I'm a bit biased, i've loved bikes since N2 and was one of those nuts who would on occasion run max AVA bike lists just for the joy of it. Even taking my bias into account I think they're in a significantly better place now than they were last edition. Something a lot of people forget is that 4 out of the five aragato profiles have shotguns. Assuming they can close the range, and they're bikes so it's not that hard, that can give them a nice edge in fire fights or allow you to punish a link/group of cheerleaders/camo token too close to something else that have been positioned poorly. Also, that boarding shotgun profile is only 19 points. That's silly good. I also agree with your assessment that they gain more value in smaller point games because there are less things to threaten them. They're certainly not a cure all tonic, they do have a few sizeable drawbacks in the form of wide bases and being easy to bait/manipulate by a clever opponent used to dealing with impetuous models, but it's definitely something you can learn to mitigate with practice. Plus they're only regular impetuous so if pressed to do so, you can cancel their impetuous order.
That's a solid alternative. For my local I think i'd personally get more mileage out of the safety net ninja, but then I'm not the one going to this tourney. So Mike, take the Dude's wisdom to heart. It's good advice if you want to be a bit more aggressive with the link. as well as providing more midrange headache in the form of another Ryuken.
Some other things to keep in mind for low point matches: karakuri: While I wouldn't try to fit a whole Haris into a 200 point list, one by itself is a tough, mid range gun platform that is also a specialist. lu duan: while these guys are optimal if you've got a hacker to give them supportware, they can still do great things even if you're only bringing a a KHD to the table. Holo gives them a little extra resiliency because you can play shell games, plus it also give them surprise shot. MSV1 is great to mitigate the advantages of lists that can provide cheap camo for low points games (ariadna and haqq, for example) and you've got a heavy flamethrower than you can use to burn the fancy toys off folks with cheap ODD like Myrmidons or Bulleteers. And they don't cost any SWC. yuriko: if you can spare the points to get her in your keisotsu link, she provides a mine, is a specialist, give you a better BS,and a panzerfaust. While it's much easier to include her at 300, depending on the scenario she can be a very cost effective specialist.
I think I'd run something like this at 200: Japanese Secessionist Army ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 9 1 2 DOMARU Lieutenant Chain Rifle, E/M Grenades / Pistol, E/M CCW, Shock CC Weapon. (0 | 26) KEMPEI (Multispectral Visor L2) Shock Marksman Rifle / Pistol, CCW, Electric Pulse. (1 | 25) YURIKO ODA Combi Rifle + E/Mitter, D-Charges, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, CCW. (0 | 23) KEISOTSU HMG / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 17) KEISOTSU Missile Launcher / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 14) KEISOTSU Hacker (Hacking Device) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 17) YOJIMBO Contender, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades, CrazyKoalas (2) / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 21) ARAGOTO (Killer Hacking Device) Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 25) TOKUSETSU EISEI Doctor (MediKit) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 14) TOKUSETSU KOHEI Engineer Combi Rifle, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 14) YÁOZĂO Electric Pulse. (0 | 3) 4 SWC | 199 Points Open in Infinity Army I know, no Kuroshi Rider. Couldn't squeeze in Doc and Engineer if I did that.
I like the foundation - but why 2 engineers and nothing to fix with them? I like Oda, but I feel as though she's a little expensive for a link team cheerleader, as the HMG and ML fight at range while the domaru can do any close assault heavy lifting.
Yuriko is there as the link team specialist, hacker would likely lurk back. And the Tokusetsu engineer has that helperbot to fix glue/EM on the bikes.
How crazy/bad would this list be 200 oyoroi──────────────────────────────────────────────────7 1 1 YOJIMBO Contender, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades, CrazyKoalas (2) / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 21) O-YOROI Lieutenant AP HMG + Heavy Flamethrower, CrazyKoalas / EXP CCW. (3 | 86) KEISOTSU Hacker (Hacking Device) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 17) KEISOTSU (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10) KEISOTSU Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 9) KEISOTSU (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10) KEMPEI (Chain of Command) Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, CCW, Electric Pulse. (0 | 21) YURIKO ODA Combi Rifle, Panzerfaust, D-Charges, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, CCW. (0 | 24) 3.5 SWC | 198 PointsOpen in Infinity Army And for more button pushing 200 Miyamoto──────────────────────────────────────────────────9 1 1 KEISOTSU (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10) KEISOTSU Missile Launcher / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 14) KEISOTSU (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10) KEISOTSU Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 9) KEISOTSU (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10) KEMPEI (Chain of Command) Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, CCW, Electric Pulse. (0 | 21) SAITO TOGAN (Specialist Operative) Combi Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, EXP CCW, Knife. (0 | 40) KUROSHI RIDER Lieutenant Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower / Breaker Pistol, AP + Shock CCW. (0 | 33) NINJA Hacker (Killer Hacking Device) Tactical Bow / Pistol, DA CCW, Knife. (0 | 29) MIYAMOTO MUSHASHI Chain Rifle, Flash Pulse / Pistol, AP CCW, EXP CCW. (0 | 24) 1.5 SWC | 200 PointsOpen in Infinity Army
