Infinity/N3 Tactics/Combined Army

Why Play Combined Army

Two reasons, chiefly: first, there's something about playing the villains that can be satisfying thematically. You may notice that amongst Mary-Sues, cliché anti-heroes and whatnot, perhaps being the bad guy offers a break from routine. Second, the CA is not to be fucked with - they bring some SERIOUS power to the Infinity field with their voodoo tech, alien races and EI aspects (the generic CA army being the only place where you can currently field them at all).

Faction Features

• ALL the Aliens: want to support Daturazi with a hidden Haiduk sniper? How about a Charontid with the support of a Maakrep and Morat engineer with a Portable Autocannon? The choices and possibilities are available here at the expense of fireteams.

• Bow to Me, Sub-creatures: Four EI aspects are available for your choosing and all have a wide wealth of weapon options that includes the dreaded sepsitors.

• Bad Mojo: The Combined Army are the most technologically superior force in the game sporting unique hacking devices, plasma weapons, sepsitors, various levels of camo and basically the entire rules toolkit in the game. The only thing they could be lacking are pheroware, which are pretty much exclusively Tohaa.

Special Skills and Equipment

• Sepsitors: All EI aspects have the option or come with either a sepsitor or sepsitor plus and believe us, it is the downright bane of any high-priced cube trooper and its player. The basic sepsitor is a disposable 2 large teardrop direct template whose damage is the wielder's WIP; the sepsitor plus does exactly the same without being disposable. Either way, if the target with a cube fails its BTS roll (a hard thing to pass considering that EI aspect WIPs start at 16), it enters the sepsitorized state and joins your combat group to be used against your opponent. Nothing is more painful than losing their special snowflake and then having it turned against them!

• Plasma Weapons: Carbines, Rifles and Snipers - all pack great punch, a template option and make your target roll both an ARM and BTS save.

• EI Hacking Devices: These are combined-army only variants to the Hacking and Assault Hacking devices; the former gains the Sucker Punch upgrade while the latter gains the Stop! upgrade program.

• Aliens: Morats, Shasvastii and Sygma Triads (traitor Tohaa) all have special and unique rules that you should consider when taking them in your army.

Unit Overview

In most sections there will be choices for the alien adjuncts to the CA, which will be kept separate.

(None)

• Imetron: (copied from OCF) Yes, they are not categorized by an infantry type, probably because they aren't infantry. You can only ever take two of them despite their 4 pt. cost because let's be honest, taking a bunch of them is kinda cheesy. Regardless, it's combat jumping desktop computer that gives your list another order - that's its entire purpose! Drop it somewhere your opponent can't reach.

Light Infantry

• Fraacta Drop Unit: An awesome drop unit with a nanopulser that can take a combi-rifle, boarding shotgun, spitfire and an EIAHD. Once you land him/her/it (lore states they are a female-only regiment), you can transform into survival form after losing 1W to double your ARM and BTS. Basically drop HI. You'll be getting close with this guy/gal/gxer, so tool accordingly.

• Med-Tech Obsidon Medchanoids: They are your doctors AND your engineers, fast as hell and with a great WIP. You probably should take one but if you do, keep it safe with a slave drone or two.

• Nexus Operatives: A cheap little operative, most of the things it does can be done better by most troopers in this list. Options are for a Spitfire with a Nanoscreen or an EIHD with a nullifier; it can also be your lieutenant. Don't knock them until you use them but since they won't have a model until December, that's a tad awkward.

• Umbra Legates: The original weeaboo Sith lord, comes with a shopping cart of special rules (MA4, mimetism, forward deployment, kinematica and NWI) plus a savage stat-line and a flash pulse, pistol and DA CCW for basic gear. It has options for a K1 combi rifle, a spitfire or a boarding shotgun and HD+. If you must take an Umbra (and why wouldn't you), you'll probably be after this guy as mimetism will keep him safer in a list without fireteams.

• Umbra Samaritans: The other Umbra in the list, it also comes with a shopping list of rules (Hyper-dynamics, kinematica 2, Protheion 4, Super-Jump, NWI and Haris) and an even better stat-line than the legate! For gear, it gets a flash pulse, pistol and a much feared Vorpal CCW although TBH, it's more of a surprise instant killing throwing weapon (Protheion prevents the use of CCW damage and special ammo in CC). For weapon options, there's a breaker combi-rifle, spitfire or plasma carbine with an EIAHD plus the Goodnight upgrade program. The Sam suffers a bit in the vanilla list as he's deprived of the Xeodron haris that would otherwise shield it from any harm.

Morats

• Morat Vanguard Infantry: The Vanguard Infantry is the basic Morat trooper. Though they have average stats (higher PH than any other basic trooper) they pay a premium for the Morat Skill. The higher PH makes Paramedics slightly better. Individually, they're not great. They have 3 specialist options: EI Hacker, Forward Observer, and Paramedic.
  • Treikat Anyat: Anyat is the Dire Foe character based on the Vanguard profile. However, she has a higher BS12 and BTS3, and brings quite an arsenal. K1 Combi Rifle is a one of a kind in the MAF and is dangerous versus targets with high ARM values. Chain Colt for dealing with crowds, camo, and Intuitive Attacks. Finally, she's also armed with both Smoke Grenades AND E/M Grenades. She'll provide Smoke coverage for their advance, and lob E/M grenades with Speculative Fire while still benefiting from the +3MOD. Whether she is linked or flying solo, Anyat brings a whole arsenal for only 25pts

• Kurgat Regiment of Assault Engineers: The Kurgat is the demolitions experts of the MAF. All of them are Engineers and come with Mines and D-Charges. They're very relevant in ITS missions. Though the Autocannon option is a tasty looking choice, They're only BS11 with no defensive measures like Mimitism, so it's better as an ARO piece; else just ignore it.

• Krakot Renegades, Morat Fugitives: Krakots are a dirt cheap short ranged Regular unit. Forward Deployment L1 makes up for the range, and they have a free order from Impetuous. They can also pick up an extra skill (or two) from the Metachemistry L2 roll. They can be fierce in CC as well with CC21 and the high PH13. All of them have Chest Mines (make sure you read the rules for them carefully)!

Shasvastii

• Seed Soldiers: They start the game as ARM 2 BTS 3 limited camo markers and develop into a fairly underwhelming soldier. There are options for an LGL, FO and Paramedic and of those, the FO would be the only one possibly worth taking. The WIP 13 on the developed shape is pretty dece for spotting and objectives. Unfortunately, their cost puts them in competition with Unidron Batroids, which gives them some stiff competition.

• Cadmus: These guys can be a real nightmare because of Morpho-Scan, allowing them to copy MOV, CC, BS and PH attributes of anything within their ZoC once per battle; even worse, if they scan anything that's unconscious and in base contact, they can swipe a weapon off the guy! Combined with the fact that they deploy via combat jump as a seed-soldier and you can really dick with your opponent by wearing his favourite guy's skin and wielding its gun.
  • Cadmus Naish Agent Sheskiin: Sheskiin is impressive to say the least. Her stat-line is astoundingly beefy with a 6-4 MOV and multiple values at 15 (including PH). She then trades Morpho-Scan for K2, Free Agent, Protheion 3, NWI and can hop into any Core team in the list. Finally, she packs a nanoscreen, DA CCW, pistol, D-charges, pulzar and either a multi rifle or red fury. Ironically, she's more free in the vanilla list so long as she's supported with a healthy amount of smoke.

• Aswangs: Get your giggles out, yes it has a funny name. Okay, good? Great - Aswangs are not to be fucked with. Camo, Protheion 2 and a very healthy stat-line are only boosted by an ADHL or if you want, a spitfire. With the former, you ought to be freezing TAGs and sneaking up on and devouring soft targets; the spitfire gives you a nice 4B surprise shot. They can also be your lieutenant.

• Haiduks: Cover-camping bastards. They have sapper and your choice of either a Multi Sniper or a SMART Multi Sniper, a particularly rare and expensive weapon. The latter is best taken if you have a lot of FO infiltrators, which may or may not be your choice in the vanilla CA. Still a nice ARO piece with the Multi Sniper.

• Noctifers: Dogged, TO camo dude not to be underestimated. Here, you'll be wanting to take either the spitfire or the ML/assault pistol combo because it's a great lethal at all ranges combo; either pair well with surprise shot 2. There's also an EI hacking device or lieutenant option, of which you have better options hands down.

Medium Infantry

• Maakrep Trackers: They wear an automedkit and an MSV2 and have courage and sixth sense 1. Their sole purpose is to dig out cover-camping shits with camo, so take the grenades and boarding shotgun for infiltrators or the MULTI-sniper or HMG for the long range jerks; competition with Yaogats in the vanilla list make the ranged options the better ones. You can consider the EIHD if you don't have a hacker but there are just better hackers in the list.

• Armand 'Le Muet,' Freelance Killer: Your only other option for mercs outside of Krakots and he couldn't be more divergent from them, poor old Armand can't remember which side he's on. When he fights for the CA, he brings an irritating ARO piece and sniper, made difficult by his ODD. He also comes with the option for either an antipersonnel minelayer to protect his zone or an MSV1; considering the MSVs available in this list, the former might be a better choice.

• Skiavoros: The first and lightest EI aspect we encounter in this list and the one veteran players swear by. First, they have some interesting rules: Mimetism, Strategos 2, NWI and the piece de resistance, G: Mnemonica. Be sure to understand how Mnemonica works but as a primer, you can hop the trooper's WIP and the Mnemonica and Lieutenant skills into any other Cube or Autotool trooper in your army should your aspect eat dirt. On top of that, they pack either a spitfire or plasma rifle and the option for a sepsitor plus, though the MI MOV values for this guy make it something of an extravagance. Otherwise, a great choice for a lieutenant considering the Strategos 2; just be sure to pack a bunch of cubes and autotools just in case.
  • Note: Even though Skiavoros have a STR value, the model does not have multiple levels of unconsciousness like other Ghost rules so once you lose a STR after NWI, your bot is dead. All the STR really does is ensure that you will need an engineer to keep this thing going (and make it immune to the 'Shock effect' of both Shock ammo and Viral ammo).

• Special Operative Ko Dali: Combined Army trolling the Human Sphere and the Yu Jing specifically. Ko Dali used to be a character for Yu Jing but was sepsitorized on Paradiso after being left for dead. Now she belongs to us - and we've made some... modifications to her. She's basically a jacked-up Fraacta (or Rasyat) packing a pair of assault pistols, D-charges, an MSV2 and Protheion 1. She NEEDS smoke, so be sure you field something that can provide it.

Morats

Morat MI choices suffer a bit being deprived fireteam options, but can provide decent troops singularly.

• Rodok, Morat Armed Imposition Detachment: Rodoks have an impressive arsenal to field. Though they are slow at 4-2MOV, they have the Super Jump skill -thanks to their Super Mario Boots- to get to high places for better attack vectors. Mimetism makes them harder to hit, and with BS12, they are great in firefights. Unfortunately, they have no mid-ranged options so the short-ranged options like Combi Rifles and Shotguns will struggle to get up in relevant rangebands. There are 2 specialist options: Paramedic and EI Assault Hacker. They make cheap Rambo pieces in the vanilla list with the HMG.

• Yaogat Strike Infantry: Yaogats are a mid-high cost MSV2 camo/ODD hunters. Though expensive they too bring quite a collection of weapons. BS12 is average but still very competitive. They have a single specialist option, an EI Hacker which isn't too impressive in the vanilla list. As individuals, the Spitfire and Multi Sniper Rifle options are the most noteworthy. They compete directly with Maakreps, though their higher PH makes them better grenadiers; thus, they're better suited to an anti-infiltrator role.

• Rasyat Diplomatic Division: Supremely useful jump troopers with their eclipse grenades. Natural Born Warrior also gives them Stealth and V:Courage and with CC21, PH13, DA CCW, and eclipse smoke to cover their advance, they can be very deadly in close combat. Rasyats compete with Fraacta directly and though they can handle close combat, Fraacta are way more survivable than them; D-Charges and AD however make them viable for the Sabotage classified. A necessity if you intend to field a strong CC list as the eclipse grenades will even prevent MSVs from shooting your dudes.

• Raktorak, Morat Sergeant Major: Probably a decent Specialist Operative for ITS objectives in the MAF; they face some stiff competition in the vanilla list but are generally on the more cost effective side and have some pretty decent weapons.

• Kornak Gazarot, Superior Warrant-Officer: This list could benefit from his Strategos L1 if you didn't have options for Strategos 2 and 3. Kornak's stats are however incredible; armed with a Mk12 and Light Flamethrower with BS14, CC22, PH13 and Berserk just adds to the impressiveness. For armor he has ARM3 and an incredible BTS9 which is great against Breaker and Viral. Kornak is as expensive as Heavy Infantry, but only 1 wound with V:NWI keep him away from Shock and Viral. He can do alright by himself as a Rambo but there are better Rambos with more perks in this list, which is admittedly a high bar to pass.

Shasvastii

The Shasvastii MI suffer even more than Morats outside their sectorial.

• Gwailos: Decently armed with multi rifles or (more ostensibly) boarding shotguns, the draw of the Gwailos is they all have nanoscreens. There are also options for an EI AHD, spitfire, lieutenant and an HRL with an X-visor, which is the one you want. Everything else is unnecessary.

• Sabotage and Destruction Unit Caliban: Decently hardy MIs, packing some sweet toys in the Shasvastii list but they tend to come up a bit short here. They all sport automedkits, most have d-charges and nanopulsers and those with boarding shotguns also have assault pistols, too. The worthwhile options are the Feuerbach, engineer with boarding shotgun and assault pistol or inferior infiltrators in seed-soldier form.

• Corax Hasht: a fairly milquetoast character, he's basically a buffed up combination of a Gwailo and a Caliban, sporting a nanoscreen, NWI and a spitfire. Unfortunately he competes head on with the other MI options here and comes up short.

Heavy Infantry

• Charontids: Probably one of the wider used EI aspects, this thing is basically a small TAG and costs about as much. Comes with a good stat line, NWI, heavy pistol, nanopulser and Mnemonica but the best part about a Charontid are its gear options. You have two MSV3 options with either an HMG or plasma rifle; alternatively, you can have a hacking device plus, sepsitor plus and/or without a tinbot A with any of the plasma rifle toting options. On top of that, all of those except the sepsitor plus without the tinbot can be your lieutenant, although this is a risky idea; the threat of a Charontid alone is enough for your opponent to want to pour boxes of ammo at the guy. You needn't reward his decisions with LoL when it eventually goes into a null state because of it. However, if you plan on using an aggressive Charontid, either pick a different trooper for your lieutenant or bring a few autotools. Charontids have Mnemonica, Rambo down half of your opponent's team and after the inveitable death just hop into one of your troopers.
  • Note: Compared to the other two MSV3-troopers in the game, the Charontid is actually a tick on the weaker side. The things that make the Charontid special are certainly Mnemonica, but also the unique plasma rifle option and their WIP is the highest of the 3. Unfortunately, if you want to use that high WIP for anything, you will need to take this thing as a lieutenant or drop the MSV3 entirely by taking a sepsitor plus or EI hacking device. If you took other MSVs in your list, the MSV3 is a tad superfluous but otherwise your call; your mileage may vary.

• Anathematics: Know what's scarier than a Charontid? One that you can't see! Basically a pricier Charontid with TO Camo and some weapon options removed; most come with a monofilament or shock CCW and plasma rifle that can be exchanged for a spitfire, plus options for a basic sepsitor or an EI hacking device. Taking hacking devices on TO troopers is a debatable idea at best and there are cheaper places to get hacking devices.

Morats

• Suryats Assault Heavy Infantry: Suryats are basically standard HI with the Morat rule minus any specialist options outside a lieutenant and plus a whole bunch of Fire special ammo.
  • Duo: Fireteam:DUO skill is in the profile, taking 2 of them can be a good mobile weapons platform. However, you will have to take an E-drone in order to use this, although it's not a bad proposition. The HRL makes for the autotake for duos; your other option boils down to either the tinbot guy (recommended) or a Vulcan shotgun.

• Sogarat Tempest Regiment: Sogarats are massive hulking S5 HIs often compared with the Azrail because of the 2 similar weapon options (Feuerbach or AP HMG). Their great fire support, automedkit + PH15 and ARM 6 make them sturdy fire support units and ARO pieces. In the vanilla list, Sogarats can be okay Lt options but they compete with certain Strategos-wielding evil robots; they are however much cheaper than Charontids, Anathematics or even Skiavoros while being better armed (plasma rifle notwithstanding) if however being worse-equipped. Watch out for E/M weapons and hackers, though - with only BTS 3 they will brick these guys pretty fast.

Tactical Armored Gear

• Avatar: Congratulations - you found the most expensive trooper in the game! The end-all, be-all of the EI aspects clocking in at 137 points and 3.5 SWC, you will get what you pay for and oh boy do you get a lot. We're talking an ARM/BTS 9 TAG with an eye-watering stat-line, ECM, ODD, possession immunity, Strategos 3 and can eject its WIP 17 and lieutenant skill into any cube or autotool in the army thanks to Mnemonica. Armed with a DA CCW, Multi HMG and Sepsitor Plus, only an idiot would try a conventional attack against an Avatar... which is why most players don't. Instead, they will try and shower your uber-monster with E/M and ADHL weapons while starving your beast of orders, or will try and brick you with a well-placed hacking attack. Anything else is fucking suicide - shooting at your boss monster without any tricks or exotic weapons only results in a return volley from a Multi HMG while the other shots bounce off this beast's armour. Similarly a run up attempt at close combat with a mono CC weapon will likely cost your opponent a special model that will very likely get used against him.
  • Staldron Remote Ancillary Unit: New from ITS Season 8, you can "dismount" a what's basically a REM from your Remote Presence TAGs. This little specialist bugger isn't much, but can be used to grab an objective in a pinch with and with a WIP of 13, can do so rather handily.

• Overdron Batroids: A hearty gun TAG, comes with ECM and two tinbots for protection against smart hacking attacks and to create a white noise zone around it for two turns. In terms of guns, there's the ever popular HMC for medium-range, high-burst MULTI death as the most expensive option. If you're strapped for points, you could also consider the double plasma sniper for long range spam or the double HRL if you're really strapped for points and want circular fire templates; with two HRLs, it's cheaper points-wise than a Xeodron but costs 1-1.5 more SWC. Its only downsides are its comparatively slow speed and light armour for a TAG, but it easily makes up for that in guns and gear.
  • Staldron Remote Ancillary Unit: Also comes with a remote pilot just like the Avatar. Not critical, but can be useful for grabbing an objective if you've lost all other ops.

• Xeodron Batroids: Super-Jump, bio-immune bro-TAGs. They all come with a heavy pistol and blitzen standard; their options are a red fury, K1 combi rifle or a MULTI-rifle. If you want to include a light TAG in your list, you'll be pressed to either choose between the Overdron or the Xeodrons; because of their cost and equipment, Overdrons and Xeodrons are rather effective substitutes for Heavy Infantry or EI aspects, unless you were considering one of them for a lieutenant or hacker. Comparatively, they're more survivable with 3 STR, remote presence and solid armour; have an array of weapons, gear and abilities mostly unavailable to aspects or HI; can grab objectives with their Staldron remotes; and are around the same ballpark in terms of cost. Xeodrons (and to a lesser degree, Overdrons) are just a tick more pricey than Suryats, roughly the same price as Sogarats and Skiavoros and certainly cheaper than Charontids, Anathematics or any of the other TAGs.
  • Staldron Remote Ancillary Unit: Also comes with a remote pilot just like the Avatar and Overdron. Now, because of their lower cost, hardiness and super jump, using Xeodrons for grabbing objectives is actually a rather savvy idea, especially with difficult to reach objectives. Hop up to the top of a building or onto a high ledge with an entry, spit out a Staldron and make a mad dash for that objective in the building!

Morats

• Raicho Armored Brigade: The Raicho is just a basic TAG with the Morat rule. Without linkable Sogarats, though... well, it still has to compete with the other TAGs and HIs in this list. It is however better armed than a Xeodron, better armoured than a Sphnix, faster than an Overdron and waaaay cheaper than an Avatar. Compared to the HI options, it's just flat out better - Multi HMG and HFT/AP heavy pistol are just better at wrecking shit.
  • Raicho Pilot: The Raicho is piloted by a BS12 WIP12 Specialist Operative with 2 Heavy Pistols and D-Charges. It's an okay spec op, but Xeodrons are both cheaper and better at that. Really, the pilot is a final "fuck you" to whatever might have brought low the tag in the first place.

Shasvastii

• Sphinx: TO camo Shasvastii TAG with a really quick 6-6 MOV, Multiterrain and Climbing Plus. Its armaments are a tad disappointing at range with a spitfire as its only ranged weapon but it has two HFTs and an EXP CCW. The only thing the Sphinx really brings to the table is its fast movement and TO camo and as far as TO camo troopers go, this is one of the hardest ones around. However at 102 points, that's a tall ask; a similarly equipped Anathematic costs 25 points less or has different options.
  • Scindron Remote Ancillary Unit: Sphinxes can eject a Scindron which is very similar to a Staldron although with a way worse WIP 10; bit of a bummer considering its a specialist too.

Remotes

• Combined Army Basic REMs:
  • M-Drones: The M-Drone is the standard toolbox REM.
  • Q-Drones: The Q-Drone is different from all other basic TR bots because they have Mimetism and two weapon options: HMG or Plasma Rifle. Both are solid choices which one you may need more will depend on the composition. Otherwise the stats are the same as other TR bots.
  • T-Drones: T-Drones are standard Smart Missile Launcher REM.
  • R-Drones: Basic Flash Pulse bot, but with Mimetism.
  • E-Drones: The CA does not have a baggage bots with EVO option. Instead the EVO Hacker is on the basic Drone chasis, thus making it faster. It is upgraded with Exile and Goodnight.

• Slave Drones: Little Nurse Worms for Dr Worm. Use them to keep Dr Worm safe.

• Ikadron Batroids: The Ikadron is is a fast little baggage bot armed with 2 LFTs. It also has Flash Pulse with WIP13. They're only 9pts and only AVA2. Ikadrons are good for order filler, mid ranged Flash Pulse overwatch, and occasionally making a mad dash to light a dude up with the 2 LFTs. They're also excellent support for resupply runs. In the vanilla force, they along with Unidrons below function as autotool escape hatches for EI aspects that slip into a null state. Not only can they become your lieutenant in an emergency, but they can also bestow their WIP 16+ on the bot for awesome flash pulse shots!

• Unidron Batroids: Yeah, they're basically battledroids. They are nicely armed sporting plasma carbines or K1 combi-rifles but stat-wise, they are garbage; their sole saving grace is very high BTS of 6, handy for defense against the haxorz. Speaking of, you will need to field a hacker or TAG or G:Mnemonica yourself in order to run Unidrons because of their G:Autotool rule. Fortunately, Unidrons have 3 main upsides: first, they're REMs so they benefit from support ware programs. Second, there's a strange interplay between Dogged and Remote Presence (remember, autotool is RP with extras); be sure to read up on how it works in order to better understand how it works. Though they cannot be taken in core fireteams in this list, the autotool has one last boon: it's an escape hatch for your EI aspects if they eat it. Do not overlook them!

Skirmishers

Only Morats and Shasvastii have anything to contribute to this part of the army.

Morats

• Zerat Special Missions Regiment: Zerats are the only Infiltrators for the Morats and the Shasvastii have them beat in the Vanilla list. They do not have Camo, but instead only Mimetism. There are only 2 specialist options and Shrouded or Malignos are better at both of them. The only thing they really bring that's different is an E/Mitter, which is actually pretty useful but also found on Rasyats.

Shasvastii

• The Shrouded: Camo infiltrator, comes with an automedkit and your choice of mines or a MULTI-sniper; you also get the option of a boarding shotgun to replace your combi-rifle or an EIAHD.

• Malignos: Malignos are a straight upgrade over the Shrouded, sporting a very similar profile, the same features and options but with TO Camo and your choice of anti-personnel or monofilament mine options.

• Speculo Killers: People that play against the Hassassins often talk about run-ins with Fidays and their impersonation shenanigans. Speculo Killers take that shit to the next level; they can impersonate anything - human, alien or what have you (useful, considering most of your opponents will be humans and you're not). They also pack an automedkit, smoke grenades, mono CCW and martial arts 3, just to make sure they slice what needs slicing. They are fairly pricey however these are pretty much the unit Shasvastii players consider auto-take and can be a handy distraction in the Vanilla list with their smoke grenades.

Warbands

• The Hungries: They're all Extremely Impetuous and Irregular, but very fast with 6-6MOV. Even if they're unlinked (which they will be in the vanilla army), they are a great inexpensive harassment unit.
  • Gakis: Gakis are dirt cheap at only 4pts. They have absolutely NO ranged attack. The 6-6MOV and Climbing Plus makes them super mobile. Also they have Explode L1, and unless they take too many wounds there is no way to cancel it (like Kuang Shi can with V:Dogged). They are little suicide bombers and with a keen eye for measurement, you can run them up and let them explode into the enemy. The explosion occurs at the end of movement, so do keep these buggers away from your own models.
  • Pretas: Pretas drop Explode L1 for V:Dogged and a Chain Rifle for 7pts. They are also very fast and mobile thanks to 6-6MOV and Climbing Plus.

Morats

• Daturazi Witch-Soldiers: Daturazi are Extremely Impetuous but Regular troopers. They are a decent source of Smoke and normal Grenades, and they land them very reliably with PH14. Though they cannot gain partial cover, they have Mimetism and are great in close combat with CC21 and MA4, granting them Stealth and V:Courage. The only worthwhile option is the 14pt Chain Rifle which is a great cheap filler option that throws smoke essentially for free (using impetuous). Also his Speculative Fire with the Grenade within +3 range can be pretty nasty. Anything else, you're paying too much for gun at only BS11.

• Oznat, Morat Hunting Regiment: The Oznat is an Extremely Impetuous Regular, but fast 6-4MOV warband with Smoke Grenades. However if you need Smoke Grenades, the Daturazi is a cheaper choice and better equipped, though that fast MOV is a somewhat acceptable trade-off. A bigger kick to the teeth is that the Hungries control device does not work in the vanilla army.

Building Your Army

With so many options available, army building can be difficult for the uninitiated. A good starting point may be any of the starter kits available from CV, but be sure that you want to build a vanilla CA list instead of one of its sectorials; in most cases you can substitute for units in those sectorials so keep that in mind. Then, the trick is to focus on battlefield roles and then fill them, but that starts with determining what your primary and secondary strategy will be in any given game. Then, build your list around that: pick out your doctor, engineer, hacker (if necessary), lieutenant and any other specialists you might want.

Tactics

• TO Camo Trap: There is no shortage of TO Camo in this list, so try and dangle an infiltrator out for your opponent with a TO Camo trooper within at least +3 shooting range. Anathematics can be nasty for this one as are most Shasvastii units. Also combines well with Camo infiltrator shell game.

• Aggressive Moral Hazard: The best part about G: Mnemonica is absolving your lieutenant of any risk, so if you do field an EI aspect as your lieutenant and you stack your list with cubes and/or autotools, play your Skiavoros, Charontid, Anathematic or Avatar aggressively. Alternatively, if you took more than one aspect, you can play a little lieutenant shell game with your opponent - which one's the actual lieutenant (unless you took an Avatar, then your opponent should know that that's the one)?

• No Place to Hide: The CA have all levels of MSV and access to smoke - use them to your advantage! Smoke out your firing lines and let the Maakreps, Charontids, Yaogat and Ko Dali light 'em up.

• Use Supportware: Taking unidrons and/or ikadrons for autotool escape hatches? Why not bring a hacker to cast support programs on them too? Could be entertaining throwing down a flash pulse double tap with a WIP 16 or 17. How about Marksmanship 2 on a plasma sniper or missile launcher? Yeah!