The NEW NINJA

With the release of N3, most units got a small tweak to their profile. Ninjas were no different. Formerly responsible for both drawing me into the game, and deeply disappointing me (ninjas were generally accepted as the worst TO skirmishers in N2), I was excited to see what had changed.

MOV 4-4, CC23, BS 11, PH 12, WIP 13, ARM 1, BTS 0, W 1, S 2, AVA 2
Special Skills: CH: TO Camo, Infiltration Kinematika L1, MA L3, Multiterrain

Tactical Bow, Pistol, DA CCW, Knife, SWC 0, 26
Combi Rifle, Pistol, Shock CCW, Knife, SWC 0, 34
Combi Rifle, Pistol, DA CCW, Knife, SWC 0, 34
Combi Rifle, Pistol, AP CCW, Knife, SWC 0, 35
Multi Sniper Rifle, Pistol, Shock CCW, Knife, SWC 1.5, 42
Assault Hacking Device, Combi Rifle, Pistol, Shock CCW, Knife, SWC 0.5, 40

First, what EXACTLY changed: CC went up by 6, WIP decreased by 1, Kinimatika L1, Multiterrain, and a flat (basic) 2 point deduction in price, the hacker and sniper dropped even more. A profile with a bow was added, the hacking device became an "assault" hacking device, and the EXP CCW profile has disappeared.

CC has DRAMATICALLY changed for the ninja. where before, there was a 15% margin of failure in every melee attack, The ninja can now never fail a CC roll, AND adds 3 to the result of his die (in N3, when a Stat exceeds 20, the extra is ADDED to the result of the roll)- meaning a basic foe that rolls a 1 to 3, has AUTOMATICALLY lost the FtF roll with the ninja, as the ninja can only result in 4-23, BEFORE adding MA skills. This makes the NINJA way more dependable in CC. Surprise attack is just dramatically multiplying these odds.

The bow is a VERY tantalizing option now. By Far the cheapest, the bow seems to distill the purpose of the ninja- Small precise executions, with a short range DA weapon. Priced at less than three quarters of what an old ninja was, they have tremendous applications even as suicide troops!

The other profiles have for the most part remained the same- but with some discounts. the DA CCW is a possible replacement for the EXP CCW, is much cheaper- and still probably gets the job done. The Sniper has dramatically dropped in price (8 points) without much change in use- so I will be trying it out ASAP!

Assault hacking device is MUCH less potent then it was in N2- mostly for a major reason- SUPRISE AHP (anti-hacker protocols) is no longer a thing. Being able to pop out of camo with an uncontested hacking attempt is now gone, but basically the same functions- Interacting with hackers, TAGs, HI, and REMs to mostly immobilize. The assault hacking device also limits the number of "tactical" applications for the device now- as it mostly just serves as an "immobilizer", the "old" hyper effective AHP is now just limited to standard and plus devices, and Hacking from camo just applies a -3 "surprise penalty" to the opponent's ARO. A Big step down, but also in price, so it is tough to complain too much about.

Truth be told- Most of a ninja's application is going to depend on the rest of the JSA (as currently, the only N3 JSA models are musashi, saito, and ninja), so I will have to wait for the official PDF to say what the full implications of the new NINJA are.