Re: [DS] Specialist Elements

Hi, Brian.

    Thanks for the response.  I'm trying to fit PA into the background
I've been
writing.  I'd like to be able to do these "weapons elements," but only
if I can
find a workable point cost and the concept can survive a reality check. 
So any
help is appreciated.

"Bell, Brian K" wrote:

> A PA suit can carry/be equiped with a Heavy weapon (GMS/L or APSW).
However,
> space/weight limitations would limit the ammo (you are already
stuffing a
> lot into a PA suit). So, either you have less ammo and risk running
out of
> ammo, or you have the other memebers of the squad carry some ammo,
reducing
> the amount of weapons that they can carry.

    A line infantry element with either GMS/L or APSW is comprised of no
more
than three men.  They don't have any restriction to amount of ammo due
to space
or weight.  These line infantry only take up 4 CPs, that's men, small
arms, GMS
or APSW, and the unlimited ammo to go with it.	Two such elements would
take up
8 CPs.	So, in effect, you could have one line infantry specialist
element with
GMS and another with APSW, that, combined, take up 8CPs.  Assume a BASIC
guidance system on the GMS and these two elements would have a PV of
(20+20)+(20+10)=70.  They can move at BMF of 2".  They can each take 4
damage
points before going down.
    Again, have the PA element with both GML/L and APSW, which would
take up 8
CPs.  Assuming BASIC guidance, we get a PV of (40+20+10)=70.  This
single
element can move at BMF of 6" and can take 5 damage points before going
down.
    The PA costs the same as the line infantry.*  It moves at three
times the
speed.	It takes 5 damage points to knock it out, but only time, as
opposed to
the two line infantry elements which can each take 4 damage points.  It
can only
fire one of its weapons per turn.  It seems like game balance isn't
hurt.

    *I'm perfectly willing to assign a slightly higher cost to the
combined
specialist element.  I don't know what that should be, though.	Anyone
who
agrees that there should be additional cost is welcome to advise.

> GMS/L is a large weapon. It would probably take the entire squad
(larger
> squad of line infantry or smaller squad of PA) to carry the weapon and
the
> ammo, unless it is a one-shot. Even if it is a one-shot, the PA that
is
> carrying it would be encumbered by doing so (it takes 2/5ths of the
alloted
> space of a size-1 vehicle to hold a GSM/L).

    Right, but I'm not sure that's a valid comparison.	Part of those
two CPs is
going towards the weapon mount, which, for infantry, is presumably the
trooper
himself. <g>

-Mike

--
Michael Sarno

To see a World in a grain of sand,
And a Heaven in a wild flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand,
And Eternity in an hour.
 -William Blake