ISS is my first love, but I feel like alot of these minis are side grades. I will still probably buy the box set because of some of the ones I do like and also my CGs were painted so long ago I think I can do a much better job now.
One thing to think about too is that that if this is like they did with Bakunin, there were also other new troops besides what comes in the initial box set. But I can't see ISS/YJ getting anything near what Nomads got. Because well, Nomads. But I'm willing to guess we might get one or two new troops besides the three we see. I'm still hoping for good and cheap specialists.
Thanks for posting! I’m glad we still have Deva and Dakinis! But as thought, no Garuda. NO Sophie! New troops as I thought! Already knew the Bayara, Koga (in addition to Ninja and Kunai), and Jinyao (replacing Gardua). Dragon Lord now confirmed to be more than an HVT. Imperial Vanguard Qianfeng (translates Forward). Forward deploy unit? They are not in any fireteams. Since Sophie is gone they could be the new Engineer and Doctor. Jinwei are in the HI section. They could also be an Eng/Doc like the Burkut in Haqqilsam. A quick shearch on Forbidden Troops In Chinese history, the "Forbidden Troops" refers to the elite Imperial Guards of the Tang Dynasty, specifically the highly skilled soldiers who directly protected the emperor and were stationed in the imperial capital, considered the only military force under the central court's complete control after the An Shi Rebellion; essentially, they were the emperor's personal, highly trained guard force, sometimes compared to the Roman Praetorian Guard. Key points about the Forbidden Troops: Name in Chinese: "禁军" (Jìn Jūn) Dynasty: Primarily associated with the Tang Dynasty Role: Elite bodyguards of the emperor, stationed in the imperial capital Significance: Considered the only military force directly under the emperor's control after the An Shi Rebellion Shenji Ying (google has Shenji as “audit”. But together with ying it’s Shenji Camp). It’s in the Skirmish section. The symbol gives me a feeling of a hacker. But could also be new Eng/Doc. Fireteam chart No idea if we still get two haris. I.A. Crane or Pheasant I guess is like FTO? Celestial Guard team. Jinwei count at Celestials and Hsien for a team. Dragon Lords in CG team. I’m guessing he’s an HQ type troop? Pheasant now in CG team. Deva and Dakini no longer in CG team but can still haris. Kuang Shi team No change. Dakini Haris No changes Zhian teams Addition of Jinwei counting as Hsien. Fast Attack team No change Wu Ming team Zhanying changed from max 4 to 3. Otherwise, the same. Wildcards Addition of Shenji counting as Hsien. So far so good. I can't find what Bakunin got last year. So I can't confirm if it's the same or less than Bakkunin got for new troops. I think they got Initiates, Orphans, Wabara, Daemonist, Cenobites, Stigmata, Penitent. Later on they gained Rounders, Marspiders
Well the Wu-ming team change in one way: Imperial agents are now considered wu-mings, not just the Zhánying, so they also contribute to Fireteam bonuses (now that the bonuses are way less important).
Good catch! I missed that. That's really good. I've been liking a team lately of Wu Ming Tinbot, AP HMG, and Zhanying Hacker. I did once use a Pheasant with madtraps along with them just to give them the Strategic Deployment. Edit: Adil counts as a Crane but not as a Wu Ming
Another cool thing it's now safe to buy some bikers to be my ISS MBH! I think my store still had some Dynamo's that are perfect because one has an SMG and one a Red Fury. Lately I've been doing the BSG though lol.
Right. And Jinwei is "forbiden troop" not a nickname for docs & engs. BUt Shenji also count as Hsien. So we have no one left. Maybe integrated in the CGs? Or they just forgot the Sophotec? Naja - we will see, when the hit Army. Or maybe Space Ranger is right:
I'm thinking Qianfeng because they are LI. Jinwei is HI and Shenji looks like Skirmish in the list. They also both count as Hsien which might not mean anything but I don't think they would be Doc/Eng. The name meaning Forward could be literal (Forward Deploy perhaps) or Metaphorically (forward thinking, progress, technology). I hope they are more than just Celestial Guard with Eng or Doc skills. But that wouldn't be too bad since they have WIP 14. Not as great as Sophies 15 but probably much cheaper. I'm thinking the Jinwei are going to be good in CC. Sort of ISS version of Hwarang.
I think the Shènjī is likely to be the engineer as we have seen elsewhere that it’s usually engineers that have the deployables. Picture with caption from the latest CB video as my source.
Good point ☝️. But it could also be madtraps, mines, fast panda would be nice! Panda are a Chinese thing! #YJTAKESBACKPANDAS lol. We will find out soon I think. The ISS reveal came out earlier than Bukunin. That was March 6th. I haven't found TB yet.
Well this doesn't inspire confidence in me. You can see the Koga had decoy (1) and Mim -3. Which means no camo and that sucks. So far I've not been liking Kanren with their Decoy and they have two of them! In general I don't like any forward deploy unit, assuming he has some skill of it, that doesn't have camo. He had better be much cheaper than regular Ninja! Non-Camo Forward deployed troops are usually the first things of mine to die or the first things for me to kill. Also, this tells us that the Bayara, Dragon Lord, and Jinyao do NOT have any kind of maker state. So not a KHD troop or decoy, etc.
Xi Zhuang So, what can be done to make this guy good? He was ok when he first came out. For me he was quickly put aside for other better specialists. He’s a slightly improved Celestial Guard with better BS and average weapons. He was the only one to have a template weapon with the LFT but now all CG have Lt. Riotstopper. The Madtraps are what set him apart now. But I think it was better when Madtraps moved with the trooper in the fireteam. He has a Para -6 CCW but if he’s in CC it’s probably with something that far outclasses him. Slightly better ARM but nothing that makes a big difference. Immune Shock is ok. Forward Observer. He’s a specialist that can do a little more than push a button. I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t remember the last time I actually used the FO skill. The last time I did it was just to get a classified objective and got killed for my effort. I don’t remember ever using Flash Pulse but it’s good to have when Combi is out of range. Number 2 is an ok skill but doesn’t come up that often. Fireteams, he always counted as CG and I think Wildcard, but now also as a CSU. We can see in the revealed list that he’s still all of that. Right now, I don’t see many reasons to take him. If I spend 21pts its’ going to be for Taowu who has more for the same price or Deva KHD for one point less. What I would do Any changes I would make would not increase his points. I like around the 20 or less range. First off, just to make him more of a CG, change the LFT to a Light Riotstopper. Even better if it keeps the +1 B. If not that, then a Zapper or E/Marat would be fantastic a well. Both are in-line with the rest of the force. I think it would cool and different if he had either Madtrap (3) OR Minelayer (2). I don’t think this would be much of a big deal and set him apart from others.
Decoy on the Koga is definitely a decision. I'd been expecting hidden deployment of some sort. I can't think of any precedent where the two skills come together, even the Ayyar mixes HD with Holoprojector. Granted, I don't think that ISS really should be much of a skirmish-y faction, oppressive doorkicking should stay their main quirk. But odd to have it be so closely redundant with the Kanren, who already isn't all that good. Xi Zhuang is probably dying off, at least for now. Guy's model is ancient and it was always ugly as sin. As it stands, his profile is mostly fine, just a touch expensive these days.
