That actually looks a lot better now for the Celestial Guard. Might make them worth taking in some context. Hell, the SWC box might even gain some value! Means Bao are really the only thing left in ISS with a real stink to them.
I think the bao sniper has a reasonnable niche as a long range camo hunter. With discover (+3) as a baseline, it means you can discover any marker up to 32" on 14, and then kill it through smoke. It's quite interesting.
I'd prefer not to shoot through Smoke so Discover triggers an ARO. 14s are nice, automatic success if the other guy declares something is preferable. Now that I think about it a piece of equipment that would allow to keep trying to Discover even after you failed would be very valuable in the game.
It really wouldn't. MSV3, which auto-passes, still isn't efficient enough to handle mass Camo, so wasting even more Orders would usually be a losing proposition. The skill would have to be cheaper than Explode to be worth it most of the time. I've brought this up back in N3, but my preferred fix for Bao (and Bolts while they were still crap) would be to give them a Special Skill to let them count their BS attacks as a Special Dodge against Templates, turning them into a CQC nightmare against the crappy screening troops people usually rely on- their fluff describes them as door-kicking predators against the poor and disenfranchised, why is a modified vacuum cleaner so effective against them every damn time? Edit; speaking of MSV3, Bao would be pretty good users of that skill, too. Much easier fix, albeit not addressing the underlying problems.
Or MSV2+Sensor! Now that would have made them cool. Well, I'm just glad I can still use my figs. I thought they were going to chopped. I think a Haris of Bao+Crane isn't bad at all. Bao+Crane+Pheasant too.
Bao should be reinvented as platforms for weapons we don't get much of elsewhere in YJ, especially cruel weapons and law enforcement weapons. SMGs and light riotstoppers should be the standard weapon, with SMRs and Ned Fury as the upgrades. CC should get the para treatment. They should also get dogged to show their fanaticism and contempt for life. Bao are not cowardly bullies. They are as "recklessly brave as they are insensitive towards human life" according to the bio. They should keep their iconic visors of course and maybe also pick up shock immunity because that's the game we're in. This would give us a fairly unique and interesting troop that has a reason for existing but doesn't step on any toes. A brutal guard against impersonators and a vicious COIN trooper powered by hate.
Yeah, I don't understand why they didn't get PARA CCW or other "Less-lethal" weapons. I think we were asking for a specialist for a long time too. I want to make use of that WIP 14 for more than just Discover! A FO would totally makes sense. Oh, I guess I did loose one Bao in the Contender figure but you can't really tell what it is anyway.
That's a superficial comparison. Bluecoats have neither MSV or dogged and have skills I did't mention.
Fair enough, I guess MSV2 and Dogged would distinguish them clear enough from Bluecoats. Maybe stick to light Riotstoppers / SMGs and Light Shotguns to keep the cost down, with one higher B loadout as a point man for Haris/Core teams in ISS.
So now that there's no cap at 1 Haidao in a team, what are the thoughts of filling out a team with the max of 3? When making lists I found I kept kicking out Zhanshi to "upgrade" others and ended up 3 Haidao. To me it seems great. Possible teams are (based on actual Haidao figures that are out): Zhanshi core Zhanshi FO Shang Ji AP HMG Haidao KHD Haidao Engineer Haidao MSR 143pts, 3 SWC Zuyong core Zuyong FO Shang Ji AP HMG Haidao KHD Haidao Engineer Haidao MSR 158pts, 3 SWC The Haidao Red Fury is I think overlooked a lot too. It's actually a really good gunfighter for the points.
That is good, but change the Zuyong FO for a Paramedic to doctor de ShanJi up in 14s... for just +1point.
It could be any flavor of Zhanshi or Zuyong really. Depending on the mission. This was just for show.
I... am no longer inclined to take Haidao as much. More excited about the removal of Shang-Ji max wildcard cap.
Here's lists that I like. First allows for a core and haris. I think I just like that Haidao have the 1.5 wounds, ok ARM and good BS for a decent price. I could of course go with Zhanshi insted of Haidao but I found that the savings for that didn't give me a whole lot. The Haidao are just better. I'd need to move things around. I'd rather the Eng or even KHD does Duo with the Guijia.
Yeah, I changed that last one and can't seem to edit. ENG Haidao goes with Guijia and added Zhanshi HD to the core.
This. I think the cap removal for Haidaos really brought the idea of MSR + KHD in a link team, but KHDs don't seem that crucial right now, given how they no longer bypass Firewall and a lot of the Hacking game revolves around repeaters. Having two Shang Ji in the same fireteam seems stronger, although costlier.
