Sleeping Dragon Awakens - Escalation Blog

[Norrad]

Wow, last nights game!  What a blast.  I got my ass handed to me by the dirty Haqislam but what a great game.  I loved every minute of it.  Kudos to Pete and Evan for having to deal with noobs and the endless barrage of questions. We will get better.  That I am sure of but I still cannot find my damn D6's and movement trays???

 

So I was not able to get everything assembled before last nights game.  Me being the epitome of the dog and squirrel syndrome!  So I brought my newly assembled USARF.  Here is the list that I took.

 

 

USAriadna Ranger Force

──────────────────────────────────────────────────

 

7  1  1

GRUNT (Forward Observer) Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 11)

GRUNT Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10)

GRUNT Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10)

GRUNT HMG / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 21)

MARAUDER Rifle, Heavy Flamethrower / Heavy Pistol, Knife. (0 | 21)

MINUTEMAN (Marksmanship L1, X-Visor) AP Rifle, 2 Light Flamethrowers / Pistol, CCW. (0 | 29)

FOXTROT (Forward Observer) Rifle, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 18)

DEVIL DOG Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades + 1 K-9 Antipode / AP Heavy Pistol, AP CCW. (0 | 30)

 K-9 ANTIPODE AP CCW. (7)

 

1 SWC | 150 Points

 

 

Open in Infinity Army

 

A couple of highlights from the battle was knocking the Lasiq Sniper unconscious with my HMG after she had killed a couple of models. The other was the K-9 Antipode being shot by 5 models in one turn and between dodging and mimetism surviving.  Go Wolf!  Other than those highlights, I ended turn 3 with only the Minuteman left standing.

[Norrad]

So for next weeks game, here is what I have planned.  Probably not the best list ever but looks good.  Here comes the Sleeping Dragon - Yu Jing.

 

Yu Jing

──────────────────────────────────────────────────

 

8  

ZHANSHI (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 12)

ZHANSHI Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 11)

ZHANSHI Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 11)

ZÚYǑNG Combi Rifle / 2 Breaker Pistols, Knife. (0 | 27)

TIGER SOLDIER Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 27)

WÚ MÍNG (Fireteam: Duo) Chain Rifle, Submachine Gun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 25)

WÚ MÍNG Heavy Rocket Launcher, Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (2 | 33)

NINJA Hacker (Killer Hacking Device) Tactical Bow / Pistol, DA CCW, Knife. (0 | 29)

 

2 SWC | 175 Points

 

Open in Infinity Army

[Raindog]

Nice Yu-Jing list. It has a lot of orders, some range and camo options.

[Norrad]

Nice Yu-Jing list. It has a lot of orders, some range and camo options.

Thanks, I went for the figs I like the look of. I find that orders can be difficult to come by in Yu Jing. Cheap orders are there with Zanshi, Celestial Guard and Kuang Shi but will have to fit my fluff.

[Norrad]

So I picked up the Wu Ming, Bao Judicial Watch, and Kanren tonight. The Wu Ming I need now. I really like the look of the Bao troops and thought they could proxie for Celestial Guard. I want to get a Guijia and Si-Juian figs to fill my robot need!

 

What troops or characters should I look at picking up for the Imperial Service?

[Raindog]

The Kanren is a must have in my mind. The unit can do so much with a Holoprojector and Forward Deployment. The minelayer is a nice option, but so is the Killer and Assault Hacker. Martial Arts Level 1 with a monofilament weapon is a nice with a model that can start so close to its opponent.

 

The Su-Jian is insanely good. It has an 8-2 move. That means an 8 inch cautious move. It has two wounds plus no wound incapatation. The Spitfire seems like an obvious choice, but the 2 SWC is spendy. The Heavy Shotgun, Panzerfaust option is attractive due to the models's speed.

 

The Lu Duan remote has holoprojector, a MK12, and a MSV1 visor is attractive.

 

The Hac-Tao is amazing in the right hands.

[Raindog]

I also really like the Yan Hao with HMC. It is a brutal gun piece.

[Norrad]

I also really like the Yan Hao with HMC. It is a brutal gun piece.

I like both HMC and Missile Launcher models. They are very cool looking.

[Jay]

You find the kanren locally?

[Exile]

I saw a couple at Dice Age when I went there on Monday.

[Raindog]

They have been at Glimpses as well. Fate and Fury may have one, too.

[Norrad]

Dice Age had them.

[Kremmet]

Keep in mind that neither Hac Tao nor the Yan Huo is available in ISS.  The the most effective buys for ISS are things like the Husong, Rui Shi, and Bao Troops.  The Husong is just generally great as Total Reaction with an HMG is always good, but what makes it special in ISS is that they're more limited in their heavy choices than regular YJ along with being AVA 3 which is nuts. The Rui Shi and Bao Troops are both great due to their access to MSV2 (a necessity for competitive play) with my preference going to the Rui Shi.  I mostly prefer the remote because of its high burst, low cost (20 pts and 1 SWC respectively), repeater status, and additional downed state.  It also is buffable with hacking although the Bao Troops have the option for Haris so I like to consider that a push. 

 

Now those guys are all well and dandy, but the one purchase that is a must in ISS is not even a YJ model: the Sophotect.  This doctor+engineer is largely considered the best specialist in the game and for good reason.  She rocks a 6-4 movement, D-Charges, NWI, and of course WIP 15 which is all crazy pants for a silhouette two model.  If you're not running this model in your ISS list you're making about as big of a mistake as you can.

 

The remaining strengths of ISS tend to lie in their multiple link varieties and solid WIP scores.  The Kanren is a good pick up, but I honestly rarely run mine due to point considerations and competition for AD KHD choices in the new ninja model.  My current ISS lists tend to start with a Kuang Shi full link, a Ye Ji/Bao Haris, and always, always, always a Sophotect.  The rest is a mix of tools like the Kanren, Rui Shi, Husong, ninjas, etc along with additional specialists such as the Zhanying/Xian He hacker variants.

[Norrad]

Wow thanks for that response. Quite detailed. I've never been one to really care if I'm playing optimal. If I like the fluff or look of a model then I will probably use it. Isn't the Sophotect an ALEPH troop?

[Raindog]

Aleph loans its troops out to Yu Jing and Pan-O. Pan-O's Neo Capitaline get Garuda and Devas. The Pan-O Shock Army gets Nagas.

 

ISS for Yu Jing gets Sophotects, Dakinis, Yudbots, and Garuda.

[Kremmet]

Indeed that's all true.

 

I get that you're not interested in optimal play, but the Sophotect's inclusion is a built in gimme take. It warps what the entire sectorial is capable of just by its existence. Basically I'm saying I hope you like the look of it because it's pretty much the building block for the entire sectorial.

[rudra34]

Well, i wouldn't go that far.   It's a great specialist, maybe one of the best, but nothing is an auto-include.

[Exile]

It is the ONLY option for ISS for both Doctor and Engineer.  It's as close to an auto-include as there is in Infinity, IMO.

[rudra34]

It is the ONLY option for ISS for both Doctor and Engineer.  It's as close to an auto-include as there is in Infinity, IMO.

 

Fair enough!

[Kremmet]

Well, i wouldn't go that far.   It's a great specialist, maybe one of the best, but nothing is an auto-include.

 

Exile nailed what I was saying before: the Sophotect is powerful enough that ISS makes rather large concessions to have it in their sectorial.  I generally don't believe in auto-includes in games (which is part of why I didn't actually say that), but there are several pieces in various games that have an incredible impact on how a faction functions.  The Sophotect for ISS is likely the most visible of these in Infinity.

[Norrad]

Personally I hate the "auto" include units in games. That is why I will most likely not take it. Yes I may be hindering my chosen forces performance but so be it. We can't always operate with all the tools we would like.

[Exile]

It's only for the Imperial Service Sectorial. Vanilla, JSA, and the to be released Sectorial have access to other doctors and engineers.

[Kremmet]

It's only for the Imperial Service Sectorial. Vanilla, JSA, and the to be released Sectorial have access to other doctors and engineers.

 

Exactly.  

 

Personally I never really understood the ire that bringing a good unit raises especially as things like the Sophotect are only that sort of a choice through exclusion of competition.  Not taking a Sophotect because it's an "auto-include" would be like not taking wheels on a car.  It's not really a choice of "this option is better than all others offered" as much as it is "this option is best because there are no others."  I probably approached the sale of this model to you incorrectly.  The Sophotect isn't going to raise eyebrows from your opponents because you brought it nor is it going to cause a ruckus on the internet that "of course you brought that one."  There's no pride to be gained through skipping it as, without it, there are several missions you simply can't do as there isn't another model in the sectorial with the option to complete it.  Really all you'll be doing by playing ISS without one is sating a need we all understand to be different in exchange for skipping some of the most engaging mechanics in the game (healing and button pushing respectively).  I would urge you not to hamstring yourself not because you're intentionally making your list weaker while still not knowing too much about the game, but because you're skipping a lot of what the game has to offer by doing so.

[Norrad]

Another great game night! My two games were fun and I learned a bunch. I managed to get my whole force assembled Late Saturday evening which made me very happy. The Wu Ming with heavy rocket launcher looks fantastic (Panzerfausts actually) and is really good in the game too. I managed to crit twice with it! I know that a critical is just a lucky dice roll but the rocket is very, very good.

 

So for next week we get to use Lieutenants now. What's the wisdom on taking a Lt? Do you go with the cheap grunt Lt or the expensive armoured up and special Wpn Lt?

[Kremmet]

Yeah, template weapons can certainly be deadly.

 

For lieutenants the wisdom is mostly based on how much you think your opponent knows about your faction.  What I mean is that "hide the Lt." games are only as effective as the other person's ability to play it.  Cheap Lt. options tend to be the end of the spectrum where you expect your opponent to know what Lt. options are available to you as spamming out a few of these will help obfuscate this information (especially as "cheerleaders" tend to hide behind cover anyway).  Expensive and armored Lt.'s are great if you either think your opponent doesn't know what options you have and/or if you're running some way to swap your Lt. later such as G: Mnemonica, Chain of Command, or Executive Order.  Since armored models are often the ones you want taking fire it's a good idea to have a backup plan if they're your Lt.  Yu Jing is especially fun in this regard due to their access to Executive Order on the Hac Tao which allows you to play the cup game with your Lt. a little better against experienced players.  It does require that your Lt. not already be taken out, but is a great boon if it looks like your opponent is homing in on your backfield Lt. (or don't take the skill and play mind games with a more experienced opponent).

 

Another common tactic is to bring a camo Lt. option.  This allows you to deploy a token instead of a model that your opponent needs to discover before trying to figure out whether that could be your Lt. or not.  While it would seem great to do this with a TO option remember that you should not deploy in Hidden Deployment as you must have your Lt. present on the field (in token-form or as a model) in order to not be in Loss of Lieutenant at the start of your turn.  This ruling also makes Combat Jump Lt. options, such as the Tiger Soldier, useless.  A similar take on this Lt. option is to bring a hacker with a Hacking Devise Plus as your Lt. as you can more effectively use your Lt. order for supportware which includes Cybermask (Cybermask gives Impersonation 2).  Yu Jing doesn't have access to HD+ nor a hacking Lt. option at all, but it's good to be aware of this tactic for the factions that do (namely Nomads, Haqq, CA, and ALEPH). 

 

The point is that the wisdom for choosing an Lt. is based in building a predictive model of your probable opponents and going from there.  Failing that just take Sun Tze .