Moiras already received a boost from being moved from link filler to pointwoman, it's telling that the Action Pack includes the two SWC options as an NCO HMG/Sniper drops well into a Reverand Fireteam of Cenobites, a Healer, and a Custodier.
Oh also: Couldn't help but notice the lack of a Gizmokit or Dodge rule on the TAG Is that the normal "early rules preview error," or does this beautiful beast get to Repair/Dodge on it's native PH of 14?
I've made a list based on current and revealed profiles. Group 2 are the new models. Clockmaker=Orphans Fiddler+zero=two Cenobites(+1.5 SWC for HRL) Moira HMG for Observant Red Fury Both points and SWC (which is 8) exceeds 300 pt limit, so I expect there would be some discounts (maybe moiras get cheaper and discount SWC by 0.5 each?).
Mostly agree with the rest of your post so I cut down to the part I want to talk about. They're both undercosted. Teutons are just one of the many 'warband' HI that are coming out recently, but they're kinda low tier while Cenobites are probably top tier (not sure if they're better or just the sam as Kaitoks). Many subtle things here give Cenobites the edge: Chainrifles have a bigger template; Cenobites get B2 on CC; Cenobites get to link with cheap engineers, and so on. All in all, I like Cenobites quite a lot (Which is no surprise, I liked them the moment the leak came out, I was just afraid they'd be NuRiots, which they aren't so I'm now 100% happy). I really think they're top contenders for 'Best HI Warband' in the game right now. I am so very happy about this. Observance was never my favorite part of Bakunin, so them keeping the rest of the stuff (which I'm calling Vaudeville) in while expanding Observance into something I actually can enjoy is really, really cool to me. I will mix and match a lot in the future.
Hey Koni, why is the orphan with msv2 got a multi marksman and mimetism while my Kempei pays swc for a shock marksmen?
Because they're inconsistent about/change the points formula, and the SWC has always been hand-balanced. At least you get CoC options instead, from what I've heard Nomads would kill for that competitively since their LT options can be consistently exploited by factions that can practically execute an assassination run.
Yeah, expecting 100% consistency in points across troops and armies isn't going to happen. It's more of the Pirate's Code than a formula.
Off topic a bit, but with the increasingly powerful reworks are we going to see at least some basic balance passes on underperforming armies outside of complete reworks?
SWC has always been a way to pay for "extra" equipment that is not usually available to the trooper/faction; JSA pays SWC for a Shock Marksman Rifle because JSA isn't supposed to be able to have long(er) ranged BS attacks, and in particular they really aren't supposed to have access to MSV w/ Fireteam bonuses.
Have you addressed the fact that Neurocinetics is a garbage rule on anything that costs double digit points? Cuz the Sin Eaters aren't getting played without that being fixed.
What is the point of having Impetuous or Frenzy troops if they can ignore that rule for the MAJORITY of the game!? Cenobites are not even available to Vanilla. And who uses a single Riot Grrl in Vanilla?
To be completely fair, if the Riot Grrl did *not* have Frenzy, I could easily see her being used as a single ARO piece in Vanilla. Which is, I think, the point. At any rate Impetuous has a good deal more downsides than Frenzy; namely if they are in a link that breaks (due to the leader being killed/isolated or the rest of the members being killed) they immediately lose all Cover bonuses. It's not a huge downside, but it *is* there, and I've had more than one Makaul lose his buddies and then lose his next ARO fight due to no longer having Cover. It also helps keep the models out of Vanilla lists, which is probably a good thing.
I would like to say that I will use riot girls in vanilla. Namely the ML as a cheap/good aro. She's cheap, durable, hits like a truck, and is a better shot then many things, and can dodge well if she needs to. Yeah, you can lose cover if you blow something up, but that isn't always a bad thing either...
