Data Sphere

Howdy:

My collection of Nomads has been growing over the last two years and the recent bump from Icestorm has been perfect. My local group just decided to hold back our Campaign: Paradiso until N3 ships - play a few games before jumping all in during the holidays.

Now I need advise on new minis to get my list ready. I'm picking up Interventors and the Nomads/ALEPH Dire Foes pack but I need help to pick a TAG

Background: I have lots of Bakunin (Sin Eaters, Rev Cost) which includeds the Sectoral Starter, Zoe & Pi-Well, Support Pack, Kusanagi, Überfallkommando, Spec Ops and I have 2 REM: Zonds Remotes and Salyut Zonds... oh and the new Nomad Starter (thanks Icestorm)

I was looking at the Iguana - multi purpose and cranky to kill due to HI pilot. Also it's a sweet looking mini. I'm trying to avoid the Szalamandra, I'd expect a possible resculpt down the line (unless I'm wrong) but it has briliant boom stick. The Ghekos I'm not sold on quite yet and I'm not sure if the sexy looking Lizard is what I need.

Advice please -

Difficult one to answer. I personally loathe the Lizard, but seeing you run lots of Bakunin, that might be the TAG for you. My personal preference is Corregidor, so I own the Iguana, and find it one of the coolest TAGs in the game.
Szalamandra.. meh.. don't like the model, and I am indeed waiting for Tunguska + Resculpt before I look at that one again.

Looking at the Lizard and the Iguana. Right now (2nd) the Lizard has higher ARM (+2), and higher STR (+1) that will really make the difference. Other than that, they look almost similar statwise (only small difference CC/PH, but who uses that on a TAG in 2nd? )

So it's up to you.. Do you want a beatstick to get more beat-stickier once it goes down, ejecting its HMG carrying HI? Or take a more serious TAG for extra though support?

There's also the Multi HMG on the Lizard as well as the HGL option. I don't the HGL or HFT will go away. Personally, I love the model but it's a love/hate kind of thing. Plus, it is a bit cheaper than most new TAGs.

It's a good, solid TAG. TAG rampages are now more a thing of the past so you'll really get something that you can use in a combined arms kind of way.

My advice would be - wait for the N3. The statlines might be a subject of change, which in turn could change how useful a given TAG will be.

Also, with the new Silhouette being a constant thing, you could also buy whichever TAG you fancy, and proxy it as another one, using the proper silhouette to settle LoS.
Personally, I don't like the Lizard (but it is purely a matter of taste, statline-wise it is a classic MBT), I belive Szalamandra really could use a resculpt, and since I play Corregidor, it is Iguana for me anyway - Szally and lizzy aren't available (and Geckos are a completely different kettle of fish).

Yup. Plus, it appears Multi HMGs can now fire B4 AP or Shock ammo, and that is huge. It gives the Lizard a huge advantage against other TAGs whereas before all the Multi HMG was good for was EXP shots in ARO in N3.

Sally's HRMC got quite the upgrades too though. DA for AROs, and different Ammo types for offense as well.

MacAttack001 wrote:Here is the real problem, without seeing the rules for 3rd edition any suggestions are pointless.

My suggestion is to hold tight, wait until you get your hands on a copy of the new rules and then make informed decisions on what to get.

Who knows what the new Tunguskan list may very well be da bomb. Hacking is going to be vastly more important this time around.

Well, no new sectorial lists are going to be in the core N3 book. We won't see Tunguska or any other sectorials until Acheron Falls.

But otherwise very true. Hacking is doing a LOT more in N3 than it did in N2.

Yup, no new sectorials for another year at least. Don't expect Acheron Falls before end of next year (that way, if it does come early, it'll be a pleasant surprise). AF has the new sectorial lists in it. N3 was NEVER going to have them. They've said this all along.

So wait for the FULL 3rd ed rules and hacking section before making a decision on TAGs - unless you just buy them because they look cool. I have no problem with a TAG model staying on the shelf - because I didn't buy them based on their rules but on their looks.

Chromedog is absolutely correct if you love the look of miniature and want it I would NOT tell you to hold off.

From just the superficial look that I have had of N3 (i.e. what they have put out thus far) I think that TAGs are still going to be a useful tool. A balanced approach to building a force with a mix of weapons/ammunition and troop types is going to serve you best.

To me, it seems that they have balanced the game a great deal more (and I already thought that it was a great system).

I'll have to pitch in on the szalamandras defence. A new coat of paint goes a long way, some of the older schemes arent so flattering. Plus I did convert its HMC arm, wasnt so keen on the minigun style so whipped up something else. Overall, its a model I quite like regardless. But it does still come down personal preferences. And I've always preferred the burst advantage of the szalamandra, I normally try to avoid using TAGs for AROs and just milk them on the active turn. But thats just how I roll.

Can same one point me to a PDF of Icestorm. I need the stats of the Iguana.

Thank my friend.

Turns out that the Lizzie kept the HGL, making it one of a very few TAGs still with the HGL.

The Squalo kept it and got the AP Heavy Pistol, Guijia lost the HGL but kept the HFT, Mag Guard lost the HGL option for a pair of heavy pistols but kept the HFT option, Lizzie still has both HGL and HFT options, Raicho lost the HGL option for an AP Heavy Pistol but kept the HFT option, and the Avatar lost both HGL and HFT. So far, it's just the Squalo and Lizard that have HGLs in N3.