Corregidor: Wildcats or Alguaciles

[ElectricPaladin]

This thread is inspired by a short exchange of posts over on the official Infinity forums (in fact, this post is in both places - I'm curious to see which thread lasts longer and has a more productive discussion). I'd like to talk about the use of alguaciles and wildcats. Is one clearly superior? What sorts of lists do each unit fit into better than the other?

Let's look at the facts:

Alguaciles

Pros

Super cheap
Options for HMG, MULTI sniper rifle, and missile launcher, or to add a LGR to their basic combi rifle.
Options for Hacker, Forward Observer (w/Deployable Repeaters), Paramedic, and Lieutenant.
Wearing a tiny bit of armor
Slightly above average BS for line infantry
AVA total (though let's get real - are you taking more than 5?)

Cons

No particular weaknesses
Lieutenant option costs 1 SWC

Wildcats
Pros

Very good BS for infantry
D-charges come standard
Combi rifles come with attached light flame throwers
Options for boarding shotgun (plus flash grenades and deployable repeaters), HRL, or spitfire.
Options for hacker, engineer, #2, and lieutenant
Lieutenant option costs 0 SWC
Decent ARM
Awesome BTS

Cons

~10 points more expensive than equivalent alguaciles
Slow (4/2)

Now, it's obvious that both of these units have a place in everyone's collection, because they can be used in radically different ways. with their superior ARM and BS, d-charges, close-range shooting options, and anti-infantry heavy weapon option, wildcats are a better forward fireteam, designed to get close to the enemy and win face-to-face rolls. Alguaciles, on the other hand, seem like they could do a good job hanging back and providing some much-needed heavy support, with fireteam-boosted sniper rounds or missiles.

That said, I personally find myself drawn much more towards the wildcats (and that's only a little bit because they have awesome modern sculpts, while alguaciles are old and funky looking and in need of a resculpt, and also I have a bunch of wildcats and the only alguacile I have is the hacker who comes in the Corregidor box ).

So... go ahead. Tell me what I'm missing about alguaciles, and show me how they can fit into lists in ways that wildcats can't. Because as it stands now, I don't quite see it.

[Hero of Man]

Alguacils: Don't forget Lupe Balboa; her Panzerfaust, Smoke Grenades, and specialist status make her a great asset to an Alguacil link team at a low, low price. At a lower points value I almost always bring her and a HMG in a team; though honestly, even without her team, I like bringing her with an Intruder for Smoke +MSV2 shenanigans. I use them more offensively this way, but a double sniper team or Missile launcher have definitely been on the try out list for a defensive link.

Wildcats: Great sculpts, great stat line... beyond that MOV. I know its a standard movement value, but dang. Also, a HMG A Spitfire Ain't. Then again, the HRL is a great Linked weapon, and all the sculpts are great. I switch between offense and defense with Wildcats; those light flamethrowers on a defensive link make life pretty difficult in general, and with D Charges there's nothing like a wall breach to really throw off someone's plans.

[Scorch]

You're missing the rumoured resculpt that should be in the Operation Icestorm starter! That should make them of similar modern quality to the Wildcats. That's definitely something I'm looking forward to! I've been on the same fence and kept the Alguaciles off for the same reason.
But, I think they are pretty cheap, much cheaper than a link of Cats, so if you like to take some more heavy support (Iggy or Gecko's for example) you can generate more orders with Alguaciles than with Wildcats. If you combine them with Lupe or Señor Massacre you get smoke options as well, which makes the Alguaciles a bit more survivable on the table, but that also goes for the Wildcats.

I'd personally field something like 2 combis (both FO and Paramedic options), 1 hmg, Lupe and one slot to your liking (hacker, grenadier, missiles, sniper or third combi). Cheapest will get you to 80point/1SWC linkteam with 3-4 specialists and 1-2 heavy weapons.
That's 40points/2,5 SWC cheaper than a Wildcat link of 2 engineers, 1 combi/lft, 1 Spitfire + HRL.


The thing I like the most with the Alguaciles is their cost, deployable repeaters and options for cheap links as it really gives you more option for variety in your lists.


I personally am still looking forward to a Boarding Shotgun and Hacker Wildcat because I think the HRL is a really occasional load-out to use. If the Alguaciles will see a resculpt in the Starter Set I'd be sure to get them as well, because really.. they are damn cheap, 50% cheaper than the cheapest Wildcat. Even if you could fit one in a list.

[Arachas]

I REALLY hope the Alguacils get new sculpts. I'll then be able to make the list I'm dreaming off: Alguacils link with Lupe, 2 Geckos (yes, two, mwuahahaha), maybe an Intruder or something... fill out with another REM or something nastiness...

But so far I've used the 'Cats and they're really like the other "specialist" links out there: pricy, but better shooters and generally useful in scenarios where you need buttons to be pushed (i.e. WIP tests to be taken). Move the link over to the objective, gun down anything that comes close...

I figure Alguacils are much more defensive, with HMG's and their squishiness.

So different uses for each type. I wouldn't say it's a matter of "best" but of "different", which is exactly what I like about Infinity.

[Hero of Man]

I have trouble seeing the HMG as a defensive link weapon; it just seems too big of a risk to me to leave the HMG exposed. Different strokes and all that, but was just curious how well that's worked for you; for me my opponent likes to bust my link team's offensive teeth on his active turn.

[Arachas]

I have trouble seeing the HMG as a defensive link weapon; it just seems too big of a risk to me to leave the HMG exposed. Different strokes and all that, but was just curious how well that's worked for you; for me my opponent likes to bust my link team's offensive teeth on his active turn.

Lack of experience on my part, most likely. But from what I've seen, my opponents seem to avoid the exposed HMG's. Prolly because of the +3 BS due to the 5-man link and DAM 15, both of which are tricky in a F2F roll, even if you have a higher Burst.

[Hero of Man]

I have trouble seeing the HMG as a defensive link weapon; it just seems too big of a risk to me to leave the HMG exposed. Different strokes and all that, but was just curious how well that's worked for you; for me my opponent likes to bust my link team's offensive teeth on his active turn.

Lack of experience on my part, most likely. But from what I've seen, my opponents seem to avoid the exposed HMG's. Prolly because of the +3 BS due to the 5-man link and DAM 15, both of which are tricky in a F2F roll, even if you have a higher Burst.

Let's not quote lack of experience on your part; it might just be my own!

Seems incredibly viable on paper, and if it works for you great! My buddy usually has his Szalamandra hunting my link teams... so run and hide.

[Scorch]

JURISDICTIONAL COMMAND OF CORREGIDOR
──────────────────────────────────────────────────

GROUP 1 10 0 0

WILDCAT Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (19)
WILDCAT Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (19)
WILDCAT Engineer Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (23)
WILDCAT Spitfire / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 25)
WILDCAT Heavy Rocket Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (2 | 31)
ALGUACIL Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (10)
ALGUACIL (Forward Observer, Deployable Repeater) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (14)
ALGUACIL Paramedic (MediKit) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (14)
ALGUACIL HMG / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 19)
ALGUACIL Hacker (Hacking Device) Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 22)

GROUP 2 3 0 0

INTRUDER (Lieutenant) Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, Grenades / Pistol, CCW. (36)
MOBILE BRIGADA MULTI Rifle + Light Flamethrower / Pistol, Knife. (43)
TOMCAT Engineer Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (22)

5 SWC | 297 Points

Open with Army 4

[Arachas]

LOL!! My favourite mème.

[Lampyridae]

I have trouble seeing the HMG as a defensive link weapon; it just seems too big of a risk to me to leave the HMG exposed. Different strokes and all that, but was just curious how well that's worked for you; for me my opponent likes to bust my link team's offensive teeth on his active turn.

Lack of experience on my part, most likely. But from what I've seen, my opponents seem to avoid the exposed HMG's. Prolly because of the +3 BS due to the 5-man link and DAM 15, both of which are tricky in a F2F roll, even if you have a higher Burst.

Let's not quote lack of experience on your part; it might just be my own!

Seems incredibly viable on paper, and if it works for you great! My buddy usually has his Szalamandra hunting my link teams... so run and hide.

The Intruder HMG can be a tough bastard to dig out, too. Camo, high BS, good ARM the HMG's range bands and MSVL2 all make him very tough defensively. Multiple wounds tend not to matter so much on the defensive. Couple with smoke and he's very, very good. Won't kill off models but will make them burn orders to get rid of him. Of course, he is also a squishy 1W model.