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I know some of you play Ariadna so I thought I'd ask here, what do you want to see in a USAriadna sectoral force. Cowboys? Gangsters? Navy Seals? Rambo? Bruce Willis? Clint Eastwood!

African-Americans. And, yeah, Clint.

NO to ALL of those!

Just a smart military looking force - along the lines of Van Zant and the Foxtrot Ranger.

Please!

Navy seals =D
I really love the SAS so any models with the style would suit me actually =P
Where's my SAS with a sniper rifle ?! And what about the rifle ? An actual shotgun too =P
The knife one can do all these but still...

Please no Rambos =P

I agree with Alpharius, but have to clarify:

The Foxtrot Ranger with the Light Grenade Launcher and Rifle, not the one with Pigtails and a patented Infinity Pattern Belly Tactical Vest.

I don't think any one particular ethnicity should be predominant in the USAriadna force either.

I'm not for Rambo either. The one Foxtrot though looks a lot like Chuck Norris in MIA.I wouldn't mind some cowboy irregulars. They would give the feeling that USAraidna is in the Wild East? fighting the Antipodes.

There's one force that not many know of is the Air Force special forces, Pararescue. They are like Tomcats for Nomads. Parachute Engineers and Doctors.

I don't think any one particular ethnicity should be predominant in the USAriadna force either.

I'm with you there. But I would like it if they did do someone that looks African decent.

I would mind cowboy irregulars. It would be downright silly.

I should have waited a few seconds before hitting submit and explained a bit further.

If we're talking about guys wearing dusters or something? That's fine. We've got people wearing dusters/longcoats in PanOceania and we've got Father Lucien.

But if we're talking spurs, stetsons/fedoras, and six-shooters? Then you've gone too far.

Ariadna is all about simplicity in my mind. The models are (for the most part) utilitarian, with a few examples of cheesecake. While an argument can also be made for the idea of "adoption of their heritage to survive in a foreign and deadly land", you really only see that in the Caledonian Sectorial and the Highlanders. When you look at the SAS, you're seeing a fully professional appearing model versus a guy in a kilt.

Oh, I wasn't suggesting a predominantly African-American force -- just a few miniatures with African features, and maybe an African-American SC.

Kanluwen wrote:

I don't think any one particular ethnicity should be predominant in the USAriadna force either.

VERY good point there - and I hope CB does just this!

Diversify, just like America!

Oh come on! I could totally go for some guys with cowboy hats!

Racist... err... Nationali-... no wait... **** I'll figure out the proper insult later.

Anyway, okay 1) Totally biased. I'm American, I wouldn't mind an American Sectorial.

2) Why the hell not?! I would love to see a really badass Delta-Force sort of team, or something done with the Minutemen... let's be honest now... if anyone needs a resculpt, it's Mr. Whoops-I-Dropped-My-Missile-Launcher.

Someone argue, I dare you. That may just be the worst model in the entire line, and I say that with a heavy heart, cause I love almost all the sculpts.

But hey, really I say we get a Russian Sectorial before an American one. But I think all four should be represented.

This is what I'm thinking with "Cowboys". Something right out of a western wouldn't do. But something like Firefly/Serenity?

Tell me you wouldn't buy a mini of a dude in a duster with an awesome hat with a bigass revolver (Contender!)!

Do it!

You can't. It's okay, I understand.

"I aim to misbehave."

Just say NO to Cowboys in USAriadna!

Alpharius wrote:Just say NO to Cowboys in USAriadna!

Awwww comeon! Where's your national pride!?

Maybe a new unit that acts like the Loup Garous for the French. But instead, they're like Marshals!

Tell me you don't want that.

Mechanical Horse! Mechanical Horse! Mechanical Horse!

That would be so cool!

MOV 6-6, Multiterrain, Super Jump.

Hell you put a stetson on Father Lucien and you already have Clint Eastwood!

Chemical Cutthroat wrote:

Alpharius wrote:Just say NO to Cowboys in USAriadna!

Awwww comeon! Where's your national pride!?

Maybe a new unit that acts like the Loup Garous for the French. But instead, they're like Marshals!

Tell me you don't want that.

I don't want that.

CDK wrote:Mechanical Horse! Mechanical Horse! Mechanical Horse!

That would be so cool!

MOV 6-6, Multiterrain, Super Jump.

Hell you put a stetson on Father Lucien and you already have Clint Eastwood!

I definitely don't want that.

ANY of that!

The mechanical horses might be a little much, but I totally stand behind my want for Sci-fi Marshals.

Alpharius wrote:

CDK wrote:Mechanical Horse! Mechanical Horse! Mechanical Horse!

That would be so cool!

MOV 6-6, Multiterrain, Super Jump.

Hell you put a stetson on Father Lucien and you already have Clint Eastwood!

I definitely don't want that.

ANY of that!

Then don't take it lol

Seriously though, what do we know of USAriadna?

1. They live closest to Antipode lands and constantly fight them. The could have their own wulvers and dog warriors.
2. Very nationalistic
3. The built their own coca cola plant!
4. The forces that made up the bulk of the soldiers that colonized Dawn were made up of US Army Rangers. Though there was probably a lot of Air Force as well because they are the most technical of the armed forces (but that's my own thoughts).
5. A lot of their towns are named for US Historical places or themes like Fort Apache, and Deadwood

What we have so far:
Airborne (only Van Zant right now)
Minutemen (were milita not Rangers so it must be a Post-Dawn thing.)
Foxtrot (I have no idea where the got the name from, possibly the 29th commandos in WWII? Must be Post-Dawn Regiment)

All of those signs point to awesome. Especially Coca Cola. Pepsi has no place in the cyberpunk future.

Chemical Cutthroat wrote:Oh come on! I could totally go for some guys with cowboy hats!

Racist... err... Nationali-... no wait... **** I'll figure out the proper insult later.

Anyway, okay 1) Totally biased. I'm American, I wouldn't mind an American Sectorial.

2) Why the hell not?! I would love to see a really badass Delta-Force sort of team, or something done with the Minutemen... let's be honest now... if anyone needs a resculpt, it's Mr. Whoops-I-Dropped-My-Missile-Launcher.

Someone argue, I dare you. That may just be the worst model in the entire line, and I say that with a heavy heart, cause I love almost all the sculpts.

But hey, really I say we get a Russian Sectorial before an American one. But I think all four should be represented.

I can think of quite a few models in the ranges that I want redone.

The "cheesecake" models, for example, I want to see redone into something which doesn't look like it belongs on a pinup poster. Keep the old sculpts and put them in a "Girls of Infinity" range or something, just don't make them be required for one to field a specific option in the game proper.

That said, someone on the CB forums mentioned that they want to see "Teddy Roosevelt" as the Recreation for USAriadna.
I disagree with that. It shouldn't be a political figure, but rather a military figure. Patton, Eisenhower, or Westmoreland would be appropriate I think.

Regarding the "US Marshals" bit:
I think that's just 'meh'. Given the diversity of the ethnic groups making up USAriadna's settlers(the NASA investigation team was primarily Oriental-Americans and those of Anglo-Saxon descent, with the Ranger contingent having Hispanic and African-American descents being a part), I can't see any one real portion of US history being the inspiration.

With that in mind, it's also important to remember that USAriadna doesn't get involved too heavily with the operation of Ariadna as a whole's joint operations as they're constantly engaged with the Antipodes. I can't see them as being too reliant upon outside help when it comes to fielding their forces purely, but I could see them giving a few units here and there to the other Ariadnan factions.

If I had to guess what we'll see in terms of the forces presented?
We'll likely see the Minutemen as the "Regulars" like the Metros are for the Merovingians.
We'll likely see the Foxtrot Rangers as their "signature" infantry, like the Moblots are for the Merovingians.
I can see an introduction of some kind of "woodsman" styled infantry which would be similar to the Chasseurs, a brutish styled heavy infantry like the Moblots, and I am pretty confident to say we'll likely see a techie make an appearance given the NASA influence.

Yeeeeeeah, no.

Minutemen are Heavy Infantry. Don't really think they compare to Metros. They're more like the Moblots really.

Foxtrot Rangers are more styled like Chasseurs... they're sneaky.

I would like to see a few more 'line' troops. Right now you only have a handful of troops... and most of them lean one way or the other.

Chemical Cutthroat wrote:Yeeeeeeah, no.

Minutemen are Heavy Infantry. Don't really think they compare to Metros. They're more like the Moblots really.

I'm aware of that. I had a point which I made, and I think you misunderstood.

The Minutemen are veteran troops, but from what we have on them it suggests that they're the "standard" of USAriadna's forces. I don't think we're going to see USAriadna as a "swarm" force, but rather a more elite force. Almost like Ariadna mixed with ALEPH, if you will.

Foxtrot Rangers are more styled like Chasseurs... they're sneaky.

I would like to see a few more 'line' troops. Right now you only have a handful of troops... and most of them lean one way or the other.

Again:
I think you kind of missed the point.

From what we have of USAriadna, it suggests that they're not a force for knockdown, dragout fights like the Russians. It suggests that they're a rapid response force, which is actually evidenced in the description of the Minutemen and the fact that of the three forces we have described from them--all are those which would be hitting hard and fast, and getting the hell out of there before things get bad.

I can see what you mean by that. I can see Minetmen and maybe Foxtrot becoming AVA5 abut not Total though. Both are currently AVA3. They could also link. They still need some sort of cheap troops. And that could be something like the Milita. That's pretty much what a Metro is. A Garrison troop.

They need some type of local troop for when the PanO Corporates come to put a mine right one your door step!

Honestly, I don't think every force needs to have "Garrison Troops".

I could easily see, for example, ALEPH having Dakinis become AVA "Total" in a Sectorial like the one I (Jarreth) was trying to get going in a brainstorming session over on the CB forums.

CDK wrote:Mechanical Horse! Mechanical Horse! Mechanical Horse!

Let's mail Corvus Belli all the seasons of Sabre Rider and the star sheriffs on DVD and see if they get the hint!

No mechanical horses, please. I shifted out of WHFB and WH40K because GW started introducing wacky things that didn't fit with the previous aesthetic.

Ariadna have the "not too unlike today" aesthetic (well, apart from some werewolves), and introducing mechanical horses would fracture that quite nastily.
Motorbikes (provided they're proper off-road bikes, not something nonsensical like choppers) would be logical - we use them today. Simple, reliable, fast, multi-terrain... everything you need for a fast, agile one man military vehicle. The closest to mechanical horses I'd tolerate would be something like Boston Dynamics BigDog as a baggage remote.

MarcoSkoll wrote:No mechanical horses, please. I shifted out of WHFB and WH40K because GW started introducing wacky things that didn't fit with the previous aesthetic.

Ariadna have the "not too unlike today" aesthetic (well, apart from some werewolves), and introducing mechanical horses would fracture that quite nastily.
Motorbikes (provided they're proper off-road bikes, not something nonsensical like choppers) would be logical - we use them today. Simple, reliable, fast, multi-terrain... everything you need for a fast, agile one man military vehicle. The closest to mechanical horses I'd tolerate would be something like Boston Dynamics BigDog as a baggage remote.

Agree completely. Although, to be honest looking at the other Ariadna stuff released so far (both Merovingian and American) as well as the artwork in the book, I would imagine it would follow more of a current/future US armed forces look rather than any kind of wacky wild west or fantasy style (which I think would be really out of character for CB anyway).

I don't really like the model that much, but I'm guessing stuff along the lines of the Foxtrot ranger below:

@Kanluwen - Yeah, totally missed your point. Phrasing! My fault chief.

Dirtbikes would be wicked-awesome. And really, make a lot more sense than the Japanese super-bikes. I love those bikes to death, but as soon as you play on a board that isn't a city, it makes... a lot less sense.

In the future, they better have some wicked awesome stability control systems on those bikes, because I would not want to take a futuristic Hayabusa out on gravel. Kiss my arse goodbye.

Haqqislam have the mono-cycles, which I love, though I don't really like the riders at all, which is frustrating. They're fun models, and they strike me as that fun sci-fi stuff we should see more of. It's not too unbelievable after all.

I still want a Marshall model... just look at the Texico gunslinger model for MERCS. That guy looks perfect. Let's get one of those!

I could certainly pass on Mechanical horse though.

I am interested to see if they have any Dogfaces in USAriadna. Who knows, they could be even less accepted than in the other places, and put down immediately. Sounds harsh, but you never know.

Since they'd have to sculpt some werewolves without kilts for the Americans...

I think the likelihood of a USAriadnan marshal is quite low. While there's not much to go by so far, the USAriadnans are definitely at the more modern end of the styling of the Ariadnans, so I think it'll be approximately contemporary army. I don't think there's going to be a whole heap of civvy side stuff - Old West inspired gunslingers are not a likely candidate.

I think that's more likely to be the realm of mercenary troops, where they're less restricted by themes.

By the fluff, Caledonia has the money, Kazaks go the tech, Merovingians got speed, and the US go the ass end of antipodes.