And they're at +0 from 8-16", +3 if you're willing to sacrifice the DEP. I usually save B1 weapons for ARO, though. When you only have the one camo infiltrator in the list, I keep that as my Reserve. Makes it much harder to get counter-deployed. I'd really like to give the Hulangs Cybermask. Not a complete KHD, just Cybermask. Though Eclipse Smoke would also work.
Considering the fact it wouldn’t fix Invincible Army weaknesses and you are paying 40+ points for him, I think adding smoke to the profile wouldn’t be OP even if combined with Haidao.
When going second I tend to ignore his Forward deployment and just treat him as another HI that doesn't want to do long range ARO duty. Out of sight, around a corner ready to snap off an ARO shot if the enemy make it that close. I might still put the Hulang a little outside my deployment zone, if the terrain makes it desirable and the E/M grenades can sometimes pull off something cute. Although dodging is rarely the best option, kinematica2 means that the Hulang can cover quite a lot of ground in reaction and sometimes that's a good way to reposition when opponents are moving around in a marker state. Again, the fact the Hulang can duo with a shang ji and thus get tinbot B protection is a fairly big plus in my opinion. IA can be very resistant to enemy hacking but only because of tinbots.
I tend to favor the Hulang in missions where the DataTracker has to kill the Designated Target or your DZ is 16 inches (I have only played him in IA, though). Haven't really tried the Duo option and it certainly would benefit from some kind of protection if going second (not having mines near, really sucks). I'd like to try the following: Shang Ji Tinbot or Haidao KHD/Engineer Duo, with a Daoying Minelayer using his FD1 to lay a mine near him. I feel like the unit is soooo close to being awesome... I don't know if it is not figuring out what the best way to field him is or if it's just missing something, but I'd love to see it thrive.
It's missing Frenzy. That's roughly what it would look like with the rule - then it's a more viable competitor to the Zhencha, and Duo is suddenly an interesting option.
He'd have to survive more than one turn for that to matter. Talking about survival, I was thinking about decoy and though it would be a reasonnable way to keep him alive without bumping his utility through the roof.
I posted a suggestion on the N4 thread about giving the Hulang PH 14, and how I thought that would give him the edge it needs to avoid templates, Engage and spec-fire grenades kinda reliably. What do you guys think?
I’m liking the simple Frenzy change which matches their fluff. I still think smoke or eclipse or something is needed to get to combat though.
Frenzy is thematic enough and bumps it down to almost affordable costs, though I think the discount is higher than what KestrelM1 estimates. PH14 would necessitate the Mono CCW change into a DA or EXP CCW and for the D-Charges to be dropped. Personally, I am missing a proper DA or EXP CCW in the sectorial more than I am missing good PH on EM Grenades. "Why not both?" but if I got to pick only one change to make, it'd be Frenzy.
One thing though. Whatever changes you may want to the Hulang would also go to Dahshat. So if you want it for Yu Jing, do you want it for Dahshat as well?
True, but as of now the Hulang is in Dahshat and may never leave it. So again, whatever proposes people have for changes, they need to think of the things they are giving to others, that would also include Vanilla. Where I think the Hulang does better than IA but still not as good as Dahshat.
I disagree. It wouldn't be the first time developers add sectorial specific options, and that's what exactly IA needs. It would be unacceptable that such a limited sectorial like Invincible was being kept away from some useful gear and skills just to prevent Dashat from benefitting too much. It's Dashat the one getting loan units from IA, therefore Invincible should NOT be affected by balance issues with Dashat or generic YuJing.
Good point, they could make some skills and/or weapons just for IA. But how likely is that to happen to a profile that’s less than a year old?