It was revealed at GenCon that the new Operation box would be Haqqislam: Hassassin Bahram vs Aleph: Steel Phalanx, likely coinciding with both factions' introduction to Code One. However, the Bahram starter is relatively recent, released in late 2017, with updated aesthetics, scaling, etc. Plus there are other new sculpts like most Ragiks, pistolero Ayyar, and Fiday. Shared units (e.g., Ghulams, remotes) are also new. But there are a number of older, petite scaled units (Lasiqs, Barids, Asawira with AP rifle) and unreleased units (Nadhir, Shujae, Shakush). So what do we think will be in the box? 3 cheap light infantry: new Barid, Ghulam panzerfaust, and Ghulam grenadier for the ubiquitous NCO option. All count as Ghulam so they'd get a composition bonus 2 camo or otherwise special units: Lots of options here: Nadhir and/or Shujae for new units, or maybe Farzan and/or Lasiq for updated units 1 airborne trooper: I think only the basic Ragik with rifle + light shotgun doesn't have a profile. Still, this is the most boring option on a boring unit, so something else to spice them up could be nice. I guess that is another discussion because in generic Haqq, if you want a killer, Nahab is better, but if you want a specialist, Hakim is better, or if you want a disposable bother, Bashi Bazouk is better. 1 heavy guy: new Asawira with AP rifle seems the obvious choice. Then Beyond can pick up whatever units are missing among Shujae/Nadhir/Lasiq/Farzan, and possibly Yara Haddad or an updated Hussein al-Djabel. And of course the Shakush after that. What are everyone else's thoughts?
My #1 wish is a Barid with a total redesign. Either give him ARM 2-3, or make a scult that isn't armored from head to toe. Everything else is negotiable. Agree the Ghulam NCO would be a no-brainer, unfortunately I trust @colbrook 's judgment that it isn't gonna happen. Asawira Boarding Shotgun would be at least as useful as the AP Rifle+LSG. Or just make one in CCW pose and it could stand in for either option. Sadly I predict that they'll do another idiotic "doctor pointing a stupid doctor gun" sculpt instead. They'll surely do a Nadhir AP MMR since they just released the minelayer profile.
With regards to HB, given that they did make a 'relatively' new starter box and updated the Muyibs box, do we think the models in these sets will be priority? Same goes for Ayyar and Govads. @colbrook mentions Code One release concepts, so does that mean we are less likely to see Daylami in the HB Starter and instead see a new set of Ghulam LI troops - reducing the cross over of models? I think they will likely use the box as a way to introduce the new models that we had designs for but no models - so Yara as a character blister, Shakush as the obvious TAG, Nadhir and Shujae in the starter. Booster boxes may contain updated Lasiq's, they might also contain the most recent Fiday and Ragik models from the Beyond set as they are pretty sweet still. Add in a Barid and Asawira and we're mostly there. We also have 'relatively' new remotes for S3, but I haven't seen any Code One boxed S4 remotes yet and it would be nice to get these updated in line with the last lot of S3 rems.
Not to get the thread derailed, but I just want to mention one more time how said I am that after Bostria mentioning last year that they were still debating whether to revamp QK or bring out a new Haqq sectorial (Khanate), I had had really high hopes for an updated QK. I was very unpleasantly disappointed that they settled on HB instead, which already got a revamp in N3. Now QK will have to wait for who knows how many more years before its time comes, if at all, especially given how often Haqq gets the spotlight.
I like the Barid design, tis pretty cool. So cool in fact that the last Fiday (beyond box) looks exactly like him - shows how the Barid could look if he was appropriately sized :) But I'd agree that the looks don't represent the profile. Thankfully they reused them on the Fiday, so I hope whatever they do with the Barid is just as sweet.
Haqq by the virtue of Hassassin Bahram will get the spotlight for a time now. Perhpas we'll get some non-C1 stuff too (keeps fingers crossed). I expect Yara Shaddad to fill the Hero blister, and dr. Rouhani to be in the Dire Foes pack. Obviously Shakush will be in the TAG pack.
Carlos did indicate at Adepticon that the upcoming box would be "all new models". I expect absolutely nothing that isn't in Code One, or that can feasibly be stripped to Code One standards.
Here is my guess: 3 Ghulams Farzan with Boarding Shotgun Nadhir AP MMR Lasiq with Viral Sniper Rifle Asawira with AP Rifle That would be pretty well-rounded and would replace some of the older models.
I like the Barid too. To me, that leg armor signifies BTS rather than true armor, and the chest is basically the same as Fiday with or Khawarij with ARM1. I didn't realize LGL weren't in Code One since I haven't played it, but maybe we'll get a generic Ghulam like the Hafza with arms crossed that could represent that build since, as I said, it seems very commonly played but without a mini. But I also see the Haqqislam starter has been discontinued so it could be the same three Ghulams from Red Veil (Carlos has been known to be mistaken). My hope was also for updated QK, but to me, all three sectorials are in a pretty good place, model-wise. There are things here and there that could be redone and rescaled (Al Hawwa, Hafzas, and Sekbans come to mind for QK), but I guess we should have known it would be Hassassin Bahram given they are the ones that got four units without models and Ramah Taskforce is essentially done already except for a few profiles for Muhktars, Hortlaks, and Tuaregs. Speaking of Yara, it really is too bad that she doesn't get a unit keyword but Leila and Yasbir got both Muyib and Ghulam keywords. I'm as big of a Muyib fan as anyone but surely Leila could have gotten Ghulam only and Yara could've gotten the Muyib or Govad (or Zhayedan?) keyword. Or give both to all three.
The Haqq starter was discontinued as it barely sold due to Red Veil existing, even now all those miniatures are still available through the Haqqtion Pack. Operation boxes always have brand new sculpts. CB have already done new Fusiliers, Alguaciles, and Zhanshi between Kaldstrøm and Crimson Stone. We've had new Zhanshi every edition so there's no reason to think we won't get new Ghulam as well. A big question to me is what happens to the Haqqtion Pack, its currently 80% Ramah with two HB minis. Will it be kept on, or split into Boosters, with the N3 Ghulam dropping out of the catalogue along with Tarik and maybe the Khawarij and/or Zhayedan.
Maybe we'll get some setting-specific Ghulams, like ones with fur-lined jackets like the Govads that will be akin to the Kaldstrom minis. It gets cold in the desert (and space) too.
For the new box and the adjoining releases I really hope there is an emphasis on getting models for units that need them first and doing glo-ups second. This is of course just my opinion but I think many of our older models still hold up great, even if they aren't perfectly to scale. The Lasiqs especially were actually a big part of what turned me on to the faction and in turn the game itself and I don't think they need/warrant new models. I will agree though the BSG Farzan is hurting for an update and I wouldn't complain about a re-sculpt there. Even the rifle Asawira I think looks good for it's age but a new one wouldn't surprise me either given how CB seems to be pushing their profiles and use in N4. As for line infantry I just hope we do in fact get Ghulam and not Daylami (unless CB wants to release an alternate Daylami w/ PF sculpt but who are we kidding XD) I would LOVE this actually :)
That's my curiosity too. Though I hope they don't get a 'space age' treatment with their armour and take away from their aesthetics, but cold weather fur trim would be interesting.
Daylami are extremely unlikely IMO, due to the lack of Irregular in C1 I think it depends where Operation: Black Wind is set, Kaldstrøm is a settlement on Svalarheima, Crimson Stone's Hlokk Station is an Asteroid Mining station. The current Ghulam are also pretty generic, leaning more into something like a Dune stillsuit or hazardous environment gear would make them more visually distinctive.
I’m wishing for a Ghulam with a panzerfaust. Throw in a Nidhir and Shujae and I’ll be happy. We already know we’re getting the Shakush so I don’t need to wish for that. There are too many models that could be redesigned and missing profiles so I’ll take those three and call it a day for the next two years. QK? Annex them to NA2 and replace them with Khanate.
And judging from Crimson Stone, I somehow really expect a new Fiday as well, just because CB seems to like resculpting popular profiles even if their minis aren't too old (Intruder, Hellcat). Also the female Fiday is super old.
I'm don't think we'll see a Fiday, Impersonation doesn't exist in C1 and Shas didn't get the Speculo Killer. Nomads and Ariadna didn't come with any new rules either, so I don't see them adding it. I can 100% see a new Ragik though, CB loves sculpting AD troops.
The leg armor is shared with Tarik, Govads, Ragik, and the various Kum. So, about half have BTS 3, the other half BTS 0. Although all the HB troops with it have BTS 3, so I guess that works for an HB army. I don't like it in vanilla :-)
Pretty much any old hassasin models have aged well. While for sure we will see new Ghulams models, they are the "back bone", or at least they were for a while this N4, some profile for the new units, Nadhir and Suahje, same as Sombras and Evaders for Corregidor. Barid? While the old one like I a lot, a new model will be awesome, even if only a re-scalate. What I thinking is if the Asawira will become a S5 unit? I certain hope for a NO in this one question, I always love the finesse of the old models and I dislike the "heavy look" of the new one. I imagine... 3x Ghulams 1x Nadhir 1xSuahje 1xBarid / New Unit ? 1xAsawira For the big box Farzan, Muyib, Yara for the Beyond box. New Yasbir for the DireFoes. Aldjabel for the "limited edition one comming with the box". The limited Edition which will come alone as Liankai did will be something for "the Greeks".
