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It's available! The Human Sphere expansion for INFINITY is FINALLY out! And it did not disappoint!



All the factions received something fun to play with and they even introduced the new ALEPH faction! The ALEPH is essentially an artificial intelligence that manages the human sphere's data networks and technological systems. It is sentient now, and The Nomads faction wants you to believe that the ALEPH sees the human sphere as its playground, and is moving to take it over!

Here is a highlight of some of the new toys available in this expansion...

1. New Faction: ALEPH - The new Starter Box will be out in Jan or Feb!

2. Sectorial Armies - Sectorial armies lets you build your own themed armies and tailor them to your liking. Always wanted an army of ninjas or highlanders lead by William Wallace? Now's your chance!

3. New Game Mechanics - Linked Troops turns your basic grunts into an organized fire team. Issue a single order to the "link leader" to mobilize the entire fire team or setup a defensive parameter around an objective!

4. New Toys for Everyone - Want to see the new stats for a speedy transforming heavy infantry that can climb any surface then change to its attack mode to rain metal death upon your enemies? Or purchase up to three super humans bodies that can be "possessed" by an ALEPH artificial intelligence. Covering an unpossessed body with another copy of yourself, and if the physical body is destroyed the AI will simply upload to an unoccupied body!

The models are not out yet, but the new expansion looks really promising! They seemed to have added a lot of new game mechanic that addresses some of the gripe people had around grunts/order monkeys/cheerleaders. Go to your LGS to take a look at the new book if you enjoy INFINITY or looking for a fun new Skirmish scale game. You still need a lot of terrain to play this game, but I think it will be well worth it!

What's the difference between a Coordinated Order and using Linked Troops?

A Link Troop order only consumes a single order from the Order Pool, but can contain up to the max AVA of Link skilled troops from the same type.

Example:

Five Fusiliers (3 Combi Rifle, 1 HMG and a Paramedic) all have the Link skill in my Earth army. I can spend a single order for them to do the same skill (provided they can all do it). All of these skills generate a single ARO from models with LOS to the acting figures.

A Combined order can be done by any mix of models performing the same skill, but consumes one order per model doing the skill. Just like with Link troops, it generates only a single ARO from enemy models.

So Link is a skill that promotes the idea of taking a 'unit' of models of the same type to conserve orders and get multiple activations out of it. Its restricted to troops with this ability (typically only 2 types per list) so you can't do it with thinks like TAGs or most Heavy Infantry.

Human Sphere has a lot of cool fluff in it. It has two notably things that a lot of fans were hoping for that aren't incuded...

-Any kind of Scenario list that would add objectives and some variation of play.
-Campaign Rules.

The Sectorial lists are very cool, as are the new Equipment and Skills. The new troops and models are beautiful.

However; 60% of this books is background. I'm totally fine with that... but I think my heart was set on having a reason to play more games. I'll totally buy all the new models and build the Sectorial lists. I think I just psyched myself up too much with a desire for some organized way to link games.

Any possibility of more info on the sectorial lists please, like which factions gets what ? I've only heard about the japanese one, and I'd really like to know about the others.

I haven't read the book, so this is from memory, but I know Ariadna gets French and Scottish lists and Pan Oc has knightly orders. I can't remember anything else specifically off the top of my head. I know there are variant ideology factions for Haqqislam, but I don't know specifics.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Literally stolen off of the Infinity website, I can't give specifics beyond what's here, however.

PanOc:
Neoterran Capitaline Army- High-tech, specializing in elite troops.
The Military Orders- Knightly orders of CC-focused heavy infantry.
Acontecimento Shock Army- Offensive army emphasizing assault and jungle fighting.

Yu Jing:
Imperial Service- Imperial agents, penal troops, elite police. Seems like combination of the SS and Judge Dredd...
Japanese Sectoral Army- Assault army with high-tech ninjas and samurai.

Ariadna:
Caledonian Highlander Army: Scottish list with an emphasis on dog soldiers/werewolves.
Force de Réponse Rapide Merovingienne: French. I'm not sure, but looks like a pure special ops force.

Haqqislam:
Qapu Khalqi: Looks like an elite infantry list with a space piracy bent maybe?
Hassassin Bahram: The Haqqislam intelligence agency. Probably lots of Hassassins.

Nomads:
Corregidor Jurisdictional Command- Seems like an an entirely mercenary army.
Bakunin Jurisdictional Command- I have no idea. To quote: "takes advantage of the bizarre VaudeVille society and the forbidden sciences developed in the Black Laboratories of Praxis." This is either going to be incredible or wholly underwhelming...

Combined Army:
Morat Aggresion Forces- Heavy-hitting aggressive army.
Shasvastii Expeditionary Forces: It says they're 'highly deceptive,' so expect a lot of mimitism.

EDIT: Fixed errors.

Paladin Blake wrote:
Ariadna:
Caledonian Highlander Army: Scottish list with an emphasis on dog soldiers/werewolves.
Force de Réponse Rapide Merovingienne: French. I'm not sure, but looks like a pure special ops force.

Nomads:
Corregidor Jurisdictional Command- Seems like an an entirely mercenary army.
Bakunin Jurisdictional Command- I have no idea. To quote: "takes advantage of the bizarre VaudeVille society and the forbidden sciences developed in the Black Laboratories of Praxis." This is either going to be incredible or wholly underwhelming...

These sound nice!

My favorite two factions are well represented, it seems.

Paladin Blake wrote:

Combined Army:
Morat Aggresion Forces- Heavy-hitting aggressive army.
Shasvastii Expeditionary Forces: It says they're 'highly deceptive,' so expect a lot of mimitism.

I am so very tempted to start a new force... A Combined Army...

Must resist!

(Though I know I won't!)

Wait wait wait. Ariadna gets a Merovingienne force?

Oh hot damn. Moblots, Chasseurs, Zouat Intervention, Loup-Garous...

*glee*.

I could see myself getting a small Infinity force together in 2010. I like the armored models like the Orc, Ninja, and some of the big Combine models. Very cool stuff, but seems kinda pricey.

What's a typical game size, and how's the balance between armored dudes vs non-armored dudes?

I don't know, really John.

But one thing I didn't expect...
Aridnan "heavy" troopers, like the Veteran Kazaks and the Moblots?

They're as well protected as the Panoceanian Orcs.

OK. I'd like to field a sci-fi-ish force of powered armor models, like the Orc / Ninja models. But if the balance is very "off", such that the game biases heavily towards light stuff or wierd stuff, then that's not so good.

Similarly, I very much like how the Combine Anathematics and Avatar look. Those are some very cool sculpts.

Actually, it's explained as different tech.

While the PanOceanians and other factions rely upon the higher technological methods of production, the Ariadnans(who mind you, are considered the backwards hillbillies) rely on Teseum reinforced ballistic armor.

Teseum being the same material used in the powered armors of the other factions.

JohnHwangDD wrote:I could see myself getting a small Infinity force together in 2010. I like the armored models like the Orc, Ninja, and some of the big Combine models. Very cool stuff, but seems kinda pricey.

What's a typical game size, and how's the balance between armored dudes vs non-armored dudes?

IF you have people playing it in your area, or if you can convince your gaming group to jump in (and really, it is an easy sell!), I say go for it!

It is a skirmish game.

The cost is not great, but the miniatures certainly are!

Definitely gonna second the great miniatures part, Alpharius.

JohnHwangDD wrote:I could see myself getting a small Infinity force together in 2010. I like the armored models like the Orc, Ninja, and some of the big Combine models. Very cool stuff, but seems kinda pricey.

What's a typical game size, and how's the balance between armored dudes vs non-armored dudes?

The average game size is typically 5-15 models per side, depending on faction and tactic. Generally, the game is (as far as I can tell) fairly balanced. Heavy Infantry tends to outperform weaker line troops, but fewer models means fewer orders and, as such, less tactical flexibility. If anything, the game lends itself a bit towards favoring models with Camouflage and Infiltration, but it's not extreme in my experience.

Alpharius wrote:The cost is not great, but the miniatures certainly are!

I've been playing with 250-pt lists for Combine & Yu Jing based on what looks good to me. For the number of minis, it's not so cheap. But I do like some of their sculpts very much.

Can some kind soul with the HUMAN SPHERE sourcebook detail the makings of these two groups for me:

Combined Army:

Morat Aggresion Forces
Shasvastii Expeditionary Forces

I really want to pick up an Anathematics model and use them with the new rules, while at the same time, not spending any more than I 'have' to!

If nobody does it before I get my copy, I'll make sure to send info your way Alpharius.

Thanks - much appreciated!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Hurrah!

My copy of the book has arrived!

So...

Sectorial Armies and Linkable Troops:

MORAT AGGRESSION FORCE

Morat Vanguard Infantry
Yaogat
Suryat
Sogarat
Daturazi Witch-Soldiers

SHASVASTII EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Seed Soldiers
Gwailos

I'm sure I'll be able to fit an Anathematic in one of these somewhere!

Well, a caledonian starter box has just been listed on the infinity site, as of yesterday.

Nice!

I'm sure that more will follow, it help us take advantage of the new Sectorial groupings...

Now, where's the Merovingian starter box...

That list has some...interesting possibilities. Alot of harassment and sniper fire.

French elite troops, supported by werewolves. What more can one ask of an anime-inspired science-fiction game, really ?

Is this the confirmed complete lists of all sectorial armies within the book, though ? I'm kind of curious, and there's no LGS within a few thousand miles...

I believe that is it.

I'll double check and get back to you in a bit...

HudsonD wrote:French elite troops, supported by werewolves. What more can one ask of an anime-inspired science-fiction game, really ?

Is this the confirmed complete lists of all sectorial armies within the book, though ? I'm kind of curious, and there's no LGS within a few thousand miles...

Bear in mind that the "Loup-Garou" in the Merovingian Rapid Response Army are not Antipodes. They're a special response team equipped for putting down Antipodes.

As far as I can tell, the MRRA doesn't actually have any Antipodes available as choices.

If you want Antipodes, a normal Ariadnan list or the Caledonian Highlander Army are the best bet

Incidentally, I failed my willpower save and bought the new Anathematic and enough models to start a MORAT AGGRESSION FORCE...

Ohh... I really like the Anathematic model!

Kanluwen wrote:
Bear in mind that the "Loup-Garou" in the Merovingian Rapid Response Army are not Antipodes. They're a special response team equipped for putting down Antipodes.

Yeah, but I was more thinking about the very merovingian Mirage-5 team actually

Ah true. But I think that's only one Antipode, so not very many.

Still, Highlanders for many many Antipodes .

As a side note, I got my Zouaves Sapper-Sniper and the Sapper HMG guys today. Brutally awesome models, and the 'scenic' bases are amazing. The, imo, best part is that the Sniper AND HMG guy use the same base. The difference is that the HMG guy comes with a separately sculpted sandbag piece that fits over the gap where the sniper rests in his lil' foxhole.

Also, the Moblot is a very characterful model. Nicely detailed, as to be expected.

But the kicker?
Loup-Garou. GORGEOUS model. The expression on his face is priceless, as is the fact that he really has the whole "Oh FETH, I need backup NOW!" stance and expression going.

Kanlawen - do you have a good group of INFINITY players in your area?

I'm afraid that I'm going to have to blaze that particular trail in my area...

I don't actually. I'm in the same boat as you

It's mostly 40k/Flames of War locally.

Hence why when Neal had the Black Friday sale, I nabbed 3x starter sets on the cheap