With Defiance incoming, I'm trying to get all my playable factions up to snuff and, unfortunately, my Ikari have been neglected the most. So going for a fresh start in N4 with those dashing space pirates, I was wondering how you approach your list building nowadays. Old problems seem to still be in place, mainly our very obvious and lackluster LT choices, more often than not occupying a precious fireteam core slot to at least give them some survivability. NCO Daiyokai somewhat helped to make them more useful, but it's still a major pain for me when building lists (especially since I really don't like the Daiyokai as a model). No CoC option is also a complete bummer. A Bashi Bazouks can work as a decoy, but that's at least 12 points down the drain for an irregular order in your DZ with otherwise very little utility. Anyway, let's talk about what seems to work: My first instinct would be to go for a Wu Ming mixed core with a Brawler and Clipper. With U-Turn gone for good, those guided Missiles are looking a lot more attractive now, especially with all the perks a core fireteam can bring. From E/M ammo to mines, DTWs and AP ammo you can pick and choose whatever you like. The one Brawler is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time - because you can only have one. The MSV2 Sniper is great for obvious reasons, but you do have alternatives for that particular role in the Rui Shi - and Armand/Lu Duan to a lesser extent. The Brawler Engineer is a nice choice if you don't bring the Wu Ming FO and thus have no specialists present, but he also synergises greatly with what is a HI+ REM core. Then again, the hacker is a great choice because you get access to a -6 Firewall ... So many intersting options, yet only one to choose. I guess you could bring several Brawlers and reform the fireteam as needed. Fireteam Duo on the "reserves" does help them to keep up with the core link. The Keisotsu + Brawler MSR + Tanko ML core is also quite attractive still and somewhat mitigates the LT issue because you will have plenty space to make one Keisotsu your LT anyway. It does lack the utility and "door kicking" style of the Wu Ming though, so it's my personal second choice. Oh, and they can't bring the Clipper either. Tanko + Daiyokai Haris is also looking really nice, with two cheap yet capable filler units, the option to bring a Brawler for utility and an NCO Daiyokai who can put the hurt on things pretty well. Druze Haris is interesting, although we only get the Clipper as an option here, which is outclassed by the one in the Wu Ming core. Not getting wildcards in Ikari is another one of those things I don't quite understand, and the Druze Haris is really the place where it shows. What I would give to have that Druze Hacker as a wildcard in my core link or anything other than the clipper to put in the Druze Haris ... The Al Fasid does look a bit lost in Ikari, with no fireteam option and smoke so readily available. Why not have him in a Druze Haris for example? That would upgrade both units significantly. Desperados seem crazy strong now, with a B5 AssPis + Chain Rifle mounted on a Bike for mere 6 points. I couldn't blame people for making use of that AVA 2 and go for a nice little bike gang with Yojimbo. Yuan Yuan are still cool, despite the FAQ. 8 points for an on demand PH 14 smoke tosser? Yes please. Booty is a nice touch as well and to me these guys are just mandatory for the sheer flavour they bring to the table. Will I bring several? Probably not, but Fat Yuan Yuan will probably see the table every single time. Libertos are still the same annoying road bump for 8 points, if you can spare that 1 SWC. They also fit the theme nicely imo.
Don't forget Scarface, it is really cool (and cheap) in N4. Ikari ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 8 3 3 YUAN YUAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 8) YUAN YUAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 8) RUI SHI Spitfire / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (1 | 23) SCARFACE Loadout Beta & CORDELIA TURNER undefined / undefined. (1.5 | 81) SCARFACE Loadout Beta AP Heavy Machine Gun, Panzerfaust / DA CC Weapon. (1.5 | 64) SCARFACE Boarding Shotgun, Grenades / Pistol, Shock CC Weapon. (- | 0) CORDELIA TURNER Combi Rifle, Chain-colt, D-Charges / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 17) KEISOTSU Combi Rifle / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 9) KEISOTSU (Lieutenant) Combi Rifle / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 9) KEISOTSU Combi Rifle / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 9) TANKŌ Missile Launcher / Pistol, Monofilament CC Weapon, Shock CC Weapon. (1.5 | 27) BRAWLER (Multispectral Visor L2) MULTI Sniper Rifle ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 27) GROUP 2 4 1 2 YUAN YUAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (0 | 8) TANKŌ Flammenspeer, Contender / Pistol, Monofilament CC Weapon, Shock CC Weapon. (0 | 17) BRAWLER (Doctor) Rifle, Light Shotgun ( | MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 19) DAIYŌKAI MULTI Marksman Rifle, Panzerfaust / Pistol, AP + DA CC Weapon. (0 | 48) FUGAZI DRONBOT Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7) 6 SWC | 300 Points Open in Infinity Army
Yup, I still have to realise the fact that Scarface is actually decent now. Now that you mention it, that's also a pretty nice conversion project, since the official model isn't half bad but could use some tinkering here and there. Definitely gonna look into this, thanks!
Taking Desperados instead of one of the Yuan Yuan that one used to take in Ikari lists is a good idea now, at least for close smoke support for your visor-sniper. Note that the FAQ ruling is that YYs lose their own order when they come in with their Impetuous order. Which is lame.
I'm still new to Ikari, but I was thinking of running something like this: Wu Ming core, kendrat druze duos ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 9 1 3 WÚ MÍNG Heavy Machine Gun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 37) WÚ MÍNG Boarding Shotgun ( | TinBot: Firewall [-6]) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 31) WÚ MÍNG Panzerfaust, Light Shotgun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 25) BRAWLER (Hacker, Hacking Device) Submachine Gun ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 17) CLIPPER DRONBOT Missile Launcher / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (1.5 | 16) DRUZE Heavy Machine Gun, Chain-colt / Viral Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 31) DRUZE (Hacker, Killer Hacking Device) Combi Rifle, Pitcher, D-Charges ( ) / Viral Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 28) YOJIMBO Contender(+1B), Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades, Crazykoala / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 18) KENDRAT (Fireteam: Duo) Vulkan Shotgun, Chest Mines / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 22) KRAKOT RENEGADE Chain Rifle(+1B), Grenades / DA CC Weapon, Heavy Pistol. (0 | 14) GROUP 2 3 2 2 RUI SHI Spitfire / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (1 | 23) PANGGULING (Deactivator, Repeater) ( ) / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 8) BRAWLER (Lieutenant) Rifle, Light Shotgun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 15) DESPERADO Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Heavy Pistol(+1B), AP CC Weapon. (0 | 6) DESPERADO Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Heavy Pistol(+1B), AP CC Weapon. (0 | 6) 6 SWC | 297 Points Open in Infinity Army
That list looks quite fun. I'd also try out Lu Duan instead of Rui Shi and see which you like better, I think Lu Duan could work well with your hackers. You'll have to deal with a very obvious Lt so be prepared for that.
Looks good to me. I think I'd change the desperados to the assault pistol ones. Burst 5 is too good. Depending on mission, I'd change the the pang to a flash pulse bot. Maybe it's personal taste but i'd Drop Kendra to take another Druze to make it a Haris. Depending on the mission, I'd change the Krakot to a Tokusetsu.
My N3 lists were usually a lot of lighter units like Bashi, Yuan Yuans, keisotsu, brawlers and REMS. Now most of my lists have heavy infantry, usually the Wu Ming (love those models!), Tankos and Daiyokai. Compared to the Daiyokai, i'm not sure what role the Al Fasid has...which is a shame because i love that model too. Both combat REMs usually make it into my lists. A MK 12 with MSV 1 and holo projector is hard to pass up.
