So, I've been playing with steel phalanx for a couple months now. I've had a lot of success, but that's mostly due to my opponents not being especially experienced in the game or list building. I'm going to my first tournament and I've got a couple questions and a list I'd like feedback on. https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/logo_702.png [/ img] [b] Compeditive Advantage [/ b] ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/sep.gif [/ img] [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/sep.gif [/ img] [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/orden_regular.png [/ img] 10 [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/702/logo_18.png [/ img] [b] PHOENIX [/ b] Heavy Rocket Launcher, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades / Heavy Pistol, DA CCW . (2 | [b] 40 [/ b]) [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/702/logo_6.png [/ img] [b] MYRMIDON OFFICER (Chain of Command) [/ b] Boarding Shotgun, Nanopulser, Eclipse Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (1 | [b] 35 [/ b]) [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/702/logo_5.png [/ img] [b] MYRMIDON [/ b] Chain Rifle, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (0 | [b] 16 [/ b]) [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/702/logo_32.png [/ img] [b] HECTOR Lieutenant [/ b] Plasma Rifle, Nanopulser, Stun Grenades + 1 TinBot A / Heavy Pistol, EXP CC Weapon. (0 | [b] 71 [/ b]) [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/702/logo_14.png [/ img] [b] ALKÊ [/ b] Spitfire, Nanopulser / Pistol, CCW. (1.5 | [b] 25 [/ b]) [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/702/logo_3.png [/ img] [b] THORAKITES (Forward Observer, 360º Viewer) [/ b] Submachine gun, Chain Rifle / Pistol Knife. (0 | [b] 13 [/ b]) [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/702/logo_3.png [/ img] [b] THORAKITES Paramedic (Medikit, 360º Viewer) [/ b] Submachine gun, Chain Rifle / Pistol Knife. (0 | [b] 14 [/ b]) [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/702/logo_3.png [/ img] [b] THORAKITES [/ b] Feuerbach, Nanopulser / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | [b] 22 [/ b]) [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/702/logo_12.png [/ img] [b] NETROD [/ b] Electric Pulse. (0 | [b] 4 [/ b]) [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/702/logo_30.png [/ img] [b] ACMON [/ b] Combi Rifle, Panzerfaust, Nimbus Grenades, D-Charges / 2 Breaker Pistols, Knife. (0 | [b] 27 [/ b]) GROUP 2 [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/sep.gif [/ img] [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/sep.gif [/ img] [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/orden_regular.png [/ img] 1 [img] https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/702/logo_1.png [/ img] [b] EKDROMOS [/ b] Boarding Shotgun, Nanopulser / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | [b] 28 [/ b]) [b] 6 SWC | 295 Points [/ b] [URL = http: //army.infinitythegame.com/index.html OwBgTAPgzCIQwgewLYAcCmATAlgF2wG7oAEAgpgQIYB2ulA5iRAIwAcApAGxTDthjMw7AIScuYAKx9mATmYipnMABZprXsKhDgEqWE6spw5qu5Q + l = YEKs3ihA1iBHmldtvJsu + M1mONDu8vywTo7AynoSMOwAAvJKjgKgMdFAA ===] Open in Infinity Army [/ url] ---------------- [B]Tactical Thoughts [/B] I've had a LOT of issues when I'm starting in the reactive turn. My old list had Atalanta, who always got outshot by an active turn piece OR had to remain in full cover the entire time with people making sure there was nothing important in LOS when my turn came up. Meanwhile, the link teams were basically hiding, so my opponent had a LOT of control of the board. New idea: use Fuerbach and Phoenix to limit the reactive efficacy of my opponents. Fuerbach is a thing to deal with, the right range band, and a decent chance of winning gunfights in cover / when deployed defensively [even more so if I put that extra throakatai I'm thinking about in]. Phoenix in cover w ODD is also deeply annoying. It's putting 65 points and more than half of my SWC at risk, but it will hold them back while still giving me combat viable link teams if both die. Acmon used to have a dactyl buddy, but I needed the points, and they were usually 2nd line anti-TAG or objective dashers anyway, and decided I'd like the Ekdromos tactical options more. Tried Diomedes in a practice game, and having that heavy duty shooting option in the backfield is so useful in breaking lines. --------------- [B]Questions[/B] How does SSL2 interact w AROs? If I use ellipse or smoke, and run at a TR button / sniper which declares 'shoot' can I shoot back through the smoke at no consequence? To be clear, AROs are lost if not declared right? So if someone shoots Alke, I can take an unopposed Fuerbach shot, right? Combat groups and command tokens. My 'courtesy list' shows only 1 combat group. If I go first, can my opponent Command Token orders off even if they would not know I've got the 2nd boarding shotgun group? Thoughts on swapping out Acmon for Eudoros and a netrod? Phoenix will be deployed more aggressively, and I'm starting to want better backup and a number 2 in that group for when it takes casualties. Chain of Command importance? Everyone knows I've got Hector as LT, but I rarely see him targeted for assassination. Partly because I do a pretty decent job of protecting him / how hard he is, but I feel like the myrmidon officer is also a big piece of it since they know they have to kill 2 tough units, even though they are in the same squad . I would love to get those points and especially SWC freed up [TR bot, ekdromoi hacker, scylla]. How viable do we think this is?
How is the TR declaring shoot? If you are out of LoS during the entire order until you reach B2B it could only declare orders legal while Engaged. But yes, if something targets you outside of you LoS (such as through smoke) you can shoot back with no penalty. If one can declare an ARO and doesn't they lose it. The number of combat groups is open information so you must tell your opponent, even if none of the troops are open.
Anything you leave out has a large possibility of dying, whether that is atalanta or pheonix or whatever. While you are the reactive player your opponent controls the tempo of the game and can choose to engage your models with his strongest counters. Atalanta can be white noised, and out burst, Phoenix can face a MSV 2 HMG, etc. Frequently I have my strong pieces hide during all my reative turns to keep them alive for active, frequently I leave them out to aro. You just need experience reading the board state to know when it is a power play, speed bump, or hail mary to do so. Once you have that wisdom, you can then use it to decide when the pay off is worth the risk. I use toys like chain rifle myrmidons and SMG thorakities to guard corners so when my valuable pieces are hiding, my expendable pieces are taxing enemy orders, hopfully bleeding them dry before they can attack more valuable pieces. I agree with Loricus on your SSL2 question, the question itself doesn't make much sense? If LoF is blocked by smoke you have already thrown, then the TR bot would never be able to shoot, and TR bots don't have SSL2, so I don't understand your question. If you activate a thorakities link, all four models activate. When you activate the link, you declare which one of the four is the link leader, ONLY the link leader can shoot. If say Alke is the leader and her and a fuerbach walk into view, the enemy must declare an ARO or loose it. (NOTE AROs are checked after ALL link members complete their first short skill, Alke and her link ALL move then the enemy declares AROs) The enemy has the choice of shooting Alke, which will likely result in a F2F shoot out, or they can shoot unopposed at the feurbach. Agree with Loricus No opinion on your switch I really like the CoC officer. Sometimes Hector or Achillies just die. I've had Achillies get ramboed first turn by a very lucky foxtrot. Every instance where my big meanie has gone down, shes rolled up her cybernetic sleaves and carried the game for me. Shes also no slouch herself even without the LT order. If I'm taking a LT that I intend to use aggresively I don't leave home without her. Especially since LoL is very crippling to a steel list based on link teams. When I play vanilla I can still move individual models around even when in LoL, but irregular orders break links, so it is a much bigger tempo loss. Anyway I would leave her in.
My comments in no particular order: Atalanta is an active turn hunter-killer-monster. She is just way too expensive, way too fragile (no TO/ODD no high ARM no multiple wounds whatsoever), and way too effective in your active turn to waste her for ARO duty. As far as I know you have to inform your opponent that there is a secound combat group after deployment. (I am not sure regarding this...) Eudoros is best zero SWC gunfighter in the game. Use him! But I strongly recommend to insert him in a fireteam to overcome his being impetuous. (This normally denies cover bonus - bread and butter for winning firefights!) Running an obvious Lt CoC is pretty much a must have. And a boarding shotgun up close in the hands of an ODD trooper is pure evil. Not to mention he is a specialist!
So, first, re: SSL2, people were telling me that shooting out of LOS was just a -6, and were shooting right through my zero vis smoke. I think this is play group noviciates rather than intentional cheating. Duly noted re: ARO pieces, I just hate letting my opponent get perfectly set up the way he wants when he gets first turn. I'll keep the rest of the feedback in mind. I guess I wind up using Hektor as back cover more than fireteam leader except when I'm just butchering order monkeys, at least until Phoenix dies, so he tends to live longer than he probably would versus more savvy opponents.
@Tyrendian there are multiple types of "visibility zones," low visibility, poor visibility, and zero visibility. The short answer is that low is -3 unless you have a visor, poor is -6 unless you have a visor, and zero visibility is no line of fire unless you have visor 2+. Without line of fire you simply cannot shoot. Smoke drops zero visibility zones, no line of fire. Zero visibility has an additional exception though, IF you are the target of a bs attack through zero visibility you can return fire at -6, or dodge at no penalty. It doesn't matter who is active player. You could have a myrmidon move behind smoke, get shot at by a visored troop, and retun fire with a pistol at -6. You could also have atalanta idle, then shoot through smoke, and the target could return fire at -6. SSL2 negates the -6 penalty for shooting through smoke. So if the myrmidon in the above example was the target of an attack, he could RETURN fire at no penalty. Note SSL2 doesn't change the requirement for you to be shot at first through smoke, it only negates the penalty. In your example with with moving through smoke to engage, if the target never has line of fire to you, they cannot shoot, so long as you do not shoot them first. If you walk through smoke, then CC attack, for the most part their options are limited to dodge, or CC attack back.
