The latest update of the ITS (Infinity Tournament System) rules has brought along a few but very significant improvements. The current tournament season has focused on TAG Pilots, trying to bring back the relevance of these powerful armored combat machines to ITS scenarios. However, instead of boosting the TAGs themselves, the spotlight was pointed on their pilots, providing them with new skills, weapons, or equipment.

One of those minor improvements has been the addition of Remote Pilots in all Remote Presence TAGs: small, semi-autonomous, auxiliary devices that the pilot can operate outside the TAG, enhancing their versatility in accomplishing objectives. They are a show of power and advanced technology for the PanOceanian Military Complex. So now every TAG from the Hyperpower has been equipped with a CrabBot, a Remote Ancillary Unit designed to perform short range exploration and analysis tasks.

The Combined Army has its own design of Remote Ancillary Units, the Scindron. This unit is available to the lethal Sphinx, which thanks to its TO Camo will be able to place a specialist behind enemy lines without much effort.

For their part, the manned TAG regiments of the rest of the Human Sphere have developed intensive, express training programs for their pilots so they may safely accomplish mission objectives, always protected by their heavily armored Tactical Gears.

The Gūijiă Pilot, even though she looks delicate, controls a meat-grinding machine able to take down any enemy of the StateEmpire, so watch out for her! This is especially true this season as this pilot has become a Specialist Operative, and got a Light Flamethrower! All the Maghariba Pilots have received specific first aid and emergency medical training, so they now have the Paramedic Special Skill. This TAG has now become a combat ambulance, ideal for getting a Paramedic close to Unconscious troops. Lizard Pilots have become Specialist Operatives able to accomplish any mission, and can use their Submachine Gun at short range and against high-armor targets.  Szalamandra Pilots have received specific training to hunt down enemy Hackers with their lethal Killer Hacking Device. Also, they’ve been equipped with a Contender for self-defense when out-side the TAG.

There are also manned TAGs within the Combined Army. The Morat Raicho Pilots received an improved Physique Attribute and are now very dangerous Specialist Operatives. An extra Heavy Pistol and D-Charges have been added to their basic equipment, making them a very interesting choice to accomplish the Secondary Objective: Sabotage.

Joe “Scarface” Turner is the only Mercenary Pilot who has received the Specialist Operative Special Skill, forced on him by his sister Cordelia, who has taught him the hard way some little things to facilitate his job.

This tournament season brings some changes, changes that come on strong and are here to stay. They provide a new incentive to use TAGs in our lists, because apart from their offensive power and toughness, we now have a Specialist that can go to any point of the table with relative safety. But, and more importantly, these changes still maintain a balance, because in Infinity all advantage also brings a risk, and only those who dare win!