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I just picked up a set of Kaplans for my QK, and I'd like to hear your arguments for using both the Spitfire and Multisnipe versus just one of the lot and holoprojecting the other one with a Hafza.

This comes up in other areas too. With my MRRF I often run a Metro link with Bruant and I'm not sure whether including a HMG in that link is worthwhile given that Bruant is going to be doing the majority of the shooting anyway.

On one hand, it's nice to have a close-in and ranged capability. On the other hand, that's half your SWC and a ton of points sunk into two models. So what say you: One "heavy weapon" in a link or two?

That depends on what you want the link for, but for kaplans I'd say no MSR because a) you will (I guess) be advancing and taking objectives, and the Spitfire is better at that and b) you already have one or two kaplans with blitzen (because you do have one or two kaplans with Blitzen, right?) for long range painful AROs.

As for Metros, if you take Bruant I imagine you want to go forward into Molotok range, but HMGs will give your Metros a semi-solid semi-long range ARO potential, and c'mon, they are .5 SWC each, its not breaking the bank, especially not in Ariadna and its Sectorials.

So Aldo I see what you're saying about the MSR, but I was thinking of the active turn. Those Kaplans start in your DZ, and it's nice to be able to throw 3 dice back at a sniper who is AROing you as you advance.

I guess the question would be, is it better to tool your link out to take out threats as it advances or just use one of the usual suspects to handle long range threats? On one hand, you probably have a dedicated sniper for doing that anyway. On the other hand, if the ARO'ing model is an enemy camo sniper you might lose one of your Link members when it fires to reveal.

I usually put two SWC weapons in a link team (almost always Moderators with a multi sniper rifle and a spitfire) and at least one additional linkable troop thus I can take care of the main threats in my 1st round with the long range weapon. If this Trooper is unconcious or not important anymore I swap the link members to get the boni for the spitfire to cover the midfield.

Well, a Spitfire's good range is 20-60 (metric FTW!!!!!!! Ok, Mr barbarian, thats 8-24 I think?), if you start at the very end of your DZ (30cm, 12 inches maybe?), and move 10(4) forward you are at a bit less than 80 cm (32) from the other side of the table. Assuming you are not playing in a wasteland you probably have cover, and the enemy sniper is probably under 60cm, that puts you ar B5 BS18 (12+distance+link), but the enemy sniper probably has cover, and lets assume camo (but no Surprise Shot, as it only works in Active Phase), then you are at B5 bs 12 and he is at B 1 BS whatever-3 (base+distance-cover-mimetism), thats good odds for you. He has MSV1/2/3? OK, so he ignores your mimetism, but then most of the time he won't have camo, wich gets you at B5 BS15.

Of course Intruders, Le Muet, Sappered Nikouls, Nisses, Bagh Maris, Guilangs and Spetznatz may be more dangerous, as they put negative MODs on you and Ignore your Mimetism (or your cover in the Spetzzies case), and especially Le Muet, as he can put you on -3 BS with his ODD, and TO troops are always problematic, and so are TR REMs and links, but against medium-light solo AROers I'd say the spitfire makes a good enough advancing point.

Against heavy or specialised AROers its time to beak out some dedicated artillery pieces like the Djam smoke combo, the Yuan Drop Chain Attack, the Bashi Bazouk Holo2 Flank Attack or the bunched Fireteam's favourite, the Sekban HRL in a Haris.

But hey, I'm just an SAA and ISS player who likes to talk gak about other factions and complain about ornitology.

So you take 6 of the linkable models and keep one spare on hand? Interesting!

Why not? Moderators' Ava is total and they're cheap
Best is to form the second midfield link with at least one specialist, for obvious reasons.

Group 1 6 0 0
MODERATOR MULTI Sniper Rifle / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (1.5 | 17)
MODERATOR Spitfire / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0.5 | 15)
MODERATOR Combi Rifle + Marker / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0.5 | 11)
MODERATOR Paramedic (MediKit) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (11)
MODERATOR Combi Rifle / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (9)
MODERATOR Combi Rifle / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (9)

Group 2 1 0 0
MODERATOR Hacker (Hacking Device) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0.5 | 17)

3 SWC | 89 Points

That is an example how I'd play my Moderators if I want to go crazy with my Moderators.

My typical links for my USAriadna are two weapons. Usually a sniper rifle and a HMG, with 3 rifle grunts. And I always have extra linkable dudes around because its Ariadna.

The weapons can vary depending on if you want a link which hangs back in a commanding position or pushes forward.

I run my Muyibs with 3 - light grenade launcher, heavy rocket launcher and spitfire. Basically what the models have. I find it's a great toolkit, for a unit that is essentially a big toolkit. Spitfire for midrange shootouts, heavy rocket launcher for some early turn 1 shots with real punch, light grenade launcher for smoke and also, if needed, speculatory grenade shots (though this will drop him out of the link, so it's used sparingly), and a pair of rifle/light shotguns for close range. The rifles are generally a pair of Doctors for objectives and keeping the link going.

The link eats half of your SWC, but it's worth it. Mostly because in Bahram you don't have a whole lot to spend SWC on anyway. By the time you select your units to support the link - from things like Lasiqs, Ragiks, Barids, Remotes, etc, you'll find your SWC and points will about line up anyway.

I played a couple games with a tooled out Kaplan link:

Qapu Khalqi
──────────────────────────────────────────────────

Group 1 5 0 0
KAPLAN MULTI Sniper Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 30)
KAPLAN Spitfire / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 28)
KAPLAN Doctor (MediKit) Combi Rifle, Blitzen / Pistol, Knife. (27)
KAPLAN Combi Rifle, Adhesive Launcher, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (23)
KAPLAN Combi Rifle, Blitzen / Pistol, Knife. (23)

2.5 SWC | 131 Points

Open with Army 5

A few observations - Game 1 I ended up using my Multisnipe primarily and the Spitfire took a backseat to the action. In game 2, I ended up swapping between the Spitfire and Multisnipe. Specifically, in one situation I popped a corner with the spitfire and misjudged the range (expected < 24, was 27). He survived the ARO. Next order the MSR popped the corner and eliminated the threat in a more favorable range band.

Obviously with a simple size of 2 this doesn't really mean anything, but it did illustrate to me at least anecdotally the value in taking both a mid and long range SWC weapon.

You could get that cheaper with similar performance and additional choices of specialist uses (actually the best option if you want to fulfill HVT: Designation)

Qapu Khalqi
──────────────────────────────────────────────────

Group 1 5 0 0
HAFZA Spitfire / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 22)
HAFZA (Forward Observer) Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (17)
KAPLAN MULTI Sniper Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 30)
KAPLAN Engineer Combi Rifle, Adhesive Launcher, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (27)
KAPLAN Combi Rifle, Blitzen / Pistol, Knife. (23)

2.5 SWC | 119 Points

Open with Army 5