Sunday, August 4, 2019

Tech Trooper - Rally Aid

"Call in the airstrike"

- First Order Stormtrooper

Not every specialist focuses on bringing raw firepower. While armed with only a standard issue weapon like the E-11 rifle or DH-17 pistol, the Tech Troopers gives access to powerful command cards and support abilities.

 

Why Train a Tech Trooper?

Since they can't directly contribute damage regularly, Tech Troopers are much cheaper than other Elite Troopers. This allows you to bring more rookies and upgrades. In addition, the Tech Trooper offers a number of abilities that enable other troopers to more effectively do their jobs. Finally, the Tech Trooper allows you to call in air support.

 

Abilities



The Tech Trooper upgrade tree is split between troop survival and order and token management. The medic tree allows you to heal friendly units and protect them from harm with smoke grenades and shield generators. The comms tree ensures that your fellow troopers can activate as needed while providing them support with aim tokens.


Command Cards

 

Bringing a Tech Trooper allows you to call in air strikes. You can choose from the devastating single shot Maximum Firepower or go for more targets with an Orbital Bombardment.


I Need a Medic Over Here!

Tech Troopers help your Strike Team stay alive. Giving cover and relaying orders, the Tech provides a subtle but crucial benefit to the squad.



Next time, we will take a look at the Demolitions Expert.

See the previous classes:

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Support Trooper - Long Range Specialist

"One shot. One kill."

- Clone Sniper

The Support Trooper provides your Strike Team with support in the form of long range firepower. They can take either a sniper rifle or an emplacement weapon like the Mark II Medium Blaster. Below is an example of a sniper specialist.

Abilities


Abilities focus on making the Support Trooper a single target assassin or an expert at providing covering fire. The starting abilities help the slower and cumbersome weapons get into position while still providing fire support.

Command Cards

Bringing a Support Trooper allows you to bring either Lying in Wait for a devastating final shot or Sorry About The Mess for a quick strike.

Outrange the Opposition

Support Troopers look to provide covering fire, harass enemies, and eliminate soft targets.

Next time, we will take a look at the Technician.

See the previous classes:

Friday, August 2, 2019

Heavy Trooper - The Big Gun

"A big gun doesn't make a big man"

- Fives to Hevy

In addition to your Captain, a Strike Team can consist of a variety of specialized troopers. These elite squad members bring additional firepower and skills to the fight. No one exemplifies the additional firepower more than the Heavy.

Both sides have a few Heavy Troopers to choose from like the Z-6 Rotary Blaster or the HH-12 Rocket Launcher. This example shows a Heavy Trooper using the Scatter Gun.



Regardless of their weapon, Heavy Troopers start with the Dauntless ability, ensuring they can bring their firepower to bear. This is key because Heavies have a lower courage value than other troopers and may be slower as well.

Abilities


When choosing Heavy Trooper abilities, you can make your trooper either a close range monster or a mobile cannon. The new text for the Ram 1 ability allows you to add 1 red die to a melee attack if you performed a full move during your activation.

Command Cards


If you bring a Heavy Trooper, you can bring one of Chewbacca's command cards. These encourage teamwork with other Elite Troopers:

  • Common Cause - Combines with assault
  • Brains and Brawn - Combines with support
  • Notorious Scoundrels - Combines with tech 

 

Maximum Firepower!



The Heavy Trooper is a one-man tank, ready to lay down fire to complete the mission.

Next time, we will take a look at the long range capabilities of the Support Trooper.

Thursday, August 1, 2019

The Captain - Leader of the Squad

"In my book, experience outranks everything"

- Captain Rex

In Strike Team, the commander is replaced by your squad captain. In addition to giving out orders, the Captain is also the most well rounded and capable unit in a squad.


With a ranged weapon of 3 dice and Critical 1, the Captain is able to dish out significant amounts of damage, even against enemies in cover. Additionally, the Captain is the only non-Assault trooper with multiple dice for melee.

The starting attribute of the Captain is Aggressive Tactics

"While you are the nominated commander, after issuing orders , choose up to 4 friendly units with faceup order tokens. Each chosen unit gains 1 surge token." 

For Strike Team, troopers can gain abilities through progression (or you can choose the power level in quick-play). The abilities are on a tech tree where you choose one of two options (similar to X-COM). The tech tree for the Captain, like all the Elite troopers, is split into two ideals. In this case, the Captain can be built for a ruthless tactician or a cunning leader.

Abilities

 

Level 1

  Choosing between Spotter 2 and Take Cover 2 means upping your offense or defense in addition to the surge tokens. These actions also encourage using your Captain first.

Level 2

 This choice determines if your leader is feared or inspiring. Demoralize 1 or Inspire 1 manages suppression and action economy.

Level 3

 Gaining Sharpshooter 1 or Surge:Crit, is a tough decision. The former allows you to reliably minimize the effects of cover. While Surge:Crit can help against cover, it also provides help against potentially armored Heavy Troopers.

Level 4

 Choose between the survival of your Captain with Esteemed Leader or focus on getting your orders out with Commanding Presence.


Command Cards


Acting as the commander, a starting captain will get the 6 generic command cards for their faction. As they level up, they'll be able to add more powerful command cards like Deploy the Garrison or Somebody Has to Save Our Skins.

Lead your squad to victory!


The captain is designed to not only fend for themselves, but provide the support necessary for the rest of the team to do their job. 

Next time, we will take a look at the Heavy Trooper.