Going second woes

That might not sound very helpful but if your meta put strong reliance on sensors or you know your particular opponent likes using them this is exactly the reason why you should try using less camo markers. Because if opponent is prepared ofr them, there is not so much you can do other than either deploying them on high buidliding where even without camo state they are not able to be targeted or deploying defensively in your deployment - but there are better units for that then units that generally deploy in the middle of the table. At least that is how i feel about it.

 

Definitely utilize deploying further back if necessary, and have your minelayer units further forward. Nothing says that you need to deploy right on the midfield line in order to maximize the use of Infiltration... Even a few inches outside of your DZ still represents a saved order, and your units won't do you much good if they're dead on Turn 1. Use mines and cheap filler units (like the Hardcase) to draw your opponent forward, making him waste Orders and Command Tokens to achieve very little.

 

As usual, Barakiel has it.

The trick with protecting your units against Sniffer / Sensor nets lies in creating situations where your midfield has defense in depth. You should be deploying your Mines and Infiltrators such that, even if they're revealed, you force a close-range engagement that is advantageous. A revealed Mine is just as explosive as a non-revealed Mine, so if your opponent can't see it easily from outside its trigger area, it's just as dangerous. Same with a Chasseur.

Example below:



I have no idea if the dimensions are correct but bear with me here. Assume the red line is the midline. You could deploy aggressively but in those positions, your units could be easily revealed using Sensor, outflanked and destroyed.

Pull it back a little bit - check the green-circled positions. With a Chasseur minelayer, you are getting two camo markers with >8" trigger areas / template range that can provide mutual cover for one another. They aren't any less dangerous once they're revealed because your opponent still has to deal with them. If you have other infiltrators, keep them behind these linebacker units and use chokepoints like this to minimize the damage from Sensor / Sniffer attacks on your camo. Digging out these markers should take 2-3 orders to maneuver and drop sniffers, a 4th to sensor, and several more actually getting a unit up there to deal with them.

 

A few inferior infiltrating troopers (Metros especially with DEP and HFT Grunts) can slow your opponent down significantly in advancing towards the midfield.
Deploying on rooftops (in total cover) in addition to being in camo state helps, too. Spread your camo troopers out! And obviously field a huge amount of camo markers including mines and decoys!
Apart from the Antipode Assault Pack (Hands down: the best anti-camo unit in the whole game!) NCA is doing this camo-sweep thing best, but even under optimal circumstances your opponent will use significant resources (40 points spent on relatively useless REMs, 2-3 oreder maybe a couple of command tokens for co-ordinated move and sniffer drops) to reveal your camo troopers: these are resources spent not on killing your troopers or accomplishing the objectives! This is a gain on its own!

 

Great diagram, @TriggerPuller9000 . Really nice showcase of how to force an opponent to deal with mines. That's the kind of situation that's a nightmare for anyone who doesn't have cheap warbands to trip those threats, and even so, that's still a lot of Orders spent trying to crack through that layered defense.

 

Consider placing a few more ARO pieces within your DZ that can take a shot at the little buggers as they manouver, they tend to be rather fragile. Also remember you do get an ARO when they try to sensor, which you could use to place a mine. It's never a bad move to make the midfield just a bit more deadly for your opponent

 

I'm with Brother Smoke on this one. What I'll usually do if I'm playing against my one local player who really spams the sensors is to set up my infiltrators in layers. I try to place my ambush or mine camo markers at the furthest edge of my ZOC. I'll also provide support with an ARO piece or three to provide cover fire.
That way the sensor is baited to move up the board and discover mines or ambush tokens first while exposing themselves to uncontested ARO's from the Cateran or Tank hunter back in my DZ.

 

Assuming you're using sensor you're most likely within their ZOC. Which would allow some ARO's like Change Facing or Alert without need for LoF.

 

You need LoF to place a mine.

"MINES

SHORT SKILL / ARO
Attack
REQUIREMENTS

In the Reactive Turn, LoF to the Active trooper is required."

 

An alternative - if they *really* like sensor that much - is don't bother with infiltrating camo markers!

-> Infiltrating Grunts. You might need 2 or 3, but a heavy flamethrowers to cover any exit routes will either discourage the sensor bots from advancing, or force your opponent to spend orders to kill them first.
-> Zouaves, with their Mechanised Deployment, can also discourage anyone from coming close.
-> Units with Forward Deployment might be all you need to deploy into a good position.

If that doesn't fit your playing style, then try setting up overlapping fields of fire; e.g. marker A can see the approach to marker B and vice versa, (i.e. B can see the approach to A), thus your opponent will need to do something more than simply move into position & sensor both.

 

I love to go second with Ariadna. I go broad with my camo infiltrators and will bring some inferior and superior infiltrators to get close. As well as camos hanging back. I want the first turn for my opponent to be a witch hunt. That they have to spend a lot of orders to find all my dudes and dudettes spread across the battlefield. That they have to take a whole turn only to find a handfull and killing fewer is a succes to me.

And if your opponent is taking a lot of sniffers and msv2/3. Then make a more warband orientated lists (highlanders, irmandinhos, dogwarriors) backed up with heavier veteran kazaks. Enough strengths within Ariadna to counter those lists with