For those of us whose beloved sectorials have departed, how are you adapting to n5 so far? The more I play around with the army builder, the more I feel like vanilla PanO now actually covers a lot of the bases that these sectorials thrived on. Some units just straight up remained (ex. Zulu Cobras), while others have pretty clear analogues (auxilia to drummers). Others are less clear, but there are options; I will probably use my Echo-Bravos as Fireflies and Kamau as either Nisses or Blink team. Fennecs seem like the obvious stand in for Acon Regulars. And as far as play style goes, the thing that drew me to Varuna back in n3 was the possibility of playing a more camo-oriented shell game with PanO, and this is more possible than ever now. So, how are you all feeling and how do you plan to adapt to the new edition?
I have played only Varuna in N4 (and later half of N3), mainly ORC fireteams with Pantsy. So my adaptation strategy is to defect to the Invincible Army . I know this is not the answer you wanted to hear (but shang-jis are so aweseome now).
I actually switched systems to Trench Crusade as it fit my group's more narratively-inclined tendencies better; Infinity hasn't released anything except ITS maintenance since the last big crisis, and the last actual new scenarios were... De Hell, maybe? If Infinity takes off again locally, my NCA are probably going to have to be played as a deeply-below-average Vanilla army.
Former NCA player here. Most of my NCA stuff will be used as Vanilla PanO ... my Uhlans are now Squalos mk2, my cutter is still a cutter. I have two squalo Mk1s that will become something else (the Dragao already got repurposed to a Zeta for my O-12 back in 2020.). Some will get ported to Kestrel. I've made some press moulds for the Griffin back pieces (so I can mod a couple of the male ORC models - I have 8 ORC models, so there's spares there). As far as play style goes, I'll figure that out as I go. As soon as I can get a game in.
I was sad to see StarCo, my perpetual underdogs, go. I'm returning to my first love, OSSS, and will eventually build an anarchist-focused Bakunin army (no nuns!) for flavor and storytelling.
Played Acon and Varuna N3/N4. I've been tweaking some half-serious lists just for fun, but haven't been able to play, I'd like to try something like these if I get a chance. Would use Bagh-Maris as Karhu (never got into Svalarheima), Druze Hacker as Magistrate and Swiss Guard (whose sword I took off) as Griffin, Blade would be Bolt Paramedic. Joan ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 8 1 2 JOAN OF ARC v2 (Lieutenant) AP Spitfire, Pulzar(+1B) / Pistol, EXP CC Weapon(PS=4). (1 | 45) BLADE FTO (Engineer) Submachine Gun, D-Charges ( | GizmoKit) / Silenced Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 23) MAGISTRATE (Chain of Command) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser / Heavy Pistol, Stun Pistol(+1B), CC Weapon. (0 | 21) ZULU-COBRA (Triangulated Fire, Sensor) Combi Rifle, Jammer / Assault Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 23) GRIFFIN Feuerbach, Pulzar / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 38) FUGAZI DRONBOT Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7) FUGAZI DRONBOT Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7) MULEBOT (Deactivator, Repeater) ( ) / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 8) WARCOR (360º Visor) Flash Pulse ( ) / Stun Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 3) GROUP 2 6 LOCUST Submachine Gun, D-Charges, WildParrot / Boarding Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 24) KARHU Feuerbach(+1B), AP Mine / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 34) KARHU (Paramedic) MULTI Rifle, Blitzen, AP Mine ( | MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 24) FENNEC (Triangulated Fire, Minelayer) Thunderbolt(+1B), Shock Mine / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 14) FENNEC (Triangulated Fire, Minelayer) Thunderbolt(+1B), Shock Mine / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 14) FENNEC (Triangulated Fire, Minelayer) Thunderbolt(+1B), Shock Mine / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 14) 4 SWC | 299 Points Open in Infinity Army Cutter + Tik ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 10 2 TIKBALANG (Lieutenant [+1 Order]) Heavy Machine Gun, Heavy Flamethrower, Shock Mine / AP CC Weapon(PS=5). (1.5 | 73) CRABBOT . (0 | 3) CUTTER (NCO) MULTI Heavy Machine Gun / CC Weapon(PS=5). (2 | 97) CRABBOT . (0 | 2) BLADE FTO (Engineer) Submachine Gun, D-Charges ( | GizmoKit) / Silenced Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 23) GRIFFIN Feuerbach, Pulzar / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 38) MAGISTRATE (Chain of Command) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser / Heavy Pistol, Stun Pistol(+1B), CC Weapon. (0 | 21) FENNEC (Triangulated Fire, Minelayer) Thunderbolt(+1B), Shock Mine / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 14) TECH-BEE Adhesive Launcher Rifle, Flash Pulse ( | Deployable Repeater) / Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 9) FUGAZI DRONBOT Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7) FUGAZI DRONBOT Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7) MULEBOT (Deactivator, Repeater) ( ) / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 8) 5 SWC | 297 Points Open in Infinity Army Tik ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 9 2 TIKBALANG (Lieutenant [+1 Order]) Heavy Machine Gun, Heavy Flamethrower, Shock Mine / AP CC Weapon(PS=5). (1.5 | 73) CRABBOT . (0 | 3) BLADE FTO (Engineer) Submachine Gun, D-Charges ( | GizmoKit) / Silenced Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 23) MAGISTRATE (Chain of Command) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser / Heavy Pistol, Stun Pistol(+1B), CC Weapon. (0 | 21) LOCUST Submachine Gun, D-Charges, WildParrot / Boarding Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 24) GRIFFIN Feuerbach, Pulzar / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 38) TECH-BEE Adhesive Launcher Rifle, Flash Pulse ( | Deployable Repeater) / Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 9) FUGAZI DRONBOT Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7) FUGAZI DRONBOT Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7) MULEBOT (Deactivator, Repeater) ( ) / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 8) GROUP 2 5 1 ZULU-COBRA (Triangulated Fire, Sensor) Combi Rifle, Jammer / Assault Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 23) KARHU MULTI Rifle, E/Marat, AP Mine / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 22) FENNEC (Triangulated Fire, Minelayer) Thunderbolt(+1B), Shock Mine / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 14) FENNEC (Triangulated Fire, Minelayer) Thunderbolt(+1B), Shock Mine / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 14) FENNEC (Triangulated Fire, Minelayer) Thunderbolt(+1B), Shock Mine / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 14) WARCOR (360º Visor) Flash Pulse ( ) / Stun Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 3) 3 SWC | 300 Points Open in Infinity Army
I can mostly play both NCA and VIRD in Generic PanOceania, probably can also play some form of Accontecimento too, but never played them to know for sure the gameplay.
I still haven't recovered from the emotional damage to have my beloved Acontecimento removed, I'm not playing Panoceania as often as I did at least for the moment. However I managed to play vainilla in a Varuna or even NCA flavor, since many profiles are still there and AVA is now higher. We could even say we can play a better Varuna in Vainilla, or a more "updated" one. For Acontecimento I fond similarities while playing Kestrel, I managed to deploy a "minelayer" list based as I did in the past with Acontecimento, being even better. So, the soul of those armies are there, so we can play with that style. I think is almost a fact that many Panoceania players are able to find the way to play the style of the lost sectorials in vainilla or somehow in kestrel, but even with that, for me is being a little odd to build the list in an Acontecimento way but not being Acontecimento. Yes, I know, is more a mental block than anything, but it is there.
Honestly, I'm much happier with current vPanO than with NCA, Acon, and VIRD. About the only things I miss are Scylla and occasionally the paramedic Montessa.
Played quite a bit with kestrel and vanilla tbh, my NCA core has mostly worked nicely. Fusiliers can be fennecs, orcs can be griffins etc. Only thing I'm really sore about it the loss of the uhlan. That one stings.
Now If I was able to make a couple of acontecimiento/varuna players in my city to embrace this feeling, so they can come back into the game with their old armies, it would be amazing.
honestly PanO just feels like play Kestrel or move on to another faction. sure you could argue for Vanilla. but even then Kestrel is just so damn good why bother with anything else. I've personally just dusted my NCA and VIRD gave away for free to some kids to paint test scheme on. real bummer for N5.
While I think OM is not in a good place in N5, only a few list that are somehow competitive, vainilla is really good right now, I would say better than Kestrel, which I don't think is so "good" as a lot of people think. Too many shiny things, but they don't truly mix well together. I'm of the opinion that Winter is in a really good shape, not better than Kestrel, but as an equal, and not better because the Lt options in winter kind of sucks. We almost can play a kind of Acontecimento while playing Kestrel which in fact makes things worse because we can't avoid to wonder why they didn't a renewal of Acontecimento instead of Kestrel. Something similar happens in vainilla, you can play a kind of NCA or Varuna, which is good and bad at same time. I'm still playing Pano, all armies we have available and having fun, so I will keep doing it, but I will not forget the lost ones.
I don't feel that way at all. Kestrel's good, but I don't find that it's so good that it invalidates the rest of PanO. I find myself enjoying vanilla more than Kestrel.
I feel your pain. Despite not playing, if I were then the loss of the Uhlans would upset me too. That TAG was a powerhouse for me. Plus it was so pretty. You and me both. But the players in my area and group are adamantly refusing.
and fair enough! as noted one can certainly argue for Vanilla. sorry ya'll it was just my opinion. i feel like Kestrel takes top cheddar; Winterfor still suffers from the initial confusion of what i'm certain was "we don't really know what we are going for here, but have some cool models winter style" and MO is still what MO always was and is for editions now, so either you've bought in and love it (no matter what) or you've moved on.
Honestly at some point the reworks are so many and drastic you might as well rename the sectorial, I would hazard a guess that if Kestrel was released and was named Acontecimento we would have people complaining that it is so drastic that they should have released it with another name. I do not think KCF is so powerful it eclipses all other PanO sectorials including Generic, I feel, at least for now, that each offers its own unique experience.
Funny think, maybe Winter is the best army to face Kestrel. About Kestrel... This weekend I go to a Satellite with 3 Kestrel in (not me), but I hope to have the opportunity to chat with those players, even to play against, since Kestrel was missing for 2 Satellites before this one. Even I didn't see It too much in my local meta. Yes, people has the miniaturas, but not playing or almost not to.
I only played vPanO and a few MO games in N5, but all PanO sectorials (including vPanO) look having different strengths even from list building. Maybe mission packages of Satellites? I haven’t tried a lot but KCF and vPanO looks a bit wanky to play some missions, like capture and protect or evacuation. For your local meta, have you asked the players who played KCF? I’m not sure but they might be testing the new KCF first and now looking other factions in N5 stage. This is because I was also testing KCF troops in vPanO and took at least new 2 of them each game I played in N5.
Personally I am still assembling models, so I have yet to see them in action myself, lists building show the potential, and issues, they have, but until they hit the table I am not sure. Some things look great on paper, some things play great in other's hands but not necessary great on mine.
