ASCE: 6th Prt. Changes to Sandbalster SPA

[MyndkryM]

Looking forward to the Davion Force Manual, and an in the meantime I decided to check out the Rifle Lance formation rules in CampOps (I'm hoping we get some more formation rules in FM:D). I see that the granted SPAs are either Sandblaster or Weapon Specialist. So reading up on Sandblaster I see that it changed significantly. The latest errata has these changes:

⑥ Sandblaster (p. 98)
Second paragraph, last sentence
When this unit delivers a weapon attack using only one of the following specials—AC, FLK, IATM, LRM, SRM, or TOR—it receives a –1
Target Number modifier, and delivers an additional 1 point of damage (increased to 2 points if the attack is made at Short range).
Change to:
When this unit makes a standard weapon attack and has one or more of the AC, FLK, IATM, LRM, SRM, or TOR specials, it delivers an
additional 1 point of damage (increased to 2 points if the attack is made at Short range).

Sandblaster SPA is now a much better Cluster Hitter and both have the same SPA cost.

The Cluster Hitter is a pilot who has become a marksman with
some of the least precise weapons available—such as missiles and
flak weaponry. This allows them to focus fire in tighter groupings,
for more telling damage potential.
As long as the unit with this SPA does not move during its
Movement Phase, it will add 1 point of damage to any successful
weapon attack that has the FLK, LRM, or SRM special abilities.

Maybe I'm not understanding the reason or backstory as to why Sandblaster got such a big change. I'd say from a damage perspective...it got buffed. Does Cluster Hitter deserve a SPA cost reduction?

[psionics313]

Sounds more like a nerf to me. Losing the -1 TN makes it hard to lock for me

[Charistoph]

Yeah, Sandblaster was nerfed.  The only thing that changed was the -1 To-Hit.  The Damage bonus didn't change.

The reason I use it is the pilot also is used in Classic, and it's like a super-Artemis there.

The Classic version of Cluster Hitter only adds a +1 to the Cluster Chart, but applies all of that Cluster to one spot.  Potentially powerful for heavier Cluster weapons and you don't want to scatter the Damage.

[MyndkryM]

It also removed the special weapon attack requirement. Cluster Hitter requires the unit to stand still to get the bonus damage. As written Sandblaster now allows a standard weapon attack extra damage on top of it normal damage value. Before the unit would only be able to use it's special;a Rifleman RFL-7N2's FLK1/1/1 would result in a 3 damage at short range and 2 damage at medium...now the same unit (damage band is 3/3/3) would result in 5 at short and 4 at medium.

Yes...losing the -1 TN sucks and I think that was one of the main reasons that the SPA was priced at 2 points.

If this is the change that was intended...is Cluster Hitter now overpriced? I'm thinking so.

[Burzmali]

I think the change was an unfortunate requirement as the existing rules were skewed such that the SPA was worthless for the vast majority of mechs but broken for a handful like the UM-60L and JVN-10N which see a massive benefit from the SPA.