Okay, I'm bored and I wanted a more positive discussion to go over with all the growing positive vibes that seem to be washing over the forums. I'm not being sarcastic here, I do feel a positive vibe has grown recently. So let's talk about my favorite type of model, the S5 Heavy Infantry, AKA Super Heavy Infantry. These guys are becoming a staple of the game, and most of them are awesome sauce, combining cool models, great stats and some nifty skills. So, let's talk about these doods and doodettes: PanO Can't have nice things so Pan O doesn't have Super Heavy HI (A case can be made for Father Knights, Swiss Guard and Joanne, but they're S2) Yu Jing: Yu Jing ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 4 YĀN HUǑ MULTI HMG / Pistol, Knife. (2 | 53) YĀN HUǑ Hyper-Rapid Magnetic Cannon / Pistol, Knife. (2 | 54) YĀN HUǑ 2 Missile Launchers / Pistol, Knife. (2 | 52) YĀN HUǑ 2 Missile Launchers + TinBot C (Neurocinetics) / Pistol, Knife. (2 | 56) 8 SWC | 215 Points Open in Infinity Army The Yan Huo are brute, simple badasses and their models look sweet. They're basically Mini TAGS and have the heavy weaponry to prove it. What's not to love? Oddly enough, I rank them on the lower of the list as they're basically only good at shooting and there's little to make them stand out. Yu Jing ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 2 SÙ-JIÀN Spitfire, Light Flamethrower, Panzerfaust / Heavy Pistol, Knife. (2 | 59) SÙ-JIÀN Heavy Shotgun, Light Flamethrower, Panzerfaust / Heavy Pistol, Knife. (0 | 54) 2 SWC | 113 Points Open in Infinity Army Often called purposefully OP by some, the Su Jian are arguably the best S5 HI in the game. Awesome weapons, great stats, stupidly resistant and looks badass as all f***. This guy almost made me start Yu Jing when I was choosing my first Infinity Faction. Ariadna is only getting in on the fun recently, but ooh boy: Ariadna ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 2 BLACKJACK AP HMG, Chest Mines, D.E.P. / Heavy Pistol, CC Weapon. (2 | 36) BLACKJACK T2 Sniper, Submachine Gun, Chest Mines / Heavy Pistol, CC Weapon. (1 | 36) 3 SWC | 72 Points Open in Infinity Army Underpriced and oversized, the BlackJack was a long running joke and a lot of people say other models on this list are actually reused BlackJack designs. While the Machinegun is kinda underwhelming, the Sniper profile is all kinds of awesome. Ariadna ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1 RATNIK Heavy Rocket Launcher, Heavy Shotgun / Heavy Pistol, Trench-hammer, Knife. (2 | 44) 2 SWC | 44 Points Open in Infinity Army The Ratnik is odd. It's expensive for Ariadna, has a schizophrenic weapon loadout, but looks so damn cool. I'm still unsure about exactly how it works, but I think given time and the release of TAK it might actually surprise a lot of people with how reliable it can be. HaqqIslam S5 HI are all workhorses. Large and dependable but kinda fall apart compared to the others. Haqqislam ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 2 FASID HMG + (Smoke and Normal) Light Grenade Launcher, Antipersonnel Mines / Heavy Pistol, Knife. (2 | 53) FASID Heavy Rocket Launcher, Submachine Gun, Antipersonnel Mines / Heavy Pistol, Knife. (2 | 45) 4 SWC | 98 Points Open in Infinity Army The Al Fasid buff remake was a great addition to the Red Veil box, and it is a veteran and a solid defensive piece for Haqq. While Haqq isn't known for their Heavy Infantry prowess, this guy isn't a bad choice in most armies it can go in. Haqqislam ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 2 AZRA'IL AP HMG / Pistol, Knife. (2 | 41) AZRA'IL Feuerbach / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 39) 3.5 SWC | 80 Points Open in Infinity Army The Az'rail is a gorgeous model in its simplicity. It looks big and unyieldy and it is big and unyieldy. There's not a lot to say about this guy, other than he's actually quite cheap for his kit. Nomads has received a lot of love in the HI department recently, and it shows: Nomads ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 3 KRIZA BORAC MULTI Rifle / Heavy Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 50) KRIZA BORAC HMG / Heavy Pistol, CC Weapon. (2 | 54) KRIZA BORAC (360º Visor) Mk12, Submachine Gun / Heavy Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 63) 2 SWC | 167 Points Open in Infinity Army The big bad boy of Tunguska dropkicked the Human Sphere so hard people are still reeling from it. It boasts an unique skill (so far) and a simple, stupidly effective loadout that makes people wonder how the hell this OP bastard can be legal. Oh, and it looks like a buffed out predator with ammo drums on it's back, what's not to love? Nomads ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 4 TASKMASTER HMG / Heavy Pistol, DA CCW. (2 | 49) TASKMASTER Boarding Shotgun, Pulzar, CrazyKoalas / Heavy Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 43) TASKMASTER Heavy Rocket Launcher, Light Shotgun, CrazyKoalas / Heavy Pistol, DA CCW. (2 | 47) TASKMASTER Red Fury, Pulzar, CrazyKoalas + TinBot A (Deflector L1) / Heavy Pistol, DA CCW. (1 | 53) 5 SWC | 192 Points Open in Infinity Army The Swiss Army knife to the Kriza's blunt hammer, the Taskmaster has been overshadowed by it's tunguskan cousin, which is a damn shame. Both models have similar chassis, but the Tasky trades Full Auto for a host of skills and weapons. When the HMG version is often called the worst one, you know you have a good model in hands. Combined Army has a suprisingly high number of Oversized beasties to show off too: Combined Army ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 2 SOGARAT AP HMG / Pistol, AP CCW. (2 | 56) SOGARAT Feuerbach / Assault Pistol, AP CCW. (1.5 | 57) 3.5 SWC | 113 Points Open in Infinity Army Sogarats are a point of contention for Combined Army players because they often feel lackluster. However, one important point about Sogs is these demon monkeys will. not. die. I've seen sogarats be knocked down 3 times, get up 4 and keep fighting until the bitter end. And the models are amazingly menacing too. Combined Army ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 4 ANATHEMATIC Plasma Rifle, Nanopulser / Pistol, Monofilament CCW. (0 | 82) ANATHEMATIC Spitfire, Nanopulser / Pistol, Monofilament CCW. (2 | 81) ANATHEMATIC Sepsitor, Plasma Rifle, Nanopulser / Pistol, Shock CCW. (2 | 88) ANATHEMATIC Hacker (EI Hacking Device) Plasma Rifle, Nanopulser / Pistol, Shock CCW. (0.5 | 88) 4.5 SWC | 339 Points Open in Infinity Army The giant Invisible cockroach of the combined Army is arguably the coolest Super Heavy Infantry model in the game. And it can be a monstrous toolbox or terror unit. It is probably the hardest model to master of this list, but it is pure awesome sauce that can reach out and brutalize the enemy in so many ways. Combined Army ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 4 CHARONTID (Multispectral Visor L3) Plasma Rifle, Nanopulser / Heavy Pistol, Knife. (0 | 78) CHARONTID (Multispectral Visor L3) HMG, Nanopulser / Heavy Pistol, Knife. (2 | 79) CHARONTID Plasma Rifle, Sepsitor Plus + 1 TinBot A (Deflector L1) / Heavy Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 78) CHARONTID Hacker (Hacking Device Plus) Plasma Rifle, Nanopulser / Heavy Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 73) 3 SWC | 308 Points Open in Infinity Army The Charontid is slightly more straightfoward than it's invisible cousin and no less fun for it. The new model is hulking and menacing and while some people detract it, the old one is still around for a sleeker, more alien look. It's simple and efficient but that's by no means a bad thing. Aleph only has one bloke to this list, but he is awesome too: ALEPH ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1 1 AJAX 2 Combi Rifles, Nanopulser / AP Heavy Pistol, EXP CCW. (0 | 39) 0 SWC | 39 Points Open in Infinity Army Ajax is one of the cheapest of the S5 models and a huge close quarters beast. With CC skills that can one shot most models in the game and twin combis to put out a wall of fire in close range, he is so much fun to both play with AND against. And finally we have the Dayokai: Japanese Secessionist Army ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 2 DAIYŌKAI MULTI Marksman Rifle, Panzerfaust / Pistol, DA CC Weapon, AP CC Weapon. (0 | 52) DAIYŌKAI Red Fury, Panzerfaust / Pistol, DA CC Weapon, AP CC Weapon. (1 | 49) 1 SWC | 101 Points Open in Infinity Army The great demon from JSA is another of those models that had people going crazy when it came out, but honestly, it's just plain awesome and fun. It adds a massive monster to lead the japanse charge, and looks like a perfect mix of ancient Samurai with high technology. Pretty cool on my book. So, Super heavy infantry, do you like them? do you dislike them? How do you use yours? Which ones do you consider the best? My personal favorites are the Su Jian, Kriza and Taskmaster, but I wanna know which ones are the favorites of the folks around and some good strategies to using them in the different armies.
Love the Sogarats. . . obviously. My deployment of choice is a Haris with Kornak and one of each of the Sogarats. It keeps Kornak in line and makes for a generally unpleasant roadblock for opponents. As far as load-outs, it's a toss up. I have had the Feuerbach do heinous things to enemy units and feel it is on equal footing with the AP HMG, for me. As for the others, the Kriza, Al Fasid, Yan-Huo, and Ajax have all proven to be a general and consistent pain to fight against.
The HMG Ol' Fussy is just so damn versatile, he gets a +3 ARO at every range out to 32", Minelayer to protect your DZ, smoke for blocking enemy AROs, and LGL for forcing enemies out of Suppressive Fire. Pair him with a Brawler MSV2 sniper Haris in Ikari for some real fun!
Sorry, but I'm 99% sure that's not going to happen. Not because "PanO can't have nice things", but because PanO is so advanced that they can fit everything on S2 chassis. As for the Ratnik: just wait for the second profile (2xMolotok and 2xPanzerfaust) to become official. That's gonna be a Kazak machine of DOOM!!!
I can get behind a PanO S5 knight with nanoscreen as a walking source of cover for the other knights. This guy would be big on purpose as he's meant to be a walking wall. But that's wishlisting.
They can always come up with something that would justify a bigger frame. My long standing with is the Hulkbuster; ARM 6, BTS 6, STR 2, G:RP, Autorepair (like Regeneration, but for STR), armed for CQB.
You say this as if it's a bad thing. A lot of PanO Players complain they don't have cool stuff. Walking cover is pretty cool in my book.
I do not think PanO needs or should have S5 HI, S5 is mostly old tech powered armour worn either because of necessity or choice (as is for example in the Azrail's case), likewise the only reason Yu Jing have Yan Huo is the mass needed for the recoil of its armament PanO has small TAGs for this purpose.
That's fair but they don't actually have a TAG in the price range as S5 TAGs. A Heavy Weapon HI or a Xeodron-esque Ultralight TAG may well still have a place in the PanO lineup. The Seraph is still 82 Points, the Yan Huos top out at 56 while the biggest Overdron is 74 and the cheapest Xeodron is 58. A 50-70 point S5 HI or Ultralight TAG could fit in.
I think Daiyos are pretty much good for... Recycling. Every single time I field those blokes, return is fixed to disappointment. Yan Huo and Su Jian, Totally awesome. Now lets add Mowang Trooper for S5 line!
I'm a huge fan of Big Guys and have been an advocate for a PanO S5 for quite some time. I think that would be really cool. I think he could be an interesting support piece, the closest thing we have is the father knight and his weapons certainly do not reflect being a big guy. this absolutely could be in flavor of Varuna, as im sure they would need some type of heavy duty equipment for dealing with deep sea problems or a helot "containment" unit. I wouldn't be surprised if they gave it a mixed link option ala daiyokai.
Oh god, I hope PanO won't get S5 HI. The only ones I like are Kriza and Sogorst and they are really similar. Su Juan style REM or TAG on the other hand...
So again, no WB because proffesional army (similaroy CoC is also not a feat of proffesional army), no smoke because hi tech (but not enough Hi Tech like YuJing or Aleph to have Chain Rifles/Pulzars), and now PanO cannot have S5 because "its too archaic"? (but Magister just got dumbtubes?) PanO seems like great anti-thesis of Nomads, just full of limitations and fluff constrains ^^ I cant waiy O-12 and Zeta TAGs to finally make PanO obsoletr (as if CA was not making TAGs more fun than PanO).
