Ah, the old S9 idea when we just got the name "shooting star" back then. It would be fluffy, unique, fun, and not whatever Explode LX was envisioned to be (other than a gimmick or a trap to get sucker yourself into). Didn't work on the Caskuda and it doesn't work with the Liu Xing. The Liu Xing as a drop troop HI is fine but they could of played up the theme for something more interesting than just "hur dur he's a meteor and goes bAnG when he hits the ground".
I definitely felt like explode had *some* merit as a basically free skill in N3. N4 dodge is going to punch it right in the dick.
Is it? As written presently, Explode LX is even harder to dodge in N4, often producing a -6 to dodge if the Liu Xing lands behind someone. There's also word bubbling about that scattering for drop troops is disappearing and that failing a drop just puts the drop troops in the friendly DZ in some respect, which helps mitigate the risk of attempting the explode landing if true.
Are you basing that on the -3 mod for dodging a "template weapon"? I think it will depend on the definition of explode in N4, but that would help yes! I'm more concerned about the ability to dodge engage without LoF. As is currently possible in code 1. Getting engaged is a big drawback to a model you otherwise want to be shooting people. Not scattering would be a good change for dropping in. Right now I think scattering is just too punishing versus just walking in.
Right now I'm just looking at Explode LX as it's written in N3, but yes. It's considered an attack with a direct template weapon, which in Code One at least would impose a -3 to dodge from outside LOF, which stacks with the -3 penalty of dodging an enemy trooper who is outside your LOF. But that's predicated on a number of assumptions, including the extent to which Code One's mechanics translate one for one to N4, and that Explode LX will stay approximately as written. You make a good point about the risk of being engaged, though. Under normal circumstances there's really no way to drop an explosion on someone and not risk them crash-tackling you on a successful dodge.
And is no way worth an inch of text in a supposedly streamlined rulebook. Fingers cross they cut it and replace it with something worth having.
I used Explode LX once. It did nothing and then Louie accomplished nothing and died. Would have rathered a Tiger. I tried him a few more times in different fashions. All of which I would have rathered a Tiger. I'm going to stick to Tigers.
But alas, Tigers are not in IA because they have to sell Liu Shits Liu Xing suffers from something most of the last YJ (and other factions) releases suffer, and that's lazy design: instead of trying to design an interesting profile they just took a Zuyong, gave them AD and a meme and called it a day. You can also see this in the repetitive use of NWI + SI and "just give it Mimetism" profiles released lately and the way they designed WB which goes against all the fluff we knew about the army, with AVA 4 Zanshi and ridiculous units that don't belong shoved in, like the Shang Ji and specially all the characters who are just there because they didn't want to waste time designing characters specific to the Sectorial (more or less the same happens to WinterFor). I don't know if they are stretched too thin with Defiance and Aristeia, but the creativity has been really lacking lately, you just have to look at the train wreck Kosmoflot is to realize it. The Liu Xing dissapointment is also compounded by the fact many people, not only Yu Jing players, were already expecting the first HI drop troop in the game to be fearsome and expensive back when HI meant something in terms of stats and then we got something that's worse than a Tiger, but I think this has more to do with the diluting and dissappearance of the HI concept than with the Liu Shit.
I’m eagerly anticipating the chance to play the totally flawless wargames designed and published by the fine folks who frequent these forums. By all indications, the insightful design and perfect balance they’re so capable of will dazzle me, and the taste in model sculpts will be peerless. While I wait for that amazing experience to materialize...I have to say I’m really looking forward to finding out what the Long Ya looks like, and I’m honestly excited to see how IA shakes out even with minimal adjustments and no major “fixes.” The change to TW as the default format alone will probably have some interesting knock-on effects, especially considering how many orders you can wring out of IA lists and how efficiently they can be leveraged by fireteams. Between that and 6-2 Hac Tao HMGs, I’m stoked to see how N4 Yu Jing gameplay shakes out...even if it’s not perfect.
One of the biggest problems I have with Liu is how weak explode is anyway. Even if you manage 12/15PH roll, potentaialy opposed by few hackers. Even if target/s dont dodge. It is still dam 12 normal ammo. Its freaking HI falling from orbit and all it does is this? Come on? At least make it as strong as explode l1, make it a little more worth it to drop on li core or other light targets. My experience with Liu is terrible. I tried using him few times and he either didnt land where i wanted, or dodge roll was succesful or arm roll passed. My first time using it could have beed glorius, I found a spot to drop on dr worm and his slave bot without anyone else seeing me. Scattered right in front of TR bot...
Main use of Explode is to make Hackers dead, since their ARO opportunity is spent on Hack Transport Aircraft. Otherwise, just use the Liu Xing as a Hackable Fractaa. I quite like the Falling Zuyong, but I can agree it has issues in many matchups. Liu Xings work best in Vanilla and paired with a Tiger or two, because their areas of competence match the weak points of Tigers and vice versa.
Except we are not game designers and we are not bein paid for it. I 100% expect being called out if I do a poor job in my field, so please spare us the cheap fallacies where nobody can criticise anything because they are not pros on that particular field. Also, before you come out with the other fallacy, I like enough things about the game that I don't want to stop playing it, but that doesn't stop me from realizing there are things that need improvements.
Is a risky movement, but depends on the rival and the deployment, and of course, your roll i see a friend of mine land de LX vs Varuna, 1 Kamau Sniper + 1 Fusilier unconcious, it was so epic!
I think those are relatively safe assumptions, but at the same time the ability to punish the Liu Xing is greater in N4 than in N3; in N3 you wouldn't be allowed to Dodge into Close Combat with the Liu Xing while in N4 you can. Liu Xing, just like most Yu Jing units, have sufficiently poor CC ability that punching their way out of CC is going to be extremely order intensive. The absolutely best thing I think we can hope for with the Liu Xing is that they gain enough melee ability with their predicted extra points to actually be able to punch their way out of a wet paper bag without compromising the entire operation (i.e. effective CC 20+).
Explode LX would actually be really cool on Louie if he were a good melee fighter. I'd be okay with paying more for it, especially if it differentiated him enough that Tigers could be brought back to IA too. (writing this in N3 speak because I don't know exactly how all the terminology would carry over into N4 yet) MOV:4-4 CC:22 BS:13 PH:13 WIP:13 ARM:3 BTS:6 W:2 S:2 AVA:X AD: Combat Jump - Explode LX - Kinematika L1 - Martial Arts L2 Liu Xing: Boarding Shotgun, Nimbus Grenades - Pistol, DA CCW Liu Xing (Albedo): Spitfire - Pistol, AP CCW Liu Xing (Specialist Operative): Multi Rifle, Nanopulser, Nimbus Grenades, D Charges - Pistol, DA CCW Liu Xing Hacker (Killer Hacking Device): Boarding Shotgun - Pistol, AP CCW I'd pay points for that.
Hmm I'm guessing no but never hurts to make sure. If hacker is in 4+ fireteam and liu is landing on top of his head can hacker declare delay using ss1? Or is he forced to use hack transport?
N3: No, the Liu Xing isn't on the table until after rolls have been made, so 6S can't be used to delay until the hacker has made a choice of AROing or not. N4: We don't know whether Hack Transport Aircraft will even exist.
Same. I'd pay points for roughly that level of CC ability. I'm not a fan of the differing CCWs, though.
