That was my understanding, that is. ;)

(I really hate not being able to edit on these News threads).

Aidan also ignored Zellbrigen, gained an illegal second trial, posed as a Freebirth, read books other than the Remembrance, etc etc and was considered a poor example of a Jade Falcon right up until the point he died holding off a batallion of Com Guard light 'Mechs single-handedly. Thing is, he was saving a Freeborn warrior.

Aidan's actions on Tukayyid gained his forgiveness but his true history was conveniently "forgotten". Hence the disbelief amongst other Clan members when the Steel Vipers revealed the truth about him.

Uniques are NOT Elite. Uniques are Unique. Until an FAQ changes the text in the rulebook that is and will continue to be the case.

My dislike of the JF faction abilities is not that they are overpowered, it is that they are powerful and so JF units will pay a lot for them. Therefore they will have to make use of them in a game to justify their points values.

Trovic Nilloba is a great example. 18 defense is painfully low. Trovic will be lucky to emerge unshot and uncharged into DFA range, but is costed to use that ability.

My complaint is not that the abilities are overpowered so much that affordable units with them will by necessity be awful (case in point, the Eyrie).

I rethought of MERCILESS ability.

I think it's TOTALLY broken!
Its not an IT applied to DFA! You ADD a d6 to your total! You could even roll a 24!!!
And you don't take dmage from the attack!
DFA was abusive even before this rule (and with such lower defense value we have now, the +2 to defense is almost irrilevant) because it wasn't changes ad chacge was (you still take only 1 pt of damage when performing DFA, even if you inflict 7 clicks of damage!!). DFA has always been the best way to finish an half destroyed mech... When armor gets around 16-17, it's time for a DFA attack.
But now the choice is automatic!
Take the pathetic Storm Raider. It should have been a melee mech. Instead, with its 18 in defense and NO agility, it's just a red dot on the map asking for being buried with a DFA!
Time to nerf DFA, period.

you can't attack anything aside from arnis but you can still move and base anything as long as you don't attack anything aside from arnis. then next turn you can break the FA and shoot the thing you are basing.

Though powerful, I suspect Merciless would be a difficult ability to use effectively. Your opponent just needs to play a few fast infantry and keep your precious JF mechs based whenever they are in DFA range. Which shouldn't be too hard if you incorporate ATV's, hoverbikes, and fast jumpers in your army. Or even better, small fast high-attack vehicles (~Hiroshi Kato) that can ram the low-defense Falcon mechs when they tie them up.

there are three things that I really hate about DFA and charging.
1. the ranges that you can charge at are just ridiculous in most cases. Even the DFA ranges make you lift an eyebrow (or two). Using CBT ranges as an example for a Mech to jump the range that a normal IS medium laser can fire, it would have to be a light Mech with a top speed of about 140 kph (9/14/9). Thats even faster than the speed demon locusts can go.

2. The damage you take from making a charge or DFA attack is out of whack. The new charge rules address that pretty much, although it still raises some issues. but with DFA allowing you to make an attack and take no damage from a successful attack is just stupid. +2 is nothing, and doesnt accurately reflect the difficulty of landing a 20+ ton of machinery flying through the air on the head of [i]another[I/] 20+ ton piece of machinery, usually while the target is moving. Trust me, thats a pretty small target. And then if you make a successful attack you take no damage? what? your legs and, possibly, lower torso are still plowing through another war machine, and you take no damage? oh come on ....

3. the damage you deal from a charge or DFA is ridiculous. Why on earth is it linked to primary damage anyway? Charge and DFA damage is based on [i]tonnage[I/], not on weapons load. A Panther or Wolfhound both have some pretty heavy weaponry, and can even outgun some undergunned 55- or 60-tonners. But when those 35 tonners charge or DFA, theyre only going to deal about half the amount of damage that a 55- or 60- tonner can, simply because the latter Mechs can put more weight and 'muscle' behind it. Thats what makes Mechs like the Berserker so dangerous in close combat. This is totally out of synch in the game as light Mechs can deal damage close to heavies, and some mediums (the BR lego comes to mind) deal charge damage that looks like it out to come out of an assault Mech.

Basically, while I dont like to decry something before I test it or give it a chance, I cant quite see anything good about the Merciless special rule, or even DFA in general. (I have an aversion to using charge and dfa in games anyway). Yes there are ways around it but not only does it make alot of CJF units overcosted, its also going to be promoting a whole new type of chargemonkeys. and for anyone whos arguing that this will promote ranged attacks, just remember two things. Most units will only have one chance to take a shot at a CJF mech before they start bunny hopping. and if the CJF player is smart hell screen his Mech using either a cheaper mech or blocking terrain or something similar. So the range of wpns is pretty irrelevant, just like with charge. Then theres the fact that needing to out-range the dfa-ers will prolly lead to people using arty even more, as its one of the few things thatll be able to out-range the jump range. Well, enough ranting. Thats my 2 cents worth.

A few things.

One. Merciless isn't as good as some of you make it out to be. As it statnds the most justifable mech to use it with is the Panther and or the Shrike. THe panther because it's cheap cheap, the shirke because it as the defense to get in to the middle of the action.

Don't get me wrong it can be a powerful ability and obviously the best choice when in range. I'ts just getting in range is the problem. With CJF's low defense, they are going to run into a myramid of problems trying to get into range TO DFA.

A simple infantry drop can hurt 3/4 mechs shown so far. An 18 Defense isn't fantastic. These are reasons's mechs like Abeda Measho, Miguel V, and other 18 defense mechs went away once transports where introduced. Just to hard to defend against and very easy to get taken out.

However as for CSF, I fear the CSF mech that has Pulse. Attack, Pulse, Salvage, Attack Again, 2 clicks of repair.
-BA

I can understand worrying about merciless, but you're exaggerating. DFA has never been useful. Even after the change than made charge less appealing, DFA was still not used.

I'll reserve my judgment regarding merciless until I see the rest of the set. It certainly seems powerful, but lets try not to look at it in a vacuum. DFA can be countered much more easily than charge. Getting first strike will be essential (more so than usually) for the JF, as their low defense will mean that if they're shot at, they'll get hit. Their low ranges and the fact that DFA attacks are so appealing to them, means that they'll have to get close (and 12" away is close). People should keep that in mind.

I can see why people who don't like close combat will be upset. It seems that the best attack option for a JF unit with JJ will be DFA. I understand the complaint, but for me, if the gameplay is balanced, it is irrelevant. Of course the balance remains to be seen.The "no damage on a successful DFA" in particular seems a bit excessive.

Dealing with this faction ability, requires preparation and strategy and this is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Its "broken-ness" will be determined by the level of preparation it will require. If it forces people to use specific armies to counter it, then it will be bad. If adding harassment/guards to your units is enough, it will be ok. We'll have to see... :)

I'm thinking merciless is not meant for first strike. If I get within DFA range of your mech. You will shoot me and I'll take my damage. I have two choices then: shoot with the decreased stats or DFA at roughly the same skill level as before. The +2 damage should take me back to the starting damage and the +1d6 should not only cover the +2 defense but also help raise my lower attack value to where it was before your attack.

He wasn't defending a freeborn, he was defending his entire force while they hauled butt outta there.




As for the Falcons changing tactics, I believe their current Khan said it best:
(paraphraseing. The books at work)

"Yes, we will honor tradition, but only when it does not keep us from achiving our goals."

About freaking time they got that bug out of their ***! This is why I like Jade Falcon so much. They are honorable, but when it comes down to it, they just want to beat the holy **** outta someone.

I've been looking at how Zellbrigen (I'll call it ZB from now on) will affect the game.

Firstly, there's nothing I've seen so far that says you must have half of your build total as CJF to qualify for any of these faction abilities. Therefore, constructed armies will probably see some choice CJF units in them.

Second, whereas Liao's ability targetted Green units, the ability to deal out +1 damage to Elites will affect some of the more popular pieces in play today.

For example, the DF ATVs and the BR Sprint have shallow dials to start with. Stick +1 onto their damage and their life expectancy will be pretty short. As they are both fast units, you'd have to nail them in 1 go to stop them from zooming off into the distance.

The SH Aesir and the SSwn A4 will also suffer and, as they are slower and usually wrapped into a meat shield, they will have less of an opportunity to move away or lure the CJF piece into a trap.

Liao, if they choose to go for Awe will probably have a Targe and an MH1 AA Tank in their line up. Once again, these will both suffer from the +1 and as you'll probably have to destroy these to win the game, then getting +1 will be a bonus.

Another category that will suffer is the Elites with Heavy Armour. This is now negated by ZB and Highlanders, Liao and ROTS all have significant units that will be weaker against CJF as a result. I should also metion that the SSwn Arrow IV is another unit who's Hvy Armour against CJF ahs jsut become a waste of points.

Although Elites go deeper in the dial than Greens, they do give you more to VC1 and a judicious use of ZB could be a key to winning.

excellent

Predator is basically rapidstrike in a sense except that it lets a ranged attack be made twice.

"ZB" doesn't bother me that much. I play primarily DF 'Mechs with low defenses and lack of armor anyways, so I'm used to being more susceptable to attacks.

Now Merciless is just plain sic.
If I read it correctly, I do my dfa rolling 3d6, and if it's successful I get to re roll 1d6 and add that value to the main dfa damage?
That's along with the +2 damage that dfa attacks already get?

Scavenger is similar to the repair that House Liao gets when one of it's units gets eliminated. Can't remember it's name.
Seems that the SF's will be similar to Bannson's with little or no repair markers.

Renegade is more of a hinderance than a benefit, IMO.
I don't think we'll see alot of faction pure SeaFox armies since they can't be in formations.

And enhanced imaging doesn't matter to me either as I don't usually hide in hindering.

@greyholme
For Merciless, you roll 4d6. If you hit, you deal your primary damage plus two and take no damage in return. If you miss, you take one click of damage.