I have fielded a full BS FD core and it is as devastating as one should expect, I would indeed rather see that expanded. Not sure on how more comfortable they are in CQB that the rest of PanO, many of out high BS units have shotguns and a pure core hits at BS over 20 easily.
The thing that jumps out to me is Warband resistance. Outside the Aquila Guard, no PanO MSV carrier has multiple Wounds to tank a template, meaning between the decent range of the Chain Rifle and Smoke most Warbands have a field day with PanO's lineup unless the PanO player is particularly cautious, or makes a point of killing off Warbands in active. Knights have the CC score to make most Warbands think twice about rushing them, as even with their low cost and Impetuous Order they're too valuable to throw away in active turn. As a former Yu Jing main, I appreciate versatility a lot. The problem with a lot of the older PanO units is that they don't hit the probability breakpoints or gear checks to open up new options much. The denial of Smoke and mobility tools makes CC hard to get use out of save on the defensive, especially with PanO's high base Ballistics Skill making shooting more appealing. Poor WIP makes more technical options a losing prospect most of the time, again exacerbated by lack of access to reliable options like White Noise or UPGRADE programs or even boosted Doctors. Hell, even my much-loved Hexa Sniper often fails to get the best use out of its Hidden Deployment ambushes due to poor Ballistics Skill, of all things.
So the most common recipe I find peeps are writing for PanO is - A Light Pure Core - A TAG with Machinist support - 20 - 30 operators fill the rest of the list be it solo operators or in a fireteam of some sort - 2-3 Fugazi
Depends on the sectorial, I find a light pure core and TAGs are strongly dependent on the power the haris available on the sectorial have. Yes, 5 forward deployment +8" boarding shotgun hospitalers, if one masters maneuvering a pure HI core with stealth, it is a B3 BS 23 boarding shotgun in the active turn and 5 models with B2 BS 23 boarding shotguns in defense. I also tried the Haris of 2 FB boarding shotguns hospitalers and a FD spitfire KoJ, not as great.
That looks quite fun. But I'd be quite scared of having someone dropping one E/M grenade in the FT. Can be cool for a lighthearthed game
In this particular I think Movement is key. If this alone wasn´t something with high impact, ORCs usually can be linked with "cheap" units like fusiliers. So, yes, ORC is more vulnerable to be hacked or to CC combat, but "usually you don´t look to be close to hackers or to reach CC" not with Hospitallers neither with ORCs. Hospitallers case is they "have a little more durability" if the enemy manages to forced the knight into that. The opportunity to do a cautious movement to 6 instead of 4 inches makes too part of the trick. I´m pretty sure is what he mean :) I did use of a lone BSG Hospitaller in haris in winter, is fun. I can´t imagine 5 of them. For some match could be something, since I don´t think anybody expects to face that kind of FT.
With N5 incoming in a few months, how do you feel about the chance of PanO getting reworked a bit? Any wishlists? Things I'd like to see: Unit pruning and rework, so that there's less units fighting for the same niche (looking at you, Nokken and Locusts, or Boyg and KoJ) More liberal access to upgraded equipment, particularly weaponry. Smartgun (Spitfire with Marksmanship)? Assault Shotgun (BSG with +1 B)? Make that high BS go with actual heavy metal to back it up More Auxbot types Remotes well integrated into fireteams EVO support buffed, either in form of some upgrade programs or more EVO options
For me: More types of Auxbots and units with Auxbot Options. Additional Units with Eclipse Grenade Launchers. S5 TAG. Better EVOs with Improved Synergies. The Hyperpower should have the best support network. Like what if there was a PanO unique EVO Supportware that would allow to select a model and give it the Rule Specialist Operative (To reflect that PanO has Guys in the Chair to provide call-in support).
From a SWF perspective: Locust gets camo (at least one use) or (better) HD. change all shock CCW to DA, remove bsg, add DB to Breaker, add Koala to hackers Infirmarer gets something, that will make it usful for its price: change to LI, Doctor +3, Plain CCW +2 Dam´, no mono (count as Winterfor, Fusilier) KoJ trades Combi for Multi - BS+1 Dam for all profiles - remove ML profile (makes Boyg a real alternative) Blade op: BSG adds engineer and TA, FD profile will go Curator: loose imm.shock, gets WIP 13 Oktavia: a) drop significant in price or b) gets mimi-3 or c) adds msv1 and looses 6th add Nisse keyword ;-) Uma FTO: add NCO Nisse: price drop (drop LSG if it must), no swc for lt. Gunnar: remove shock CCW, MA1 Hospitaler: add move 6-2 - its a Orc-Suit! remove all combi profiles Orc: list only winter profiles, add winter to essential profiles HMG, BSG Bulleteer: Remove 3 pts ;-) Boyg: use the silverstar prime formular: bingo 30 pts :-D Add AD Troop (Valkyries) - Combi Rifle, CCWs DA, NBW, Frenzy, Paramedics, Dogged - BS12, WIP 13 ... alternate weapon: BSG, Red Fury
Honestly I sold all of my PanO stuff and have fizzled out of the game since. But I do hope they get some needed alterations, you have my list on the forums still somewhere. Here's hoping N5 is going to be a good place for me to re-enter the game.
I find it particularly curious you show up once every six months or so, throw a sarcastic remark and leave.
And I find your curisoity weird. But ad rem, well you conviniently skipped that small part of several years of "active activity" while discussing PanO :P ( do you by chance work "in statistics" or goverment secotor ) And for my sudden re-appearance, well I'm not sure if you have heard but there seems to be a N5 coming on short notice, I wanted to come by say few "hi" and prepare PanO audience about the most likely outcome for PanO (plus check if there is some more info). Also it is not that PanO here have many players left xD (last time I saw it here quite a lot of long - term players abandoned this faction altogether (kudos to them)).
Hey, dont I kind of do that too. I feel left out now. :P Ok, maybe I'm more positive because I got O-12 to have all the fun stuff I wish was in Pano. Does the most likely outcome for Pano happen to be more 1 wound troops with BS 13 mimetism -3? As for long term Pano players leaving, I think its more that most players have left this forum because of its persistent negativity. If you go to the Infinity discord theres plenty of discussion in the Pano channel.
Why bother to take any stance if everything you can do is shameless positivity even if there is lack of ground/reason for one ? Calling reality how it is might be a negativity for you, I consider it hard requirement for any meaningful discussion (even if applied to such unimportant and niche topic as forums of some wargame). Also: if it really bothers you put "no negativity here" ("I decide what negativity is and isn't") rule into those forums rules/CoC. With warm wishes yours Eciu