Do you still use Zuyong in IA?

All lists I've made so far have Zhanshi cores if there is a core. I don't think there's enough tools among Zuyong or Shang-Ji (outside the obvious Wildcard profiles) to merit the cost. I've noticed in list building in N4 that I've become really damned allergic to plain profiles that do not accomplish any tasks task or role, be it being cheap, being specific specialists, having important guns, or in the case of expensive profiles several of the above, and I honestly think that's prudence and not prejudice.
So... no to Zuyong from me.

 

I'm finding a spot for the zuyong paramedic as linkeable unit that can heal (really good chances of healing a shanji with a medikit at least on paper).

For the way that armor works now, the hmg its way worse than the AP hmg that shangjisus can bring; that also brings a tinbot hahaha.

 

I still think going for the 2 tac aware zuyongs instead of 1 shang-jisus is a more cost effective option. You get more orders for cheaper, and you don't have to drag around the massive liability that's a S4 1STR bot stuck with a shotgun. Sure you lose the ap ammo, but I don't find this to be a big issue for IA HI fireteams since you're likely to add either Krit with his feuerbach, or a haidao sniper, who can both handle armored opponents just fine.

 

The Zuyong is getting replaced all of the time in my lists. I've made a list for almost every mission, and I don't have a single all Zuyong team. Not even a Haris. I guess Krit and Tai Sheng count as Zuyong though.

 

This is what I have been doing as well. The Zuyong Paramedic is there to heal the ShanJi with a double-medic pistol shot, or as a fast semi-durable specialist late game, or as sub-8in deterrent with the Breaker Pistol (+1B). But yeah, have never reached again for the TA Zuyong profiles, totally overshadowed by the ShanJi.

EDIT: I have mostly been running a Zhanshi 5-man core and keeping the Paramedic Zuyong as a Haris-enabling profile if needed to re-form a tough Haris and push forward if required and still leave a 3-man Core with the Haidao behind, if the HaidDao survives the first round.

 

Right now the only Zuyong that sometimes finds my way into a list is the tinbot profile to make a cheap haris. Otherwise no, I'm playing with a Zhanshi link over a Zuyong link.

 

I love them, but I’m a feeeeeelthy casual (tm) so I can’t say that they’re super competitive right now.

Not long ago I played a core of Krit FTO with Multi Rifle, Zuyong TA HMG, Zuyong paramedic, and two Haidao snipers, and it was kinda fun. The idea was to start with a full core, then move the Zuyongs and Krit out as a short core and leave the Haidao snipers behind on overwatch. It started out strong but I goofed up positioning and stalled out, then had to weather McMurrough, which could’ve been worse but didn’t go great. Overall it was a really close game, McMurrough and Wallace together were clutch in my opponent pulling off a tight win on his last order bottom of turn 3.

I still have yet to make the netlist Zhanshi core work for me. All my best IA play has involved mobile fireteams. Every single time I’ve tried the Zhanshi core it’s been gutted and I might as well have run the Shang Ji as a solo or duo. Mentally I’ve started labeling that core Shangers n’ Mash because that’s usually what I’ve got by turn 2.

I sort of think the Zuyong ML is a sleeper ARO piece, in a Haris it’s sort of a budget alternative to a Yan Huo ML, and it’s a somewhat tougher ARO piece than either of the other core-linkable MLs in IA.

 

That said, I wish Zuyongs had gotten some profile lineup adjustments going into N4. The paramedic and BSG profiles could have been combined, the FO could have gotten deployable repeaters or mines, and CB could have added a hacker, or breaker combi specialist operative profile to spice things up. As it stands they’re a little bland.

 

Just something I noticed in the new FAQ.

Do Pistols with (+1B) or (+2B) apply the additional Burst in CC Mode?
Yes, but only in the Active Turn.

So all Zuyong get an extra burst in CC with their breaker pistols. It doesn't make me want to suddenly take more but it's something to think about I guess.

 

The Yan Huo being trash not withstanding, the Zuyong ML profile is more or less garbage these days too.

2
ZÚYǑNG Missile Launcher, Light Shotgun / CC Weapon, Breaker Pistol(+1B). (1.5 | 35)
HǍIDÀO (Multispectral Visor L2) MULTI Sniper Rifle ( ) / Breaker Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 33)

Very hard to justify it when the Haidao has better rangebands, MSV2, and costs less.

 

Not gonna say I think a missile launcher is a good weapon, because I really don't, but don't forget that the real power of a missile launcher is the template which will seriously screw with Fireteams and deployment.

That said, I'd much rather have the better range bands of rocket launchers (heavy or otherwise) and at 38 points and with a both TacAware and a PH value worth a damned, the Shang-Ji HRL is the real contender here as the Haidao sniper has a different role in my opinion. The fact that the Shang-Ji carries a light shotgun means the lack of dual Breakers is less impactful.

 

I've been on the receiving end of a missiles from Riot Grrls and Holomen enough times to not think they are bad. Though having MSV1 and Super Jump does make a difference. But as said there are good alternatives.

 

I do wish they'd kept the Zuyong TA paramedic from the spoiled N4 lists.

 

Having most, if not all profiles with TA would make them very desirable fillers. Right now after taking ShangJesus, Krit for NCO, Haidao for either KHD or MSV MSR leaves us with 2 slots. If you want TA in there you either go plain Zuyong with Combi or HMG, no specialist, no paramedic, no good template gun. Compared to filling with Shanger HRL+TA and SO+TA, Zuyongs just don't have the utility on their TA profiles

 

The Zuyong was phased out to make way for the Shang Ji armour (which is actually a dead-on representation of its status in the fluff, at least). At this point, it's a legacy profile that exists to provide core trooper to Dashat. It's pointless within YJ, and simply exists to take up space.

They really should just be consolidated with the Wu Ming, kill two birds with one stone.

 

It's still much cheaper than a Shang-Ji, and I see it in more than a few lists on here to make room for scoring pieces. It seems to be a decently popular choice for a Haris especially as backup for a Shang-Ji in Zhanshi Core. Consolidating it with the Haidao is probably better, since the Wu Ming have some fairly unique loadouts whereas the Haidao could be replaced by slapping MSV on the Zuyong ML and releasing an Engineer profile.

 

That’d strip out the only KHD and one source of Chain of Command from IA, plus the second Red Fury troop in the sectorial, and would also impact WhiteCo, who might well end up with Kamau instead. Let’s please don’t.

Zuyongs are a cheaper alternative to Shang Ji with similar loadouts, and in some lists they do work. If Yu Jing were going to get a wholesale binned model I’d rather see them dump Kuang Shi in the recycler for good.

 

Something my local group is in the process of testing is running the game at 400 points as the standard while keeping the 15 model limit.

My early impressions is that the game actually has better internal factional balance at this points level. So far its considerably widened scope in list building and it's making it easier for Zuyong to actually compete with Zhanshi. Units that are reasonably decent at 300 points but struggle to not go under the knife to make room for more orders are fairing better at keeping the spots in a list at 400 points.