NeoTerran Bolts

[Harlekin]

In our local meta nobody ever bothers with Sekban for ITS - why should you choose them if you can take Kaplans?
Same about the Wildcats. They hardly ever make it to any objective, as there are Moran FOs, Tomcats to the job better and with the expediture of less orders.

Don't get me wrong, I can beat a newbie with any of my lists - but as soon as the game gets competitive, MOV4-2 really becomes an issue for specialist which have to travel over half the gaming table, when every single order counts.

[Claudius Sol]

Are you taking these MI specialists as a link team? Really helps the order efficiency as well as having some solid defense of the objectives that can't be moved.

They lend themselves to certain missions, sure, but are really solid.

Have you tried using the MI fire team alongside more "traditional" specialists? I've found using the MI link to grab and hold 1 or 2 close objectives while the more sprightly LI or SK specialists take the further one(s) works very well at securing what you've taken.

[NeonPhoenix]

I have to disagree; the MOV4-2 is certainly not the issue with Bolts; but the confusing stat line that offers nothing in respect to the rest of the NCA army list for it's high cost. As many of said in this forum and others, you don't see bolt's being passed over for fusiliers because of 4-4 Mov vs 4-2. you see them being passed over because they complete the EXACT same role for way, way less; meaning the real punch from NCA is affordable (i.e that aquila and swiss). The point costs for the bolt stat line is frustrating as hell given the quality of the models (and down right confusing; -6 BTS and bioimmunity? really that's a bit overkill, were shock and viral truly crushing PanO players that bad?... doubt it) In fact, unlike sekbans and wildcats (which have pretty decent stat lines to point cost to be honest) which are passed over due the fact there is simply 'better' units options in the lists (everyone knows Kaplans are Ace.. in fact probably tooo Ace... you could argue a pinch OP) and not because the stat lines suck. To improve them, oh i duno, maybe Mov 4-4 sure.. but even just a reduced point cost, maybe a direct template (some sort of E/M? that would be cool); maybe even something a bit more useful then silly Bioimmunity; anything really! as it is; the stat was gimped until N3 no question.

If we are in rumors, what ever happened to the rumors there was a Bolt Engineer? Now! that profile would spark some life into them; an actually alternative to a silly machinist; and give some viable way to finish that classified objective without dumping 15 points.

[Il_Marsigliese]

Bolt Engie and revised Shotgun rules/bonus coupled with the good profile (and seems like they won't run away when things get ugly) will surely benefit them...and do justice to their amazing models!!

[Claudius Sol]

I have to disagree; the MOV4-2 is certainly not the issue with Bolts; but the confusing stat line that offers nothing in respect to the rest of the NCA army list for it's high cost. As many of said in this forum and others, you don't see bolt's being passed over for fusiliers because of 4-4 Mov vs 4-2. you see them being passed over because they complete the EXACT same role for way, way less; meaning the real punch from NCA is affordable (i.e that aquila and swiss). The point costs for the bolt stat line is frustrating as hell given the quality of the models (and down right confusing; -6 BTS and bioimmunity? really that's a bit overkill, were shock and viral truly crushing PanO players that bad?... doubt it) In fact, unlike sekbans and wildcats (which have pretty decent stat lines to point cost to be honest) which are passed over due the fact there is simply 'better' units options in the lists (everyone knows Kaplans are Ace.. in fact probably tooo Ace... you could argue a pinch OP) and not because the stat lines suck. To improve them, oh i duno, maybe Mov 4-4 sure.. but even just a reduced point cost, maybe a direct template (some sort of E/M? that would be cool); maybe even something a bit more useful then silly Bioimmunity; anything really! as it is; the stat was gimped until N3 no question.

If we are in rumors, what ever happened to the rumors there was a Bolt Engineer? Now! that profile would spark some life into them; an actually alternative to a silly machinist; and give some viable way to finish that classified objective without dumping 15 points.

Completely valid points. I can certainly see how the Bolts are expensive. I even mentioned so above.

I don't know about the stats being entirely out of line for the Bolt, though. It follows with standard PanO statlines EXCEPT the BTS -6. That's a pretty big deal for MI. It's not a bad hacker option, either. Though, as you mentioned, points are prohibitive and come at a premium for PanO and NCA.

Bioimmunity doesn't seem all that awful to me, really. With the inclusion of Marksmanship and Viral weaponry being more and more present, this ability is something entirely within the bounds of "meta" as well as the story. It keeps your options open for your expensive MI by preventing them from dying to that stray Viral shot or that Spetznaz grenade. Being able to pick up your 1 wound infantry is a big deal. Being able to roll less dice than you would normally from Viral ammo is a big deal. You could argue that the skill is over-costed, but certainly not useless or overkill with BTS -6.

[NeonPhoenix]

I suppose you're right, if marksmanship takes off in 3rd being dolled out to more 'sniper' models, bioimmunity would certainly start earning it's keep. Although (maybe it's just me) but when playing PanO i've never found the desire to spend orders to heal and pick up my 1 wound model (especially since PanO doctors are typically crap and tend to kill my men as oppose to saving them).
Any further news or rumours on the shotgun changes?

[Mob of Blondes]

Mini she avaliable beyond Gencon. 12 pounds.

[Lampyridae]

Ohhh, very nice. I am glad she gets to sell her own mini. I may not buy it for that price though!

[Lone_Pathfinder]

Ohhh, very nice. I am glad she gets to sell her own mini. I may not buy it for that price though!

Specially not at more than double the price with shipping to Australia.

[Errhile]

Collector's piece creates a collector's price tag.
Nothing extraoridnary, to see a limited supply driving a price sky-high...

[Mob of Blondes]

The page asks if you want it signed. How she will sign a miniature... no idea, maybe she will sign the blister label or the card.

[Claudius Sol]

I'd wager the card gets signed.

[Mob of Blondes]

Real life one seems to have got some fixes. But she stolen someone else weapon, too big.

[Lampyridae]

At least her Vera don't need atmo to fire!

[ewok40k]

just to add my 3 cents worth of rifle knowledge:
-Soviet designated marksman rifle was SVD... used by Balalaika and her Vysotniki in Black Lagoon. all the reliability of the AK plus accuracy to match old Mosin (aka Ojotnik...)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragunov_sniper_rifle

bonus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agWy-7XANJ8 Balalaika in action!

-US surprisingly fast managed to develop and buy own equivalent, M-110
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M110_Semi- ... per_System

[Lampyridae]

SVD was always my preferred weapon of choice...

[Section9]

SVD was always my preferred weapon of choice...

Eh, I prefer the Romanian PSL (and own one). Exact same mechanism as the AK, so fewer parts to lose while field-stripping for cleaning (it comes apart into receiver cover, buffer spring assembly, and bolt+carrier).

But the SVD and PSL are longer than the AK because the ammo is much longer.

From left to right: 7.62x54R (used in Moisin, SVT, SVD, PSL, as well as various machine guns), 7.62x39 (used in AK and SKS), and 7.62x25 (used in Tokarev pistols and PPSh SMG).

The AR10/M110/"Long Action" AR platform has a similar relationship to the AR15/M16. Longer ammunition so longer action. But the M110 or L129 is a marksman rifle, not the standard rifle.

[Harlekin]

And here is, what Bolts are using:

[Errhile]

Looks pretty G11 (4,73x33mm caseless) to me, Harlekin. You mean that the Bolts use ammunition that is a 200 years old design?

[Harlekin]

You do know that those bullets are only 4mm in diameter and still bring twice the impact force than a present-day G11?

[Section9]

And here is, what Bolts are using:
[ img ]

Not in that curved magazine they're not! Or if they are, it's a horrible use of the volume of the mag...

Looks pretty G11 (4,73x33mm caseless) to me, Harlekin. You mean that the Bolts use ammunition that is a 200 years old design?

Why not? The brass-cased self-contained cartridge is pushing 170 years old now (invented in 1846), and it's proved quite difficult to improve upon it. electric ignition has been tried and was a commercial failure. Caseless has been tried and was killed by the costs of getting the former East German Army up to NATO standards.

The current "next big thing" seems to be case-telescoped ammunition, where the projectile does not extend beyond the volume of the case. There's a 40mm cannon using that design (and a breech similar to the G11) that seems to be the preferred weapon for the next generation of IFVs, and the US's Lightweight Small Arms Technology LMG has a case-telescoped ammunition design they're working with that is apparently ready to adopt as soon as the US is no longer involved in an active war.

Though it is somewhat possible that the US will adopt a caseless version of the LSAT weapons instead. The Army wants to go ahead with the case-telescoped design now, the USMC wants to get caseless ammo completely mature and is willing to wait until the ammo is ready to go before changing weapons.

[Lampyridae]

SVD was always my preferred weapon of choice...

Eh, I prefer the Romanian PSL (and own one). Exact same mechanism as the AK, so fewer parts to lose while field-stripping for cleaning (it comes apart into receiver cover, buffer spring assembly, and bolt+carrier).

But the SVD and PSL are longer than the AK because the ammo is much longer.

From left to right: 7.62x54R (used in Moisin, SVT, SVD, PSL, as well as various machine guns), 7.62x39 (used in AK and SKS), and 7.62x25 (used in Tokarev pistols and PPSh SMG).

The AR10/M110/"Long Action" AR platform has a similar relationship to the AR15/M16. Longer ammunition so longer action. But the M110 or L129 is a marksman rifle, not the standard rifle.

This is a hypothetical "weapon of choice," having never owned a firearm in my life. I prefer it in shooter games and RPGs.

[Icchan]

ready to adopt as soon as the US is no longer involved in an active war.

And that's why USAriadna will still be using M16's 175 years in to the future

[Scorch]

I for one am really looking forward to see what CB has in mind for them. Love the models! They form a cool looking linkteam, fitting to the NCA. I hope the Bagh Mari will see a resculpt soon, making them awesome as the Bolts. Both units are considered mediocre in the current system. Let's hope N3 will do something about it, as I love both these units to death.