LRL EB and now these - solid releases scheduled for Varuna. I was going to use their markers as well... but you can't argue with:
I've seen a lot of folks play Decoy and Camo. No wonder some people think Helots are crazy overpowered
Yeah, I do think there is a much more clear way to represent this in Army. It seems intuitive for most, but no one would misinterpret if it said "Camo *or* decoy"
Especially as the Decoy rule states the following: However, the replicas replicate all the game state Markers (Prone, Unloaded...) the Decoy user has. But, yeah, it's NFB. This is just sometimes hard to spot when you don't have all the skill descriptions in view at once. Are that many NFB skill combinations in the game? Otherwise a list of 'illegal combinations' might come in handy.
There's a lot of troopers NFB can affect but it's mainly KHD/HD+ troopers with visual modifiers, so Custodiers, Hexas, Karen, etc. I think Helots are the first that have a choice of NFB skills at deployment (unless you count TO troopers being able to deploy as Camouflaged)
Probably can't do the rocket on the back because the sculpt shares the back part it with one of the other models in the box.
Helots are EITHER Decoy OR Camo selected at Depliyment, that is what "/" between these Skills means. Same as for example Odalisques who can pick in between 360 Visors and Sixth Sense L2. Generally I prefer lt Camo by a mile. Still, having the option to box in that Speculo in your DZ with a Reserve Helot is great to have as a tactical option.
Pano players: do you find use (and success) for other profiles than SMG/LRL? Are you disappointed that there is only one of those in the box and the rifle ones don't seem to be easily convertable? It seems that camo'd LRL for pennies is just way too effective roadblock against active fireteams that are popular and SMG just cuts out any chance for AD to come from the side of the map. One of our local VIRD players said that he used RF few times, but IMO varuna has plenty SWC sinks.
SMG/LRL and Shock MMR for the few times I've played VIRD so far. But in Vanilla, I would say MSR or Red Fury because Joan gives enough CAP to use these profiles. I think Spiral uses Shock MMR and Red Fury a lot too.
The main reason to consider running anything else than the SMG/LRL is that the Profile is so good it's just plain value to include it. Mixing in a different Helot is a nasty surprise (if you want to spend the points and SWC on it). Shock MMR is probably the one Profile I's avoid. Just not good enough to make up for the price difference towards the LRL. Sniper Ranges or B4 make for a very different ARO threat.
I want to try the MSR profile but I think it’s only real value is mind gaming opponents who expect the LRL or SMR profiles. Vanilla is a different story, camo tokens are a little more prevalent and you can mind game it as a mine pretty easily. My real money maker is the SMR profile, I’ve never been able to get the results out of the LRL. My experience is that when my opponent sees camo tokens in my DZ they sharpen up their game and play better/less sloppily. Whereas the SMR has the range and burst to challenge even a fireteam in the midfield, and stacked with a mine or a jammer forces some really terrible decisions.
Depends on what you want to field. If you like to have some heavy weapons on ORCs to suffer less when critted, then yes, SWC can be hard to find.
