I find I need to choose between a Clipso and the Greif operator when building lists for Tohaa. I dont have the points to fit both. They dont fill the exact same role, but if I have enough button pushers already in the list, what would you choose for missions like Power pack and exclusion zone missions like Comms center. The greif or the Clipso?
I think for exclusion the grief might end up being the better choice, assuming you take the impersonation one. I think in non exclusion, the clipsos minelayer ends up being slightly better than the grief, but i really think it depends on playstyle. Like, personally, i would have the clipsos lay a couple mines, and then prolly go into suppressive from behind cover, essentially using it as adefensive poece. whereas the grief is better used as a more aggressive piece, taking out a specialist or two, or potentially a weaker Lt.
The clipsos is safe and reliable. The greif is exciting and I haven't fully explored her potential. So basically I'll let my emotional state on the day decide. If I was being indecisive, though: Greif for exclusion zone missions, actually take neither and try an AD troop for power pack, Clipsos otherwise.
The clipsos is so strong that I struggle to run any of the other options until I have at least one. Long story short would be similar to Robertsheperd's suggestion - Griefy boy for exclusion zone missions that are low on objectives, Clipsos for anything with many buttons and no zone, and "you will need to try both and decide for yourself" for anything in the middle. Neither are great for power pack, maybe this is the chance for crappy two wounder impersonator to shine? (Probably not)
In Onyx I get a lot of mileage out of the Greif Op in Exclusion Zone missions; I would go for the Imposter if it had a template weapon option in Vanilla Tohaa, since in Power Pack people tend to be packed pretty tight into deployment zones top of 1. Something that would fill that role excellently in Power Pack would be a Cube Jaeger with a BSG.
Airborne is good fun on power pack thanks to the ability to functionally walk in off most of the back table edge, although tohaa AD is kind of average. Not that there's anything especially wrong with a gao-tarsos or cube jaeger, but they're also not hugely inspiring.
If you already have enough button pushers and you're talking power pack + other exclusion zone missions the Greif impersonator would be my personal choice. He's better at hunting other camo specialists than the Kiiutan or clipsos and a combi is enough to kill skirmishers. If you end up going second he can waste a lot of the opponents time by looking scary prone on a rooftop or somewhere else that is order intense to get to but an important position otherwise.
Played against vird yesterday greif killed the kamau in one order. Placed him in a way that the kamau didnt have cover so was shooting on the plus 3 with burst 3.
For powerpack, a Gao Tarsos seems a pretty reasonable way to walk on and hold the box with a two wound suppressive fire model. Better for that role IMO than any of the impersonators or skirmishers.
Greif OPerator is far better alone unit hunter, and the 25pts Shock Marksman Rifle the the best of their options, but is only usefull for that role, if you want to use a more standard and "jack of all trades" unit, Clipsos is your choice, and also a magnificent choice In other words, the choice will depends more on your list needs and the misions you have to face
So, which one do you guys choose in the button pushing missions with exclusion zone like Supplies or Unmasking? It feels kind of bad having my Clipsos reduced to a FD1-Trooper and the Greif can't even push buttons. I'm often taking the Clipsos anyway, since she is just so good at what she's doing. Edit: There is no Exclusion Zone in Supplies.
I think the Greif op has some merit in power pack. Being able to attack from the opponents side of the table, avoiding the sat zone and hunting the xenotech synced model and/or specialists seems pretty good. I find that opponents usually protect their table edges vs AD troops.
1-2 Clipsos is damn near mandatory on supplies. They're incredible with no exclusion zone. Exclusion zone missions tend to be really heavy on pressing buttons (comms center, unmasking, etc). Sure it hurts infiltration but they still start forward and are cheap specialists with TO. If I need buttons to win a clipsos makes it into my list somewhere
With durable specialists like the Sakiel paramedic, Sukeul FO and Draal....with mates and makauls providing smoke if needed.... I find the Clipsos less important for exclusion zone missions.
Comparing forward deploiement l2 greif operator and clipso fo : same price but one is specialist not the other so not same role (from far I would personnaly choose clipso fo) Comparing Inf Imp greif operator and clispo : still not the same role, both interesting but on different purpose(greif Creating big Threat, pompom killer or camo hunter/ Clipso specialist for objectives avaible, relying on surprise and becoming good defense tower once in supp fire.) To me your thread's title question is not very accurate one because you put in balance two profils widly differents in their use.
In my post I mentioned that if I had enough specialists in the list already, which one would you choose. The Clipsos does have other profiles than the FO....
Minelayer Clipsos has a lot of potential if you have the SWC for it. If you are going second, or hold it as your reserve model, it can be worth chancing that long infiltration.