As far as I can tell on the store. Each faction has one pilot mini currently available. The rest have long been unavailable. I'm pretty much saying I think that's what the new profiles could be, generic pilot. And the existing minis (or new ones) just get renamed, generic pilot (but with nicely faction themed names) Also that can still involve interesting variations of what's in the pilot profiles. Hacker, specialist etc
But again, there are (more or less generic) pilot miniatures in the store. CB is selling them. Pilot profiles have been coupled to TAGs at least since N2. Decoupling them will not increase the sales, but it adds to the bloat of a list and the number of choices in the Army. So, since there is a decoupling coming (as shown by the army lists in N5), there must be a reason for it. And merely selling the existing TAG pilot minis doesn't explain that.
You may well be right, and I'd prefer that I think. Certainly a more interesting option. But, I still also think it's a possibility that it's a less exciting change coming. And I can see some sense to it. New players don't necessarily look at gecko pilot and think generic nomad pilot.
We will know soon (well depends how soon you count 18th November) enough having a profile with different loadouts sounds interesting.
For nomads at least decreasing SKUs is a plausible reason. We had lizard, gecko, and salamandra pilots as separate models, and the expectation of more as we get manned TAGs. By decoupling the pilots and the TAGs, they can reduce it down to 1 pilot per faction. On a more hopeful note, it also means that they can release pilots with different specializations. (Some melee focused, some more shooting focused, etc)
They have already. At the moment we have one for every manned TAG and we have some shooty ones (Gecko), some CC ones (JSA), some that can realy fight after leaving their TAG (Maxi) etc. So one for all is still a good idea, because I have the feeling pilots are used very rareley.
I meant more specializations through putting in different pilots. Like paying for pilots that alter the TAG's profile, sort of like a rem racer. Some pilots give their TAG better ECM when they mount up because they know how to fiddle with the heat emissions, or grant the TAG better CC because they themselves are better fighters, etc. Small tweaks to give your tag that extra personal touch. Gotta give you, a pilot outside of their TAG is rarely seen. I think I have done it once in 6 years of playing, but giving a pilot an effect while in the TAG would be one way to make the TAG pilot's effect known.
As long as they are one unit with different loadouts I would agree and it would add flexibility. Could even be done for remote pilots.
