Seeing as how such links have become near ubiquitous... yeah, sure, that'd be nice. Also an Aquila HMG Lt would be cool... even if it ends up being a sectorial exclusive Lt.
So I’ve been camping in Death Valley away from any and all internet for a couple days. Returned to internet-land to see this. I was wrong, and I’m so glad I was wrong. Thanks CB, and bring on the Bolts!
I'm happy for those who are happy, but I personally feel like enough isn't being done. Bolts should be dropping to 20 for the Drop Bears+CR/LSG profile. It's supposed to be the signature profile--it shouldn't be optional. Aquila Guard should be getting a Leadership quality of life bit not this half-assed Wildcard on one profile crap. Tikbalang should have been added here, not Military fricking Orders. Auxilia could have been given new life with a Drop Bear or E/Mauler Auxbot.
Dropping things to random point cost is never gonna happen. The combi+LSG Profile is dead anyway, long live the BSG. CoC is probably the biggest change for the entirety of PanO. FTO Wildcard Aquila Profile is nice, but especially with CoC in the the mix I'm a little cross there isn't a Lt L2 or FTO+Strategos Lt Profile. The Tik is armoured Cavalry and has no fluff relation to Neoterra. Neoterra uses the other Stingray series, the Uhlan. Instead of getting the Tik fixing its step brother would have been a much better idea. Mostly by adding a condition that makes taking two full blown main armaments cheaper. Also wouldn't complain about an extra Sectorial only Profile for him and the Squalo. Auxilia are still good, but also still that one inexplicable point too expensive, another Profile for the Auxbot sure would have been appreciated. Can't help it but think I'll never run NCA without 2 CSUs again. So Auxilia more than ever get relegated to 2nd Violin behind them.
People actually run NCA withou 2 CSUs ?;P Why not both ? My most successfull NCA list has 2 TO, 2 CSUs, 2 Auxilias FO. Its quite fun list.
I really don't think that the Combi+LSG is dead. Not the drop bear one at least. This profile has a long record of being the annoying guy in my games. Would I take them multiple time? Well, don't think so. Albedo BF or Aquila are already taking one of their slot in my Bolt core and so is the Machinist or Bipandra. So one Combi+LSG+DB, one Aquila/BF, one Machinist/Bipandra, one KHD, one Spitfire and the last slot will highly depend on what the situation asks. And yes, in Haris, I think they will work pretty well too. Don't miss the ORC Haris too. This FT received nice additions with two MSVs and one Doctor. Tried it with an Aquila in it and I was pretty happy with the result as he can protect the ORCs for the incoming WB and be the camo sweeping guy while bringing the pain the ORC Haris is known for (for those who have tried it of course). And as the Aquila is immune to surprise shot and attack from camo troops, he doesn't need that much to be in core if you place him carefully for short range ARO against an army which only rely on camo and smokes (like JSA, Ariadna, Yu Jing...). I'm still waiting to see if ORCs will receive Core FT like they have in SAA and VIRD. If yes, then a core of ORCs with a Haris of Bolts could be something I'd run for scenarios like the Armory or Biotechvore. As for the Aquila FTO, we don't know exactly all his profile. Maybe he will get some skills or equipement in addition (I laugh if he has a X-Visor or Strategic Deployment). Well, yes? Sometimes they are not the troop you really need. They are wonderful and all but in no way they are an autopick. Mostly in LI lists without TAGs (as they are the best TAG guards I know in NCA if you can't pay for Bolts).
Orc Haris certainly is better now. Putting the Aquila in there gives him a HMG to walk up the field and do his thing, the awful AHD can be replaced with Bipandra, who provides a lot of utility and shaves off 20 points. They're still Orcs, so far from amazing. Not sure I'd run an Orc Haris over a Bolt+Aquila one. What really stands out for the Bolt Haris is that they're the perfect buddies for a HI. They don't care about Jammers or Hacking and have the templates to screen against CC troops on top. The BSG+Drop Bears just takes the cake now, 18 points for the guy is a steal.
That still is an MSV3 MULTI-Rifle with BS18 ( Rangebands not included ) marching up the field to systematically and efficiently delet any and all camo units. RIP Tartarybois, eat Shock ammo.
I'm pretty disappointed in that detail. No HMG Lt. and no HMG FTO? As a certain American Football telecaster used to say, "Come on man!"
I can kind of understand not wanting a BS21 Burst 5 HMG that takes very, very few penalties in the game .
Is it that dangerous and difficult? If that is the case at least allow the HMG to become the Lt. to match the Aquila's lore. The Mulit-Rifle can be the only one that links with fireteams but the HMG should at the very least be an Lt. option.
Yeah a Core Linked MSV3 HMG would be bad for the game as a whole, what's the point of ARO pieces against something like that? The HMG is the Orc. As you point out correctly we all know that the Aquila FTO is restricted to a Multirifle.
Exactly how a HMG Lt would match the lore? HMG toting hitech HI Lt is a YuJing thing. Exceptions are Kriza Borat, Sogarat and Orc. You already got a lot of stuff, around 90% of all the wishlistings done in this subforum, which thing reaches levels of absurdity (someone could say it's community manipulating designers instead of giving feedback). Designers are not there to cater all your wishes and let's face it, PanO got already enough stuff to be highly competitive. You can't have it all.
To quote form the small tidbit of lore about the Aquila Guard: Spoiler: Aquila Guard Lore An elite unit from the most prestigious military training center on Neoterra, located in Aquila. The Aquila Guard takes only the crème de la crème of officers from the PanOceanian armed forces. Among its members are some of the foremost strategists and tacticians in the army, and the regiment’s operational history is studied as part of basic training in the Military Complex. The Aquila Officers Academy takes pride in the spirit of ‘leading from the front’ it instills into each of its cadets: the philosophy that an Aquila officer must always share the frontlines with the troops under his command. Their operational profile includes both field and high-risk missions, particularly Combat Search and Clearing ops. The regiment is also responsible for the personal safety of PanOceanian authorities and commanding officers, as well as the security of classified military documents and maximum security facilities under Code Red situations. In order to be able to fulfil these duties, Aquilas have a degree of diplomatic immunity, granted by the Department of Foreign Affairs. As a result of their prestige within Neoterran forces, they have access to the very best equipment, which they use to great effect. The arrival of an Aquila Guard to a theater of operations means High Command takes the situation very seriously, and is willing to risk their very best men for the sake of the operation. Therefore I don't see why the HMG of the Aquila can't be the Lt. of a Vanilla or NCA force. They have alot of power according to the above paragraph and having only one out of the two weapon loadouts able to be Lt. doesn't mesh well. Plus having Startegos L1 doesn't seem too far off for this unit to have.
