So I have to admit that when I saw the Ratnik, I immediately thought it was going to have 2x HRL or 2x Uragans, but it turns out he only has a single HRL, a Heavy Shotgun, A Heavy Pistol and a Trench Hammer. So he has a throwable weapon (assuming 0-8 like the Samaritan's glaive), a heavy pistol that's good in 0-8, a heavy shotgun that's good in 0-8 (with AP) and the rockets. Why so much redundancy in the 0-8 rangeband? I just can't see why anyone would really take this version when the 2x Molotok version exists unless they're desperate for fire (and it's not like Ariadna is really scant with fire) Is there any hope for this HRL big boi?
Do TAK have many other choices for flinging long range templates and frying Fireteams and bunched up cheerleaders from afar? There'll be the linked line Kazak ML but he's less self sufficient. He doesn't have the visor of the Maverick or Briscard HRL but he does have a native higher BS and is real really durable. The HSG also makes him very dangerous close in, and gives a nasty short range ARO without having to spend orders going into Suppression Fire. The heavy pistol is utterly useless, I look forwards to seeing what the Trench Hammer does though.
I compare it to the Overdron with heavy rocket launcher. It can be beast in defense as well as offense. HRL Fire templates is slowly turning into my favorite weapon Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G930F met Tapatalk
The pistol is for a shock option. The Ratnik load outs seem to complete each other when they run as a duo, with the molotok filling the gap from 8-16 left between the shotgun and HRL.
Whoops, I misread the Shotgun profile as having the AP heavy pistol, swapped them in my head. Ty for clarifying
It seems like a beast of a profile to me. Turret mode in the opening turn, and can then rush up through smoke to be a "breacher" unit that gets in close and becomes a huge sink of orders to remove...doubly so when accounting for the kills it will rack up with a heavy shotgun around. Without knowing what the hammer does, I must say I almost prefer this profile to the dual molotok one, given that HRL is less niche than double panzerfaust. Then again, built in burst 5 is pretty crazy.
I could see the HRL profile in a special haris. The twin molotok couldn't do it because of the burst cap, but the other guy seems perfect, considering there is precedent for such a thing
The shotgun's great up close, but it only forces one save on the enemy. If the hammer's a different ammunition type, it might be a punchier ARO which a greater likelihood of putting down an opponent.
Well, you do have Tankhunters and linkable Frontoviks too. He is durable, but if hit by viral/ap, not really that much more compared to other stuff. You do get other wound though. But at same time ,you are hackable compared to other stuff. HSG is dangerous up close, but I would much rather have unit in suppression, -3 penalty to enemy, B3 comapred to B1 just works more in favor of Supression.
You guys have definitely made me feel it's more viable Heavy Rockets are obviously great for big anti-link fire templates The Heavy Shotgun is clearly awesome for close encounters, ripping things apart on 19's within 8 even using AP if necessary The Heavy Pistol is a great option for rounding a corner against a target with NWI or Dogged (Hey ALEPH, hows it goin) The Hammer is probably very situational, assuming it does either DA or EXP, will have a higher statistical chance within ARO to kill low ARM units within 0-8 due to PH being higher for both damage and throwing the damn thing. Pretty versatile, and I'd really like to see how it's integrated within the sectorial. (Now I'm thinking about it in a special haris and while I doubt that'll happen, now I'm just thinking of a blackjack HMG in a special haris and it's making me drool. If not only for the visual of this superheavy power-armored American flanked by two grunts just brute force pushing up the field while bullets plink off his armor.)
Like all models that haven't been released yet, I'll wait until it has dropped and I have had enough game time with it before commenting on whether it is good or not. I don't mind the sculpt though....
He seems similar to Al Fasid. HRL and something for 0-8 range. Yes, amount of shortranged weapons he carry is slightly... Odd, but unit as a whole is legit. I was always using my Fasid as short range threat with an option to compete with enemies above 16in in his active turn, but the thing is, HRL Ratnik lacks defense options if you compare him to the Big Haqqu Boi - no mines or SF. Frankly, i would gladly see ADHL or Contender on Ratnik instead of Hammer.
Well, since hammer is kinda useless on ratnik, anything would be better. You won't use it to throw it instead of shotgun and in cc he is useless on him. Only if you wanna destroy scenery, how often do you need that?
Except ARO DA is useless if you don't win ftf...and I would rather choose +6 to hit AP/template, than +0 to hit DA...30% bigger chance to hit is by far better than that extra armor roll with worse DMG, in which case, you are most likely to fail ftf with Hammer to begin with.
Yes, winning an FTF is more important, this is groundbreaking info indeed :P I never said it was the best thing ever, but it has its utility. Yeah i know, the ratnik should also not have a heavy pistol and a CC stat of 0 as that is pure bloat too....
Trenchhammer is to add awesomeness to the Ratnik. Also is useful in that weird moment when you win the FtF against Shinobu and you can /dance the kalinka with the ratnik over Shinobu soup.
This right here seems to hit the nail on the head, same thing with the heavy pistol. I imaging the designers said to themselves, "Its a fatty HI so it needs a fatty pistol." As for the trench hammer is something new to give what would just be another CCW something a bit special. And hey! If there's an objective that needs to be smashed with anti material or maybe your one ARO really really needs that second wound vs HI or something with NWI. This loadout has a lot of options. As for "Just" a HRL, having embraced USAriadna as my second sectoral, my god I love rocket launchers. The mavericks have a sublime RL/SMG load out that covers so many rangebands and rocket launchers are just so cheap. The Ratnik seems similar in concept, just it's big angry Russian brother. Punish link team movement, burn off camo or memitism or make a sloppy ARO piece get his friends killed too. Granted I would've liked it to be TWO HRL's, but eh, it's already pretty pricey and seems pretty brutal. I can't wait to take it for a test drive. Bring on the Ratniks.
