TAK got a lot of nice profiles so i wouldnt mind CH troop, linkable HI (or defensive LI) and maybe scary TO Infiltrator troop?
CH troop - not impossible. Linkable HI- could happen, but I wouldn't bet on it. Not exactly our speciality. Then again, HI are hi-tech, and RTF is said to be Haqq elite / hi-tech faction. Al Fasid are nice, but rather specific. Defensive LI - like what? I don't think we could expect another TO Camo - I recall Murabid Tuareg being long said to be the only unit in the entire Haqqislam to use TO Camo gear, and even in their case it is less about gear, and more about sheer skill... What I don't really see there are good basic LI. Ones in the 10-15pts range. Save, of course, for Ghilim and Naffatun (but without some more profiles and perhaps linkability, Naffatun are going to have a pretty narrow application). Troops like Khawarij or Zhayedan might technically be labelled Light Infantry, but their price tag and loadout make them more like other faction's Medium Infantries... and weren't we said to be the faction that is all about LIs? QK has Ghilim & Hafzas (& Al'Waziri for good measure) in this class. Odalisques for a slightly more expensive yet robust choice. Bashi Bazouk for light, inexpensive raiders. Kaplans are priced similarly to Odalisques, but more in style of the RTF elite LI, I think. Still, low 20s to high 20s (30pts for a MSR). Zhayedans start at high 20s and actually tend to cost in low 30s, Khawarijs are similar.
Well the Zhayedan and Khawarij still have the 4-4 move of Light Infantry, although they're certainly too expensive to be Line Infantry. It's interesting trying to come up with RTF lists at the moment, because we have a lot of good pieces...but some significant weaknesses. 1.) Where are our tricks? Sure, the Al-Fasid HMG brings smoke and Tuareg has TO. But they're rather expensive. Haqqislam as a faction relies on dirty tricks to leverage its cheaper/lower tech weapons against the gunfighters of other factions. Right now, we don't have a lot of tricks here and, except for Tarik, we're also lacking the ability to consistently win FTF without them. 2.) Who supports the big guns? We have our tent poles, but who's backing them up? Ghulam, REMs, and Naffatun are fine, but don't have anything to help them stand out as RTF. Additionally, Haqqislam often works by trading our cheap units for their pricier units. Right now, RTF can't afford to trade anything. We need these fillers. 3.) No long range support? Most stronger RTF units are relatively CQB focused. The Khawarij Spitfire (and Tarik) want to be up close, as does the Zhayedan Breaker Rifle, and the Al Fasid HRL wants to be closer to midfield. We have a few (pricey) snipers and one HMG that's not carried by a TAG. Now, that said, we have some real strengths. The Hakim, Khawarij, and Tuaregs are very strong midfield, as is the Al Fasid HRL. Tarik is amazing, and synergizes nicely with that midfield strength. As usual, our doctors are exceptional. Ghulam are one of the best LI in the game and Naffatun are shockingly dangerous for their cost. Fatality is an incredibly powerful signature skill. Running Tarik and three Khawarij Spitfires could be hilarious, and Saladin is one of the best LTs in the game. So what should we expect? I agree with @Errhile that a cheap, 15-20 point unit would have some real value for us. If he brought smoke or other tricks, all the better. It probably won't supplant Ghulam for our Core Link, but could add some flavor. I also kind of expect a long range MSV1/2 MI. They'd need to be distinct from Djanbazan, but long range firepower with visual mods would be very helpful for us and help fit an area of weakness. This could also be a S2 HI, sort of our answer to the Ayyar. I'd love to see these guys outfitted with viral snipers and HMGs. Expensive, yes. But lethal and unique. A Dervish style warband would be icing on my wishlisting cake. :) I also expect to see some interesting mixed links. Zhayedan with Naffatun, maybe Naffatun doc+ or engineer. Khawarij with Ghulam, REMs with AL Fasid or the like.
Personally I believe that Naffatun with ranged flame weapons (RLs, Flammenspeer) would be a move int othe right alley for them. Still, no-one likes to have Naffatun nearby in a figt, not even other Naffatun I guess, so fireteams with those guys are, I guess, problematic. Then again, that's what the fluff used to tell us, and we could as well end with a Zhayedan + Naffatun Core, not unlike Tunguzkan Securitate + Grenzer...
I am sure we will see new profiles (hello Khawariji HRL hiding in the dossier...). We see a Zhayedan HMG and Ghulam HMG. I can also see us getting another MSV2 trooper and maybe a Biometric trooper. These troops defend the Caliphate, and I cannot see them being easy to sneak by. We have obvious holes in the line up currently. and the way Sectorials are going lately with mixed fireteams I can see us having some very nasty fireteams (Zhayedans in Ghulam Cores, Naffatun mixed into other Fireteams). I really look forward to seeing if CB decide to introduce new units like Hakim one by one over the next number of months and then just making the sectorial available on Army, or if we are getting so many new units that we deserve a box. If we get a box then that means were waiting till mid next year (which I am NOT a fan of).
I personally want more regenerating units. Coordinated regenerations would be a unique feature for a sectoral. It also fits theme wise. Currently the only realistic time you can do this is in QK with a djanbzan link. I did it once and it was thing of beauty. It forces your opponent to spend B into null models, just to be sure it stays down.
I think regenrating units are almost given, because we are talking about the biomedical superpower in the Human Sphere. With all we have so far and with Bostrias mention, that RTF is getting Fireteam priviledges, this sectorial seems to be a fragile and expensive one. Maybe one, that doesnt get its holes filled by the various units all of you mentioned here and which are typical till now. Maybe no MSV, no cheap disposable troops, no killy AD, no cheap Camo Infiltrator and no smoke besides the Fasid. Instead of all that, a lot of mobile, very specialized and elite troops, that can form fireteams almost as flexible as Tohaa. Could be quite interesting and challenging to play, but definitely different from what we are used to.
I worry it will be longer than that. There's been some slow movement towards RTF since Red Veil, but we still have IA at the very least to come first. I actually wonder if CB is a bit stumped about where to go with this sectorial. We've heard rumors of super soldiers for years, but they haven't been mentioned for awhile. The Al Fasid and Tarik changes were powerful, but...now they have a difficult balancing problem on their hands. How does a sectorial stand on its own without making Captain Haqqislam too powerful? But it's just as bad to be only a Mansuri support sectorial. Ghulam and Leila are strong, but are also already in the other Haqqislam branches. Khawarij are cool, but fragile. A HRL would be fun, but linking with Tarik could make them too strong? Zhayedan aren't great, except for the marksman profiles, but they're identified as key RTF units. So yea. It may be awhile, I guess.
@emperorsaistone so far I don't see that either. An army needs to be able to handle a TAG or TO Camo / ODD, and I don't really see that ability in the troops RTF has available at this moment. High mobility doesn't seem to be emphasized either - we don't have any save for Khawarijs (superjump) and Hakim (pretty vanilla AD L2). RTF has several big holes in it. And these will eventually get covered, we just don't know (yet) what with, and how exactly. We'll learn :)
Im still holding out for a 6-6 supersoldier with mimetism or camo. But honestly a new HI, a new warband, non TO skirmisher, and some LI or MI with interesting gimmicks would be much appreciated.
I could see a slight Zhayaden tweak (possibly removing automedikits...cause why is it there...??? I would love to see the MML2 pulled down to the HMG, but in general, I think Zhayaden wil be link fillers and haris option more than anything else. I know they said they could also be core but...your paying HI price for a core team. I feel like they will function similar to Grenzers. But your right, there is still more ot do with this faction. I cannot say they are even close to being the "super human, bio-engineered soldiers" faction with just Khawariji and Tarik. I want more HI, I want more infil, I want more MI. A combat remote would be cool too...
Regenerate plus: when this model is KOed it still gereates an order which may only be used for itself.
I have been talking about what RTF could be fully released, not about its current state. Yeah, that AMK is really just bloat considering the low PH, plethora of Shock and the availability of a Doc+ in the Link. Either change it to Regeneration or drop it entirely....pretty please CB? Then a Core team might be much more affordable, even if MML2 finds its way to the other profiles. That would also make the HMG and ML a choice for vanilla. But on the other hand that would exclude them from beeing linkable with Ghillim or Naffatun, because that would be to good imho. I wouldnt mind that, because I see Zhayedan as elite special forces who are above the rest in training and abilities, who get assigned to delicate tasks, while the rest of the force does the legwork.
Interesting. That's my view of the Khawarij, while the Zhayedan are the veteran troops who lead and inspire the grunts. I'd love to see AMK dropped or at least swapped for regeneration (Regen+?), but failing that expanding MML2 and Breaker ammo could be pretty amazing. A Zhayedan with Breaker HMG + MML2 would be fantastic as the core of a Ghulam / Naffatun link, for instance.
TBH i think i will be ok with whatever RTF will be in the end. It is just the current models we see there arent my favourites, apart from Naffatuns. I rarely field Tarik, Maggie, Fasids, Zhayedans and Khawarijis, Tuaregs and Hakims are amazing forward specialists, but i wont build my list around them, Ghulams and remotes are standard everywhere. I would love to see linkable, durable unit that can hold the area and get the job done.
Actually, I went out to get my feet wet with RTF (-flavored Vanilla) today. It was Spoiler: Haqq list Haqqislam ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 10 FASID HMG + (Smoke and Normal) Light Grenade Launcher, Antipersonnel Mines / Heavy Pistol, Knife. (2 | 53) TARIK MANSURI Lieutenant Spitfire, Nanopulser, Grenades / Pistol, DA CCW. (1.5 | 55) TUAREG Sniper Rifle, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 33) ZHAYEDAN (Marksmanship L2) Breaker Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 31) GHULAM Doctor Plus (MediKit) Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 16) NASMAT Electric Pulse. (0 | 3) NASMAT Electric Pulse. (0 | 3) FASID Heavy Rocket Launcher, Submachine Gun, Antipersonnel Mines / Heavy Pistol, Knife. (2 | 45) LEILA SHARIF Hacker (Killer Hacking Device) Shock Marksman Rifle, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0 | 20) NAFFATÛN Rifle + Heavy Flamethrower / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 13) NAFFATÛN Rifle + Heavy Flamethrower / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 13) NAFFATÛN Rifle + Heavy Flamethrower / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 13) 6 SWC | 298 Points Open in Infinity Army against equally getting his feet wet NeoTerra (played by one of our junior players, for whom it was his first time with a proper sectorial): Spoiler: NeoTerra Neoterran Capitaline Army ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 9 AUXILIA Combi Rifle + AUXBOT_1 / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 14) AUXBOT_1 Heavy Flamethrower / Electric Pulse. (- | 4) AUXILIA Combi Rifle + AUXBOT_1 / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 14) AUXBOT_1 Heavy Flamethrower / Electric Pulse. (- | 4) FUSILIER Lieutenant Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10) FUSILIER Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10) FUSILIER Paramedic (MediKit) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 12) FUSILIER MULTI Sniper Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 18) FUSILIER HMG / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 18) AQUILA HMG / Pistol, Shock CCW. (2 | 62) SWISS GUARD MULTI Rifle / Pistol, AP CCW. (0 | 64) ...and I can't recall what was the 10th model in Group #1 GROUP 2 2 BOLT Paramedic (MediKit) Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 24) BOLT Paramedic (MediKit) Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 24) 4.5 SWC | 270 Points Open in Infinity Army Now, as for my observations: It was damn difficult to take the Fireteam down. While the Al Fasids formed excellent cornerstones of my defensive line, they eventually had t hit the ground under the fireteam's HMG fire, and joint HMG/MSR threat kept them from firing in subsequent turns. I decided the chance of success with those guys in this situation is too low. Tariq was simply unlucky (and I rushed things) - he ate two Wounds trying to shoot Fusilier Sniper's back. The Sniper had a better roll with his DA ammo. I wasn't able to get a Doc to him. The Al Fasids were great, even though the HRL one took a static defensive role he wasn't really well suited for. One Naffatun managed to jump the Swiss Guard, and while he fell unconscious to the Guard's ARO, he managed to not only burn off his TO Camo, but also bake the Guard extra crisp. Good job. The other two simply perfored the role of rear area guards & Order monkeys. Sorry lads, somebody had to do it. Ghulam Doc. since the game was a simple kill-out with no turn limit, she basically allowed me to win the war of attrition. Zhayedan. While he was unlucky (he fell three times in that match, inc. twice to one of the Bolts, and was brought back onto his feet three times, inc. once with AMK), the amount of damage this guy can deal out is pretty impressive. And his ability to bypass Cover is great, too. A pity he simply didn't had luck slugging it out against the HMG Fusilier (effecitvely we were both rolling on 15s, Zhayedan's Burst 3 vs Fusilier's ARO Burst 2), but he finally got the PanO guy. Layla. She didn't had much chance to shine, due to lack of Orders. Touareg. I needed a midfield skirmisher, but the Sniper loadout doesn't work well for that. She reacted and got the Auxilia (effectively saving the Naffatun, who later burned the Swiss), but was shot to pieces by the Fusilier sniper. So, she did her job, but was too difficult to use (I was long time of opinion that Sniper Rifle is not the right weapon for a midfield skirmisher). I'll gladly use other loadouts, though.
