You cracked open the United States Starter Army. Good choice, commander. This compact force hits hard and moves harder.
However, it rewards brains over bravado, so planning matters. Consequently, let’s break down the kit, the tricks, and the special rules that turn speed into scalps.
You’re rolling with twelve Fireflies, a Firefly Officer, two M2A5 Linebackers, and a Stuart with a Light Tesla Cannon. Therefore the game plan is surgical strikes, not trench grinding. Moreover, the whole roster leans on mobility, timing, and opportunistic pressure. Consequently, you win by pouncing late, deleting targets, then bouncing to safety.
Fireflies: jump-jets, shock assault, and survival smarts
Fireflies are your elite jump-troopers with M1X1/2 SMGs that mulch infantry and threaten light armor via E-Slug mode. Additionally, Flight gives them a huge threat band: Advance 12 inches and shoot 12, ignoring terrain. Furthermore, they can deploy anywhere from Reserve, which is brutal with a late Order Die. Drop after the enemy activates, hose the target, then scoot using Regroup in Hell or the next turn’s first activation.
However, they are fragile at Damage Value 5+. Therefore, avoid open ground, respect LMG spam and multi-shot high Pen, and never let Schreckwulfen or Ursus tag you. Moreover, your Firefly Officer carries Hero and Officer utility while keeping pace, which becomes clutch with army rules later.
Linebackers: big Fireflies with bigger guns
The Linebacker arrives like a flying anvil: 9+ DV, M21 Light Tesla Cannon, and paired HMGs throwing 12 shots via Arm Mounted. Moreover, loadouts are flexible, swapping HMGs for twin Super Bazookas or twin Light Autocannon, and chin MMGs for an Infantry Flamethrower. Consequently, you can field one infantry reaper and one tank killer to cover both jobs.
Additionally, you can split fire across up to three targets, which spikes board control. Therefore, arc the M21 into clumps, point the Super Bazookas at armor, and let the flamer clear cover. Moreover, think of them as oversized Fireflies: hold back, drop at the decisive moment, delete the priority, then reposition fast.
The M5A2(T) Stuart is your yappy terrier with teeth. Additionally, Recce and Reinforced Front Armour make it surprisingly stubborn under fire. However, it still sits at 8+ DV, so play coy until the lane opens. Consequently, circle wide while your jump-units cause chaos, then dash for side or rear armor. Moreover, a Surging Rift Die supercharges Tesla Arc into either many hits or one huge zap.
Army rules: the secret sauce that seals the win
Arsenal of Democracy lets each multi-shot weapon type reroll a miss, which is massive across HMGs and Tesla arcs. However, it does not boost single-shot Super Bazookas. Additionally, Death From Above removes the negative test modifier for Flight or Jump Reserves, so your hammer actually arrives on time. Furthermore, Tough As Nails hands your Platoon Commander a free point of Guts. Therefore, you can put a unit’s Order Die back in the bag to act again within 6 inches. Buy him more Guts or a point of Luck and he becomes a force multiplier. Finally, Tesla’s Gift improves your chances of Active or Surging Rift Dice on the Linebackers and Stuart, which is exactly when their arcs go wild.
Summary
In short, this Starter Army is a mobile scalpel that punishes overextension. Fireflies crack openings, Linebackers collapse flanks, and the Stuart finishes the job. Moreover, timing your Reserve drops, stacking cover, and chaining Guts activations turns trades into routs. Consequently, play cagey, strike late, and keep those jets hot. See you over the battlefield, where freedom arrives from above and leaves a smoking crater.
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