OK, let's take a look at the LoS theme from a high level:
It's boring - pretty much only Iron Fang models, which are not the most diverse crowd. A lot of guys with blasting lances and... The Great Bears.
It's not effective - The Uhlans are decent until they make their first charge, after which they are likely to get swamped by infantry and brought down. The pikemen are expensive for their abilities and not the most resilient, even with their "heavy armor."
It's dated - When I look at the theme, it looks like a theme that was generated as a placeholder, waiting for a CID to happen. When I look at the Iron Fangs compared to the rest of the game, they seem like no developer has really thought about them in earnest since Mk1.
Here's what I propose:
- Assume that a CID is going to be done with the LoS.
- Assume that there is going to be some new models that come out of the CID. A new unit or two, a solo or two, and maybe a new warcaster or a warcaster updated to work better with the IFP.
- Assume that some changes and quality of life improvements will be made.
- Assume that PP will be interested in generating more interest in under-selling or under-appreciated models.
Let's attack the boring aspects:
If the Iron Fangs were going to get a new unit, I assume that they would dip into the lore and present the Iron Fang Axemen. Same stats as the regular Pikemen, but instead of the Blasting Pike they would have Great Axes that the Great Bears have, along with the Rapid Strike rule. (This would help tie in the Great Bears to the rest of the Iron Fangs thematically.)
If the Iron Fangs were to get another new unit, it should be a ranged unit. Iron Fangs with rifles? Iron Fangs with a mobile artillery piece? I don't care, as long as it works with the rest of the army.
One of the things that *might* make either or both of these 2 units happen is going to be production costs. If I were a guy at PP I'd be asking myself: "How can I make these 2 new units cheaply and maintain quality?" I don't know the answer to this, but an idea did pop into my head - what if the bodies from the plastic IFP box set could be used? Does anybody know if the bodies are packaged separately from the arms and weapons in the newer plastic IFP box set? If they are, then all PP has to do is create new arms and weapons and place them in a box with bodies.
What other new solos or characters can be brought in? We already have Kovniks, are there any other non-character solos that could be brought in? Maybe something like the Ammo Porter that the Legion Archers have? (Changes Crit Knockdown on the lances into automatic Knockdown. Maybe also lets the IFP loose Crit Knockdown on their attacks but gain Girded and AOE 3 on an attack.)
Is there a specially themed character that would help? What about a 2-man kommandant unit like Kommandant Arconovich that the MoW has?
Aside from new stuff, what can be done to make the existing stuff more interesting? Maybe some odd little changes playing to a "well trained" sub-theme that will not only make them more interesting, but effective also.
Let's take a look at the not effective part:
Uhlans - I see the Uhlans having 3 problems that need to be addressed:
- Unless Kovnik
Stalin Markov is right next to them they are goin to be in each other's way. These guys should be much better trained. Maybe if they had Practiced Maneuvers they would be easier to use and Kovnik
Stalin Markov would be freed up to be elsewhere on the field.
- They are the most single-minded, boring, flat unit in the game. I yawn just thinking about them. (Sometimes I wish that the Uhlans had the same rules as the Steelhead Heavy Cavalry.) What if the Uhlans got the Trampling Hooves rule from the
Fun Gun Carriage?
- Once they get stuck into melee with anything stronger than a serf with a pitchfork they have problems. What do you think about giving them Rapid Strike for the Pommel Spike?
Pikemen - These guys are supposed to be heavily armored, right? And they are not poorly-trained fodder like the Winter Guard, right? What if, to represent their training using their shields and their heavy armor, they had immunity to blast damage? Now, ARM 14 is not going to allow many infantry to go down to blast damage, but if they had immunity to blast damage they could then start working closely with Khador's warjacks that have AOE weapons (Demolisher, Destroyer, Devastator, Spriggan, etc.) and not have to worry about getting hurt. If we erally wanted to play up the whole IFP working with warjacks thing then what about a rule that allowed warjacks to advance through IFP?
I'm just throwing out ideas here, and these are just my opinions - I could be wrong.