We know that Shotguns are basically medium velocity 20-40mm AHEAD projectiles. Which I'd expect to have self destruction fuses (UXO is bad m'kay). Modern projectiles are increasingly being designed with terminal effects in mind: these are (generally) armour penetration, intermediate barrier penetration (ie the cover bonus) and wound effects. But the over-riding concern is ballistic performance (a round with ideal terminal effects is pointless if it doesn't actually have the range and accuracy to hit the target). Given that the physics doesn't really change I'd expect the projectiles to look extremely similar. In terms of terminal effects there's often a trade off between penetration and wound effects, with many rounds opting to compromise between the two: the capabilites of multi weapons clearly allows optimising on the fly. Dancer ammunition at Rifle sizes is interesting: it requires guidance and control systems to be implemented into the round. I would expect that fin-stabilised smooth bore would be an option for this. Where I'd expect to see more significant developments is in the propellant. Expanding gas forcing projectiles out of a small metal tube is ancient technology. For electrically insensitive munitions using EM technology (ie railguns) should be an option. So personal railguns firing fin-stabilised projectiles of an aerodynamic shape that has material properties that optimise its terminal performance seems plausible. Equally basebleed and rocket propulsion at small arms calibres seems plausible. Both would either allow range extensions or lighter weapons (by reducing the peak internal pressure).
I think the closest answer available in general is We're Not Sure. I'd think most Combi-Rifles are caseless due to lack of visible ejection ports, and may or may not be flechette-based because that's how Cyberpunk goes when it's not all mass-drivers. Ariadna and Haqq probably just use some kind of heavy round like a modern 7.62 long, but the power of the Combi-Rifle might come from advanced technobabble propellants allowing even very small and light rounds to go much much fast and make a lot of damage. PanO's bullets, or at least the cartridges, may be weird because they load their guns with magazines the wrong way around for how real bullets stack. MULTI-rifles might have a sort of bullet-trap system to fire the other round types for a low-tech Lawgiver approach, or just a variable-configuration nanitey warheaddy thing bullet [complex technical terms there] for your high-tech Government Space Guns. Infinity Shotguns seem more like some focused-direction airburst grenade launchers come to think of it. They lob a shell that explodes near the target for the 'template' effect normally, but for the Boarding Shotgun it's like it explodes on impact like a mini-HEAT round
'Focussed directional airburst munitions' is literally what AHEAD is. BSG firing a HEAT round as its AP ammunition makes sense. This still puts it as a 20-40mm medium velocity weapon (medium velocity gives you a flat trajectory and shorter time of flight than a 'lobbed' projectile). Probably on the smaller end. But I doubt much smaller than 20mm: each flechette hits essentially as hard as a rifle projectile. LGL OTOH you're looking at a 30-50mm low velocity weapon (ie a lobbed trajectory). This enables relatively more of the system's weight to be used in the projectile's explosive (or equivalent) content but sacrifices accuracy vs targets in motion (particularly at range).
Speaking of shotguns - securitates seem to have lost their underbarrel ones in favor of simple combies...
And there was much rejoicing. That's a 3pt discount right there. I'm hoping for a BSG profile al la CG though. A Combi + SSL1 Securitate is ~15pts. Which is actually playable. A pair is approx -1 order +1 SWC over Algs in Vanilla.
That said, seems legitimate. I don't yhthi Securitate are going to be Alguacile/Fusilier/Zhanshi/etc style line troopers, they'll be more elite. With that in mind, Boarding Shotguns for CQB seem possible, as they tend to be on more elite tactical link options.
Don't forget the Brawlers, they are good template on what to aim for. Kamau are a more resent unit in the same ball park as well!
We've had a price decrease confirmed, but not a steep one, so it definitely seems they'll be retaining that "elite" feel. I'd be okay with SSL2 and Repeater going away, perhaps traded for survivability boosts, with the Repeater available as a separate profile rather than standard on all profiles. Something like ARM2, BTS3 might feel a bit bloatey, but it does indicate elite and well-equipped when your basic line trooper is BS12 with superior defensive stats. I think the boarding shotgun is pretty likely, and far preferable to the unfortunate combi + lsg redundancy. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
damn the new tunguska starter is epic the only thing it is missing is a new grenzer but i don't mind picking one up when CB makes the into solos or box of 3-4. with this set it is time to say goodbye to the network builds with aqua-boys and interventors and say hello to our brand new MIB/matrix super-cheerleader, the securitate and hecklers models are defensively my favorites and getting a HMG krisa makes him far more useful than the M-12 one we got from the icestorm expansion which i still haven't painted, because i found him to be useless in generic nomad lists.(lolz my JSA box might remain in base colors if the tunguska set comes out soon my nomads are always my top priority and i'm very slow painter)
I hope the repeater is only on one profile, and I doubt that it's on all like it used to be. To expensive and more than 1 is redundant in a link team. Do you guys think we'll get mixed links like Securitate + Interventors/Grenzers?
I kind of hope mixed links get a break for a while. While they're undoubtedly very effective, I'd like a unit that's an effective link by itself, without having to combine anything and everything (regardless of background lore) just to give us a strong link team. Making everything seemingly linkable with everything else potentially sets the stage for poor unit design, lack of creative profiles, etc. and makes me a bit nervous.
I dunno, what's the point of adding a Securitate hacker when we already have an Interventor with their cheap cost and options.
I have mixed feelings about mixed links. On one hand I agree with barakiel. However, I am a little nervous about the small size and the "eliteness" of TJC. Unless there are a few more units left for CB to reveal, there's not a lot to chose from. Some mix and match links will help the sectorial keep some flexibility. The other option is that TJC borrows units from the other Commands, which I'm not sure I like either. Edit To clarify: For profiles, we have 2 LI, 1 MI, 2 HI, 1 TAG, 2 SK, and 0 WB, plus remotes & normal support pair. That's not a lot of choices.
I've got to disagree I think we need more links that have the option for mixed composition. Links should be effective with just one unit type and that should remain an option but they can also be effective in a different way by allowing other units to be part of a team. It can expand a players options but should be managed carefully. Considering Nomads only have one real optional mixed 5 unit link (Moiras) and I'm worried that Tunguska will actually have fewer exclusive unit profiles compared to the other the other Nomad sectorials (8 now compared to 11 and 12 excluding characters, mercs, rems, and support). I think mixed links would be good if done well.
