DLD's fine kits and David's defense

<snip long rules-based defence from SG2>
David said:
So, in conclusion, the "1 rifleman could 
easily mission-kill the vehicle (unprotected 
crew)" statement isn't as easy as one 
would make it sound, right? :-) David - --

Tomb: 
If you're absolutely stuck to rules, then 
probably yes. However, I'm not a big fan of 
artifactual behaviours in rules. I'd let 
people shoot at the crew as if they had 
hard cover (or maybe were IP + hard 
cover) rather than worry about the armour. 

But, more importantly, you also make the 
assumption I was talking about "in game 
rules". The truth is, your design (in the 
world outside of the polyhydral simulation) 
would rarely utilize such a design. Half 
armour isn't terribly popular. Why?

Two reasons:
1) half armour that doesn't give the crew 
good ballistic protection isn't terribly useful. 
The crew in that vehicle are too exposed. 
Normal squad rifle fire would probably kill 
them. 
2) given that the armour is ineffective, the 
half you've got is weighty. The vehicles 
that go light on armour (like FAVs) tend to 
go entirely light on armour. 

Half protection equals no protection plus 
weight. If the game doesn't reflect that 
your Badger crew are poorly protected, 
then this is an aspect where the game falls 
away from reality. 

My criticism here is strictly from my own 
experience and I don't say the kits are less 
than nicely moulded or well made. I just 
think that particular design wouldn't last 
long in the real world. YMMV. 

Tomb
PS - The kit reminds me of an Eldar Walker 
which I liked, except for the fact the entire 
body of the driver/commander was 
exposed to enemy fire. I think they PSB'd it 
with a force field, but the real answer was 
GW likes to show vehicle crew and they 
paint up neat. PSB was just to fill in the 
gap. I never liked that and still don't. 
---------------------------------------------
Thomas Barclay
Co-Creator of http://www.stargrunt.ca 
Stargrunt II and Dirtside II game site

Corruptisima republica plurimae leges. 
[The more corrupt a republic, the more laws.]
-- Tacitus