Picking up Neoterra

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**NuclearMessiah**

So the new Start box that is coming out has intrigued me to try Neoterra and I picked up a box of Auxila to "attempt" the new Pan O paint scheme on. I know we have some Neoterra players around here, notable I know of chromedog.

So besides the Auxila, Deva (which I already own), and what comes in the starter, any other suggestions on purchases?

**Kanluwen**

Bear in mind that we just got the information that the new "Bolts" are going to be added to the Devil Team Official Army Builder on Monday and that they will be available as a blister set.

**Alpharius**

Where was that info released?

**NuclearMessiah**

Kanluwen wrote:
Bear in mind that we just got the information that the new "Bolts" are going to be added to the Devil Team Official Army Builder on Monday and that they will be available as a blister set.

I did see that, but I don't own any of the models besides what I listed so it really doesn't hurt to grab the full starter. Now however depending on rules and point cost I may grab a blister in addition.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Alpharius wrote:
Where was that info released?

I know the blister info was posted in the February speculation thread on the official forums.

**IJW**

The blister info was from me on the official forum. It was in an email to stockists and I got the OK to pass it on to the public.

Yasbir in the same thread said Army Infinity is being updated Monday...

**SourestPickle**

5 man linked fusiliers with a few heavy weapons is useful to hold down your deployment zone while you run around with some heavy infantry or TAGs. They also let you get in some TO camo AROs with a hexa sniper or missile swiss guard when your opponent tries to take them out.

I'd want to see what points range and the role the bolts fit into first though.

**Pacific**

Interesting. What's the best guess at the moment for the proposed stat-line for the Bolts?

And if they are linkable in the neoterra list, I presume AVA 2 or 3 in the standard Pan-O list?

**Knight**

All of our MI are AVA 2. Considering it's likely that the Bolts will be specialists, either hacker or/and engineer class would be rather fitting. As for the characteristics:

MOV: 4-2
BS: 12 - (13) (hard to say, either way it is decent)
CC: 13 - (14) (depending, if they're classified as veterans)
PH: 11
WIP: 12 - (13) (depending, if they're classified as veterans)
ARM: 2 - (3)
BTS: 0 (-3)

Combi rifle with integrated light shot gun. It is hard to speculate regarding other weapons, apart from rumoured mine launcher. Sniper rifle is something commonly available, heavier shotgun is a possibility, Spitfire (as we're moving away from imbalanced HMG). Anything else is a big question. As a general force player I'm not going to miss light grenade launcher on them, as Kamau fit rather excellent in this role. Should Bolts get it, they'd be first among our MI to have it.

Concerning topic. REM (Sierra, Bulleteer, Mules are great but perhaps not as initial investment), Deva (MSV 2, Hacker, synchronised is also an option), Bipandra (trauma doctor in case you're short on points) and two palbots, most of the main NCA players prefer Swiss Guard with HMG. Fusiliers are indeed on the top of the list, but I think you'd best wait for a month or two and see, if there is any indication for a Fusilier box with new sculpts.

Starter:
3x Bolts
1x Swiss Guard ML
1x Hexa Spitfire (annoying cloth assembly)
1x Aquilla with multi rifle

**Alpharius**

I'm still shocked that the Fusiliers haven't been redone yet...

Maybe soon?

**chromedog**

If they are ava2 in vanilla, I'm assuming 3-4 in NCA and add linkable to them.
So no +3 BS, but the SSlvl2 and +1b will still count.

(Given that several TAGs and HI got theirs increased in NCA from vanilla to 2/3).

**Red Harvest**

Alpharius wrote:
I'm still shocked that the Fusiliers haven't been redone yet...

Maybe soon?

Well, Angus and Bipandra are new fusiliers. Jose Luis Roig sculpts (or sculpted) all the Pan-O stuff, and he's been busy with the bolts (I think he sculpted them) as well as the aforementioned Dire Foes, so It may be a while before there are resculpts for the old fusiliers, depending upon how fast this digital sculpting can go. I am guessing that it will be a while, given that there has been Rao and the Bolts recently.

**-Loki-**

chromedog wrote:
If they are ava2 in vanilla, I'm assuming 3-4 in NCA and add linkable to them.
So no +3 BS, but the SSlvl2 and +1b will still count.

(Given that several TAGs and HI got theirs increased in NCA from vanilla to 2/3).

They're meant to be the main link team for Neo Terra, so I'd assume a a 5 with a few specialist options.

**Alpharius**

That's a bit of a bummer, especially as Fusiliers are useful all over the place for PanO lists.

**BobbaFett**

It is like...
They are not making new fusiliers in order to make players inetrested in alternative Line Infantry options.

Or I'm just being too conspiranoic again...

**Mathieu Raymond**

I've been having great fun with the basic Hexa profile. Seeing that many TO markers running around is apparently a bit unnerving.

**Eyclonus**

Hmm, thought the NCA box would have at least one Auxiliar+Auxbot as thats their spammable infantry. But Aux aren't linkable (thank FSM) so it makes sense for the Bolts to be the 3 model core of the starter considering that Fusiliers are the core of the generic starter.

**NuclearMessiah**

Still waiting on the profile but here is the fluff on the bolts, I like the fluff and it looks that they are now the main trooper of the NCA.

“Percute et Percute Velociter” (Strike and Strike Swiftly), motto of the Neoterra Bolts Regiment.

Did you think PanOceania has kept its leading place on the hierarchy of power for years thanks to fancy diplomats with silver tongues and warm smiles? Think again. PanOceania is nothing more than the biggest and meanest bully in the schoolyard. The Hyperpower is still perched in the top because it is constantly defending its position, browbeating anyone that poses a half-credible threat. The PanOceanian Military Complex is in a state of constant alert, responding as swiftly and forcefully as it can to endless alarms on all fronts. That is the only way to stay number one for any length of time, and it takes more than state-of-the-art technology. It takes professional soldiers capable of responding to that technology and squeezing the best results from it. Case in point: the Neoterra Bolts. They are the backbone of the Neoterran Capitaline Army, and handle most of its foreign operations. Since their foundation, the Bolts have been a part of most deployments by PanOceanian troops: law enforcement operations, pacification operations, punishment operations, advanced force operations… There is literally no mission in the operating spectrum they have not tested their mettle against. They say no amount of training can replace hands-on experience, and the Bolts have plenty of the latter. Whenever a situation develops, wherever PanOceania needs to exert its presence and exercise its prerogatives, the Bolts will be there. This unit is always on active duty, always deployed and always in the thick of things.

As an example, the Regiment is officially cantoned in the Darwin Main Operating Base, and they supposedly exemplify like no one the Australian character that is the heritage of this major Neoterran city. In truth, at the base you will find nothing but wet-footed trainees, because Darwin is not where PanOceania needs the Bolts to be. It needs them to be wherever real-life action is. If you are curious about their current location, just turn the newscasts on and look for the guys giving the thumbs-up while all hell breaks loose behind them.

**Mathieu Raymond**

Hurrr... I just saw the profiles in Aleph Toolbox... is it me or are they lackluster? Not linkable, which isn't a big loss for me, but the rest is just a bit bleh? Sure, -6bts is impressive, but aside from main infantry, I fail to see a dedicated role for them.

**NuclearMessiah**

Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Hurrr... I just saw the profiles in Aleph Toolbox... is it me or are they lackluster? Not linkable, which isn't a big loss for me, but the rest is just a bit bleh? Sure, -6bts is impressive, but aside from main infantry, I fail to see a dedicated role for them.

They are AVA Total and linkable, but the engineer/mine launcher loadout wont be coming till the next book, but yeah not a good buy over fusiliers. I decided to drop expanding into NeoTerra and just refocus on my Nomads for now, seeing as I already own them saves me a bit of cash.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
THis is a tranlastion coming from Bostria over on the CB forums in regards to the bolts.

I see some commotion on the forums concerning the profiles and I think you could use some information.
I am particularly concerned that there are people saying that the profile does not take the opportunity of Bolts blister that will only be available for 3 months.
Well, now that no one hears us...
Do you remember when the Holoprojector rule came out, or the Kuang Shi Control Device, back in 2008? Do you remember the mysterious Spitfire when we released the current starter for Yu Jing? That strange mention of “linked troops” months before the release of Human Sphere?
Something is happening .
There is a book in the making, and the rules are in packages. And then there is the ITS 2014, which involves many players and which requires a balanced game.
There are new rules in the profiles of the books to come, but with those elements introduced right now the ITS would be confusing and incomplete. In a moment, an army is better because there is a new thing another player has not expected. Now with so many people planning for "optimal / suboptimal" a more competitive environment it would be more severe.
The Drop Bears of NeoTerra Bolts are an example. These assumed mine launchers are actually somewhat more complicated than has been said and part of something broader, a set of rules that covers more issues. It's the material for the next book.
The same way like the Kuang Shi or “linked troops” were rules and profiles that had more meaning to someone who’s read Human Sphere" than to someone who only read occasional extracts in a PDF.
In its day, the Hassassin Lasiq (Viral Sniper for only one SWC and only one BTS roll) had a profile different to the one that ended up in the Human Sphere, and so did the Kempeitai (only combi rifle with Chain of Command), Tomcats (no Zondcats!), etc., in part thanks to community feedback. That always helps.
The profile of Neoterra Bolts that is now available is not the same once you get the book with all its rules and have to face ITS 2015.
This I say this because the opportunity to buy the separate blister of Neoterra Bolts for that price (which seems more from 2005 than 2014) is now. Now Tarik costs more than the 3 Neoterra Bolts, it’s crazy.
Oh no! I’m not here to sell you anything! CB and I would both prefer you to buy the starter box instead of that bargain price blister.
Regards

So I would expect they will get better next year

**Mathieu Raymond**

Great, I'll have all summer to paint them. I mean, they look great, but since I don't quite feel the need for the other minis, I'll only be getting the blister for the moment.

I played with the toolbox, and once you take your requisite specialists, the NeoTerra list can pack a lof of heavy hiters if you keep it at a single combat group. Just getting tired of the Machinist profile.

**chromedog**

Bear in mind that these are also "early release" stats.

Bostria has said that they ARE coming in the new book and their stats will be different (some other units have also had this treatment before). So expect change and a few more profiles.

**Mathieu Raymond**

And a few more specialists as blisters, hopefully?

**NuclearMessiah**

Mathieu Raymond wrote:
And a few more specialists as blisters, hopefully?

I imagine so.

**Kanluwen**

Mathieu Raymond wrote:
And a few more specialists as blisters, hopefully?

The paradigm has shifted now to the "starter box" containing the basic rifleman options and the unit box containing the specialists.

What will likely happen is we'll get a Bolt box containing the following:
MULTI Sniper Rifle
Missile Launcher
Boarding Shotgun and E/M Grenades x2

The latter can be used for the Boarding Shotgun and E/M Grenades profile or for a Hacker option. There's always the potential as well for the Hacker option to be in the box--or even just given a separate head option since a little bit of a difference in the headgear is primarily what differentiates a Hacker from a basic profile.

The Minelauncher is likely to be its own separate blister, and potentially the Spitfire option would be given a blister as well--or one of the Bolts in the box will just be toting a pistol like we saw with the Briscards and Sekban boxed sets, where they opt for one model to be carrying what amounts to a "sidearm" and is given a unique pose.

**Alpharius**

The Bolts really do "need" to have that Boarding Shotgun model released!