These profiles are supposedly from a testing database and not at all meant for release. I would be cautious about where I put my expectations. (and for reference, both Yu Jing TAGs also had Gizmokit without a PH value specified)
I seen a few more of the TAGs since that one and they all have had gizmokit without listed Phys Still gives me something to keep my N4 hype up. Suppose we'll see how many of these are pretty close soon Some of the ones with errors were pretty funny. The Sphinx has courage 5 times and hidden deployment 3 times.
There's also a General Grievious profile among the Shang-Ji with 4 Shock CCW For what it's worth (i.e. not much) the points cost aligns with my expectations, although the NCO skill made me raise an eyebrow in surprise (as well as anticipating the complaints that'll happen if the wrong Yu Jingers spot it)
We already did, but at least I know O12 is Powercreep and optimization: the Faction. Also, the Guijia looks sweet and the Zeta... doesn't
The ISS has eyes everywhere... Glad I started collecting O12 and can now steamroll everyone without a sweat. That's what we all want, isn't it?
Out of interest does anyone plan on using the Zeta? And if so why? Imo it is cool to have but in reality for the cost I would probably prefer more heavy infantry such as 3 betatroopers or two omegas.
Whether the costs in the leak are true or not, fact of the matter is that the Zeta can take a lot more punishment than a Betatrooper and is more likely to dish out the pain as well owing to a higher burst. I'll be using TAGs a lot more in all my TAG-capable armies in N4, and it's basically only a sharp turn towards hacking-dense meta that will stop me from doing so. I have found that a TAG under N4 crit rules is capable of soaking an entire turn's worth of orders from your opponent, even on fairly average rolls and even if flanked, when the opponent won't be able to properly progress towards objectives provided you've been able to neuter most of your opponent's SWC weapons (either by killing them or by positioning your TAG cleverly). Lighter HI can't really do this as even rifle-grade weapons remain a very serious threat that requires a lot of luck. Omega is a different beast because it's capable of stacking MODs and that the Multi Rifle version has a Riot Stopper. Omega will probably form the basis of any list that doesn't do TAGs or the TAG-like Bronze for me. Betatrooper has its place, but more as a wet-work specialist and will be competing more with the Lynx Plasma or Razor, so if I replace the "TAG" slot with Betatroopers it will be because I'm making a "meme" list.
I had a chat with my fellow players and we agreed on that Zeta profiles revolves around three points: HMC, Climbing Plus and NCO. Roughly speaking, Zeta is a Szalamandra with Climbing Plus. It fulfill the role of medium TAG with premium weaponry. Climbing Plus has an huge role, it enables the Zeta to unleash the HMC firepower overcoming positioning and other spatial issues. I do not like the Liutenant profile, since it usually draws a lot of fire and I don't like the idea to lose BOTH the TAG AND the Liutenant at the same time. While costly, NCO profile is interesting. It is worth in a "elite" list of 10 order (plus the Liutenant order and its own from Tactical Awareness). It pairs well with any Liutenant (except Alpha Unit since they have Strategos 1). The basic profile (not Liutenant nor NCO) is ok and fulfill its role like the others (and save 0,5 SWC). Don't forget that each profile includes a Heavy Riotstopper to deal with the baddies that come too close. Two Betatroopers for the cost of a Zeta offer an additional order, better manouvers and specialist profiles. I'd consider that in Starmada, since we can link them, but the firepower is unmatched. Remember that crit rule has changed, spamming is no longer a premium strategy. Omegas are by far one of my favorite HI option in vanilla, I wish I could have one of them in Starmada. You can buy a little less than two of them for the price of a Zeta. They bring an additional order, reduced mobility, a little less firepower (HMG available). I'd take a FO and one HMG instead of a Zeta half of the time. Gamma Unit has the stats to compete with Zeta. They have no Climbing Plus, but Feuerbach+1b is something difficult to ignore. All of this mounted on ARM 6 BTS 6 2W NWI. Park it atop a building, give it a Yudbot (from Lambda/Parvati) and a decent area of the table is effectively denied. Last, but not least, the Bronze is a very durable option. Confronting with Zeta is difficult, since Bronze has mid/close weaponry. Very durable, I find it a little overpriced. To sum it all up: I would get HI over the Zeta most of the time, but there's no HI that can do what Zeta excels in. As a side note, Zeta's HMC is one of the rare weapon that can shoot efficiently past 24" in Starmada.
Anybody built a list around their zeta yet? I'm actually considering the Homerid champion instead but he is also costly so curious what people bring with these expensive models.
For me, it felt like CB is milking out their design resources to make O12 into reality, so sometimes some of their troops seemed a bit odd. It felt like they're not unique, since almost every other factions have their own vibe(main color scheme, the colors of comlogs, shapes of magazines, faction-specific details, etc.) but O12 troops are just mixture of new designs which are not quite getting along well, so that doesn't result into their own 'vibe'. Starmada, on the other hand, displayed kinda okay performance in uniqueness as a Star police force and enforcers. So I was relieved. And then, the Zeta came out. I honestly love every design of TAGs throughout Infinity, except Zeta. The limbs and torso are overly buffy and unbalanced, and the feeling of unbalance intensifies as it's gun is mounted on the wrist, not supported by any kind of servos, and pointing outwards. As a person who loved Szalamandra(which is well balanced and awesome at the same time) so much that I even painted them twice, I humbly insist, it seems unbalanced. Also supported by the color scheme, those buffy torso will suggest Cygnaran vibe, as other people said. Or even, those Neo Mekanika robots. I'll have to see the final painted model, since sometimes they came out to be better looking than the renders. Anyhow, I think CB should put resources in making the designs more acute and unique. Not just putting new colors and patterns into a blender, and then forgetting it. In this point of view, Kappas are bad(some armor plates and bandanas, hexa patterns, some small metal pieces are everywhere), but the Bluecoats are good(a combination of a coat, visor and a nice cap makes things special).
Nice! Ugin is saying what I couldn't pin down why I didn't like the Zeta render. Well I give it one chance and wait for the painted mini before I do my final verdict but I probably just gonna proxy it with a Szally.
