Keisotsu link teams

I usually do something dirt cheap and VERY defensive. Missile launcher and CoC. They're are way better aggressive pieces in the army and the role is wasted imo on a keisotsu team.

Japanese Secessionist Army
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6
KEISOTSU Missile Launcher / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 14)
KEISOTSU Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 9)
KEISOTSU Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 9)
KEISOTSU Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 9)
KEMPEI (Chain of Command) Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, CCW, Electric Pulse. (0 | 21)

1.5 SWC | 71 Points

Open in Infinity Army


Sometimes a hacker if I'm remote heavy.

 

I use Keisotsu links a lot (i.e. pretty much every list I make.) They take care of a few very useful roles:

• Cheap Orders. JSA is a low-REM sectorial, and really benefits from high Order count since our troops have such a short-range focus. Keisotsu represent our easiest, cheapest Order to include.
• Fire support. With short-range combat and few smoke options, we still need some long-range weapons. A BS13 HMG is a really useful tool, and can usually solve a lot of problems using far fewer Orders than most short-range JSA troops. Unless you're buying a full HI link, TAG, or paying 2 SWC for the TR REM + Hacker, you need Keisotsu to participate in the long-range game. .
• Smoke+Shoot. The MSV2 Kempetai Marksman Rifle is an easy way for JSA to get a dominant active turn F2F roll. It's also a really important tool for threatening some skew opponents who we can't easily take on in CC, like Myrmidons.
• 5-man link bonuses for E/M Grenades. I don't always use Domaru, but when I do, it's usually for their E/M Grenades to solve a crucial midfield problem. In this case, one Domaru supported by 4 cheaper bodies is nice and order-efficient here, rather than bringing the entire Heavy Infantry team. Very helpful.
• Extra specialists. Not all of our great midfield troops are Specialists... If you're taking something like Ryuken-9 or Oniwaban, you may find yourself light on button pushers despite having a number of troops starting in the midfield. A Keisotsu FO isn't glamorous, but is a pretty decent little purchase that can help a lot with objectives.

 

@Quickit To add on what was already said:

• The most important aspect about Keisotsu is AVA Total and mixed Link capability. Where most Fireteams drop down to 4 man, 3 man or no bonus over the course of a game I often have 7, 8 or even more troops that are linkable in a Keisotsu Link. Where things like NCA Fusiliers have an Edge over Keisotsu early on with BS12+3, Keisotsu will still be able to get BS13 in turn 2 and 3.
• Adding BS12 pieces to the Link. Personally I don't care for Domaru at all, they're extremely expensive and change the Link into something more close range, something I do not take Keisotsu for. The Kempetai MSV2 or Yuriko (Panzerfaust) give you some added punch, punch that keeps performing at BS15 in later turns.
• In the past I used the Keisotsu ML every game. Now I've dropped it from all my lists. No attacker worth his salt has trouble (outside of lucky crits) to deal with the guy, he doesn't have a Cube and the 1.5 SWC are very important in JSA. Now the Link has a HMG and a MSV2 Kemp sitting prone on their rooftops covering firelanes. For today's lists the defense relies on Mines, perimeter weapons, TO threats, Smoke and Supressive Fire. Let your opponent have his turn and see how he figures out halfway through his turn he can't do meaningful damage to a spammy JSA list. After he figures out he'll run out of Orders and scrambles a defense together you'll have a couple Ryuken, TO troops a core linked HMG and MSV MMR to retaliate with whatever has a good opportunity. A lesson learned from playing USARF, JSA does it different but in many ways better.
• Initially I disliked Yuriko in the Link, losing her access to a Helperbot seemed bad. In reality it turns out you'll happily spend Orders on the Link anyway, so you can i.e. reposition her toward your downed Rui Shi for free. Minelayer to secure your Link, Kempetai and to discover cheerleader/Lt hunting has also been valueable.
• My Lt is very often a Keisotsu with 3 or more decoys. He does Lt shellgames very well, never lost the guy unless I was actively using his Order in turn 3.
• Keisotsu Specialists are a rare sight for me. The Hacker is pretty terrible in the Link amd if Yuriko is there you already have a better button pusher around. Only normal Keisotsu can be Lt decoys as well. To bring the list to a perfect 300 the odd Keisotsu Forward Observer/Paramedic does appear though.

Here is an example for something flexible:

Spoiler

Japanese Secessionist Army
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GROUP 1 10
SAITO TOGAN (Specialist Operative) Combi Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, EXP CCW, Knife. (0 | 40)
KEMPEI (Multispectral Visor L2) Shock Marksman Rifle / Pistol, CCW, Electric Pulse. (1 | 25)
YURIKO ODA Combi Rifle, Panzerfaust, D-Charges, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, CCW. (0 | 23)
KEISOTSU HMG / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 17)
KEISOTSU Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 9)
KEISOTSU Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 9)
KEISOTSU Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 9)
KEISOTSU Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 9)
RYŪKEN (Forward Deployment L2, ODD) Submachine Gun, Antipersonnel Mines, D-Charges / 2 Breaker Pistols, Knife. (0.5 | 24)
RUI SHI Spitfire / Electric Pulse. (1.5 | 20)
GROUP 2 7 2 2
ARAGOTO (Killer Hacking Device) Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 25)
RYŪKEN (Forward Deployment L2, ODD) Submachine Gun, Antipersonnel Mines, D-Charges / 2 Breaker Pistols, Knife. (0.5 | 24)
YOJIMBO Contender, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades, CrazyKoalas (2) / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 21)
KEISOTSU Lieutenant Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 9)
KEISOTSU Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 9)
CHAĪYÌ Yaókòng Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)
PANGGULING (Minesweeper, Repeater) Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)
PANGGULING (Minesweeper, Repeater) Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)
WARCOR (Aerocam) Flash Pulse / Stun Pistol, Knife. (0 | 3)
5.5 SWC | 300 Points
Open in Infinity Army

 

Keisotsu hackers do appear for supportware for me. The EVObot is a lot more expensive than a Keisotsu hacker, nearly a full Keisotsu more! Sure, they can't be LT Decoys(tm), but for general utility it's hard not to bring one.

I should admit that I have a really hard time not bringing all the samurai when I'm playing JSA, though. @Cypherkk does better with massed Keisotsu.

 

My JSA Keisotsu links:

Aggressive:
Keisotsu x3: 2x vanilla and 1x Paramedic
Kempetei: COC, BSG
Domaru Spitfire

Defensive:
Keisotu x4: 2x vanilla, 1x Missile Launcher, 1x Paramedic
Kempetei: MSV2 Multi-Sniper

I'll usually have 1-2 Keisotsu sitting nearby to refill the link if 1-2 models die.

If I'm running an aggressive Remote list (ie. RuShi or Lu Duan as attack pieces) I'll swap out a vanilla Keisotsu for a Hacker to tune up the remotes, as an Assisted Fire RuShi is a terrifying attack piece.