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CDK wrote:Maybe it's just the best weapons money can buy? They could be O-12 certified or something like that. Not just a rag tag bunch of mercs like Yuan Yuan.

I think you are right about this.
But still, I find it funny Aleph do not have some kind of identification protocols on their weapons. You know, a certain weapon could only be unlocked/used by an Aleph operative =P
And only those with the booty skill can figure a way to use these =P

I see the O-12 having power, but I doubt they can use their "normal" forces for their own black ops/secret missions.

I like the idea that they're related to the O-12, maybe used to keep check on Aleph? Armed with the same stock Aleph weapons as not to be at a disadvantage against the Aleph.

Von Skyfury wrote:

CDK wrote:Maybe it's just the best weapons money can buy? They could be O-12 certified or something like that. Not just a rag tag bunch of mercs like Yuan Yuan.

I think you are right about this.
But still, I find it funny Aleph do not have some kind of identification protocols on their weapons. You know, a certain weapon could only be unlocked/used by an Aleph operative =P
And only those with the booty skill can figure a way to use these =P

Identification protocols are just another thing to go wrong on the field.

I'm still on the fence about the idea that Kaplan Tactical Services are going to be readily accessible to the Haqqislam faction like the Druze Shock Teams.

It annoys me to no end, personally, that the Druze Shock Teams are a more plentiful option in a Haqqislamic Sectorial than in a Mercenary list.

I think were are going to see a change to the Merc list soon. They are likely to become an army to themselves.

CDK wrote:I think were are going to see a change to the Merc list soon. They are likely to become an army to themselves.

YESSSSSSSS!


This is now a happy Slarg!

Slarg232 wrote:

CDK wrote:I think were are going to see a change to the Merc list soon. They are likely to become an army to themselves.

YESSSSSSSS!


This is now a happy Slarg!

BEWARE!

What CDK said is a completely unfounded rumour based on his own whishes. Not a single word has been said by CB staff about that possibility happening anytime soon.

Not my own wishes but Janzerker is correct. Not a fact at all. Sorry not clear about that. It is a rumor that has gone on at the main forum for a looong time. I wouldn't mind it myself but I'm holding out for USAriadna

You gotta admit though it's a bit suspicious to come out with a box set of Druze which only a sectoral can make use of. The regular Haqq force can only use 2 if they can take them at all.

AFAIK, Druze is only tourney legal for Haqq's QK Sectorial, you can't normally field them with anybody else. Would be interesting to have a merc-type faction, but there's not a lot to work with yet. Am interested to see what Kaplan brings to the table.

I know, but you guys just totally killed my buzz.....

Can't you kind of make a mercenary list anyone using just the standard rules? Take one of the factions, and then you can just take other factions troop choices as 0-1 (and of course with the units which are mercenary anyway, such as Druze?)

I can't remember exactly where it said it in the book unfortunately, or the specifics! I will take a look through the rulebook..

It's somewhere in the core book, yeah. I've yet to experiment with that, as it's tempting to build a wacky merc force / O-12 detachment. Maybe now that I'm starting up a secondary PanO force, I can mess with mixing and matching, as I have no idea how (un?)balanced such a force might be.

IF the Kaplan folks are associated with ALEPH, I'm betting that they will be ALEPH's mercenary branch. You know, there's no reason ALEPH can't decide to learn a little about combat and keep tabs on the seedier side of Human Sphere by downloading some Aspects into partuclarly rugged l-hosts and sending them on the long-term mission of "be mercenaries and report back to ALEPH central as often as is feasible."

If that's the case, I'm betting that Kaplan will be part of the SSS Sectorial, available to other ALEPH lists as an in-faction unit, and available to other factions as a mercenary unit.

But, that's a big IF. As others have noted, there are a limited number of gun types in the world of Infinity, so it's possible that Kaplan is just wealthy/respectable enough to buy from ALEPH, while other mercenary groups have to make do with less prestigious gear.

phelanw0lf wrote:It's somewhere in the core book, yeah. I've yet to experiment with that, as it's tempting to build a wacky merc force / O-12 detachment. Maybe now that I'm starting up a secondary PanO force, I can mess with mixing and matching, as I have no idea how (un?)balanced such a force might be.

Experiments so far:
Yaun Yaun, Murlocks, and Irmahdinos. Who knows what they bring to the battlefeild....
Drones. Drones EVERYWHERE!
Cutter and a Szalamandra, along with a ton of those 8 point drones for orders.

Druze Shock Teams, Kaplan Tactical Services, Scarface & Cordelia, new McMurrough miniature...

I think we have a pattern here... I bet that the new book comes with MERCS as a faction or some kind of Merc sectorial list.

AND why make a Merc TAG that can't be used! You wouldn't be able to sell them. Not many people I know of use Mercs even in casual games.

Ah, Infinity. My eternal favourite game for all time. I will often not play it for long stretches of time, but just when I think the honeymoon is over they are gearing up to release a new book with loads of cool new stuff.

Now where did my wallet get to?

I don't want a new faction. I'm also in the camp that don't want them to release to many new sectorials at once. What I do want is that all units get a figure.

I'm with you in part. I would like to see the Haiduk finally come out and some weapon options of troops from the first book to be done!

Whelp, looks like two of the SpecOps got spoiled. I like them both though I am wondering what additional options they will come with.

Don't forget the Scarface and Cordelia as well. Cant figure out how to post the pics but they were shown as well.

I think the sooner Scarface is forgotten, the better...

Kanluwen wrote:I think the sooner Scarface is forgotten, the better...

Really? I think that model is insane looking and am spending $100 on a Battlefoam case I don't need just to get one early.

I'm wondering what you don't like about it.

Announcer wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:I think the sooner Scarface is forgotten, the better...

Really? I think that model is insane looking and am spending $100 on a Battlefoam case I don't need just to get one early.

I'm wondering what you don't like about it.

The model is just...ugh.

The pose is horrible. The addition of the stomach arms is atrocious, and the fact that for whatever silly reason they decided to have him carrying a knife with two rifles slung on his back and wielding what appears to be a ginormous shotgun just presses all my "DO NOT WANT!" buttons.

It's a simple case of "Great Concept; Poor Execution".

If Scarface is able to actually be reposed in such a way that one doesn't have to see that godawful "Lord of the Dance" pose, the knife is an optional part, and you can assemble him without the stomach arms and wielding one of his back mounted rifles rather than the other stuff...
He'll be an instant buy for me, along with a few Druze Shock Teams.

But given Corvus Belli not really every doing things like that...

I'll keep my money saved for the Kaplan Tactical Services.

Ginormous shotgun = pistol-grip Panzerfaust, for reference.

All of the problems you listed seem very easily fixable with a little converting. I know my Scarface will be wielding both rifles John Woo style.

Kanluwen wrote:The pose is horrible. The addition of the stomach arms is atrocious

Addition? We've known those would be part of it since the first concept art release. But if it bothers you so, the limits of casting mean those are almost certainly going to be separate parts. All the issues you list would be a fairly easy conversion (remembering that he's not a small fiddly model like most).

He's one of only two/three TAGs designs that I actually like. I'm considering getting him, with some conversion, as a counts as Maghariba for my Haqq (once I've actually gone through my quite large pile of waiting models).

That's partly because I don't like the Maghariba, partly because not everyone's happy to play against Merc lists, and partly because... well...

My issue here is who THE HELL was responsible* for sculpting Cordelia, as her anatomy is appalling work. Her face is wonky, her head is too large, her breasts are too far up the torso, her neck is too long and parts of her musculature curve the wrong way. If I'd done her, I'd be disappointed with myself, and I'm not a professional sculptor.

As the two are certainly going to be an "item" in their list entry, I'd have to either put up with that or make a replacement.

*Based on the style of the work, I have a theory, but I'll keep it to myself - I'm not quite sure, so I'd rather not be slanderous.

I think the problems with Cordelia is the photography, not the sculpt or the paint. With good lighting and better camera angles, she will probably look great.

I would reserve judgement until then.

In case you guys hadn't seen it, new pictures on Angel's blog:
http://studiogiraldez.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/scarface-and-cordelia_2401.html
http://studiogiraldez.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/scarface-and-cordelia_30.html

And with this in mind, I stand by my previous statement about Cordelia. The sculpt's anatomy manages to look wrong from every angle. (At least given my art experience has given me several years practice spotting/correcting anatomical mistakes).

As an addendum, I'd note my criticisms were never of the paintjob.

Of course she looks wrong. She anime in 3D! This is the most anime looking figure I think they have done. Look at the huge eyes and she's throwing out a peace sign. She might as well be a Brats doll. I still love it though.

"It's anime" seems to be an excuse to say "That's what it should be like. End of discussion".

But this isn't a matter of influenced aesthetic. Aside from some early howlers like Uxia McNeill, Corvus Belli's models have mostly kept to reasonably accurate, if "idealised", anatomy - even the ones that have taken the most "nudges" from the anime/manga style.

And even "it's anime" was a valid excuse, a lot of the errors are still errors within that artistic style. For starters, she's a good way off symmetrical.