Let’s talk about Aleph’s situation in N5.

That's exactly my point! The Smurfs have it on cheerleaders. We have robots that can only see in the visible spectrum? Check out the high tech on Aleph! Also the Deva has it on Spitfire not even AP (29pts, 1SWC pretty pricey to me) and Dart... don't get me started on Dart...

Apsara should have at least a Hacking device or HDP to make it worth. The point cost is sufficiently low on the hacker loadout and it has deployable repeater (pitcher would be better)... thing is: no special skills, no bonus programs, no bonus on hacking... terribly bland! The rem driver ability should definitely be switchable and should result at least in a bonus (on standard trooper BS11, so apsara BS14) that equals the Assisted Fire (that is switchable, by bonus I intend the "negate cover" as an effectively +3 to shooting behind cover)

 

Consider that remdrive has the limitation of the specific trooper that you need to add that does nothing else, while the EVO hacker has quite a number of usages, including the assisted deployment of paratroopers and still it gives you a "Marksmanship" bonus which is limited to units in cover, but having somebody in the open is more of a gambit you play when you can't do otherwise.

The tech level of Aleph compared to other factions is undeniable: it's called the high tech, high skill faction in the lore, but this doesn't have a real counterpart in game terms. I said it many times that having an AI that monitors communications in the HS (effectively better than the intelligence from the 5-eyes combined in today's terms) should result in a pro-action rather than a re-action when new troopers gets added to any of the other factions. Your list is a part and quite significant one at that, but I could say also transformable units are another aspect (only Yu Jing and Nomads have them), impersonations are another example together with decoy, not to talk about mimetism which is present sparingly. In general I would rather talk about adaptability and replayability as the main aspects missing in Aleph-whichever-flavor. Certain units are auto-include (and for Posthumans I wouldn't change it, it's the most distinctive unit in the game...), but that limits playstyle and it turns into a one-trick pony.

 

Apparently Bostria, during what looked like a Q&A, asked for patience. He said Aleph will be reworked. Let's see if it's "talk and a badge" or something real and tangible. I would like to believe the latter.

 

I now think, as a faction, Aleph should have ECM Hacker (-3) for most of it's force. Tinbots are good and all, but they only effective for the one that owns it or in a fireteam with them. ECM should be on all their remotes. Not just the Risksha. Then also on other troops. For non-hackers it would help fight Spotlight.

They do have good hackers themselves but I think most of them are on par, not better, than other factions. Haqq Barid for example, I think is much better for cost and ability. The Asura is only on par with the Anathematic or Chrontid.

We are talking about a faction made from the Human AI after all. You'd think they would have things like this. The argument could be said for the EI as well but the Charontid does have ECM -3 and Unidrons have Tinbot -3. Also, the enemy that hates them the most, Nomads, have some of the best hackers in the game.

 

Aleph should be definitly better in hacking. Better hacking network. Better hacking units. Better resilence against hacking.
I know hacking is somehow the trademark of Nomads, but here we are Nomads and Aleph are arch enemys and then we have the EI vs the AI so even archer enemys

Aleph has already some good hacking units (Asura, Danavas) but the lack some protection and the are old units lacking the new excessive opitmise formular. With a sidelook to Torchlight which boost very high BTS on a lot of profiles (because they are the shock troops that have to venture into the unknown) I would like to see something similar at Aleph. Older profiles like Naga, Dasyu or Proxy MK2 have no BTS at all. Units with artifical bodys that are controlled by the biggest AI of the HS should have more.

For example the Danavs as a pure hacking unit should be at BTS 6 (hello Waverider) while the skirmishers should offer at least BTS 3.

For repeater coverage add some pitchers and some deployable reapeaters for exampel to Naga or Dasyu minlayers. A repeater version of Garuda and/or fast pandas on non-hacking units would also be neat.

While ECM is also nice it would make standard troop REM like Dakini too expensive. Here a tinbot profile would be enough.

 

Not sure about the Dakini becoming more expensive. Riksha already have it along with better BS, ARM, Terrain, and dodge +2" and they are not that much more expensive.

 

Archon and Space ranger I concur in principle for OSS. OSS should be the hacking scalpel, SP is the CC specialist (and needs delivery systems on top of smoke and Eclypse grenades) and then along should come the shooting sectorial to cover all aspects (shooting sectorial may have Riksha taking the place of Dakini with many more profiles). When it gets to vAleph the combination of the 3 sectorials should come evident at that stage. Increase midfield presence to taste.

I agree with the BTS consideration on older skirmishers that also crave profiles like crazy.

 

Good point. Indeed I thought more about OSS. SPs hacking abilities are already good - in some cases better then current OSS.

I do not see a "shooting" sectorial. Vanilla can have MSV/Smoke but lacks a lot of fireteam options. Shooting is not enough fuel for a 3rd sectorial. Aleph´s keyword in general is Elite. But its totaly possible that CB will come up with a 3rd sectorial. Maybe Posthuman focused.