It's art done by a freelance artists who has contributed to CB's artworks before, which has since mysteriously been taken down from his artstation account. Plus, I'd have to draw a comparison between the Tunguska sectorial artwork shown in the presentations and this one. Not saying it's official or anything like that, but it's very similar.
Oh yeah, just googled it and it's the same guy, Bagus Hutamo. The full version of that Tunguska artwork has also gone missing from Bagus's artstation account, but clearly Corvus have used it when talking about the Tunguska sectorial (Excuse the pinterest it's the only place I could find it.) https://www.pinterest.com/pin/437975132506396603/
It would be interesting to see the JSA become a non aligned army. Their lore and distinct unit/faction design with a bunch of named characters seems to push them towards that direction. On the other hand I don't want to see people, specially those who started the game/faction with Red Veil, to loose the Japs they bought to expand base Yu Jing or other factions. So yeah IMO it would be best if Japan splita in two in lore. The revolutionaries become a non aligned army with JSA itself. While Japanese units in other sectorials and core remain with the loyalists. Or would that be a too confusing setting?
A split between a "Loyal" Japanese force and the "Rebel" force could be interesting. Have them be nearly identical, but give the Rebels some new characters or pick one or more to go Rebel, then give the Loyalists a "political officer" character or unit that is there to ensure no rebellious rebellion from the Japanese Loyalists. Maybe given Kitsune's fluff (The male pronouns implying some kind of subterfuge given the mini is female in appearance) there are actually multiple Oniwaban with the title, and one of them has gone rouge. Asuka joins the rebels, because she's Asuka , getting replaced with an alternative biker character. "Neko" goes rogue after realising the rest of Yu-Jing was actually a calling him different word that CAN mean cat, and Oda, well, she IS a Kempeitai....
I ain't gonna lie as someone who mostly plays vanilla and mixes a bunch of JSA stuff into their lists I'll be mighty pissed if all my JSA models are invalidated.
Finally, a real "some will hate it" component, and not some changes in the fluff many don't even have relevant books to care about.
Good catch with the bike there! I also doubt that the thing in the back of the other guy is a "cable", I reckon it's more of a ponytail or whatnot. It seems like that silhouette is actually the rider of the bike as well, as the bike's seat seems to be empty. I also think the one on the top is some sort of drop trooper (although it could be two fancy banners as well..) , I do however think that whatever he's holding in his hand is a japanese styled tactical bow of sorts, the shape at the top and bottom would fit that quite well.....though a drop trooper with a tactical bow only would be a bit of a disappointment to me.... I was thinking it'd be Corvus Belli's way of introducing the Ikari Company as well...but this picture makes me think more along the lines of JSA Starterbox...or maybe even 300 points box set?
Hmm i hope im wrong, but with all this strong evidence of IA coming as the first new sectoral, i feel like RTF might not come this year. Bostria has confirmed 5 sectorals, has confirmed no tohaa or combined, but has also "confirmed" (take with some salt) Varuna, Tugunska, and Vedic. Now that could mean we get Rama but no Kazaks, but since the next campaign is on dawn and Ariadna hasent been in a 2 player box yet it is likely they are coming. Has anyone heard different or does anyone think they could go about it in a different way?
As far as i know ( mostly rumors) from last year. The sectorials that where more or less "confirmed" for this year where invencible ( or at least the rumor that IA is fully tested and ready to be played) and tunguska. After what was said in the last opens looks like vedic is coming to, that rest kazaks ( i'm mostly conviced they come this year to), Varuna and Rammah. Pano has now 3 sectorials, i don't if it could work in favour of Rammah. But who knows corvus ways aren't clear...
Hmmm I am surprised by the claim that "strong evidence" points towards Invincible Army being the first sectorial to get it's release this year....if anything I'd say things point against this, as JSA seems to be closer in time (no new Sectorial) and I highly doubt they'll throw both JSA and IA out in the same time frame... Wasn't the only evidence pointing at IA so far the "leaked" Artwork online? That could have been prepared for a release later this year as well no? I do however agree that IA seems to be one of the Sectorials getting released this year, though there was never much doubt about that I think, it has been hinted at for quite a while now...
It would be the perfect time to release/rework both Yu Jing sectorials at the same time. It would create a huge buzz and hype while CB being done with Yu Jing for this year. They need to release five new sectorials this year and wrapping up Yu Jing quickly to move on to other factions would be logical.
There have been rumours about a HI drop troop and a HI samurai biker. My hyped mind tells me that these units are shown in the nice japanese artwork picture. Apart from the outlook to new exiting HI, I realy like the thoughts about taking the JSA troops out of Vanilla / ISS. It gives all current YJ factions options for new profiles without making one faction realy overpowered or giving problems on internal balancing between troops.
It still amazes me how hyped people are about HI AD, when we already have better than that in game...
The AD troops right now have 1 wound, 1+NWI, or 1+transmutation/symbiont, so... First pure HI AD troop, in the faction with the shtick of being the HI faction... kinda big deal, because it's the realization. And first human AD troop inmunne to shock and a second wound.
