But of the 3 Hortlak profiles one is a sniper rifle so CQC isn't specifically their design. But if they were to get a SMR or MR of some type (viral marksman rifle?) then you could argue towards being CQC. Hortlak should have been core with more profiles and linkable with Zhayedan. Regular Jannissary should have stayed in QK. A hortlak with an MK12 would have been cool.
So sorta back on topic. Working on the assumption that all shotgun terminal templates are being replaced with direct templates... what impact does that have on tactics? Further should we assume that the light shotgun will get a slug round for the face to face rolls? It makes it much harder to attack groups (fire teams) of opposing troops without it being a suicide hail mary play due to the one model that shoots back and presumably solid odds to take you down. This will have an impact on sucker punching the opposition. If you're just going one on one, slugs work just fine. This, to me, relegates sprays into desperation plays. It makes Naffatun... ghulam with fire? It also severely reduces the range in which you can get clusters of models under a template from those longer range shots. You know, when you pop the guy at the corner of your Armory building and pick up a couple poorly placed buddies. No more 6" to 15" or so shots. So long Rafiq Triangulated shotgun shots! :( Am I doom and gloom? I mean, it's not a terrible thing if it works out the way it's anticipated now. But...
There are a lot of unknowns right now. One benefit I could see is that light shotguns might drop in price, which could hopefully mean different costs or some minor changes to profiles. Do we know if the shotgun templates are only burst 1?
The Light Flame Thrower one? Ya, pretty much. It does have grenades and BTS 3 though, whatever that's worth to you... The Heavy one at least has a bigger template I guess.
From Code One rules information: Direct template mode of shotguns are burst two Regeneration is an automated skill that occurs in the new "state" phase. It may be used (not mandatory). MA levels now clearer (MA4>MA3) and front loaded. The MA4 and MA3 just have a better damage bonus than MA2 Units can break out of glue immobilization with an PHY-6 roll.
At least with burst two the threat is 'enough' higher to make them really want to dodge instead of taking one for the team. I hope. :D I really like how regeneration, etc has been worked out. At least conceptually. ;) Order free! Martial arts are now clearly better level by level. There is zero reason not to use the highest value. Not that you can use anything but the listed value. It should still suck up a couple orders if you're careful not to stomp around and give them a lot of ARO for extra rolls.
Just wanted to bump this a little given the new info we have. So msv1 sees through smoke with a -6 mod. How does this change our thoughts on govads?
It certainly helps Govads to make them more considerable in comparison to Muyibs or Ghulam when deciding which link to use. For me personally, I often use a lone HMG, and in some cases it might be very helpful to have the option to fire through smoke. Talking about the general change, it nervs Ghazi a bit, because the Smoke Dodge will not work against MSV1 anymore.
We don't really know if and how much does it nerf Ghazi (who, BTW, are in for a major change, as Jammers are said to be completely reworked). Or anyone else. We may theoretize, but we simply don't know how Smoke is going to work at all. For example, I wouldn't be surprised to see Smoke Dodge interacting with MSV L1 at some sort of penalty. But that's just my idea. Let's wait and see. Applying snippets of new edition data to what we got used to in previous edition - that's a guaranteed way to getting some things and their balance utterly wrong. I mean, guys... we've been at exactly the same point when N3 was about to hit the shelves. So, let's wait and see. And personally I'm preparing myself for a longer wait, as - while I play other armies, too (including other Haqq sectorials), my first love of Qapu Khalqi is said to be brought up to N4 standard a few months after the general N4 release.
I find that all too often people get attached to such theories as if they were facts set in stone, and feel deeply offended when actual state of things reveal itself. Too much unhealthy emotions starts flowing. Theorizing itself isn't bad - but only as long as everyone involved realizes that it is merely a theory without fact to prove it. That working yourself up on that is going to bring you disappointment.
While stuck at home during a pandemic, speculating seems inevitable. I don't even want to do it, I just do it anyway. (But let's call it what it is. It's not theorizing - we don't have any meaningful data and we're not forming a theory to explain the data.) I agree that it's particularly pointless to speculate about Mutts, though. Jammers are changing completely, and also people have been whining about Mutts for so long that I would have guessed they would get significant changes in N4 even if jammers stayed the same.
I certainly wont stop theorizing or speculating, because somebody might get worked up. Its already far to quiet in these forums. And coming to speculations...where is that rumor about jammers from?
HellLois did a thread on Facebook where he answered questions with only "hot" or "cold". Every answer about jammers indicated they were to be reworked (though with no information on how).
This seems very likely, just like how immobilize got changed in Code One The MSV changes make my Govads happy! Makes for nice defense against warbands and gives the Hassassins an option for smoke and MSV fire. I think smoke dodge vs msv1 will just work like nimbus, but who knows.
Still bones the attack piece for the turn though, can't run anymore orders through them to reset until next turn. Better than nothing I guess though.