I also haven't heard them say 2 a year hard limit, but with only 4 factions seriously likely to be added (unless I'm not actually joking after all) I guess there's only two options.
I think Hacking will be very different in Code One. That Sval Code One list that's getting around has 4 Hackers but they're all the same (just a regular Hacker). So I'm not sure if Nomads vs Ariadna will really show up as a weakness. Nomads and Aleph as next year's doesn't make sense to me though: they're both largely complete factions. Aleph doesn't have a 3rd Sectorial in the fluff and Nomads is the least in need of widespread resculpting. Yes we need some newer units, but it's not widespread. Both Ariadna and Haqq OTOH need some love. Haqq only has 2 active Sectorials, so a re-release of QK would be very good for them. CHA is very dated and could well with resculpts. So I think there's a strong justification for Haqq vs Ariadna next year. However, if Op:Thingthing is the only way that stuff is being released into Code One then I REALLY REALLY REALLY want a CJC vs QK space ship themed release. I still think the smartest option is Haqq vs Ariadna Op:Thingthing while Nomads and Aleph just get released as an Action Pack late in the year.
Bostria did say in the Mayacast interview that there was the option of more Action Packs made from older Operation & Beyond boxes, so I don't think there's a hard cap of 2 factions next year. If anything out depends how well the Code One range does in terms of sales and getting on FLGS shelves.
That would be awesome, we know they're bringing back an OOP faction next year, and whilst I wish it was FRRM, I also wouldn't be upset about CJC vs QK in a Battlepack.
FRRM did go away first, and their in story reason for being weaker will be diminished with a timeskip. FRRM also have plenty of room for a heavy redesign and new units - French Superheavy Infantry, a Foreign Legion or more use of mercs, a source of experimental warfare for Ariadna as a whole during their rebuild. QK also maybe need NA2 nailed down in N4 to figure out what they can become. But CJC butting heads with them makes some sense right now too.
The problem is I keep running into "sculpts that shouldn't be replaced" problem. Either you go with a 100% resculpted starter and a Bakunin focussed "Beyond" equivalent release or you go with a 100% repacked starter and a CJC focussed new "Beyond" equivalent release. I just don't see the MB MR+LFT, Intruder MSR or Hellcat Spitfire getting replaced. They're too good. So Algs, Wildcat Spitfire, Jaguar, ?, ? Exclusive would be a reasonable Starter. As much as I want an Moran FO in that, I think Perimeter items won't make it into Code One. YY would ofcourse be the LE model, usable by Nomads in Code One. Then Hafzas, Sekban, Al'Hawwa, Djan with Exclusive Oda for the QK side.
They just replaced Fusiliers, ORC MR, and the Father Knight from Icestorm in Kaldstrøm, that's 5/7 models on the PanO side. A new battle box with 3x Alguaciles, an MB MR+flamer, Hellcat Spitfire, and a couple of new things isn't outside the realms of possibility,especially if the Alguaciles get spacesuits and the MB gets a Zero-G rig.
I'm proposing a 4/7 replacement. Retaining MB, Grenzer and Spektr. MB is the only model I think they wouldn't want to replace / I wouldn't want to see replaced from the Vanilla starter. He's a real character. Grenzer and Spektr are just easy to retain and release as a 3 model release with the B:IS Kriza.
If they really do Haqq vs. Ariadna (or vs. Aleph for that matter) then this would be good in another regard. It would save me money and painting time. While money might not be the main restraint, painting time is.
One of the janky things to consider is that Corregidor doesn't really have a "Big Guy" at this juncture. Our version of the "Big Guy" is the Gecko--and I just can't see them letting us get a Gecko in Operation: Rocky2FreezeFrameEnding. That means we'd likely see a repeat of something unless they flatout just give us a S5 unit or the like. I could see something like this: Nomads ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 7 ALGUACIL Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10) ALGUACIL Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10) ALGUACIL Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10) HELLCAT Hacker (Assault Hacking Device) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 28) MOBILE BRIGADA Lieutenant MULTI Rifle + Light Flamethrower / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 39) INTRUDER Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, Grenades / Pistol, CCW. (0 | 35) HELLCAT Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 21) 0.5 SWC | 153 Points That lets them retain the Alguaciles and Mobile Brigada, remove the Hellcat blister they currently sell from SKUs, and redo the Intruder from the CJC starter. The Grenzer MSR, Spektr with Combi Rifle, and Beyond Icestorm Kriza Borac can get repacked with a Tunguska Army Pack(if they're smart) and Beyond Rocky2FreezeFrameEnding could be: Nomads ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 3 WILDCAT Heavy Rocket Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (2 | 20) CARLOTA KOWALSKY Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, Adhesive Launcher, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 30) TOMCAT Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, D.E.P. / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 19) 2.5 SWC | 69 Points That leaves, for items to redo(or just plain do) for CJC: Nomads ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 8 TOMCAT Combi Rifle + E/Mitter, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 20) HELLCAT Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 22) HELLCAT HMG, E/Mauler / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 31) INTRUDER Hacker (Hacking Device) Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower / Pistol, CCW. (0.5 | 43) WILDCAT Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 19) WILDCAT Hacker (Assault Hacking Device) Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 25) WILDCAT Boarding Shotgun, Stun Grenades, Deployable Repeater / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 17) WILDCAT Spitfire / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 24) 4 SWC | 201 Points The Tomcat with E/Mitter can be packed in with the Tomcat Doctor with Zondcat and a new Tomcat Engineer sculpt too if they wanted to throw it in there, leaving the Beyond Pack with the 'basic' Tomcat with CR+LFT. Wildcats could be a boxed set that wouldn't actually hurt getting duplicates of, since the Wildcat's only specialists are the Hacker and Engineer--and Engineers don't necessarily need anything special modeled on them if you don't want them to...plus they're only AVA5. Hellcats could be a double blister that replaces the one that gets discontinued by putting the models in the Operation box. Intruder would be a single blister of the 'basic' profile that could get packed with the HMG and MSR sculpt out of the Beyond Icestorm pack. Additionally, I could see the Hellcat with HMG, E/Mauler just getting removed. We had a model for a Hellcat HMG(it came with the Hacker originally) but now we only have a Hellcat Spitfire model coming from Beyond Icestorm--and if they opt to remove the HMG, E/Mauler then the Hellcat Spitfire can just get a blister release with the Combi Rifle resculpt. Edit note: and I just realized I forgot the Moran. Just click on the Moran profile and consider it "needed". That said, I'd say it would be a good opportunity for a blister with arm and head options since there's only 3 profiles--two of which use the same basic gun(Combi Rifle is a FO or non-FO option) and all three utilize the Crazy Koalas. There's also a missing Bandit profile in the form of a Combi Rifle model that could show up in any of those boxed sets above.
since we're just guessing, i can't imagine that CB will just update a Ariadna v. ALEPH battlepack. so the next Nomad battlepack would probably be against either Ariadna or ALEPH. regardless of who it's against, i think we can be on 3 new alguaciles (if only because they seem most comparable to zhanshi and fusiliers, but who knows with stat changes). probably a new reverend unit, either a resculpt or some hybrid profile. would be nice to see resculpted zeros, but could be any LI infiltrator or sniper. and either a new HI (maybe some zero-G specialist for CJC), and either some resculpt for MB or Riot or a new MI for TJC (or otherwise unreleased sculpt for a Grenzer profile). the exclusive units will probably be profiles that can play on either side of the battle pack, so a couple of new NA2/merc profiles, one character, one grunt, with a new BJC character for dire foes against a MRRF or OSS/new sectorial character? but really, who knows? could be a new remote in there for nomads or a new drop troop. i struggle to see armies besides PanO and YJ getting two HI units in the battle pack since the rest of us are not hyperpowers. and since Code One might have its own organized play, i think CB would probably design the packs around more stealth/tricksy armies that have a different play style from the first couple boxes without wrecking the balance of the Infinity-Lite model. lastly, can't imagine TJC will see too much from a new battlepack if only because its so new relative to the rest of the Nomads, but really anything goes since a single TJC exclusive to the battlepack would be a little unfriendly to sectorial players who want the model but don't want to buy at least another 13 they won't use to have it.
I do not expect any non-CJC units in the box. Why? Because the new PanO and YJ boxes are intended as 'vanilla' starters yet double as pseudo-Sectorial starters too.
The last 3.5 battlepacks have all been single sectorial, even Kaldstrøm which introduces a Vanilla only ruleset. I don't imagine they'll go back to mixed starters now.
I don't imagine they will either, but it's still worth saying for those in the back. Biggest mistake they made with Nomads, Ariadna, CA, and ALEPH though is not treating or creating a 'generic' unit that's spread across all/most of the sectorials.
Didn't they say that AD will not be in Code One? I would love a Str 2 heavy boarding remote for CJC. It could double as "the big guy" in the box.
Code One has Tigers, Deltas, and Akals, and AD was considered easy enough for Operation Icestorm/Red Veil/Wildfire. They might only have one level available though, rather than 5-6 in N3.
