Infity December Releases

So yeah I'm a couple of days late with this stuff, but I don't feel so bad as I've given all of my readers a sneaky peak, as it were, at the  Sarissa Precision System ∞ stuff. So it's not like you've gone without now is it? No, besides the Infinity servers didn't go into meltdown this time, which makes a nice change and I'm sure you've all been able to see them by now. So this isn't going to be a show and tell, more a show and what do I think of the miniatures and are they a valid option on the battlefield? So here goes...

Posthumans   

Well I may as well start with the controversial Posthumans. Why are they controversial? God only knows is my answer! But, it seems some people don't like the look of them and have decided they're rubbish. Part of the issue seems to be that they're all female and aren't necessarily the most combat ready looking bunch of miniatures you've ever seen. Plus some of the poses don't float everyone's boat, in particular the Proxy Mk2, or sniper. Well here's my take on them, the Proxy Mk1's look pretty much spot on to the artwork and I quite like the fact that they don't necessarily look like hardened warriors. I mean why should they? These are just hosts, that quite frankly are inhabited by consciousnesses that don't have any fear of death. So why not look all cutesy while eviscerating people? The Proxy Mk 2 is a totally different kettle of fish though. Here you actually have a fully locked and loaded combat robot that looks bad ass. So why is she sitting all provocatively on a piece of terrain? And that's the real problem with this pose for me, I hate miniatures that 'carry' terrain around with them. The Proxy Mk3 has been criticised as well for the way she looks. People don't seem to like the face and the helmet in particular. But if you go take a look at Angel Giraldez blog you'll see some different angles of the mini and it makes more sense. I guess though ultimately some people just don't like the futuristic girl band look! But what about in game play terms? Simply put, if you're an Aleph player you'll want these no question. Mine are already on order. Yes they are that good.

Zerat Sniper

Ah yes, so why let the controversy stop at the Posthumans? Why not go the whole hog and give an alien some boobs... because now apparently aliens can't have boobs. Somebody better tell the makers Total Recall and Star Trek. So yep the Zerat Sniper has boobs. Is it ridiculous that she has boobs? No not really, considering she is a 'she' and that the Morats / Zerats appear to be an ape like mammalian race. So are her boobs too big? I guess I wouldn't know having never met a Zerat, and it doesn't look like she has any lower back pain or discomfort. Look maybe I'm being flippant here, but I don't see the problem others clearly do. She's fully clothed and covered in armour and isn't naked and rolling around while licking a lollipop seductively. I agree that sometimes females in our hobby aren't portrayed in the best of lights, but this isn't one of those cases. I love this miniature actually, as she looks bad ass and ready to pop somebodies 'top' at a moments notice! So what is she like on the table? Well at 35pts and 1.5swc I really don't think she's too bad an option. With a BS11 she's no slouch in the shooting stakes but she's not the best in the world either. She has a OK CC level at 13 and can therefore deal with most threats if they get too close. Good PH12 and WIP13 too. But for me it's the fact that she is an infiltrating sniper with mimetism and antipersonnel mines makes her the valid choice I think she is. I think she's a good option.

Al Hawwa Sniper

This month really could have been entitled 'here come the girls' and no there's no way I'm putting a link in my blog to a bloody Sugababes song! As yet again we get another female model, and it's yet another sniper. Now I don't necessarily have a problem with the hand on hip tea pot pose been used twice in the same range. Hell maybe even a few more times, but twice in one month? Nope sorry, time to get some more poses Corvus Belli. It also feeds into another issue for Haqqislam players as well... and that's all these static poses. Now last month I defended the Farzan, and I've defending some of the other static poses that Haqq models get, because on the whole they look pretty cool. But, it's getting to the stage now where Haqqislam forces are starting to look like they're all striking a pose at the end of a fashion catwalk. Come on!!! Shesh, get some dynamism back into their poses and quick Corvus Belli.

But is she worth taking on the board? Well I don't know is the honest answer. You see, I think Haqqislam have some pretty darn good ranged sniping options. You have the really dirt cheap Ghulam Sniper at 18pts and 0.5swc, cheap as chips, sure he only has BS11 but what do you expect for cheap ranged covering fire? There's also the very tasty Djanbazan option with their Multi-Spectoral Visor lvl2 and BS12. Nice! Least I also forget the pretty handy Lasiq Sniper option with Viral Sniper Rifle, X-Visor, Mimetism and a BS12 all for 29pts and 1.5swc. I haven't even mentioned the Hunzakuts with their infiltration, antipersonnel mines and camo. Or the Murabids Tuareg with TO Camo, infiltration, Antipersonnel Mines and a BS11. As I said, Haqqislam have some pretty good sniping options. So what does the Al Hawwa bring to the table? Well for starters they have Camo, Infiltration and Antipersonnel Mines with a BS11 all for 29pts and 0.5swc. They're not a bad option, but whether it's worth replacing your normal sniper with? Only you will know. Personally I love my cheap Ghulam and my expert Lasiq and Djanbazan sniper options.

Tokusetsu Butai

So finally we come to the last release for this month. The only man, or I assume it's a man as their face is covered. I guess it could be just a more modestly endowed female under all that armour! Hmmm... any way it's the Tokusetsu Butai. I'm a huge fan of the JSA baggy pants look and I think this guy fits in really well. I hadn't really noticed it before but the standard JSA soldiers the Keisotsu Butai don't actually come with helmets, much like most standard grunts in Infinity, but here the Tokusetsu does. And I love it.  His / her pose also looks like they're doing something, its a combat pose. Sure they're an Engineer / Doctor but they look like they're busy doing 'something'. I also like the armour they're wearing and all the paraphernalia they're carrying. I love the look of this miniature and it's probably my favourite of this month, just pipping the giganto-boobed Zerat (sorry SinSynn). So what are the Tokusetsu like on the board? Well I'm really glad you asked because for their points cost I personally think both options are bloody brilliant! For 14pts and 0swc you get either WIP13 Doctor or Engineer with D-Charges. True the rest of their stats aren't the best but for the points they're well worth it!

So in conclusion I think the Posthumans are a mixed bag, but no where near as bad as some make out. Plus they kick ass on the table. The Zerat Sniper is fine looking, and a pretty handy option on the table too. The Al Hawwa continues the boring pose trend we've seen in recent months with Haqqislam. One or two boring poses or static poses fine, but it is starting to become a bit of a joke now. Plus I'm not so certain its that great an option, when compared to all the other sniping options Haqqislam have at their disposal. Finally we get the Tokusetsu Butai. A pretty nifty JSA addition and one I'll be happy to have thank you very much. Overall this month hasn't been the best month for releases but we have been spoiled rotten over the previous few months. So I guess I can forgive the slight drop in awesome... as long as they make January kick ass!!! Peace out!