Idea for a New Approach to (some) units

[PG_Charwood]

I personaly think Mercs need alot more nameless thugs. - Shado

Whereas I can't get enough of the character solos - Vyztka

This pretty well sums up my feelings regarding mercenaries. Don't get me wrong. I love all the flavors we have to offer: Boomberry, Devil's Dog Cake, Reinholt Goober Spectator. But I'm also a pretty big fan of vanilla. I've always liked vanilla. It's like a blank slate that anything can be added to.

So I got to thinking. Why couldn't this be true for mercenaries?

So I'll ask this then: What if mercenaries were given thematic companies in the vein of Steelheads (Like say: the Black River Rovers, Daggot Blades or Blood Wolves)? A little thematic, plus the possibilities of different rulesets. As such the unit itself wouldn't be a character unit.

Now say Privateer also offered a character UA that perhaps offered a tactic, or granted an ability. It would be like adding Mr. Walls to the Seadogs. You get the option of having a cool one-eyed gunman running about, but you could also make due with the "nameless" thugs (or professionals, depending on the company).

Thoughts?

It could work well with Cryx as well. Put out a standard "Scharde Raider" unit, with say three character pirate captains available. Each could offer the unit something new and exciting. To even things out you could even make the FA of the unit, less than the available UA's, ensuring that no game (under 100 points at least) would see all three.

I like our characters, and as solos they make sense (lone wolves often depend on reputation for work). But I would enjoy seeing some more random mercenary units that weren't Steelheads.


- Charwood

P.S. I'd like to apologize to Devilsquid for that last remark. Before he breaks down my door and makes his impact attacks with his Steelhead Cavalry.

[Ger]

So UA's to represent some of the less well financed merc charters? Conferring a related ability to any Merc unit they attach to?

[Lanz]

Just sounds like seadogs to me. Generic joe-nobody troopers with an optional character UA, and like 3 different solos that give them special abilities. 4 with the Bosun. And weapon attachments.

[PG_Charwood]

So UA's to represent some of the less well financed merc charters? Conferring a related ability to any Merc unit they attach to?

Yeah, it'd be like having the Devil Dogs with the option to add Sam (and thus Jack Marshal). Maybe she would then add to the unit the tactic: flank - Warjack. Or perhaps you could instead add a different character to give the unit AD and Pathfinder (going with the Daggermoor Rovers theme).

Just sounds like seadogs to me. Generic joe-nobody troopers with an optional character UA...

Pretty much. Except they wouldn't (necessarily be) be pirates. It's sort of the crux of the idea. Offer a standard unit, that has the ability to be flexible and doesn't throw off the aesthetic for say: The Highborne Covenant.

- Charwood

[The Happy Anarchist]

I could see different UAs for Steelheads that modified them into other line infantry. Like a Llaelese Guard attachment, or Iron Wolves or what have you.