Hi. Don't buy Vanguard's for playing them, as unique and special for have them are able to linked on Anyat profile, but she its OK unlinked out of her special core option. Most used links as Core on MAF are: Rodoks, Hungries and Suryats, then the haris options; Yaogats and special haris from kornak+raktorak+suryat. Sogarats on your first games as MAF, can be powefull active pieces, but the problem are when you trying over Rodoks team, Suryats and the single and cheap Q-drone as active pieces. As a single MAF attack pieces: Q-drone, Raicho and probably single Yaogat sniper with smoke trick, this 3 profiles can be more strong in your future meta. - Q-drone: assited fire 14BS against -6 or -9 enemy BS: mimetism, cover and range (not always). - Raicho natural 14BS, nothing special negative bonus, but you have a nice tanky armor. - natural BS Yaogat 12 (or 15 without cover) against -6 or -9 enemy BS because; range weapon (not always), smoke and cover. As sniper profile. In terms of "effective" powerfull fireteam attack, at same time are on Rodoks and Suryats, but i can bet over the Rodoks bcs they have mimetism and a missile launcher over the range of the HRL on the Suryats, and 1BS diference isn't change a lot, but that -3BS on the range waepons and mimetism make the diference on the f2f roll. Other things; off course, play with all REM's if possible, Ikadrons too, bcs all REM are a safe cheap and better spec than a Morat (MOV points and STR points to bring back with the worms on the last turns to go push buttons). Bit&Kiss for sure always, that's your unique specialist can do classifieds to cross the midfield in marker state with cybermask, and a strong&cheap killer hacker with mobile repteater, more repeaters loadable pitcher (with ikadrons...) and a powerfull SMG and Adhesive launcher on Kiss.... The Zerats are a different type of specialist can you bring on the first turn and then, go to the firefights. Afther that, with "spam" orders list to go crazy with 2 or 3 active attack pieces; Raicho, Q-Drone, Yaogat haris, Kornak haris or a single Rasyat, go with hungries team, and then, leave on the 2scnd or last turn to kill anithing. As for the warbands; daturazi core options are OK... but in terms to go "rush" and suicide that coreteams, hungries are better, a couple lone daturazis for free smoke on the yaogat sniper or haris team, o going to advance forward with other pieces are so good. At same time, Krakots with adv. deploy1 near the Zerats also can be strong start on coordinated orders; shooting or grenade specfiring. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spoiler: mimetism start attack ITS 10 MI adv. deploy boost (closed scenario game) ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 10 2 RODOK HMG / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 27) RODOK Boarding Shotgun, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 19) RODOK Boarding Shotgun, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 19) RODOK Lieutenant Combi Rifle, 2 Light Shotguns / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 26) RODOK Paramedic (MediKit) Boarding Shotgun, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 21) KRAKOT RENEGADE Submachine Gun, Chest Mine / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 15) KRAKOT RENEGADE Submachine Gun, Chest Mine / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 15) ZERAT (Forward Observer) Boarding Shotgun, Grenades, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 22) ZERAT Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 21) Q-DRONE Plasma Rifle / Electric Pulse. (1 | 25) GROUP 2 6 MED-TECH OBSIDON MEDCHANOID Combi Rifle, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 23) Bit Hacker (UPGRADE: Expel) Submachine Gun + Pitcher, Deployable Repeater + KISS! / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 19) KISS! Adhesive Launcher / Electric Pulse. (- | 4) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) R-DRONE Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8) MORAT Hacker (EI Hacking Device) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 22) 3.5 SWC | 300 Points Open in Infinity Army Spoiler: mimetism defense Defensive game (open firefight) ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 10 2 RODOK HMG / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 27) RODOK Missile Launcher, Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 28) RODOK Missile Launcher, Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 28) RODOK Paramedic (MediKit) Boarding Shotgun, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 21) RODOK Lieutenant Combi Rifle, 2 Light Shotguns / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 26) KRAKOT RENEGADE Submachine Gun, Chest Mine / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 15) KRAKOT RENEGADE Submachine Gun, Chest Mine / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 15) ZERAT (Forward Observer) Boarding Shotgun, Grenades, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 22) ZERAT Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 21) Q-DRONE HMG / Electric Pulse. (1 | 26) GROUP 2 5 Bit Hacker (UPGRADE: Expel) Submachine Gun + Pitcher, Deployable Repeater + KISS! / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 19) KISS! Adhesive Launcher / Electric Pulse. (- | 4) MED-TECH OBSIDON MEDCHANOID Combi Rifle, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 23) SLAVE DRONE Electric Pulse. (0 | 3) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) R-DRONE Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8) 6 SWC | 300 Points Open in Infinity Army That's the 2 same list but in diferent terms of playing: The first list are able when the scenario grans you the mobility on the core team, without LoV in front and playing quiclky and dirty, you have 9 Morats on the midfield if you have the iniciative to start, then, the Q-drone with a cheap vanguard hacker over the E-drone, bcs you don't need the Rasyat or a hard hacking game if you don't playing: Suryats team, you only need that signle vanguard to put assited fire on the plasma drone and to to support the 9 Morats on the frontline. All of your active pieces can go with mimetism, that's the great advantage against regular profiles without MSV.And yeah, 16 orders, nice start with em. Also the expending of 3 command tokens to do: 1 coordinated: x2 krakot x2 zerat, move to posiont in fullcover and put 2 mines with Zerats on the corners, 2scdn token: include 4 rodoks of the fireteam and breaks, move and put 4 mines near the team in the corners, last 3rd token: reform the link team. Your last token to do last coordinated 1st move on the Q-drone with the zerats and put other 2 mines, and some orders to get more close the Q-dron near the Morats. The 2scnd list, are your most strong defensive play can offer on MAF, 3 ARO pieces with mimetism on the same LoV on open scenarios, any engange on them without smoke tricks you deals with 4-6-8 roll dices if you opponet have the mistakes on the LoV. x2 Rodoks ML + Q-drone HMG, its a nice ARO option. Then, can go to fight hard with the Rodok HMG, bcs that Q-drone don't have a regular hacker to use the assited fire, but are your 2scnd option after your main HMG bonus. That 2 list, you can put 4 or 9 Morats out of your deploy zone, to start to crush the opponent, but yeah... 1st go to clean camo markers with spec grenades with that single zerat if its possible or leave the krakots and dodge the "mines". You can learn easy with this basic sinergies: run, attack, hide, prone and secure your zone with mines and let your opponent to go in close combat with you, Morats are so good on closed games.
@Styx wow so many useful info, thx a lot :). I really like this mimetism/close combat/ lay mines tactic so I think i'll keep these 2 lists in mind But I read, in other discussions, that Zerats are not so good, are you sure they are worth taking?
@TraceTheKriken, in MAF you don't have any mid-deploy with infiltration skill troops over the Zerats and specialist profile. The Zerats runs easy doing 2 things: quick rush and clean, to die pushing the buttons. First sacrifice in little points to clear areas. Zerats have a nice weapon set to do the first wave clear; mines, boarding shotgun, grenades, flamethrower and the special stuff on E/Mitter to try dissable enemy REM/HI/TAG causing the INM-2 state over the isolation (and here, taht profile can be soooo good in term of value witihin the Zerat hacker assault...) and the supress fire from the combi rifle with cover+mimetism. The great sinergie on her are the PHY12 to dodge if you don't have any chances to shoot, also all Zerats have a nice profile with the exception of the Assault Hacker, she carry a D-Charges and she can go to complete 4 or 5 clasified objectives in one profile, but the lack of steahl, she are so easy to kill with any killer hacker hidden on TO or camo state. All Morats don't be prepared for playing as the 2scnd player if you going at this, plus that on the Zerats on her vulnerabilities and the risky deploying more far than the other Morat group. A part of that, if you going with Zerats, the best stuff to holding zones with her, are put 2 on the same list, or 1 + 1 or 2 krakots near on her. At same time; Zerat FO are awesome datatracker on missions like unmasking or on the missions want's to kill designated targets, and in ARO piece, she can faceing with pulse flash with WIP13, better than shooting out of range and doging. Also the sinergie on her with Krakots are on coordinated orders to put her on assits with Krakot attacking on CC adding 2 dices on the Krakot on berserk mode with the DA CC weapon, you have alrready 2 miniatures near the enemy zones, expending some orders to try clean the way of your better troops like the cores or that Raicho for an example. You can read some stuff if the Zerats don't be used or not, beacasue any players made the list over they metaplaying, other uses or simply, don't using the Zerats on this examples, just only: i have an midtable specialist. As a MAF player, i try a lot to playing using the experience of they tactics, dirty or direct games, they don't have a toolbox of surprise, but the dirty tactics are so fun and able, but this you need to form an specific list with some tricks and sinergies. I like some much Zerats in MAF, you can make a great themed list with a lot mimetism profiles as attacking forces with dangerous and awesome weaponry. I can tell you how much are the effective are the Morat grenadiers, specially the daturazi core, runing with spec.fire on 14PHY, plus add the marker state from: spotligth, FO skill or Satlock, that little red evils runs on 23PHY doing the spec fire in bonus core against themy PHYS -3, just only with hand grenades, you need only in 1 roll dice over 17s to do a crit specfire... In CA vanilla, its a other style, but isn't abnormal see 1 single FO Zerat for that questions: easy datatracker on speciffic missions, nice and cheap specialist for the first turn (push button and die) even to losing your camo marker like the extra FO shrouded, 22 points against your 25 points in a camo marker specialist, i think are worth it, but you alrready have the mission point. I talking about this: Spoiler: EVO rules EVO HACKING DEVICE AUTOMATIC EQUIPMENT Comms Equipment REQUIREMENTS EFFECTS Allows the use of SWORD L1, SHIELD L2 and all GADGET programs. In addition, allows the use of the following GADGET-EVO programs: GADGET-EVO. Supportware: Kaleidoscope. GADGET-EVO. Supportware: Overclock. GADGET-EVO. Supportware: Reboot. GADGET-EVO. Supportware: TeamPro. This piece of Equipment allows players to enlist REMs in their Army List. The EVO Hacking Device allows use of the Tactical Support Systems, a series of automatic and simultaneous Bonuses: EVO Hacking Device allows the use of Hacking Programs in a Coordinated Order. It is not mandatory for all the Hackers in the Coordinated Order to use the same Hacking Program. This piece of Equipment allows players to spend a Command Token to re-roll a single failed Normal or Face to Face WIP Roll when declaring the use of a Hacking Program. The player may re-roll just one die, no matter the Burst value of the Hacking Program he used. The player who has the second Player Turn may spend a Command Token to deploy one troop with the EVO Hacking Device with one GADGET-EVO Supportware Hacking Program active. During the Deployment Phase the player will place the corresponding Supportware Marker with the EVO Hacker Device bearer on the table. This action is not considered a Strategic Use of the Command Token. This piece of Equipment automatically provides a Bonus that nullifies the -6 MOD to the WIP Roll for the Sat-Lock Special Skill for any friendly trooper. An EVO Hacking Device automatically provides a +3 PH Bonus to the Airborne Deployment Special Skill. This Bonus is not cumulative with the Controlled JumpSupportware Hacking Program, nor with the Bonus provided by other additional EVO Hacking Devices. Spoiler: satlock rule SAT-LOCK ENTIRE ORDER Comms Attack, Comms Equipment, Optional, No LoF, Zone of Control. REQUIREMENTS In addition to Sat-Lock, the user must also have both the Forward Observer and Sensor Special Skills. The target must be inside the user's Sensor Area. EFFECTS This Special Skill allows its user to declare a Comms Attack with a WIP-6 Roll against a target within Sensor Area. This Roll applies no further MODs (for Range, Cover, CH, ODD...) or bonuses unless otherwise specified. Upon a successful Roll, the target enters the Targeted state, signified by a Targeted Marker (TARGETED). The user need not have LoF to the target. With this Special Skill, the Comms Attack may be declared against an enemy Camouflage or TO Camouflage Marker. In that case, a successful Roll not only tags the target as Targeted, but also Discovers him, replacing the Marker with the target's model. Spoiler: sample team grenadiers Morat Aggression Force ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 7 5 E-DRONE Combi Rifle / Electric Pulse. (0.5 | 28) M-DRONE Combi Rifle, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 17) DĀTURAZI Chain Rifle, Grenades, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (0 | 14) DĀTURAZI Chain Rifle, Grenades, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (0 | 14) DĀTURAZI Chain Rifle, Grenades, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (0 | 14) DĀTURAZI Combi Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 22) DĀTURAZI Chain Rifle, Grenades, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (0 | 14) 0.5 SWC | 123 Points Open in Infinity Army To expensive, but just resumed on this: Spoiler: cheap sample Morat Aggression Force ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 6 4 6 E-DRONE Combi Rifle / Electric Pulse. (0.5 | 28) M-DRONE Combi Rifle, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 17) ZERAT (Forward Observer) Boarding Shotgun, Grenades, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 22) OZNAT Vulkan Shotgun, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 20) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) KRAKOT RENEGADE Submachine Gun, Chest Mine / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 15) R-DRONE Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8) 0.5 SWC | 126 Points Open in Infinity Army Adding 3 points, you have alrready orders to go with 2 coordinated orders: krakot+zerat+M+R or EVO as the bait to the hacking attemp over him or in M-dron; move+move, move+reset or move+brain blast/breakwater on EVO. Then, just spend orders to do satlocks in enemy or stacked groups on 1 target and then, leave the Zerat trowing the spec fire on 18s, her high dice bonus roll against this -3 PHY on enemy dodge. 10 orders on 126pts 0,5 SWC against 7 orders 123pts 0.5 SWC. That stuff its the part of the dirty play in other way on Morat style with a bounch of grenades: Morat Aggression Force ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 6 3 DĀTURAZI Chain Rifle, Grenades, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (0 | 14) OZNAT Vulkan Shotgun, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 20) RASYAT Boarding Shotgun, D-Charges, Eclipse Grenades / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 28) KRAKOT RENEGADE 2 Chain Rifles, Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 14) ZERAT (Forward Observer) Boarding Shotgun, Grenades, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 22) ANYAT K1 Combi Rifle, Chain-colt, Smoke Grenades, E/M Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 25) 0 SWC | 123 Points Open in Infinity Army 3 smokers, 1 E/M controller, 1 Eclipse nullifer and 3 grenadeir supressors. The bad thing about the daturazi; extreme impetuous and this isn't good, Krakot are the best option bcs he isn't extreme impetuous and you can handle him to don't move the position before the specfiring, and the Zerat, the best and solid option, if you don't run with krakot grenadier after.... he can won that +3PHY + Regen roll on metachemestry.... And the base list in only single Zerat grenadier, you have alrready: somke train and more SWC and points to add your big punches, a part to playing on the spec firing with the EVO+M combo. The real big stats on Morat are on the PHYs and the hand grenades, really and then, the mimetism for sure if you don't run with average armored troops. And finally, this tricks and playing are so nasty and difficult to do, bcs over your mission and table scenario... in closed games; go with some templates, spec fires and short ranges for shooting, here are when MAF shynnies a lot. Spoiler: 1 Clean swap Morat Aggression Force ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 6 4 6 E-DRONE Combi Rifle / Electric Pulse. (0.5 | 28) M-DRONE Combi Rifle, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 17) ZERAT (Forward Observer) Boarding Shotgun, Grenades, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 22) OZNAT Vulkan Shotgun, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 20) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) PRETA Chain Rifle / AP CCW. (0 | 7) KRAKOT RENEGADE Submachine Gun, Chest Mine / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 15) Bit Hacker (UPGRADE: Expel) Submachine Gun + Pitcher, Deployable Repeater + KISS! / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 19) KISS! Adhesive Launcher / Electric Pulse. (- | 4) GROUP 2 7 MED-TECH OBSIDON MEDCHANOID Combi Rifle, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 23) R-DRONE Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8) SLAVE DRONE Electric Pulse. (0 | 3) SLAVE DRONE Electric Pulse. (0 | 3) Q-DRONE HMG / Electric Pulse. (1 | 26) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) SURYAT Lieutenant HMG + TinBot A (Deflector L1) / Pistol, CCW. (2 | 45) RASYAT Spitfire, Eclipse Grenades / Pistol, DA CCW. (1.5 | 34) 5.5 SWC | 300 Points Open in Infinity Army 2 "midfield" pieces + medium range attacker from the back and push in to corners near the menace form the zerat and krakot menaces. You can prepare the hunting terrain, guidin the enemy into a trap. Spoiler: 2. Zerat flamer bait Morat Aggression Force ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 6 4 6 E-DRONE Combi Rifle / Electric Pulse. (0.5 | 28) M-DRONE Combi Rifle, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 17) ZERAT (Forward Observer) Boarding Shotgun, Grenades, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 22) OZNAT Vulkan Shotgun, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 20) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) GAKI AP CCW. (0 | 4) PRETA Chain Rifle / AP CCW. (0 | 7) KRAKOT RENEGADE Submachine Gun, Chest Mine / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 15) Bit Hacker (UPGRADE: Expel) Submachine Gun + Pitcher, Deployable Repeater + KISS! / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 19) KISS! Adhesive Launcher / Electric Pulse. (- | 4) GROUP 2 7 MED-TECH OBSIDON MEDCHANOID Combi Rifle, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 23) R-DRONE Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8) SLAVE DRONE Electric Pulse. (0 | 3) SLAVE DRONE Electric Pulse. (0 | 3) Q-DRONE HMG / Electric Pulse. (1 | 26) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) 2 Light Flamethrowers, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9) SOGARAT Lieutenant AP HMG / Pistol, AP CCW. (2 | 56) ZERAT Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 21) 4 SWC | 298 Points Open in Infinity Army Simply, go to risky the Zerat flamer on 9PHYs as last deploy in to the face enemy deployzone and burn her order group to flaming things, or change tthe profile for the E/miter and stay near the 1st zerat and krakot.
@Styx thx for the exhaustive explanation. I don't think i'll run this tactics so soon (lack of models, confidence and experience with the rules), but I'll keep everything you said in mind. Where I play they say that Zerats are decent only with HD (they also say that vanguards are one of the best core options in MAF...so I think that from now on I'll write in this forums if I'll have other doubts), but here you raised some good points in favor of the other options and some nice synergies that I want to try (in the future). Thx a lot guys for every clarification and advice you gave me :)
Local metas are all individual and all opinions are valid, I hardly use them but vanguard links have been very effective for me in the past especially if you want to save the SWC for elsewhere in the list. Equally Zerats to me do not exist, I find an infiltrator without a camo state to be a bit of a waste of time when morats have few ways to adequately support them. I also use Krakots but not generally at the expense of Daturatzi. I pretty much echo Xagoroths sentiments: The Dr Boobworm MD Eng is almost an auto include, and Rodoks are in my opinion the best link in CA (and just got a little buff with season 10), both serve you very well if you want to branch out into vanilla or into Onyx.
