Not likely. While it has a seriously armored torso, the legs are not armored at all - just uniform (except for kneepads). Mobile Brigada has always been the standard, vanilla HI of Corregidor. Add the helmet here -it looks way like an EVAder's faceplate with a semblance of a hood over it. Don't let the MB-issue Multi+LFT it holds fool you. Might be a MI, might be a "fake" HI (1 VITA + NWI). While I will, likely, end up owning the Nomad half of the set (I play Corregidor, among others), I find the terrain visible in the background to be pretty interesting. Still, let's not off-topic this thread too much ;)
I agree that the Nomad is MI. He looks outfitted for space operations too. Like that front part would have another visor come down. Knowing them probably NWI. I still get really irritated that the Sombra is essentially a non-hackable Zhencha (both ARM3 BTS6, 1V+NWI, even almost same skills but one is HI one is MI).
Well, supposedly post-Mazebreaker Corregidor is meant to fight differently. Meaning we might see significant shuffling of profiles. Since my local Corregidor player has recently labelled Sombra as "unusable - too expensive" I wouldn't be surprised to see Sombras redone.
and hopefully so we will see some on the Aleph side. I really hope we won't see Dakini in this box, I would like a Dasyu but also retouched in the profile and what about a VH?
I guess if CB thought that Aleph should have a vehicle, they would have given it one already. Not even all the vanillas have one (and not all sectorials). As to Dakini - the box will need basic line infantry / cheerleaders - traditionally there were 3 of them in each half of the starter box. The "current" Dakini are Op: Coldfront-era, later repacked into (still available) OSS Action Pack. I'd - pretty conservatively - expect them to get redone (maybe even recycled, but I'd doubt CB would be reusing these exact models) as the core for the new starter's Aleph half. For if not Dakini, then who would be the line infantry cheerleader, the counterpart to the inevitable Alguaciles we're about to see in the Corregidor half of it...? I mean, I definitely do not expect the box to be a Steel Phalanx starter, we've been through that in Op: Blackwind. Of course, there is a possiblity we'll see a new, 3rd sectorial for Aleph coming in that box. So far, however, I haven't seen any piece of news indicating that to be the case. So I rate this possibility, as of now, as low. Well. I'm going to sit down, wait and see what the future is about to bring us.
There's a possibility for either a new troop or more Deva. Dakini are still available in the online store. Usually troops are no longer available by now. Especially if it's coming out in only a few months. There's only two Deva available. The Spitfire and Hacker.
Both good points. However, look at the point cost and the usual composition of a starter. Certainly neither is set in stone, but: we have Asura in the preview. An Asura - currently - starts at 58 points (non-Lt Spitfire, Lt options are more expensive). That's over a 1/3 of the more-or-less standard 150pts army in the starter with the 24x36 board. if you add 3 Dakini, they start at 13pts (basic rifle variants), for 39pts. if you decide to add Devas, they start at 20pts (again, basic rifle variants), so 3 of them would be 60pts instead. So, assuming the points cost don't change, you are at 97pts with Dakini, or 118 with Devas. 53 pts to go vs. 32 pts to go,and still 3 troop slots to fill. Given that a typical layout of a starter is 3 Line Infantry, 1 Heavy Infantry, 1 Skirmisher (Camo Infiltrator), 1 Combat Jumper and one other model, we'd need these Skirmisher, Combat Jumper and "other" slots. Current OSS Combat Jumper is Garuda, starting at 18pts, and a classic infiltrator would be a Naga (starting at 24pts), so 42pts together. With Devas, that's already 10pts over the budget, with Dakini, we still have 11pts to spend on the "other" troop. Of course, this is not taking into account that there will be - typically - 2-3 new units in the starter, so we might get something that allows us to fit 3 models into these roles within the budget. And/or the existing models may have their profiles tweaked to lower the cost. And/or the entire set might be worth more than 150pts. That being said, the most recent Op: Sandtrap (picking it, because it is the only N5-era starter around) has Shindenbutai at 149pts (possibly a little more, depending on how you interpret certain models) and Kestrel at 145pts (again, could be tweaked a bit with the profiles to bring it closer to 150pts). For comparison, the late N4 era Steel Phalanx starter from Op: Blackwind clocks in at 144pts (again, with some flexibility, and I might be wrong a point here or there) today. I agree, that's guesstimating things based on what we've already seen - CB can bring us a surprise. I also agree that Aleph Operations is difficult to build a starter for - given their high cost-per-model - especially if Asura is involved. The first Aleph starter (back in N2 era, so 6-model-box) was, IIRC, close to 200pts in the age when those starters were typically ~130pts. Combined Army had a similar problem.
Also, by their own admission, Aleph was left behind for Human Sphere. So VH is up in the air, no pun intended. Also you can change the sculpt of a mini as much as you want, but a trooper with a rifle is still the same miniature. Dakini was changed radically from N3 model especially for gluing reasons (like rebots). Now there is little to change in the design and there are 2 or 3 threads for Aleph that scream for some novelty. Obviously there is no limit to human stupidity, like Einstein so eloquently said, but bringing Dakini to a new box (still assuming it will be OSS... which was said, but not cast in stone... remember some 3 sectorial? became 5 the day after...) is literally trying to obtain a different result by doing the same thing over and over again (that or the Universe knows no bound...). Also: K2 is jump troop in vAleph
Indeed, vAleph has an (irregular) K2 varaint as a Parachutist option (not a Combat Jumper). Still, at 18pts, so on par with a Garuda. Substituting Garuda with a K2 gives us nothing points-wise, and adds another two rules to the starter set - Irregular and Parachutist (unless the Corregidor is going to lose their iconic Combat Jumper, the Hellcat - they do have a Parachutist option in form of the Tomcat). Not outside the realm of possiblity, but IMO unlikely. To be honest, in my opinion the Asura is the problem: simply too expensive to be included in a 150pts starter list. Kick her out, and you get much more space to maneuver. Suddenly even the 20pts Devas as Line Infantry don't look that bad. On the VH front - I honestly doubt it. Haqq was also left behind for Human Sphere (IIRC, as were the Nomads?), yet they got their VH same tiem as everybody else, except for CA (and CA got Skyhound with the NW release). Of course, per analogy, Aleph could gain a VH if they get a new sectorial. As always, we'll see.
CB does like putting centerpiece HI in the Operation boxes, but you are right that the Asura is an interesting choice. Either they will nerf her to make her more affordable, or add a new super cheap line infantry for OSS. Like 8 point s2 humaniod bots. I think it might be the latter, which would be a radical change. Possible OSS force: 3 new Line Troops 1 new MI or Satrah Thunderbolt 1 Naga 1 Garuda 1 Asura Spitfire I was hoping that the new Asura would get the second Multi-Spitfire in the game, but i don't think there is any room.
This was Coldfront and I doubt they will repeat some of those in this box... lowers sales (I didn't buy Blackwind: had a box of Thorakiti, I only got the beyond box). Also this box did not have paratroopers or combat jumpers in Aleph (I don't remember Ariadna, but I doubt)
Pun should have been intended and love it! Yeah i'm not entirely convinced it is just OSS and Corregidor. Never trust what they say at a convention! It could be 80% OSS 20% SP. In which case i'd like to finally see some new Thorakitai. A classic example of them coming out with a troop with many profiles, is a core fire team, and NEVER come out with more figures than what's in the basic box (2 SMG, 1 Combi). We still have yet to see a LRL, Feuerbach, HMG, or Hacker. I think the Asura is like the equivalent to the Daiyokai or Al Fasid. But as mentioned, neither of them had expensive troops with them! It could be that the art is not exactly correct as well. We have seen that before as well. But I'm guessing there will be more new cheap troops. That's something I think Aleph needs. As I said above i'd like this to be vAleph and they add Thorakitai back into it so they have a few more options of Line troops. Plus I want more than just the three that are available. Edit: I'll also add that's it's not beyond the possibility of a new TAG. Mainly because TAGs sell. Max and Maruts are both fairly long range TAGs. There's room for a AP Spitfire-ranged. Maybe ARM6 or 7.
Well, Al Fasid is 50pts under current rules. And you rarely see this profile on the table anyway. Dayiokai is - depending on the loadout - 47 to 50 pts. Ratnik is 41 to 46. Asura is 58 to 64. Sure, these big HI are visiual centerpieces, no denying that. But they seem to get a hefty discount for their size - they are all S5. Asura has S2 in addition to her high-end statline (and effective 3 wounds). She has to be expensive with such tricks. Though, as I have mentioned earlier, this generates a problem when putting her into a stsrter box.
Unfortunately, these VS sets are not necessarily balanced or fair. Look at the last one. KCF totally overpowered Shinden. They also tend to come out with the least wanted troops first. Like I don’t know anyone that plays Senku in Shinden or vJSA and the Nokizaru is just sad. But all of the KCF troops are good. BTW they could cheat a little bit on mini count by doing Deva with Devabot or Arjuna and it's bot.
incl. Beyond Normaly the boxes serves double purpose: Faction and Sectorial, so I think it will be CJC vs OSS without any SP or Van flavours. I would be great if they change the concept and feature some non-combi-line troopers.
Good point. Well they do try to get near 300pts with only the 7 in the main box and then 3 in Beyond box. So I don't think an Asura is going to hurt it much. Remember, they don't care about actual playability. Here's a list with current troops I had trouble finding expensive enough troops to get to 10. BTW It's pretty obvious Ruby Monday will be the special figure. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 9 1 SHUKRA (Lieutenant, Strategos L1) MULTI Rifle, Nanopulser / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 24) ASURA Spitfire, Nanopulser / Pistol, AP CC Weapon(PS=6). (1.5 | 58) DEVA (Hacker, Hacking Device) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 25) DEVA MULTI Rifle, Nanopulser / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 22) DASYU (Hacker, Hacking Device) Submachine Gun, Nanopulser, D-Charges ( ) / Silenced Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 37) GARUDA (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle, Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 20) RUDRA Red Fury(PS=6), Mine Dispenser(Shock) / Heavy Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (1 | 37) ANDROMEDA Boarding Shotgun(+1B), Flash Pulse, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, DA CC Weapon(PS=6). (0 | 33) RUBY MONDAY Adhesive Launcher Rifle, Flash Pulse, E/M Grenades / Stun Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 19) NAGA (Minelayer) Boarding Shotgun, Shock Mine / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 25) 4 SWC | 300 Points Open in Infinity Army
I should point out one detail: previous box (see pic above, which indeed includes the beyond box, thank you @archon) contained: Shukra, Yadu, Apsara and Shakti that were brand new minis and profiles Naga sniper is a brand new resculpt from N2 Dakini and Deva hacker brand new resculpt (there used to be 4 Deva prior: the Pokemon hairstyle and spitfire, the fancy hairstyle with the nanopulser hand and the woman both in the box with Devabots and finally the woman in the Aleph Starter with the combi "like a boss") Now the Aleph Starter box disappeared some time ago. It's true that Devabots need a resculpt, maybe with the Dakini assembly logic, but somehow I see it as a box down the line (don't remember a synched unit in a box, but I can be mistaken). From a marketing standpoint they need to crate the hype for the veterans (thank you PanO for made it so new players NEVER pick up Aleph...) and the hype is "Mmmh, almost 50% of the miniatures (4/9) are brand new things, the rest (5/9) are brand new sculpts" because the rest of the miniatures are already owned. If this condition is not met, speaking for myself, I find no advantage in buying the box (and I am a very vocal and very passionate customer: better have me on the satisfied side, rather than not). Re-proposing Coldfront (meaning no new miniatures or no new profiles) would be a total failure. At the moment there is no Spitfire Asura mini (longing for the "this is Aleph's ass" mini, LOL) and that is a good candidate. Keep in mind that rarely they put full profiles in the box (they can put some skills maybe except NWI) the rest will be in Army. For the rest, like I said, Dasyu is a good candidate (no hidden deployment, only camo sniper) for a brand new resculpt. Somehow I don't see much space for a Deva considering the 4 brand new minis and profiles (one of them could be a REM like the Rudra... hence the VH I said previously because both rebots and probots have been done recently). Finally, and some can already expect this: if they put Dakini in this box I will be very, very and VERY disappointed!
