Reaching for the stars with Qapu Khalqi

I'm just starting out with Infinity N4, and decided on Qapu Khalqi for that journey.

Right now I'm still struggling with a lot of newbie mistakes. But I also have the feeling that my lists lack some "Ooomph".

My last game was Unmasking against Kosmoflot.

Spoiler: List

I brought the following list:

gZMLcWFwdS1raGFscWkYUUsgMzAwIDE5LjA0LiBEamFuIGNvcmUggSwCAQkAgUoBAQAAgTsBAQAAgTIBAwAAgVMBAwAAgUYBBAAAg1EBAQAAgVMBBAAAgUQBCAAAgUsBAQACBwCBPAEBAACBLQEIAACBTQEBAACBegEDAACBegEDAACBegEDAACBRQEFAA==

Spoiler: Map (after my first turn)

(Situation after my first turn)

Spoiler: Deployment

I got first turn and deployed first:
- A defensive 3 person core with Djanbazan Sniper, Sekban HRL and a Hafza Leutnant on the right sight.
- A 3 person Harris with Odalique Spitfire, Leila Sharif and a Sekban specialist to secure the right console.
- The left was covered by a TR bot, and a Azra'il and Rafiq duo. Supported by a Al'Hawwa hacker.
The plan was to secure the consoles early, reveal the HVTs, and then rain down Yuan Yuans/Bashi and take them out.

My opponent deployed:
- A Varangian Guard core with Unknown Ranger (Spitfire) and Volkolak (HMG) on my right
- A Polaris Team Bearpode on my left
- Camouflaged Uxia and SAS in the center
- Some chearleaders prone in cover along the table edges.
Equipe Mirage-5 showed up later.

Spoiler: First turn

First turn:
Azrail and Rafiq moved forward and reveiled the HVT. A yuan yuan dropped in and killed it. On the right side the Harris reached the second console and reveiled the next target, but the Yuan Yuan failed to take it out. Short on orders, I decided to not have the Rafiq sensor the camouflage markers, and instead used a combined ordered the Harris members and the Azra'il into suppressive fire.

My oppenent smoke rushed the bearpode into the Azra'il and took it out. In the middle a camouflaged SAS moved up, and I tried to discover it with Leila and the Odalisque. Big mistake, because now the Volkolak and Unknown Ranger could chew through the Sekban specialist and Leila quite comfortably. My opponent captured two consoles, revealing my HVT.

Spoiler: Second turn

Second turn:
The Bashi came in and killed the second target. My Al'Hawwa recaptured the left console, but failed to kill the wounded bearpode and SAS with a boarding shotgun. The Al'Hawwa got dodge charged instead (and died later). So far I only killed an Irmandinho.

On my right, my opponent's core took out the HVT and brought in Durok. The Sekban failed to hit with the HRL. The core killed the HVT, the Odalisque and the Sekban HRL. The Sniper was now looking at Durok, so Margot parachuted in on the left. Margot killed the TR bot with speculatively fired grenades.

I was now in retreat, and behind in points. Game Over.

Spoiler: Afterthoughts

It was a fun game, despite making a lot of mistakes.

Some of the mistakes made:
- Probably should have spent the first turn killing stuff
- Staying too far forward at the consoles at the end of the first turn.
- Not sensoring the camouflage markers.
- Bad deployment of the Djanbazan link. Too stretched out, so it couldn't move without breaking.
- Not guarding my deployment zone better.

But even so, I felt like I had no good way to hunt the cheerleaders without wasting a lot of orders. And I felt outgunned against the HMG and Spitfire core.

Do you have advice on where I can improve?

Thanks in advance. Feel free to enjoy a Qapu Khalqi playlist while typing your replies.

 

True, the defensive 3-model-link proved a bit flimsy.

Here's a screenshot of the list. Is there a way to embedd lists into forum posts?

 

Thanks for the hint, Brokenwolf. This won't be the last list for sure.

 

@Xagul82
Thanks for recommending the thread by AssaultUnicorn. I followed it quite closely, and it was somewhat the inspiration for this one.
I really like his last list, and I grew quite fond of stuff like the Azra'il+Rafiq duo, the 2x Al'Hawwa, the Yuan Yuan and the Djanbazan sniper in general. I'm not sure I want to go all in on a defensive fireteam like he does. I'm still learning the game and expect to lose or misplace a lot more models than he does, so I'm aiming for a bit more redundancy.

@Urobros
The map is from the VaulSC map pack and can be found in the "Operation: Militant Purity" box. There's also a video on the maps with the workshop link.

Thanks for pointing our the mines. I kind of forgot about them this game. In the game before, the Polaris bear waltzed through two E/M mines thanks to his immunity(total). Guess I hadn't recovered from that.

I managed to get in one more game since, and could try a Djanbazan sniper in a core of five. Even though the link lost a member early on, he turned out to be quite strong.

 

Ok, it has been ages since the last update. I got a few more games in and learned a lot.

This year, my local club had a small league, and I actually managed to score in the top half.

My QK won twice very closely and with a lot of luck using the Djanbazan list ("Looting and Sabotaging" against Corregidor, "Quadrant control" against JSA). The Jannisary list lost like 0:10 against Onyx in "Capture and protect". I think in every game, QK lost like 200+ points of units.

Spoiler: List 1 (Jannisary)

2023-02-10 ITS Eschborn Liga Liste 1 (Jannisary)
──────────────────────────────────────────────────

GROUP 1 9 1 1
FIDDLER (Climbing Plus) Contender(+1B), Drop Bears, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 42)
2X JACKBOT Vulkan Shotgun / . (0 | 14)
AZRA'IL Feuerbach(+1B) / Heavy Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 44)
RAFIQ REMOTE FTO Red Fury, Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0.5 | 20)
ROUHANI Submachine Gun, Flash Pulse / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 21)
JANISSARY Missile Launcher / Pistol, Shock CC Weapon. (1.5 | 38)
HAFZA (Lieutenant) Rifle, Light Shotgun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 15)
LEILA SHARIF (Hacker) Shock Marksman Rifle, E/M Mines, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 20)
SEKBAN Heavy Rocket Launcher, Chain-colt(+1B) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 21)
HAWWA' (Hacker, Hacking Device) Boarding Shotgun, D-Charges ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 26)
YUAN YUAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 8)

GROUP 2 2 5 2
FANOUS REMOTE Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7)
FANOUS REMOTE Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7)
YUAN YUAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 8)
YUAN YUAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 8)
BEASTHUNTERS (Surprise Attack [-3], Camouflage, Forward Deployment [+8"]) Heavy Flamethrower, Panzerfaust, AP Mines / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 15)
CORSAIR BASHI BAZOUK Rifle, Light Shotgun, E/M Mines / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 15)
SECDET CSU Agent Breaker Combi Rifle, Nanopulser(+1B) / Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0 | 11)

5.5 SWC | 300 Points

Open in Infinity Army

Spoiler: List 2 (Djan)

2023-02-10 ITS Eschborn Liga Liste 2 (Djan)
──────────────────────────────────────────────────

GROUP 1 9 1 1
FIDDLER (Climbing Plus) Contender(+1B), Drop Bears, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 42)
2X JACKBOT Vulkan Shotgun / . (0 | 14)
DJANBAZAN Heavy Machine Gun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 34)
DJANBAZAN (BS Attack [Shock]) AP Sniper Rifle / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 31)
SEKBAN (Specialist Operative) AP Rifle, Chain-colt(+1B) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 24)
GHULAM (NCO) Rifle, Grenade Launcher, Smoke Grenade Launcher / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1 | 15)
SEKBAN Heavy Rocket Launcher, Chain-colt(+1B) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 21)
LEILA SHARIF (Hacker) Shock Marksman Rifle, E/M Mines, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 20)
GHULAM (Lieutenant) Rifle, Light Shotgun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 11)
RAFIQ REMOTE Rifle, Light Shotgun, Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 14)
YUAN YUAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 8)

GROUP 2 3 4 1
BEASTHUNTERS (Surprise Attack [-3], Camouflage, Forward Deployment [+8"]) Heavy Flamethrower, Panzerfaust, AP Mines / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 15)
HAWWA' (Hacker, Hacking Device) Boarding Shotgun, D-Charges ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 26)
YUAN YUAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 8)
FANOUS REMOTE Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7)
SHIHAB REMOTE Heavy Machine Gun / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (1 | 24)
CORSAIR BASHI BAZOUK Rifle, Light Shotgun, E/M Mines / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 15)
SECDET CSU Agent Breaker Combi Rifle, Nanopulser(+1B) / Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0 | 11)

6 SWC | 300 Points

Open in Infinity Army

Game 1 ("Looting and Sabotaging" against Corregidor): Close win



A Ghulam 4-core including a Sekban HRL holds the opponents core at bay and kills McMurder. The Hawwa carbonites the Gecko. The Seckban specialist failes 3 WIP rolls to do his mission card. The Gecko actually manages to reset out of it on its own orders and goes on a rampage. The Djanbazan use their 0g-Superjump to vault over the Gecko and get their panoply. The Gecko guns them down in his turn (but they regenerate later), and makes it to the console. In his last order, he tries to blow it up - and fails. In this game I actually forgot I brought a TR bot and placed a flash bot instead.


Game 2 ("Capture and protect" against Onyx): Total defeat



Starts out quite nice. A Yuan Yuan dropps behind the impersonator, which reveals to shoot at them and misses. Another Yuan lands between the order drones and takes one out. The Azra'il haris (with Leila and Rafiq) advances. Arza'il blasts a plasma sniper drone out of the core, and Leila trinities Bit through the Rafiqs repeater. Then the Sphinx shows up and flames the Rafiq. On my opponents turn, the Sphinx kills the rest of the haris, as well as flash bots and Fiddlers' bots, then hides behind a building. Fiddler repairs a flash bot (on the second try), which goes after the Sphinx. The Hawwa manges to isolate the Sphinx. Unfortunately, I kept my core mostly lying down, so the rest of the drone core, including an engineer, can walk over the table to repair the Sphinx, who then manages to grab my objectives and runs into cover. At that point I should have tried to go after the Sphinx, but instead try to walk my core over the table to get my objective. But the distance turns out to be too great. My core gets blown apart and my opponents also gets to do his classified. Was actually a fun game with some back and forth, but 0:10 at the end.


Game 3 ("Quadrant control" against JSA): Close win



This one was very bloody, but also very fun. I won lieutnant roll, so I decided to go second. As I should find out later, the JSA list brought like 6 bikes and 3 HD models, plus a weak core with combi rifles. I deployed my Djan haris to the left, plus a Yuan (with HMG). The Ghulam core to the right (with Sekban HRL). Hawwa and beasthunter in the right forward quadrant - the one on the other side of my opponents core. So they brought smoke, and I bought Djans, what should go wrong? Well, Kitsune did. She took out my two Djans without much trouble, did her classified, and went prone on a roof in my deployment zone. The bikes advanced and took out the beasthunter. And Saito Togan uncloaked on the central building in my closer right quadrant. I manage to kill some bikes, and throw a mine next to Saito Togan, but in the end its the Hawwa Hacker who wins me the opponents quadrant (more expensive than Yoyimbo there), and the 8 points HMG Yuan who gets me the left one. 3 quadrants in total, so first round is 3:1. Next turn my opponent kills more stuff, including the Hawwa. An Oniwaban uncloaks next to my core, and nanopulsers Leila and the Sekban. Leila places an EM mine which isolates him when he moves back into my quadrant. My HMG Yuan dies. Kitsune moves into my left quadrant and camouflages.

My Sekban specialist actually manages to uncamouflage Kitsune with an intuitive attack. He moves into the quadrant while killing Kitsune and surving. My Ghulam lieutnant shotguns the Oniwaban. Fiddler moves into my opponents quadrant (which she dominates), and Saito Togan is more expensive than my 2 Ghulams. So +2:+2 each, for 5:3.

In the last round, my opponent takes out Fiddler. Saito Togan moves into my left quadrant. His biker lieutnant fails to go after the Sekban and dies. I move my TR bot to my left quadrant, where TR bot plus Sekban outweih Saito. And at this point I almost botched the game by also moving my flash bot there, guessing wrong and moving within 8" of Saito. Giving Saito an ARO which he could have used to dodge into my right quadrant. But he fails the dodge.


Conclusions:
- Al'Hawwa are awesome. Surprise hacking disabled two TAGs, and the infiltrated camo marker probably won me the Quadrant Control mission.
- I still like Djanbazan. And Djanbazan with super jump are even more fun.
- Sekban saved my ass a few times. They often don't work out, and their kit isn't awesome. But they are surprisingly flexible and give you options. From being a cheap ARM3 turret with continous damage, to dealing with camouflage via intuitive attack.
- I still haven't found a proper defense. Once a good gunfighter like the Sphinx gets going, stuff starts dying in droves.
- I still struggle to reach out into and past midfield. Fiddler and Yuan Yuan help a lot, but they are fragile and struggle to punch through the heavy stuff.
- QK really profits from Remotes. Having 4 remotes to choose from helped a lot with list building. Maxing out on 3 flash bots might be the next step.
- The Azra'il haris might be a "trap". It's too expensive and easily countered to be a good defensive tool. The Azra'il struggles in midfield, so it's not that great for pushing either. And in ARO, the Azra'il haris is basically an average HI for the price of a TAG.