REM troops for a potential EI sectorial. Sigmaa Trihedron: more of these please Exrah: These back again with a shas redo please (mecha bugs for days) Sheskin, I'll just echo the general screams of horror at FAT 2 Sectorials: Onyx, give them some more flexibility and links and the umbra changes above, jobbed. Morats, please see my complaints from november (also hungries control device) Shas, what about them? Seem great it's a sectorial that's not about power links.
I think it might be partly on me, but it's also partly on the options (i.e. it can be both). What sort of Morats do you add to vanilla? Why? What non-EI lieutenants do you take, and why? (I'm really hoping new Shas will help me with this!)
I agree that Umbra (particularly Legate, not so much Samaritan) are useful, but they're a wee bit too expensive for their squishiness. Make them a tag cheaper as a solution, perhaps?
I do agree that taking a non-aspect Lieutenant in Vanilla is kinda weird, but I think the mentor has it's merits as a passive LT option. As for other morat units, I have used: - Krakots, for deployment defense; - Sogarat FA profile for an one-two punch with a shooty aspect; - Zerat for budget killer hacker and budget red fury; - Kurgat for Budget Engineer in Avatar lists; - Vanguard hacker because budget hacker; - Rasyat to break stuff in cc; - Raicho because MBT with shotgun; They have their uses.
I run different things than you in Onyx, I pretty much never run the Spitfire Legate anymore. Only Umbras I run are the HD+ legate in a fireteam and the Samaritan as a solo attack piece. Polynikes I know runs plenty of Morats in his Vanilla CA. So it might be more a matter of personal playstyle than objective preference.
How do you find the Samaritan? He's just a huge bullet-magnet for me. That might be, fair. I look at most morats, shrug my shoulders, and turn to my Shas / Onyx pieces.