Let’s talk about Aleph’s situation in N5.

Putting a resculpt of Dakini is like putting an old Dakini... I don't need a Dakini resculpt having 6 of them (Coldfront + Defiance box) like a Thorakiti resculpt (that's why I didn't get Blackwind, 3 from N3 Starter + 4 in dedicated box). On top of that they are already making the usual marketing mistake: too early, this isn't gonna be before the summer, autumn probably... 6 months before the box. People are going to forget so really: they better do their homework or, as we say: it'll be the mountain giving birth to the little mouse (big effort for no result). Infinity is still tied to to a two-player box set and it does take 2 to tango (easy to find Corregidor players that can be bought with a bunch of resculpts considering how old some minis are, but Aleph players have a variable amount of blood in the mouth because the faction was left behind from N5 updates and no significant update of profiles has been done, plus a bunch of miniatures were transferred from SP to the enemy...). So CB hear my warning...

 

They already said it will come sooner as you think and showed it scheduled for UK Game Expo at the end of May. So probably three months until release, which makes it pretty okay to announce now.

 

Thats intresting. I am a colloctor, but I sold all my old Dakinis, which make me think, that its quite a while since they come out. But I also don´t need or want new Dakinis - I am very happy with the current editon. CB on the other side may have other thoughts. Dakinis are also rare line troops (they are the equivalent of Fusilier etc) that have actual sculpts with heavy weapons.

So I have "only" 6 now.

Alguaciels are in their 3rd incarnation. I have the Ice Storm ones incl. the SWC box (excl. the Sniper, which I convert into a Jaguar, mostly bc I have the very old and nice sniper, which now serves as a back up ABH (which means shes in a box for years)). So I have 10 now. 3 Ice Storm, 3 SWC, 1 Hacker, 1 from the old CJC Starter with the first Wildcats, she looks more like a HVT) one Paramedic (Paintset) and the old Sniper-Gal which is no longer "playable" as an Algua. The LGL gal also is no longer Wysiwyg but here, I let her pass as an Combi (which I don´t need either). The last three from the crimson box are unbuild. Do I need new ones? Definetly not.

I we will see three basic troopers on each side, it will be a dissapointment, even new players might need them.
For Aleph there is the unneccessary possibility that we see some kind of new basic troop or Dakinis with flak-jackets etc. both meh from our POV. For CJC there is a small hope they will go with Wildcats (we have one basic loadout already so it could be only two. Following that thought Aleph cold get two Devas instead.

Spoiler: Want to know more?

My Yu Jing have 12 Zhanshis Black Veil with SWC, FO (old Paintset), Paramedic (new Paintset) and the indeed very cool Kaltfront ones. The actuals ones are 3rd gen. Celestials are 3rd gen also (I have 14+1) now old ones (minus Starter guy), next ones (where we have to wait for aeons for the new SWC, which is now mostly obsolent) and one from the acutal box (unbuild, waiting for conversion, I sold two). 4 are not usable anymore (2 x Spitfire, 2 x Sniper and 2 are no more Wyswig (2 Hackers)). We still not have a MMR Mini.

While my Funsiliers (we have 3 gens here also) my only old one is a converted HMG so I have 8 because I sold the 3 Kaltfront.

 

I think there will be Jaguars instead of Alguaciles in the box. Look at Operation Blackwind, which gave Daylamis.

Hopefully we get some information on the contents soon.

 

Certainly a possiblity, but keep in mind that Blackwind was introducing Haqq to Code One. And Code One had Daylami, not Ghulam as basic Haqq line infantry - and had them as Regular units, since C1 had no Irregular rule.

Jaguars are Dogged and Frenzy - two more rules I'm not sure are a good pick for a starter box.
Assuming, of course, the starter box is meant for the new players.

We, the old hands, are a very different target group.

 

Infinity is classified (by AI) as a "small, high complexity, indie wargame" (the reddit channel has 100k subscribers...). Based on this the boxes, while having a promotion side effect, are definitely aimed at veterans if CB wants to make their money back.

 

...yeah, by that point it's neither small, nor indie

 

It all depends on the metrics used.

If one compares it - by model count - to a WH40K (no matter how much I dislike that one, it is the benchmark), Infinity is certainly using less models.
If by "indie" one means "it is not published by a corporation the size of the GW", but a company that's keeping most of its work in-house, then, well. You get it.

High-complexity... I can't tell. I have seen a number of wargame rules that were less complex, rules-wise, that's for sure. I haven't seen one more complex. That being said, I have never claimed to know all of them out there, or even a significant share of them.

Then again, what metrics have you used, man?

I mean, you are absolutely entitled to your own opinion.

Doesn't necessary mean I will agree with you.​

Or that any of us is going to be objectively right.​

But I'd like to know where are you coming from with that.

 

I said it: according to the AI the text in quotes was answered, specifying the 100k subscribers in Reddit (which may have double accounts, fake ones and so on, like for anything). The number of players reported for other popular hammers is in the millions (a follow up question showed that, something anybody can do on their own...). There is no precise data available. That being said 100k on 8Bil is peanuts.

In order to consider the target of a product, one needs to understand what the goal is:
- trying to attract new players
- keep the veterans from leaving
In order to achieve the first a network of commercial ads is necessary (even in blogs, YouTube and Google investments).
In order to achieve the second the network of ads is not so necessary: veterans will come and find you and just posting in social media is publicity enough, together with the word of mouth (much lower investment and higher return considering the commercialised good: a commodity, a toy, a game... it's not something you gotta have because otherwise your life will be less, like a smartphone for example).
A major company decided to build dedicated, mono-brand shops, to avoid competition "on the shelves". CB did not and so effectively is an Independent producer doing everything in house and betting on the product they produce to "sell on its own". Strategies.

So which is the target of the product "2-player boxset"? Main target is existing players (creates more return) with the added bonus that a new player may find something to be introduced to the game without "being tossed in the deep end of the swimming pool" to learn. If the target is a veteran player then the only attraction a veteran may have is "new toys" (Coldfront and Blackwind are a good example: in the first OSS had 4 brand new miniatures including beyond, Blackwind had 3 new. I followed Aleph because it's the main topic of discussion, anybody is free to make a statistics).

Also why make a box of only resculpts? A box with many necessary miniatures is available for newcomers (the 2 main action packs for the two sectorials of Aleph). In my opinion the 2-player box is the opportunity for new things. It allows you to come up with stuff never seen before, and the opportunity to pay for the necessary investment (molds and materials) without the risk of releasing something that people won't buy (one buys a box, even if there is a miniature you don't like...)

 

If they are coming out near UK expo, May 29-31. Then we should be seeing the contents of the new set near the end of April I think.

 

It aims at both. New and Vet players. But I think mainly at new ones or players that want to start a new faction/sectorial.

Normaly it contains two starters and this includes line troops (usualy three). For us - the veteran players, that are here since Dakini Gen 1 its boring or simple not necessary to get more line troops. But for new ones it is essential (which is the new beginners line). With other words: For that already have the sectorials there is always some stuff that we have already or comes just in a refreshed form.

 

That's what I think and it would cover 90% of the target, being Vets and Vets that wanna start a new faction. It could also go along with the idea of new mankind brought forth in NW

 

And I agree with both. If they were going to do a new Dakini, you would have seen the previous OSS box set be discontinued a while ago.

What I can’t see is what kind of Line Troop. Dakini already have the 13-21pt range and Deva are 20-30pt range. I say Deva because they were like a “secondary Line Troop” and can form a core fireteam on their own. It was only with N4 they became Veteran and N5 Medium Infantry.

They could go with a “Heavy Dakini”. But that could be said to be the Riksha. There’s nothing holding them back by coming out with more Riksha. I’d love for them to come out with some more of the REF troops. I’d like a Riksha HRL.

 

I am guessing the reverse with "dumbots" to allow cheap cheerleaders (8-9 points) with light shotguns and non-lethal weaponry. It would a new troop and allow a Asura list to be under 150pts for the box. But we will see.

 

I'd say Aleph already has them with Netrods. But i'd like to see variants for a few more points. Like Netrod Repeater for 8pts. or something new.

 

Aleph has two line troops already Dakini for OSS and Thora for SP. They are not both available in vanilla, that true (but can be changed, if CB wants). Another line troop like Fusiler, Algua oder Zhanshi would feel like bloat and would only bring Aleph in line with other factions (boring). Next Wave and O-12 have also „only“ one flavour of line troopers.

Fun fact: Danavas is a line troop also - so we habe two already ;-)

I doubt that we see any new in this category. If we get Netrods with a flavour or a K2 for OSS it will not be in the two player box.