Resistance Sappers and Scout ATV's - The Lowdown

Well, we can all breathe now, stick a fork in me, I'm done!

The Dropfleet Kickstarter was an outrageous success. I would doubt very much if there was anyone out there who will be disappointed with their deals. I, for one, am over the moon. I'm also siding more and more with the Shaltari ships. The Scourge are still the best looking, but the Shaltari are really brutal looking. I like it.
Oh, and don't forget - there will be teleporting nonsense too.

Down at Hawk HQ it seems that there is still someone beavering away to give some new Dropzone goodies just in time for Christmas........ and they don't disappoint.

The Resistance players may have been a bit starved this summer while all the other races caught up with their infantry shenanigans. Now the Resistance add to their ranks with a couple of dedicated squads. The Sappers and the Scout ATVs

Sappers
Where to start..... Let's look at the basic stats A2 3dp CQB 0.5 and 35 points per base (2 only to a squad). If I'm honest, it's pretty appalling. Falling Masonry and any type of combat will annihilate them. In fact a stiff breeze will knock them for 6 (that's a cricket metaphor for those not of these shores).
That is not what they are for.
If we cast our eyes down a fraction, to the weapon profiles you might feel a little short changed. They can only have 3 shots all game, plus only 1 of each type, but the possibilities are endless. Maybe not endless, but you know what I mean.

The AT and Cluster IED's are excellent.
E11 infinite range shot hitting on a 3+ will cause problems. Superb for picking off rogue AA vehicles, Rapiers, Phobos also things like APC's.
The E9 Large blast is potent too. Great for a crowded Focal Point or that 1st turn hit on a recently disembarked skimmer squad (hunters, reapers, kukri - I'm looking at you), or freeriders, medusa any infantry in the open really. They will be having a bad day. Don't forget, blasts can also act as some handy building demo too as the demolisher value doubles.
This brings me nicely onto the Demo IED. I love the fluff and imagery behind this. I don't like the application. Demo D3 for a rigged structure (it can ONLY be fired at a structure) is nonsensical. These battlefield Engineers are veterans at setting these IED's and the damage output firstly is too random and secondly has a huge chance of doing nothing.

I think it should be more like the Barrel Bomber in application. Roll to hit (as there is still a chance of the remote detonator not working, or the enemy have found the explosives), then if it hits it deals 3+D3 damage to the structure. No roll to damage.

I can see a lot of use from a Sapper squad. They can hitch a ride in a Battlebus and drive on for some turn 1 shenanigans, long range building demo or sniping units. They will add to the search rolls that the Resistance get and can be used to ferry objectives off the board too.

Overall I like them, I would use them too. But I don't think they are going to be popular in the tournament scene, mainly down to the limited shots and vulnerableness (I know, it's not even a word, but I like it).

Scout ATVs
Now we get to the meat and potato's of the release. I will make a bold prediction. I think you will see a lot of these in Resistance lists. They are cheap, easy to fit in to several different battle-groups and will annoy the living fuck out of your opponents.
The stats are the same as the Assault ATV's and they can be a bitch to get rid of. Machine guns normally have low E and high Ac so it's normally 5's followed by 5's and 6's to damage them, otherwise you have to start using your AT weapons, and sometimes that can seem like a waste.
They have great synergy with Storm Wagons and Cyclones. Giving a -1 to Ac for them is such a massive benefit, especially against skimmer heavy armies.
Unlike the Assault ATV's I don't think you will need to get a Kraken. They are quick on their own and have no need to get in the thick of the action. They have seriously long range, coupled with their Mf is most of the board.

With the Scout ATV, it will need to be used a turn in advance....bear with me.
Normally when you are into a game of DzC, your first activation is normally something you NEED to do, either destroy something that you have set up, or move/search so you don't get destroyed. What you don't want to be doing is activating the Scout ATV's to disrupt the enemy, this should be done the turn before. this takes some planning and also a bit of foresight.
Let me give you an example: You have a lifthawk wanting to get it's troops into a building which is covered by a squad of Helios. They can't get there this turn, so you hide them behind a building. The Scout ATV's disrupt the Helios. Even 1 hit per Helios is fine. Next turn whether you win or lose activation, you can pretty much safely drop off your Jacksons. The Helios will be reaction firing on a 6+ 
The massive advantage of the disruption array, is that the effect does not just last till the end of the turn, but until the Scout ATV's next activate. Which could be almost 2 turns of lock-down.

I do worry about the major disadvantages that 1 unit squads will face, such as the Oppressor, Nemesis, Hades, Caimen, Jaguar, Gharial, Coyote, even things like Phobos, Zeus, Odin, all walkers really.
Is the amount of disruption too much?.....maybe. When I first saw the rules I thought it should be 1 shot per base rather than 3, also that the range was maybe too far. I guess we'll see how it all plays out over the next few months.
One thing to add though - they don't stop the building demolition game. As it is a modification to your Ac, buildings are hit on a 2+ regardless of Ac

What do you make of the Resistances new super friends?