Ojotniks are Awesome

2018-10-19 WiseKensai

I rolled into the game store with two limited insertion Nomad lists and a Ariadna limited insertion list. Wasn’t really in the mood to make a ton of decisions, so I made Isaac choose my list for me. He wisely? chose Ariadna, and then trundled off to play Adam. My opponent for the night was Jan, who brought Tartary Army Corps (TAK). We had similar lists but I took the obligatory max AVA of Chasseurs in vanilla Ariadna and a few other toys from outside of TAK to make vanilla worth my while. This was my first game against Jan. Although I’ve played the Infinity RPG with him a bunch and watched him play a few other folks, I didn’t really know what to expect, so I went in cautious and conservative. Lots of firsts, after all. First vanilla Ariadna, first time playing against TAK, first time playing Jan…

Overview

Mission: Supremacy
Forces: Ariadna versus Tartary Army Corps (300)
Deploy First: Ariadna
First Turn: Ariadna

[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/logo_301.png[/img][b] List A[/b]

[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/301/logo_36.png[/img] [b]BRIGADIER BRUANT Lieutenant[/b] Molotok, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (1 | [b]28[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/301/logo_60.png[/img] [b]ROSIE[/b] Light Rocket Launcher, Light Shotgun, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | [b]22[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/301/logo_66.png[/img] [b]PAVEL McMANNUS[/b] Ojotnik, Chain-colt, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, T2 CCW, Knife. (0 | [b]31[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/301/logo_37.png[/img] [b]UXÍA McNEILL (Covert Action) (CH: Limited Camouflage, Superior Infiltration, Specialist Operative)[/b] Boarding Shotgun, D-Charges, Smoke Grenades / 2 Assault Pistols, AP CCW, Knife. (0 | [b]27[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/301/logo_26.png[/img] [b]CHASSEUR (Forward Observer)[/b] Rifle, Light Flamethrower, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | [b]20[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/301/logo_26.png[/img] [b]CHASSEUR (Forward Observer)[/b] Rifle, Light Flamethrower, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | [b]20[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/301/logo_62.png[/img] [b]RATNIK[/b] Heavy Rocket Launcher, Heavy Shotgun / Heavy Pistol, Trench-hammer, Knife. (2 | [b]44[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/301/logo_12.png[/img] [b]SCOUT (Minelayer)[/b] Ojotnik, D-Charges, E/Mauler / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | [b]30[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/301/logo_3.png[/img] [b]SPETSNAZ (CH: Ambush Camouflage)[/b] HMG / Pistol, CCW, Knife. (1.5 | [b]38[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/301/logo_18.png[/img] [b]VAN ZANT[/b] AP Rifle / Heavy Pistol, AP CCW. (0 | [b]38[/b])

[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/orden_regular.png[/img]10 [b]| 5 SWC | 298 Points |[/b] Open in Infinity Army

[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/logo_305.png[/img][b] Tartary Army Corps[/b]

[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/305/logo_6.png[/img] [b]VETERAN KAZAK Lieutenant[/b] AP Rifle, Light Flamethrower / Heavy Pistol, Knife. (0 | [b]37[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/305/logo_7.png[/img] [b]RATNIK[/b] Heavy Rocket Launcher, Heavy Shotgun / Heavy Pistol, Trench-hammer, Knife. (2 | [b]44[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/305/logo_4.png[/img] [b]TANKHUNTER[/b] Portable Autocannon, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | [b]34[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/305/logo_4.png[/img] [b]TANKHUNTER (Chain of Command)[/b] AP Rifle, Adhesive Launcher, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | [b]30[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/305/logo_2.png[/img] [b]SPETSNAZ (CH: Ambush Camouflage)[/b] HMG / Pistol, CCW, Knife. (1.5 | [b]38[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/305/logo_2.png[/img] [b]SPETSNAZ (CH: Mimetism, AD: Parachutist)[/b] Boarding Shotgun, Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW, Knife. (0 | [b]33[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/305/logo_8.png[/img] [b]STRELOK K-9[/b] Submachine Gun, Chain-colt, Antipersonnel Mines + 1 K-9 Antipode / Pistol, Knife. (0 | [b]24[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/sep.gif[/img] [img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/305/logo_8.png[/img] [b]K-9 ANTIPODE[/b] Trench-hammer, AP CC Weapon. ([b]8[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/305/logo_9.png[/img] [b]SCOUT (Forward Observer)[/b] Ojotnik, D-Charges, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | [b]30[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/305/logo_11.png[/img] [b]DOG-WARRIOR[/b] 2 Chain Rifles, Grenades, Smoke Grenades / AP CCW. (0 | [b]27[/b])
[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/305/logo_22.png[/img] [b]WARCOR (Sixth Sense L1)[/b] Flash Pulse / Stun Pistol, Knife. (0 | [b]3[/b])

[img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/orden_regular.png[/img]8 [img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/orden_irregular.png[/img]2 [img]https://assets.infinitythegame.net/infinityarmy/img/_logosweb/orden_impetuosa.png[/img]1 [b]| 5 SWC | 300 Points |[/b] Open in Infinity Army

Deployment

I covered my near two objectives with Rosie and a Chasseur FO, then put down a Scout Minelayer in the center to cover the center with an E/Mauler. My second Chasseur went on the roof near the right far objective, which was also on a roof, and Pavel went on the left to potentially take some shots into Jan’s DZ using a diagonal firelane. My Ratnik HRL covered that same diagonal firelane, and I put Bruant on the roof nearby to defend my left flank with his Lt order should the need arise. My right flank was a little empty, save for a Spetznaz HMG near the middle.I put down an Interventor model as my Xenotech and sync’ed him to Rosie. Thanks to Adam, who lent me his Ratnik, Van Zant, and Spetnaz HMG. Mine aren’t assembled yet. Not counting Uxia, who was my reserve, I had 8 camo tokens on the table. Jan followed suit, putting down a Strelok K-9 unit on his left, then putting down a Scout on the roof near his left near objective. He castled up his Vet Kazak Lieutenant on the left, protected by a Tankhunter CoC and then plunked down another Tankhunter Autocannon on the right.His middle was covered by a Warcor, with the lurking threat of a Ratnik behind, paired with his Xenotech. Jan’s own Spetznaz HMG went down on the right.
I put Uxia down to threaten Jan’s Spetnaz, and he responded by putting down a Dog Warrior on the left to further protect his Vet Kazak. I’ve got my work cut out for me, so after some iPad futzing and token counting, we’re off!

Turn 1

Top of 1 – Ariadna

In addition to my 9 camo tokens, Jan had put down 8 tokens. I don’t have an Antipode for sensor, primarily because I haven’t assembled my K9 unit yet, so I decided to just straight up ignore Jan’s camo tokens and focus on objectives. My Chasseur on the right pushed the button he was standing next to, and then I attempted the same with Rosie, using her failed WIP rolls to get the Xenotech up the board. I made one attempt at dropping the Multiscanner with the Xenotech, but didn’t sink additional orders into it after failing.

Jan had done a pretty damn good job of covering his rear table edge against AD with a bunch of camo tokens. I had briefly thought about going after Jan’s Vet Kazak Lt, but he was castled up pretty well, and with the Dog Warrior there, there were too many templates to risk Van Zant, even with V:Dogged. I settled instead for going after the Ratnik, especially since it was synced with the Xenotech. There was a shadow zone that I could walk Van Zant on, behind the Ratnik and the SSL1 Warcor (always take the Aerocam, boys and girls!) and out of Lof to the two Spetznaz tokens.I walked Van Zant into cover and then blasted the Ratnik with a full burst of AP rifle rounds, plinking a single wound off. The Ratnik turned around, and my next roll was face to face. This time, I did one more wound, sending the Ratnik dogged. That’s all I needed, so I moved on to other things. I did a coordinated order with some of my camo tokens and my own Ratnik, exposing the Ratnik to the Tankhunter CoC (not knowing what it was) in an attempt to bait Jan to reveal it. He didn’t bite, instead choosing to try and flash pulse my Ratnik. I had intended to drop some mines and E/Maulers with this coordinated order, but I was just as happy sending a rocket at the Warcor, burning it off the table.I spent another coordinated order to drop mines with my two Chasseurs and an E/Mauler with my Scout, then re-camoed them all with another coordinated order.I was pretty happy with this, as now my Ratnik was watching a firelane, and I had good midfield coverage with mines, even threatening Jan’s Scout FO if it stood up. I threw away Bruant’s Lt order and passed the turn.

Bottom of 1 – TAK

Jan’s Ratnik starts things off by falling over. Funnily enough, since everything I’ve got is a camo token except Van Zant, the Ratnik, and Rosie, Van Zant is actually the closest model to Jan’s Dog Warrior. It makes its way across the board, chucking smoke against Van Zant’s long range rifle shot.Jan brings on a Spetznaz boarding shotgun on my right flank to contest that quadrant, and leaves him there to hopefully generate a order on the next turn.With Van Zant threatening Jan’s backfield, Jan decides to take out Van Zant with his Scout FO. The Scout spends an order crawling away from the Chasseur’s mine before standing up to take a shot at Van Zant. This position does reveal the Scout to Pavel, who takes an unopposed shot as Van Zant dodges.Jan’s Scout beats Van Zant’s dodge and shocks him off the table, while Pavel whiffs horribly. Now that Pavel is revealed, Jan takes a shot at Pavel and shocks him off the table too. Ah well.
With nothing really covering the roof, Jan scoots his Scout into base to base with the objective and fails a WIP roll before recamoing the Scout. The Dog Warrior scoots back to his starting poit with his irregular order, and that’s the turn. Van Zant and Pavel are off the table–not a bad turn at all!

Turn 2

We’re tied on quadrants, so no one gets any points for that. I do have two buttons pushed though, so that’s two points for me, and my Xenotech is in a dominated quadrant, bringing the score to 3-0 for now.

Top of 2 – Ariadna

I use my own Spetznaz HMG to shock Jan’s Spetznaz BSG off the table, relying on surprise shot, camo, and range to keep me safe.I climb my Chasseur on the lower roof up to the same roof as Jan’s Scout, moving into base to base with the objective. I attempt an intuitive attack, and Jan elects to let me have a normal roll. Luckily for him, I fail my WIP roll and his Scout is safe.Well, my Chasseur is pretty safe up there with SSL1, so I move on to other priorities. I snag another point (really two) by dropping a Multiscanner (finally) and then snag a third console by rushing Rosie up the field to push the far left button, tucking her into cover.I hope that between Uxia and Rosie, I can contain the Spetnaz on that side. I pass the turn, fingers crossed.

Bottom of 2 – TAK

The Chasseur is now the closest model the Dog Warrior, so it makes its way over that way, chucking smoke just to have it down.Jan then tries to remove my Ratnik with his Tankhunter Autocannon…
This does, however, reveal the Tankhunter to the Spetznaz. I land a critical dodge with my Ratnik, and my Spetznaz shocks the Tankhunter off the table.Jan brings his own Spetznaz into the game, pushing it past Uxia and getting LoF to Rosie. I delay…And Jan reveals the Spetznaz to dump 4 shots into Rosie. She gets blasted off the table and Uxia whiffs a point-blank shotgun shot. UGH.Jan, buoyed by his good fortune, puts another 4 shots into Uxia, shocking her off the table.
With that, Jan’s out of orders and passes things back to me.

Turn 3

Jan and I still own our nearest quadrants, but I’ve got another console and the Multiscanner out, bringing it to 5-0 at the top of 3.

Top of 3 – Ariadna

I use my Scout to drop the hostile Spetznaz. I thought carefully about how I could do this from cover before I remembered it wouldn’t matter, and just threw the Scout into the open. I gotta say, the Ojotnik’s range bands are fantastic!I attempt another intuitive attack, but this time Jan pops the Scout out of camo to take a pistol shot, now that surprise shot is off the table. I whiff again, and the Scout’s pistol shocks my poor Chasseur off the table.This does reveal the Scout to Bruant, who attempts to Molotok it down. He gets shot in the face instead, but barely manages to pass ARM. I send in the (literal) big guns and my Spetznaz shocks the Scout off the table.There’s nothing left in my far left (Jan’s near right) quadrant, so I dash my Scout into the open, trying to bait a reveal from the Tankhunter CoC as I do so. Jan doesn’t bite, so I settle for getting the Scout into position to dominate that quadrant and simultaneously secure the HVT. I recamo my Spetznaz and pass the turn.

Bottom of 3 – TAK

Jan’s Dog Warrior rushes my Scout, who is all too happy to shoot it in the face.Jan sinks the rest of his order pool into attempting to chain rifle my Scout, who dodges like a champion, using Jan’s HVT and at one point my Xenotech to cancel the chain rifle templates.Finally, Jan gets an angle with the Dog Warrior where he can see the Scout without any neutral civilians in the way and chain rifles the Scout off the table, as I finally fail a dodge roll. We’re back to Jan dominating 2 quadrants, but I’ve got all the console and Xenotech points. Jan never got his Xenotech out of his deployment zone, so he’s got a negative point, which I guess gets rounded up to 0, making it a

5-0 Ariadna Victory!

Notes

Notes for Me

Wow. I love the Ojotnik. Its rangebands basically let you get exactly where you need to be to either put someone at 0 or -3 on their range modifers, and it’s AP and shock, thanks to the Scout’s Marksmanship L1.
Pavel… well… seems fine. I wish he didn’t miss. Twice. Perhaps I should’ve not taken that first shot, but it was too juicy. Normal roll on a 9, with a great chance of knocking out the Scout. Basically 25ish percent… maybe not worth it. Mmrgh.
I was also really sad about Uxia missing her boarding shotgun shots. I’m not too sure how to use her for camo token hunting. Maybe I just have to do the discover+shoot thing. Not entirely sure it would be worth it against a Spetznaz, unless I get into some Yomi nonsense and read Jan’s mind as to which token was the ambush token.
The Ratnik HRL profile is… okay. I think I need to spend some more time with it, but I’m not in love with it. Yet.
I am, however, in love with the Spetznaz HMG. I want to get to know the Parachutist profiles as well.
I think I made the right call by ignoring all of Jan’s camo tokens. I didn’t make a single discover roll the entire game. Passive defense in the form of mines and E/Maulers was an adequate deterrent, although I did have fears about a ramboing Dog Warrior.
Rosie is a boss. Dependable.
Chasseurs–always loved them, still do.
I’ll be playing more vanilla Ariadna in the future, fear not!

Notes for Jan

Great work with your Scout and Spetznaz.
I do think that you granted me too many normal rolls. There’s something to be said for careful pie slicing.
I’m not sure what your plan was with the BSG Spetznaz. A coordinated order with your Scout while the Scout was crawling away would’ve at least let you move the Spetznaz to safety.
I definitely think you should’ve been way more aggressive with the Dog Warrior. I can’t kill it with most of my AROs in a single order, and its stupidly high PH lets it clear deployables with ease. You could’ve just fired it like a missile into the midfield, cleared out all my mines and E/Maulers, and then gone to town with the Strelok.
If you wanted to be super careful you could’ve played a Sensor game with the Antipode as well, and shot all the mines off the table. Definitely order inefficient though.
You did a great job defending against Van Zant–but there’s always a hole.
I think you lost this game because you weren’t aggressive enough. There were definitely places where you could’ve gotten a toehold and then just started unraveling my AROs. A lot of dice didn’t go your way either.
Perhaps a bit of tunnel vision in trying to kill my Ratnik. He’s not doing anything important, and you can just avoid him. Sure, he generates an order, but it’s really unlikely you’re going to kill him in one order. The Autocannon was definitely the right tool though to do that though.
Also, I’m not sure why you went TAK for your list composition–everything that was in there is available to vanilla, and you didn’t use links, or push your AVA. Not a big deal, just some food for thought.
Great game! I look forward to playing you again! =)