Bolognesus wrote: ...Okay, as for the dronbots: there's four types (sure you managed to figure out by yourself so far
)
First of all, the pathfinder. A sensor remote is something I generally don't see the need for (though this does depend on your meta). In any case, it's on the bottom of the list, priority-wise. If you're anything like me you'll have drones in the double digits within a year (I'm getting there
) or so anyway, so put it off for now. Too many better options.
The Sierra. now *this* puppy is one you'll want _at least_ one of. I have two, and not a hint of regret. using two of the bastards with mono mines is a bucket of fun, depending on what you're fighting especially since having two can basically shut down any attack from above (at least one not taking a round full of orders, which means it's a win either way!). These puppies are fun. General Dronbot caveats apply, but we'll get to those in a minute (and really, those go for all four so not much of an issue when comparing them).
Fugazi: the obligatory repeaterbot. Any faction with hackers and remotes has one of those in the list, and they just do what it says on the tin. bog-standard repeater, 8|0, not much of interest. Cheaper for orders than a fusilier but really? I'll take the
CR and small base for 2|0. The repeater is useful - or it was, until
CB released the Mulebots. More on those in a minute.
Lastly, we have the Clipper. 34|1, and a GMLBot so again, it does what it says on the tin. Now often, for scenario/tournament play you'll be bringing
FO models as cheap(er) specialists, since the next best thing is an engineer (
ava 1; useless aside from specialist/engineer) or a hacker (more expensive), but that doesn't *really* go for
MO as much as for vanilla PanO or NeoTerra (Auxilia
FO are mean. Just, like, really mean) and your 14pt
FO Fusilier doesn't have the tricks up it's sleeve those auxilia do, while your
TO FO Sergeant costs a fething 29pts. Still 0SWC but at that point, meh. You'll have to positively want it for some reason.
OTOH, bringing hackers isn't cheap either so you'll often be stuck using at least one or two
FO for specialists. Now generally, those aren't good enough (
IMO) to warrant the missile bot unless you really, really want it so in
MO or
ASA I'd skip it, really. Not our strong suit, if you can't take Auxilia.
However, it's great fun if you do bring that
TO FO Sergeant, once in a while.
For variety, I'd go with one sierra, and either a second sierra or a clipper.
As for other remotes, well, I understand me telling you to buy a bunch of extra boxes at ~€30 a pop is not going to sit well with you, and rightly so. However, for 5|0.5 extra for an EVO Mulebot compared to the fugazi, you don't just get the ARM2, but you get an _EVO_ repeater. Good for taking down Guided Missiles, great for f*cking with enemy TAGs. Even a lowly fusillier with one of these toys will (at least psychologically) put the Fear of Dog© into your opponent - remember, no line of sight needed for hacking so deploy inside that building without doors (yes I make lots of friends at tournaments, why do you ask? -- really, don't do this unless you can otherwise be a really cool opponent to play against, even when your
TO allows it
--) or just behind that wall he can't quite move around without getting within 8 inches - and it's great area denial. What's even better is that it's baggage rule can often prevent retreat, and in some scenarios help score points. I love those bastards. Even without a hacker, just play them as the 8|0 minesweeper variant. Still good, for baggage. And those really outperform the Fugazi as cheap orders with little use.
Now if we're getting into bots anyway, I'd say you're going to want to get an Auxbot for with one of your sergeants sooner rather than later (and I don't think I'm the first to mention this, either). Now either you get Shae-Konnit to sell you two separate auxbots (I'll take two more auxilia, come to think of it
) or you just get some stuff that uses them. If you are patient, wait for the Seraph
TAG, which will have one in the box. you won't always play the
TAG so that will leave one spare. That's not enough,
IMO, but then I bloody love auxbots
Next option (auxilia aren't available to you, neither is the GdA), and last option as well, is the Peacemaker Armbot. Now in my experience, this thing can positively wreck face on its own. at thirtyish points, depending on kit, and potentially very, very cheap on
SWC (31|0!) I've wrecked face with this thing lots of times. it's fast, it does mechanical deployment, and it has the auxbot. Good as guaranteed to take out an order or two when you dive in with it. Probably more
This baby will teach your opponents to make sure their flanks are covered, and they're covered well. It still does, as all
REMs, suffer from the general bot drawbacks I mentioned earlier. ...Yeah, getting to that... some time soon.
While we're at Armbots anyway, let's not forget the Bulleteers.
ODD is __MEAN__ if you can avoid
MSV. 25|0 make the
HS variant *seriously* nasty while cheap enough to add as an afterthought. for 4|1 extra you get a spitfire instead, which makes for a truly nasty machine indeed.
...No auxbot though. Still, very nice to have.
Okay, long story short: build a sierra, and either a second sierra or a clipper (though you could go pathfinder if it appeals to you, Dog knows why, or even fugazi if you're sure Mulebots aren't ever going to be in the budget); get a peacemaker either to use the auxbot (then use the peacemaker as a bulleteer, I think most opponents will be happy to accept this) with your sergeants. Next up, Mulebots and Bulleteers, followed by more dronbots. ...But maybe that's just my sickly obsession
One thing to keep in mind: those drones work with
MO, but equally well with not just vanilla PanO, but
ASA and NCA as well (particularly well, in some cases!). Something to keep in mind, perhaps (and really, I was convinced I'd just play
ASA when I started - that didn't last long
)
Now bots have drawbacks. Large bases make for large targets, and sometimes awkward maneuvering. BS11 (DRON) or BS12(
ARM) is... not stellar, to say the least. add to that
ARM 1 and
STR 1, combined with
sh*tty engineers, and you'll learn to use them carefully soon enough. Even for infinity, they can be a bit fragile. The damage potential is humongous, though. Be careful with them until your opponent makes a mistake - then go for the kill. I love them
This basically goes for all
REMs, so take it as a general tutorial. Conversely, make sure opposing
REMs either don't get that shot, period, or make sure they're dead, dead, deadity double-dog-dead before they become a bother. Again, they're fragile so it's often an order easily taken out, if you get the drop on them.
They're _not_ for holding down the fort. Okay, the Sierra does well enough at it to severely discourage silly attempts, but sufficiently persistent enemies will punch through. Use like a scalpel, not a brick
...Feth, you made me go and buy more
REMs to paint now, again.
Automatically Appended Next Post: ...okaaay, that was more of a wall-o-text than I'd imagined...
W-L-D: 0-0-0. UNDEFEATED 