Radio the Forest wrote:You said your concern was in team games, that requires a fundamentally different approach than other game modes. Go try my build (3x ISt into rhino, VA+libby, terminators), trust me, you'll float a ton of req even if you put down all the gens for your team since you have low upkeep and won't bleed at all with the rhino. Same thing with 3x scouts.
Buying the IST sarge is a matter of play style. When I saw the IST changes in the patch notes I stopped buying the sarge altogether in beta 11 (unless vs detectors) to prepare, and I have never liked the nade launchers, so even now I prefer to keep them vanilla, not due to balance, it's just how I approach the faction, I like Blessed Aegis on the BC as my first power purchase in almost every MU, either that or the SS flamer if I can bash. It all boils down to preference, you can do some nasty things with IST nade+ purgation flamers if you position correctly (keep purgs BEHIND the strike squad until the engagement properly kicks off).
IST trait is their burst damage like scouts have high speed and tics have high melee skill/doomblast, neither they nor nor DAs nor shootas nor termas can tank in the early stages of the game, and that's fine how it is. Comparisons aren't valid when you just look at hp and dps of IST/shootas/termas, you must consider everything else that plays into their performance like hero synergy, globals, etc
We have already discussed their trait. I have said many times that burst is what makes them, which is all the more reason why their sarge and their t2 ability really does nothing for them.
Raffa wrote:If your IST are too squishy, you buy a rhino, which is a fully functional and effective unit when used properly. Alternatively, buy the Blessed Aegis, naht Canticle, and try to damage-sponge more with the BC.
IST Sarge unfortunately is just not worth it for 25 power, even with the grenade. I agree it was overperforming before at 15(!), esp as a detector, but at 25 power it's not really worth it unless you're specifically trying to keep Nobz (with no WeBo) away from you. Although it is ofc mandatory vs heroes.
20 power would be fair, given the synergy with the Rhino for countering Lictors etc..
you are still using another unit to act as the sudo survivability of the ist, what if you don't want a rhino or cant afford one , what about strikes , interceptors , purgs and purifiers?
the t1 rhino is extremely easy to kill off in teams game , all one need do is apply the same methods one applies to sentinels , it has 25% less hp , is 30% larger , has rear armor vulnerability and often gets stuck on the ist squads near it
I dont think it is wise to make the survivability of the ist so dependent on the presence or absence of other units. not when said units are largely optional on other races (falcon for gu , razor sm optional).
all that does is limit build diversity by shackling units to other units.