First Impressions: Phase 2 UCM

First off I want to start with an apology. I'm sorry for what you are about to read. Second off I want to remind you all that I am not Dan. It's Mike, Honestly!!

Third off, and roughly back on track; I get to do the UCM first Impressions of Reconquest Phase to? too? two??? 2??????? you pick.

Bringing sexy back

UCM are my first and long time love in DzC. Even with pants infantry, no area effect for the Kodiak and an abundance of E10 shots, I still loved them. Then they got good, powerful some might say (not many might say). Have they peaked already? Did the UCM reach their pinnacle and it's only downhill from here?

Read on to find out......

I'll start with the new additions, these are the units only the talons have seen. Personally, I think that the rules should have been up as experimental for a couple of months first. The community could have tested them as we do with the others. Then little tweeks can be made before the final print run; but I also understand the time pressures that Hawk are under, already 2 months late with Dropfleet, and still a small team working long hours, attending shows and generally working their asses off.

Anyway, I digress, I'm sure I said something about new units......

BEAST MODE activated

Broadsword
General Wade's Broadsword has made it to the main force. Let's start with the facts, just the facts. It's a Heavy choice, can be fielded in squads of 1-3 and in wide formation too. It costs a whopping 79 points with 4 damage points. It has 1 E11 Dev-2 shot, a countered range of 24" and a Mf and Mv of 4".

All seems ok, and that's just it. It's ok. For me, it's far too many points for 1 shot. There is absolutely zero utility/versatility. Plonk it down, shoot something. Plus it will miss or not wound a fair percentage of the time (approx. 30%). Ok it's nice for PHR walkers......shame we don't see them anymore, or perhaps against the Resistance is where it will shine, they have multiple damage points on almost all their things. Against Shaltari it can punch through warstriders and mini-warstriders as long as the pesky passive doesn't get in the way.

It is all about correct target choice with the Broadsword - which is how the UCM play. Choose the correct tool for the job. The problem for me is the extortionate cost and the solitary shot. How often will it claw back it's cost? I almost feel you could drop it's damage points to 3 and make it 10 points cheaper. 69 points for a single shot beast is about right. I dislike comparing across factions, but look at the Odin (still a solid choice btw). It has 2dp, armour 10 and 2 E11 shots with a 24" range oh and a 5+ passive all for 65 points. There is a reason it is probably one of the best Heavy choices in the game. With a Condor it comes in at a cool 110, and yes you really do need a Condor for it. With Critical Locations becoming a thing now, you need you get your expensive stuff on to them as early as you can. Rolling on the back is not really an option anymore.

All that being said, I will certainly try out this bad boy. Not sure the Broadsword makes it into a take all comers list due to it's very one dimensional nature.

I have an idea (this is written the day after I wrote the previous). If The Broadsword has something similar to the Ares' superior targeting, THAT would make it an attractive proposition. Look at the massive targeting array next to the gun!! If it always hit on a 3+ (at worse case) I would definitely consider using it a lot more!!

Joe's thoughts;

I fear this unit will get taken a lot, it is a lovely model and people are going to want to field it. Will there be enough people against the current rules to make the ever so slightly small change it may need to fit right in. Personally I think that the devastator rule is the only thing it has going for it. On a plus side, its hard to kill and i think it will become an area denial unit.

Ed's thoughts;
Along with Mike in the OB Team I'm a long running UCM player although I haven't used them in ages with the PHR taking my full attention. I really like this unit, it looks awesome and packs a big punch. But apart from the extortionate price tag attached to it this unit has too short a range, yes its a railgun but a countered range of 24" leaves this thing massively vulnerable to Nemesis and Caiman because it can't deny an area without the range to do so. 36" would be much more reasonable. Also compare the Broadsword with its competitors for that heavy slot. For 39 points more you can have 2 gladius  which is 4 times the shots, may not be Dev 2 and En11 but its still a respectable amount of dice to roll. Maybe this should become a command mount with the option to buy 2 Bodyguard Broadswords? Could be a meaty command choice then. Basically its nice but I don't feel you'll see these in too many upper table lists.

They really do look cool!

Falcon B's
Every other faction would lap a unit like this up. A mobile anti-air aircraft. It has versatility with its 2 E8 missile shots too. The evasive +2 helps keep it alive, especially against reaction fire, and at 50 points each it is well priced.

So why the long face Mike?

Well, it's not exactly what we need in the UCM. Everything it does, is done better by the Ferrum and it's Starsprite drones. Ok, the drones are not as survivable, but they don't cost anything, so when a few die, we can release more. The only way I can think of fitting Falcon B's in is as a single unit to go hunting with, but only if I have a spare support slot and a spare 50 points. I really do like it, but I just can't see where it fits into the UCM. That being said, I think we will see them in a lot of lists. Not everyone likes the Ferrum (looks/rules) so this unit will be a good way of running a UCM airforce. Now we need a standard choice that flies!!

Final statement on this is more aimed at Hawk, where the F%&K are the machine guns? Raven, Raven B and Falcon all have them. Is this an oversight?

Joe's thoughts;
Okay can the Resistance get an allied version that has mini-guns and has the option to choose the E8 missiles? I think this would work well alongside the Longbow's ravens as a bit of a support AA after they have dropped the cargo. My main issue is the cost. Drop the E8 missiles and make it the same points as the other Falcon

Ed's thoughts;
I like it. Nice price, good theme and a great little hunter. Yes the ferrum does all the above and better, but this is a nice alternative. 

Hazard Suits
Weapon strength down to E6, still focus 2 and +3pts per base. I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed.
I completely understand toning down a unit, if it is deemed too powerful. Was there any call for this though?

Before the Hazard Suits arrived the UCM were screaming out for anything that could survive a bit of falling masonry and had a bit of versatility. The Hazards filled that hole, rather well. They have their good points - ability to shoot down even the hardiest of tanks, armour 4 and only wounded on a 6 by falling masonry, they have their drawbacks too - CQB 1 and can only shoot OR search, not both.

I thought they were well priced and a good unit. In discussions between Hawk and OB, it was mooted that there would be a drop in E of their weaponry. I didn't agree but I could see why they were doing it, now the new book's out and not only do they have a drop in Energy but they've gone up in points too. It's too much. One or the other. I think just the point increase would have sufficed, leaving the guns at E7.

Not a happy bunny!!

Joe's thoughts;

One of my favourite things is to play, and play against cool lists. Lists that are all mainly aircraft or military tanks only etc, a bit of fun and flavour; I feel the energy was okay but the points increase is going to make it harder to have an army built around heavy infantry. Only seeing one squad of a fun unit fielded becomes a little boring and less fun to field. When you are dedicating a whole action plan around not being able to search, now that IS fun! 

Ed's thoughts;
I agree with Mike just an upping of points would have done here. It seems Hawk are moving away from Infantry being able to hurt buildings at range (compare with the Medusa). However that said this is still a great unit.

I didn't know how much detail was on these models. Resistance 'Allied ' players - mount them on Gun Wagons!!

Legionnaire Flak Teams 
Weapon range +6" R(f) and R(c). This is a really good, positive change. I'm now really considering a squad or 2 in Bears and a Condor. They can search and shoot, and a squad will kick out 6 E6 AA shots at 18" range - what does this mean for the poor Praetorian Sniper. Don't forget, they can also reaction fire too. Now all I have to do is actually buy a blister!!

Joe's thoughts;
This is defo the right move to try and get more bears on the battlefield. Gun Wagons watch out, even more can shoot you now!!!

Ed's thoughts; 
This unit is now Naughty. If I were an investor I'd buy shares in UCM ammunition makers now.

Phoenix
I'm gonna hold my hands up and say that this is probably my fault. During Invasion earlier this year (you know, the one I won) Simon was watching one of my games where I rolled on with the Phoenix and did 12 damage to my opponents objective building. Simon asks me how, so I told him. Chain-guns did 2 damage each and the missiles did 8 (demo-2 area weapon, becomes demo-4 when fired directly at a structure) Simon's face was a picture, then the bad man spoke.... "well that'll change then" So, true to his word, Hawk have removed the Demo-2 from the missiles. Probably warranted as the Phoenix is not supposed to be a demo monster, it does mean that late game I will still have them to use, which will be pretty useful.

Joe's thoughts;

I feel this is a fair change, the UCM already do building demo. Not being able to put any infantry in your home building because they brought 1 model.. Just No!! 

The Phoenix already does so much. I do think it's a bit big on points cost.

Ed thoughts;
Yup Demo 2 removal was warranted. Glad they didn't change anything else as this Command choice is mint.

Retailiator 
Goes from L-2 to L-3 - yay it can actually be used more. Still think it should have lost the Alt-1 on the weapons (as with all 'bomber' type fast movers). Not much more to say on this really.

Ed's thoughts;
Fast Mover ground attack.
Still shrug. 

Conclusions
Where does that leave the UCM?
Before Phase 2 was released I would have put the Factions in this order:

PHR/Shaltari
Resistance/UCM
....
....
...
..
.
.
Scourge

PHR and Shaltari were pretty level pegging at the top of the list, with Resistance and UCM level together just behind the top 2 and way, way down were the Scourge.
I feel Phase 2 has delivered steady improvements for PHR, Shaltari and Resistance, massively important improvements for the Scourge, and only very minor improvements for the UCM.

I know it is all theory, but I believe that overall the factions are tighter than ever with regards to how they fare against one another, but (probably for the first time) I think that the UCM are marginally bottom of the pile.

PHR/Shaltari
Scourge/Resistance
UCM

I genuinely believe that the UCM are now the slowest faction in the game. With Critical Locations being a thing, you need to get your ground assets there quickly, and they need to hold it too. The UCM are severely lacking in quick moving, mobile ground vehicles. Maybe it needs a different way of thinking about, a new way of taking the UCM.

In the past few weeks I have been trying to decide whether to take UCM or Scourge to Invasion. I spent hours working out UCM lists as I feel connected to the UCM. They are MY army, but none of the lists pleased me, I couldn't get them to work how I wanted them to. All I could see were other factions hard counters to every choice I made. I took a break from it, so I spent a few minutes making a Scourge list and it just made me smile, I was eager to play it. That was my epiphany. I'm taking Scourge.

See you on the other side boys and girls, I'm getting my parasite re-inserted



Oh and finally, we need to start a drinking game, mainly for Dan's Shaltari post which will be coming up in a few days. 
Get a bottle of what ever you fancy, pour a shot, drink every time you read the word BULLSHIT.
I swear by the end you won't remember the beginning.