Wow, I am incredible disappointed. My biggest fear after seeing the box was that it would be better version of Invencible Army (Rovers = Zuyongs, Strikers = Zencha, ... ). After the spotlight and design it was looking like it could be a third HI army interesting and different. But in the end it has turned out it is exactly a much better version of IA. The only gimmick IA has going for it is the TAw/NCO trick. And for that one pony trick it was limited a lot (no DZ, almost no ARO, almost no midfield, very expensive links and vulnerable to CC) On top of that, the fireteam update made them lose pure links with units that were essential. The TB roster had revealed a list that overcomes all the limitations IA has (they look like they will have a good midfield with strikers, nimrods, moonrakers, mobility Krudgers, ...), cheap and very CC competent link fillers, dedicated hackers, DZ presence, ... The only thing that was not needed was slaping the same TacAw trick. But also on top of that the units are better versions of those of IA. Fixed an enhanced Zuyongs for only two more points, units like strider and yellow jacket are as good but cheaper than the IA equivalents, ... At this point it's clear there is a rampaging power creep in N4 and if a faction does not receive an overhaul it is at a disadvantage. Mind you Yujing is the only no OOP faction that has not received yet a box rework during N4. I had hopes to see something different for TB, but TB is not TB. It is IA but better. Far more options, better optimization and better units. There is no point in playing IA, an army that was already needing an overhaul in N4.
So far we don't know how the rest of the TB looks in terms of profiles but the ones shown here look like proper SPEHS MAREENZ!!1!
In my opinion it isn't so clear that there's a glaring power creep, at least profile-wise. The only thing that raised my eyebrow was pricing on Striders when compared with Zhencha. Sectorial-wise it might be a different matter, as others noted, TLB seems to take the basic IA template and fill in some of the biggest weaknesses. But honestly? Looking at this I think I'd rather play IA or MO, and have more fun doing it ;)
this could be the fix Invincible army needed, but instead, they released a new sectorial no one asked for...
And Magisters or Haramaki before them weren't exactly bank-breaking either, although that was before the general HI recosting.
Originally, Haramakis, renamed Tankos and because Pano is an envy bit**, magisters and later, teutons
O-12 started out as profiles with better - or more optimised stats/skill sets then they orginiate from: Nisses, Hexas, Swiss light, Interventor light and so on. Now we have better Zuyong with a hint of Shang, faster Intruders, Liu Xing like Yellow Jacket and we got him: Optimus Silverprime who found the BS-3 that they took from the Kriza with the transition to N4 . Now we have skill with no counter again - happy birthday Torchlight Brigade, here you have TA and MSV1 on top of the silver cake. 53 pts only 1 swc if you take him as Lt. I think they forgot the Silverstar keyword in the fireteam options. Kriza clocks in at 54 with B+1 instead of Dam +1 which is - unqeustionable - good. Big Silver moves faster (or at least more optimized to reach fire positions), lacks one CC vs Kriza (but with +1 Dam and shock), but gains on BS (which normaly is expensive), cares not for mimetism in either way (you can not counter B-3 and he has a visor1), has one less PH (but not looks like), WIP and ARM are the same but BTS is 9 instead of Krizas 6. So... a Kriza that trades burst for dam with better BS, better mods, better protection, better movment (oh sry - no terrain total for big silver) with TA on top in roughly the same price frame - how cool is that Not so fun fact: If you want to start a Bakunin, which is a active sectorial you will struggle to get your hands on SWC Moderators, Non-SWC Moiras (lt. Option ...) or HMG Sineaters.
We still don't have the stats for all those sweet support units that the marines have but IA doesn't. Watch those pure linkable waveriders be Dokkaebi in disguise
Did CB delete their old xls-Sheets for calculating unit costs and stitched something new together? If you compare available TLB profiles to starting N4 profiles it is ridiculous.
Apparently they did when Rovers get Courage, Light Riot Stopper and +3BTS for free. That's minimum worth 3 points. And the FO profile gets D charges for free too. That is if final costs stay the same. And that is a lot of points of discount in a link, specially when they also get "Hwarangs" with impetuous discount that keep the link pure. They can get a pure core with HMG, tinbot, ML and two Hellblazers, 5 orders + 3 TacAw and three specialists for 139 points. IA needs 155 points to get a pure core with HMG, Tinbot and ML. That is 5 orders, 2TacAw, no specialist, no CC and spends all the Zuyong AVA for 16 pts more. While TLB still could get a Haris with 2 Rovers and 1 Hellblazer more for 87 pts and end up with 8 HI, 8 + 5 orders, two links with specialist and CC for only 226 points. That goes beyond power creep and optimization.
Well, looks like try to sell this also for those players, who are looking more on profiles and power of units than on design. Like new character in some games, which in OP at first before first patches. (but we dont have patches that fast) Are we going to the point, when each faction would have only 1-2 sectorials? Each of Yu Jing old sectorials now looks like candidates to leave. Right? Or may be not.
That aside I believe the actual profile in army will be adjusted points wise and this was yet another attempted rage bait error. Meanwhile the Taskmaster is hiding in a corner hugging his Crazy Koalas because those are the only ones giving him some love.
In Bakunin, a Taskmaster + 2 Morlocks Haris is still not that bad. But that is because of Fireteam rules and not because of Taskmaster profiles
If we want a fair comparison, line up TB angainst WB, not IA; they've been left behind and are in dire need of a refresh, whereas WB are now very powerful and well rounded. Making that comparison, from what I've seen so far, I think WB are stronger. Their Shangjak link is a little pricer, but comes with an engineer, ap hmg, and tinbot -6. I also think monks smash the new hell boys out of the water, and TB has little like Longyas or Hunduns, and no Blue Wolf that I can see. And that's before we get to monk harises or Hatae ridiculousness. So yeah, TB lineup is strong and optimised, but quite stiff. Straight out of the gate, I'd still take WB over them.
Damn, that S. PRIME is unbeliavably undercosted...well it looks like CB is already using the N5 formula.
