Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

JMMelo wrote:
OMG, Dude! I just realized they tried (and failed) to spell LUNAH on her logo! "Lasiq sniper" on the Lasiq picture does look funny too but my Arabic is not enough to figure out what they meant

 BrotherGecko wrote:
Dear god CB needs to hire and Arabic translator so I can stop seeing Arabic letters in non-Arabic format.

Not only are the letters unconnected but they are backwards. Her crest says 'Hnul' hahaha. It should be لونا.

I also realized that they put رامي بمهارة and just say it means lasiq sniper lmao. Problem is, رامي just means 'rami' and بمهارة just means 'skillfully', it should be لسيق قباص, with قباص being sniper and لسيق being Arabic phonetic for Lasiq becaise I've no idea what that is supposed to mean.

Perhaps they simply flipped the images? Or not :S

I've seen similar complaints about the use of Cyrillic lettering and Chinese characters. Orthography is harder than it looks.

I still don't understand this mini. It's a mini for a profile that no one asked for, or even needed. It's not-- to my eyes-- visually compelling at all, nor does it come from any sort of deep Infinity background. Aristeia, yes, but IIRC that is mano-a-mano direct combat, the very anti-thesis of sniping. So many other minis and load-outs that players want to see released.

 Red Harvest wrote:
I still don't understand this mini. It's a mini for a profile that no one asked for, or even needed. It's not-- to my eyes-- visually compelling at all, nor does it come from any sort of deep Infinity background. Aristeia, yes, but IIRC that is mano-a-mano direct combat, the very anti-thesis of sniping. So many other minis and load-outs that players want to see released.

I do like the miniature. Reminds me the female Hunzakut or Uxía covert action, two miniatures I love so much.
Lunah seems an Sniper with Mimetism. Viral Sniper rifle is confirmed so... that seems like a gift from heaven for Imperial Service, really.

Also... I remember that there was a Wild Bill Aristeia! character from a fluff extract in one fo the books. Seems to me that the Maya Sport is not just a CC arena and pistols and rifles are allowed. Sounds to me like Infinity Deathmatch/Hunger Games, really.







So... if this Lunah is an Aristeia fighter, when are we going to see Wild Bill for USAriadna?

Gecko Pilot.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 BobbaFett wrote:

 Red Harvest wrote:
I still don't understand this mini. It's a mini for a profile that no one asked for, or even needed. It's not-- to my eyes-- visually compelling at all, nor does it come from any sort of deep Infinity background. Aristeia, yes, but IIRC that is mano-a-mano direct combat, the very anti-thesis of sniping. So many other minis and load-outs that players want to see released.

I do like the miniature. Reminds me the female Hunzakut or Uxía covert action, two miniatures I love so much.
Lunah seems an Sniper with Mimetism. Viral Sniper rifle is confirmed so... that seems like a gift from heaven for Imperial Service, really.

The point that Red Harvest is making, I think, is that it's yet another Mercenary with some variant of a Sniper Rifle.

We've had at least 3 in the past few years.
Knauf
Le Muet
Major Lunah

It's an overserved niche, and Imperial Service didn't need anything more in terms of Mercs in my mind.

Also... I remember that there was a Wild Bill Aristeia! character from a fluff extract in one fo the books. Seems to me that the Maya Sport is not just a CC arena and pistols and rifles are allowed. Sounds to me like Infinity Deathmatch/Hunger Games, really.
So... if this Lunah is an Aristeia fighter, when are we going to see Wild Bill for USAriadna?

We likely won't.

"Wild Bill" is a recreation. Ariadna doesn't take too kindly to those things.
And you'd think Lunah would be available to Haqqislam, but...all reports right now are that she'll be Imperial Service and generics--read: yet another boring merc.

Pretty much yeah, another mini that adds SKU bloat but does not bring anything special, either to the game or to the display case. Were the mini something more than what it is-- recycled pose with ho-hum details-- I might not be so harsh in my assessment.

There is the possibility that that profile might be something. So, I'll keep a slightly open mind. However, so many other units and profiles that need minis... if nothing else this release is a mis-placed priority.

A Jimmy Caan inspired mini might be interesting though.

Ah, I saw this bit of news, from Bostria, on the official forums. (Yes, I was slumming.) He is talking about the forthcoming O-Yoroi pilot.

Bostria wrote: It will be a totally different sculpt. Not just an arms swap. Different posing & action.

The Luxumbra 30mm. Model is based on the PinUp from the art Book.

The CB miniature is a different take on the Unit.

Interesting. I do hope it is better than the Guijia Pilot. S<shudder>.

Here's the full release setup.

Wonder why they're not repacking pilots with their TAG, if their aim is to reduce the number of blisters and boxes. It seems odd to rebox the old models who are due to resculpt (not implying it's not aligned with entire aim of reducing the space) but the new models who are similar to Iguana and her HI pilot are released on their own.

 Knight wrote:
Wonder why they're not repacking pilots with their TAG, if their aim is to reduce the number of blisters and boxes. It seems odd to rebox the old models who are due to resculpt but the new models who are similar to Iguana and her HI pilot are released on their own.

I have an inkling that it's because the TAGline rules won't be permanent.

Well that and it makes them more money this way. Got to have those weirdly consistent growth numbers to tout each year, after all.

 Kanluwen wrote:
I have an inkling that it's because the TAGline rules won't be permanent.

Distribution of Alive characters will be handled by an ITS winner, the last time I've followed that particular rumour. I have hard time seeing the possibility of reverting the changes to TAG.

Because the TAG boxes are already expensive enouph as is.

 PsychoticStorm wrote:
Because the TAG boxes are already expensive enouph as is.

Stop pretending that CB is looking out for the customers' interests when they do crap like this. They could have packaged these pilots with the TAGs when they were first sculpted. Just like they could have packaged the Uhlan and Tikbalangs in blisters or separate boxes.

There have been huge discussions, as you well know, surrounding how CB can make things both price and cost effective while also making customer friendly decisions. Releasing these pilots separately is not one of them.

It is, however, a decision that makes them the most money. Because Pilots are actually integral parts of the Manned TAG rules, seeing as how they can get affected by the "Expel" Hacking Program--making them (or a reasonable proxy) mandatory for play.

May Releases

Minutemen




O-Yoroi Pilot




Gecko pilot




Major Lunah




Gorgos Pilot





Re-Packs

ORC Troops




Zerats




Dactyls

That reposed O-Yoroi pilot is rather disappointing.

Some of these look very familiar - are they already available elsewhere?

 Alpharius wrote:
Some of these look very familiar - are they already available elsewhere?

Dactyls, ORCs, and Zerats are all repacks of existing models.

 BrookM wrote:
That reposed O-Yoroi pilot is rather disappointing.

What do you find disappointing about her? She looks kick-ass to me.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Kanluwen wrote:

 PsychoticStorm wrote:
Because the TAG boxes are already expensive enouph as is.

Kanluwen Stuff.

1) If they only packed the Pilots with the TAGs you would have a situation where many people would need to buy TAG box again at a higher price to get a Pilot figure -> Cue Community Outrage about making people buy expensive models again.
2) If they pack them as single figures people who haven't bought the TAGs complain they need to buy multiple items for effectively one unit -> Cue Community Outrage about forcing people to buy multiple items for effectively one unit
3) If the pack them both in the TAG box as well as individually then they are just bloating the amount of SKUs (TAG, TAG+Pilot, Pilot) -> Cue Community Outrage because it doesn't align with previous statements of trying to reduce SKU numbers.

Honestly it doesn't look like there is an "good" option there so why not go with the one that gets them money?
If we, as a community, are going to complain and lose our nanas about every possible option, then I could understand if they stopped listening to the many parts of the community and just did what they wanted regardless.

 Vain wrote:

 BrookM wrote:
That reposed O-Yoroi pilot is rather disappointing.

If we, as a community, are going to complain and lose our nanas about every possible option, then I could understand if they stopped listening to the many parts of the community and just did what they wanted regardless.

That's a valid point that I did not consider until this text has appeared on my screen.

If the community behaves histerically, how long until they shut down the forums and pay no attention to the fanbase?
That could happen. Has happened before with other companies.

 Vain wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:

 PsychoticStorm wrote:
Because the TAG boxes are already expensive enouph as is.

Kanluwen Stuff.

1) If they only packed the Pilots with the TAGs you would have a situation where many people would need to buy TAG box again at a higher price to get a Pilot figure -> Cue Community Outrage about making people buy expensive models again.

The argument they make against stuff like this is that Shae-Konnit and players split boxes to resell stuff. It's why they refuse to release models from starter sets that really should be available elsewhere or have alternate arms in boxes.

A notable example of this attitude was the Chasseur with Rifle from the generic Ariadna starter.

2) If they pack them as single figures people who haven't bought the TAGs complain they need to buy multiple items for effectively one unit -> Cue Community Outrage about forcing people to buy multiple items for effectively one unit
3) If the pack them both in the TAG box as well as individually then they are just bloating the amount of SKUs (TAG, TAG+Pilot, Pilot) -> Cue Community Outrage because it doesn't align with previous statements of trying to reduce SKU numbers.

Honestly it doesn't look like there is an "good" option there so why not go with the one that gets them money?
If we, as a community, are going to complain and lose our nanas about every possible option, then I could understand if they stopped listening to the many parts of the community and just did what they wanted regardless.

Here's the problem with this argument...
They actually DID do something that would have been an acceptable response, several times, in the past.

Look at when Bolts and the Tomcat Doctor or the JSA Doctor/Engineer(I can't remember which one) came out.
Bolts were available in a three model blister at the same time as the NCA starter came out.
Tomcat Doctor with Zondcat was available in a two model blister at the same time as the Tomcat box came out.
The JSA's new Specialist was available in a blister as well.

They made it clear, from the start with those models, that it was a "limited run intended to allow veteran players to get the items they wanted without getting unnecessary duplicates".


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 BobbaFett wrote:

 Vain wrote:

 BrookM wrote:
That reposed O-Yoroi pilot is rather disappointing.

If we, as a community, are going to complain and lose our nanas about every possible option, then I could understand if they stopped listening to the many parts of the community and just did what they wanted regardless.

That's a valid point that I did not consider until this text has appeared on my screen.

If the community behaves histerically, how long until they shut down the forums and pay no attention to the fanbase?
That could happen. Has happened before with other companies.

Don't play pretend here.

They were set to shut down their forums, and it had nothing to do with the community "behaving hysterically".

 Vain wrote:
1) If they only packed the Pilots with the TAGs you would have a situation where many people would need to buy TAG box again at a higher price to get a Pilot figure .

They did repack things in the past, it wouldn't be unusual to see it repeated. From PanOceania catalogue I remember that Bolts and Santiagos were available for a limited time as a single blisters before they were repacked. I believe similar happened to Swiss Guard ML who was available as single blister before moving into NCA starter set.

If we, as a community, are going to complain and lose our nanas about every possible option, then I could understand if they stopped listening to the many parts of the community and just did what they wanted regardless.

The current state of online community and the game isn't something that happened over night, a lot of things could have been different, either way CB appears to have decided who they'll listen for feedback some time ago. I don't join these discussion with the aim to change their mind.

 Knight wrote:

 Vain wrote:
1) If they only packed the Pilots with the TAGs you would have a situation where many people would need to buy TAG box again at a higher price to get a Pilot figure .

They did repacked things in the past, it wouldn't be unusual to see it repeated. From PanOceania catalogue I remember that Bolts and Santiagos were available for a limited time as a single blisters before they were repacked. I believe similar happened to Swiss Guard ML who was available as single blister before moving into NCA starter set.

I forgot about the Santiagos!

The Swiss Guard ML, Hexa Spitfire, and Aquila Guard MULTI Rifle were all individual blisters before moving into the NCA starter set. They came out yeeeeeeeeeears before NCA starter set, and were discontinued as a separate product when the NCA starter set was done.

Another disappointing month by CB it seems. How do you have repackage as a monthly release? As if somebody would be excited for that. I even have 4 factions to mitigate CB disappointment and I'm still let down.

 Knight wrote:
Wonder why they're not repacking pilots with their TAG, if their aim is to reduce the number of blisters and boxes.

...because nobody wants to buy a second O Yoroi or a Guijia just for a pilot?

 Mastiff wrote:

 Knight wrote:
Wonder why they're not repacking pilots with their TAG, if their aim is to reduce the number of blisters and boxes.

...because nobody wants to buy a second O Yoroi or a Guijia just for a pilot?

...which is why you do a splash release of the pilots by themselves, then package them with the TAGs after the splash release?

It's not rocket surgery.

And then you have people complain that they lost that month window to get their pilots, shops complain if you leave them more but as direct only and then you have to see how much the TAG box cost will increase and figure out if people will be willing to buy them at that cost and then have complains from people who feel the pilot is not used as much and would rather not pay for it and have a cheaper TAG box.

It is indeed not rocket surgery and personally I would rather not be operated by someone using rockets, but it is a practical business decisions.

It took CB about 1.5yr between the release of the Aleph Dactyl Doctor solo blister and the Steel Phalanx Support Pack which put him in a bundle. There was also no announcement of this change. 1.5yr is long enough for people to pick it up if they want it.

I'm sure the pilots will be repackaged eventually if CB actually wants. They probably won't undergo a clunky scenario like the Bolts and human Daktari a few years back where they released the models in two separate ways about the same time.

 Kanluwen wrote:

 Mastiff wrote:

 Knight wrote:
Wonder why they're not repacking pilots with their TAG, if their aim is to reduce the number of blisters and boxes.

...because nobody wants to buy a second O Yoroi or a Guijia just for a pilot?

...which is why you do a splash release of the pilots by themselves, then package them with the TAGs after the splash release?

It's not rocket surgery.

So, at some point you stop making the pilots available by themselves and make TAGs more expensive? That'll be popular.

 PsychoticStorm wrote:
And then you have people complain that they lost that month window to get their pilots,

Yeah, just like people are complaining that they "lost that month window" to get their Red Veil, USARF Army Pack, 300 point Onyx, etc...

Let's stop pretending that shops immediately sell out of these things, shall we? I was able to get a triple Bolt blister nearly a year after CB had "stopped" the blister. I can still go buy a Hexa with Spitfire in blister if I want to.

shops complain if you leave them more but as direct only

No shops complained about the three month window for Bolts, Tomcat Doctor, etc.

What shops complain about is that CB refuses to take old stock back nor will distributors mark things as outdated/replaced because CB doesn't inform them of such. When models get replaced/outdated? That product will just sit on the shelves and rot.

and then you have to see how much the TAG box cost will increase and figure out if people will be willing to buy them at that cost and then have complains from people who feel the pilot is not used as much and would rather not pay for it and have a cheaper TAG box.

Or you could suck up the cost and leave the box at the same price and accept that you should have made the complete product from the get-go.

It is indeed not rocket surgery and personally I would rather not be operated by someone using rockets, but it is a practical business decisions.

So is keeping customers feeling like you're acting in good faith.

Billing yourself as a cheap alternative to games like 40k but really just following in the footsteps of decisions they made ages ago(remember when Special Weapons for Stormtroopers used to be sold by themselves, rather than as part of the kit? Cause I do...) isn't acting in good faith.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Mastiff wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:

 Mastiff wrote:

 Knight wrote:
Wonder why they're not repacking pilots with their TAG, if their aim is to reduce the number of blisters and boxes.

...because nobody wants to buy a second O Yoroi or a Guijia just for a pilot?

...which is why you do a splash release of the pilots by themselves, then package them with the TAGs after the splash release?

It's not rocket surgery.

So, at some point you stop making the pilots available by themselves and make TAGs more expensive? That'll be popular.

They've already made quite a few unpopular decisions regarding TAGs of late, if I'm going to be honest.

They either lied or were genuinely ill informed when they claimed the Uhlan and Tikbalangs "couldn't fit in a blister format" and thus had to be double boxed.
Then they released a limited edition Tikbalang as a tournament prize...in a blister.

And realistically? There's quite a few TAGs that would be affected, a few of which only have Bootleg variants that are otherwise just rotting on shelves.
Geckos(would need 2x Pilot figures as it includes two Geckos in the box)
Szalamandra(which is likely due for a resculpt as it is a Tunguska TAG and really showing its age and I would genuinely be surprised if they don't put the pilot in the box)
Lizard(again, could use a resculpt but not expecting one--also its Pilot is only a Bootleg variant at the moment)
Raicho
Gorgos
Guijia
O-Yoroi
Maghariba Guard(Bootleg pilot--she actually sold fairly well by all accounts)
Scarface & Cordelia(why he didn't include his pilot variant to begin with, I'll never know...although now we've had two versions "sold separately" in the form of the TAGline prize[which you can buy a Tournament Kit of] and the Bootleg)


The PanO TAGs are all Remote Presence, so have no Pilots. They got Crabbots for the time being, which come bundled with the Tech-Bee.
Anaconda included its pilot.
Iguana included its pilot.
Sphinx, Xeodron, Overdron, and Avatar are all Remote Presence and use the Staldron--which is currently with the Raicho Pilot. But given the number of the others you can take that can use the Staldron in Onyx Contact Force alone, it would have made FAR more sense to sell a triple blister of the Staldron.

I genuinely think that people wouldn't be too put off by a $5 increase to some of the TAG boxes if they actually included all the bits and bobs.

Sigh, suck up the costs ectr, why would they do that?

 Kanluwen wrote:




I genuinely think that people wouldn't be too put off by a $5 increase to some of the TAG boxes if they actually included all the bits and bobs.

So, repackage them so I get to pay more, but CV makes less profit? I think even a Spanish business would reject that idea as poorly conceived.

I'm not a fan of either YJ pilot. I'll probably continue to use my de-bladed ninja as my pilot, or I've also considered buying the Gecko Pilot instead. In either case, I don't need the price of TAGs to be higher, thanks.

 Mastiff wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:




I genuinely think that people wouldn't be too put off by a $5 increase to some of the TAG boxes if they actually included all the bits and bobs.

So, repackage them so I get to pay more, but CV makes less profit? I think even a Spanish business would reject that idea as poorly conceived.

I'm not a fan of either YJ pilot. I'll probably continue to use my de-bladed ninja as my pilot, or I've also considered buying the Gecko Pilot instead. In either case, I don't need the price of TAGs to be higher, thanks.

I have an overdron and want xeodrones, so I'm more comfortable with you paying a little more than me paying for 3 raicho pilots I will never want. An CB should be happy because unless staldrons come with the xeodrons in future or they are in their own blister, I will be using 25mm counters I made and that say staldron on them. I doubt I am the only Onyx Contact player that feels that way.

An I am never acquiring crabbots as long as they are attached to the techbee and I doubt I'm the only PanO player that feels that way as well.