Perceived or Actual Invasion of PanOceania’s Design Space - PanO Ammo Option Specialists

Honestly, SWF feels weakest of our five sectorials

 

It does, but I see SWF - and new MO - as a hopeful signs, because, for all drawbacks, in both of these sectorials a lot of new ideas were introduced, with skills and weapons that PanO didn't have before. What's needed is adressing the flaws to make both fully enjoyable, while still leaving obvious drawbacks for opponents to exploit.

And I fully agree with psychoticstorm, that PanO should have a more robust Command and Control system, with good Lieutenants, their backups, and squad leaders. It shouldn't depend only on characters, either; PanO sectorials being a professional and highly trained military units should have this capability placed much lower. CoC Bolt is a good example.

I also await further fireteam tweaks, with Tarlok-like bonuses, because it's an excellent idea that needs to see more use.

 

But at the same time it is important to avoid making every single new fireteam become a 'morat' fireteam in terms of flexibility and keeping the coherency bonus. Minor things, such as providing Terrain (Zero G) to crosiers if they have a Knight of Santiago wildcard with them are interesting... Specially as that would allow to build thematical lists such as a 'Knights of Santiago Deep Space Assault Force', for example.

 

This is what I'm talking about. While I'm playing MAF and the ease with which they keep coherency bonuses is nice, I wouldn't like this to be adopted across the board. Some sectorials could use more flexibility in this regard, but this is something to apply with care and precision.

Terrain skills are one of the good choices, but there are other options as well. For example Number 2, Courage, Religious, Stealth - as a reward for choosing a more restricted fireteam composition.

 

For the Yan Huo/Boyg example. I think the Boyg is a little better. While equal as far as BS and both having +1B Missile. The Boyg has better BTS of 6 (The YH has the completely useless Bioimmunity with a BTS of 3) and ECM -3 hacking! It can have a Haris with a wider variety of troops (including a doctor instead of an Engineer). It also has better dodge abilities and a big thing this season, it has Terrain (Total). Allowing it to have +1 Move or Super Jump in some missions! BTW Agnes is a pretty cheap cheerleader.

Then there's the Mk12. It's pretty darn good I think. You can Rambo with that thing. I just lost almost a whole fire team of of Zuyong to a Keil-San with Mk12 on the weekend. He's great for missions where you need to move in. Yan Huo is not good for close in battles.

I would say not having a great Engineer is kind of in story for them. They have an attitude of "why fix it when you can just replace it".

Another great beast is the Knight of the Sepulcher. +1 Damage AP HMG with a BS14 is great! Then Holo Projector is great (I think stolen from Yu Jing). I think this guy is a as good or better than the Mowang. Better BS, weapons, BTS, CC. But he is more expensive.

 

Also YJ supposedly being specialized in HI

 

I don't know, getting to use ARM 5 against Breaker, E/M, Nanopulser, etc is still pretty neat.

 

As well as still having BTS 3 against Mono

 

I envy the Mowang's Mimetism-3 and NWI though, that extra pseudo-wound is really nice on an ARM 5 unit.

 

It's still halved with Breaker and E/M. So it's back to 3. So...not that much better. Just give it BTS6 like all the other like him and be done with it.

Optimal word being supposedly. MO can still get close. They used to have more. IA still can't make an all HI list without hurting itself.

? I'm not so sure you can do that against Mono. It doesn't make sense.

 

I really recommend reading the Bioimmunity FAQ

https://infinitythewiki.com/Bioimmunity

N4 FAQVersion: 1.0, Jan 2021
Q: How does Bioimmunity interact with Ammunition and Traits that reduce the Saving Roll Attribute, for example AP or E/M Ammunition, or ARM=0?

A: AP Ammunition is tied to the Saving Roll Attribute listed in a weapon’s profile. If Bioimmunity is used to make the Saving Roll against a different Attribute, that Attribute will not be halved. In the same way, if Bioimmunity is used against a hit by E/M Ammunition to make the Saving Rolls against ARM, the ARM value will not be halved. The ARM=0 Trait only applies if the Saving Roll is made against the ARM Attribute, and vice-versa for the BTS=0 Trait.

 

I like that a major change for Pano in N4 was the distribution of more Multrifles. They show a great high tech feel and toolbox nature. Karhu are awesome and are a wonderful example of Pano lethality.

@Stiopa mentioned this a long time ago, but what would also help Pano would be more Auxbots and more types. Auxbots are super useful and very fluffy for PanO. I think they should lean into that.

I also really want a new sculpts for the Pathfinder and Bulleteers. They have always been great profiles, but they just need updated models. And they could be Thermoplastic, so they save CB money.

So hopefully more death bots in future!

 

Thanks but still, so corner case it's not worth it. For me it's usually good old Normal or AP ammo that kills it or possibly hacked. I've never used the BI on it. Call me when he's BTS6.

 

I think more Tinbots and Tinbots with abilities not simple Tinbot" Firewal (-3), Tinbot: Albedo in CA is a nice indicator on what you can do with them and how one could synergize with them in a fireteam.

 

I think most people asking for PanO reworks were asking for more Auxbot types, they're an iconic piece of PanO equipment. We were talking about them with @AlphaStrike, and there are some neat ideas floating there.

Peacemaker and Bulleteer sure could use updated sculpts, though the're still pretty good, particularly the Peacemaker. But if they could get this muscle car feel new Dronbots got... Also, more linkable bots. Bulleteer in NCA is a good start.

Absolutely. Tinbots feel like a perfectly PanO solution to tactical problems: "Hey, why won't we just give our boys in the field some buff in a can?" Albedo, Discover buffs, CC modifiers... I feel that PanO shouldn't get top of the line Firewall buffs, but they should get utility out of their Tinbots. PanO Military Complex has to go for efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and I guess they'd be keen on making sure their fireteams are getting force multipliers.

 

I think having a difference in Palbots would be cool too. It's the same in all factions. But it would be cool if PanO had a Mim-6 instead of the normal.

 

Am I the only one thinking about putting BS Attack: AP on one of those little 'bots and turning those BS12 Combi Rifles and HMGs we have across the whole faction into something to be afraid of?

In the event of a full rework to the PanO playstyle, I'd prefer to see this kind of mutual support emphasised compared to the top-heavy command efficiency of Yu Jing; let every element on the field, used properly, enhance the others.

 

I think Orcs are the perfect fit for a lot of this. They could be reconceived as field officers, deployed to support a team in the field with better command and tactical solutions, instead of being the most boring HI in the game. A wider range of tinbots, an Orc with NCO & Number 2, maybe even chain colts as default sidearms to stop them being such goddarn piñadas.

 

This would be glorious, though more powerful upgrades should be locked behind some expensive units. Especially if the base itself will be good on its own, imagine Bolts getting any significant Tinbot upgrade.

I'm not sure PanO would issue Chain Colts for such a unit. I'd rather expect Multi Pistols with (+1 B). This would take advantage of their good BS, and PanO Multi Pistol is beautiful, so they could get a nice sculpt out of this.

Speaking of ORCs and some other units - PanO could use more cross-sharing of basic units between sectorials, with sectorial-specific bonuses, either tied to unit itself (like done with ORCs at the moment), or to fireteam (like Tarlok fireteam does).