I'm getting fresh into post-COVID N4 with a buddy of mine and decided to build up my Haqqis for this occasion. It's going to be Vanilla for now, because my buddy is new to the game and we want to keep it as simple as possible for the time being. My current setup is this and I'm looking for something to fill the remaining 2-3 slots. Apart from additional Daylami, what are the (hidden) gems in Vanilla you have come to appreciate? A CoC Farzan was my fist idea, but maybe you have something else in mind? Spoiler Haqqislam1 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 9 1 SALADIN (Lieutenant [+1 Command Token]) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser(+1B) / Pistol, Shock CC Weapon. (0 | 36) NAFFATÛN Rifle, Light Flamethrower, Grenades / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 12) GHULAM (Doctor [+3]) Rifle, Light Shotgun ( | MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 15) NASMAT PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 3) YARA HADDAD AP Marksman Rifle / Heavy Pistol(+1B), CC Weapon. (0 | 25) KNAUF MULTI Sniper Rifle / AP Heavy Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 32) BARID (Hacker, Killer Hacking Device [UPGRADE: Trinity (-3)]) Rifle, Pitcher ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 15) AZRA'IL AP Heavy Machine Gun / Heavy Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 40) ÁYYĀR Rifle, E/Mitter, Panzerfaust / Viral Pistol(+1B), CC Weapon. (0 | 37) RAGIK Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 27) HUNZAKUT (Forward Observer) Rifle, Light Shotgun, Shock Mines ( | Deployable Repeater) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 18) GROUP 2 1 DAYLAMI (Camouflage [1 Use], Infiltration) Light Shotgun, Panzerfaust / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 8) 3 SWC | 268 Points Open in Infinity Army
My sleeper hit has been the Lasiq forward observer. The viral rifle is a pretty nice gun. Double saves makes it reliably drop single wound models and Shock doubles down on that if you find a model without Immunity(Shock). Just as credible as an ARO piece for the same reason. In Suppression Fire you end up with an aggregate -9 when you get shot back at. The shotgun is everything we already know. Direct template option, super close range shooting with solid numbers. Climbing Plus can be incredible depending on how buildings work out on your tables. Forward Observer makes you a specialist and probable scoring piece. The key piece though is the X-visor. It means you're shooting at BS12 out to 32" which can be quite the rude surprise either on models with shorter bonus range bands, or those with longer range bands finding you not as crappy of a shot as they may have expected. But wait, there's more! The X-visor also means your flash pulse on 14 out to 48" as well. Giving you another ARO response option. As icing on the cake you can also Forward Observe out to 48" on yet again, BS 14. In case that's a Classified or you're pairing it up with a Guided attack. Immunity(Shock) lets you pretend they aren't going to splatter you and a doctor will revive it. :) Tactically I have an extra-mobile long-ish engagement range model that can dish out some damage and manipulate or counter range mod mannipulations. For 25 points.
I've become quite partial to the Al'Hawwa, especially in the Hacker variant. Camouflage, Infiltration, wonderful specialist, and it synergizes well with the repeaters that the Barid and the Hunzakut can bring on the table.
Druze Killer Hacker. Beautiful model that is the ultimate toolkit. The xvisor gives it some range flexibility, it hits hard, immune to isolation, d-charges, DAM 13 viral pistol, and can shoot a pitcher on 12s to 24." You pay for it but it does make a nice backup piece or combat specialist.
in that list I would definitely be going with something to mitigate the risk to your fairly obvious lieutenant - either something with CoC like you mentioned (Farzan is a great choice and is useful even if your opponent has nothing capable of assassinating Saladin) or some good Aro units that can act as speed bumps. the new Shujae profile deployed in Supression Fire mode would be great for this and tough to dig out
Not sure if she is hidden, but Leila Shariff IS a very adaptable tool with low cost. Shock marskman rifle, e/m mines, is hacker so can do some missions, and with her hacker device can use cibermask. D-charges opens to complete more missions and breaker pistol if things go bad. All of this for 20 points!! Cheers.
Not so sure if she counts as a "hidden gem", but Zuleyka Nazarova is a fantastic add. 11 points for what basically amounts to a cruise missile. 8-6 dogged biker with smoke grenades flying at the opponent to use her +2B Breaker Pistol in CC? Yes please. Playing mindwipe and you need that last turn console destruction? Good thing you held back this badass biker babe for zipping across the field in a few orders to smash that console with a +1B EXP CCW. She's usually an auto-add in my vanilla lists. Also, hell yes Leila is the shizz. She's also got that wildcard for sectorial play, which is amazing.