Infomercial: Aleph

Starting up the first series on my blog here and it's called Infomercial. It will bring you everything from some unit break downs, terrain setups, faction overviews, and some other stuff that I might not want to spoil yet...

So I had some free time and said hey! Why shouldn't I give a faction breakdown of the factions I play in Infinity. I already have a breakdown of units for Aleph that I've posted on and one I'm still working on. Also for these faction overviews I will focus on the factions sectorials as well.

So lets get to it!

Aleph

 

Fluff: In the future (about 100 years and some change) the human race has scattered itself across the stars. It has populated a couple of new solar systems and with these new systems they needed to establish trade and communication ties with others. Enter Aleph, this AI was created to assist with such functions. Now with this great control Aleph has the ability to pull strings from the other factions that need it's services like PanO and Yu Jing. Also with it's creation it was deemed that Aleph be the only legal AI in the human sphere as it was the only one under the watch of O-12 (future UN with sharper claws and teeth). Now with this decision came the creation on the military branch of Aleph known as the Operation Sub-Section (OSS). This force is tasked with hunting down illegal AI under the watch of O-12. Units from the OSS are also loaned out to other forces especially ones that support the AI financially like PanO and Yu Jing. The OSS however is  used for darker means like silencing critics of the AI or engaging in military operation to oppose others that might bring harm to Aleph or it's goals. The OSS is not the only Sub-Section though. The Assault Sub-Section is the other one and is based soley for combat missions. They are deployed when hard and cold logic don't work like on the battlefields of Paradiso fighting against the Combined Army (jump Steel Phalanx section for more info). 

On The Table: When we talk about Elite factions in the Infinity universe there are really only two that stand out. One being the Combined Army and the other Aleph. The reason is that they field units that are above the average stat line in there unit types and have equipment and special skills that aren't found on other troops of the type. With Aleph every troop is elite in one nature or another. The reason for elite units is the because of the durability as well as equipment of Aleph's units. There durability would either comes from NWI (lets the unit operate in the unconscious state) or the next level under NWI, Dogged, or just having more then two wounds like HI. NWI is found across a bunch of units in Aleph while Dogged is only present on one but it fits perfectly with that unit and this keeps the low number of Aleph troops in the fight.  Equipment is another big reason Aleph is elite. It makes units hard to hit like the Myrmidons ODD and other equipment like the 360 visor of the Thorakitai help to cover blind spots and catch AD troops trying to come in from behind. Then there's also combo's of this durability and equipment that make for the most elite units in the game like the Asura or the man sized TAG aka Achilles. This durability and equipment comes with a price and one that leads to Aleph lists having smaller model counts then other factions. Don't fret at the low count of your troops though as your troops have the tools and durability to take on more then there number. Also Aleph's Lts are very easy to pick out (do to WIP and price tag)

Why play Aleph?: If your looking for a elite faction is that not heavy on the alien aesthetic then Aleph is right up your alley. If you want to field a faction that has high tech equipment and a good amount of durable troops that allows them to fight more then there number then Aleph is for you. If you like cyborgs or have a thing for Greeks and Vedics then Aleph might be the faction for you.

The Assault Sub-Section or Steel Phalanx

Fluff: When the Combined Army landed on Paradiso Aleph noted that itself and humanity was in danger. It tired to combat the CA with OSS however the cold and hard logic was working against the OSS. The EI (Evolved Intelligence and overlord of the CA) could predict the next moves of the OSS and the way there troops were going to act. Aleph needed another force that would be unpredictable and one the EI could not predict the next move of. Enter the Assault Sub-Section (ha, Enter the ASS... oh that's funny) or Steel Phalanx. Going by it's name you probably assumed it might have to do something with Greeks (Spartans are Greeks by the way) and you'd be absolutely right. Aleph decided to base the SP around the ancient Greeks and the heroes that came from the Iliad. This impressive force is led by the ever violent and brilliant Achilles. They've carved a bloody path across Paradiso in their fight against the CA. They just don't do it in for the sake of Aleph but for the sake of humanity. 

On the table: People call this sectorial the hero sectorial for a reason. You have some many characters to choose from when you assemble your force and that's the charm about the SP. However there's another reason for these characters... some are the only way to assemble link teams in the SP. You see the SP can't just form link teams like the other sectorials. The only way to assemble one is to have a model with Enomotarchos and they have to be in the link team as well. However what makes this rule different from other link teams is that you can only have 4 members but you can form more then one link team. A vast majority of characters have this rule and one none character unit. Now this plays into how the SP plays on the table in a big way. They have all the attributes of the regular vanilla Aleph but with this new Enomotarchos rule allows the SP to be a very fast and violent monster. That's what they SP does best and that's being very quick and very aggressive. They want to be up in your face and engaging you in close quarters fire fights. They are also purpose built for this with a ton (and I mean a ton) of ODD to make them hard to hit. If a unit doesn't have ODD they have other equipment that makes them just as deadly like the Ekdromos' jet pack that lets them have Super Jump or the Thorakitai's 360 Visor that allows no one to flank them. The SP however does come with drawbacks though. It suffers from the typical priceyness of Aleph's units but it also lacks camo units and skirmishers. They also have no access to any mines as well and that leaves you to create other ways to funnel your enemies. Lts are also very visible but the addition, just like in regular Aleph, of a Myrmidon Officer with CoC but in the SP you can take multiple (very pricey but they do have Enomotarchos). 

Why play SP?: If you just want to try something new and different from regular Aleph but don't want to try another faction then the SP might be right for you. Like the idea of commanding a good amount of heroes and their soldiers? Then the SP is waiting for you. Like the Greek aesthetic of Aleph but not the Vedic then the SP should be the perfect choose for you!