Re: Cheese factor

On Sun, 01 Apr 2001 18:39:42 -0700, Jaime Tiampo
<fugu@spikyfishthing.com>
wrote:

>Ok, we played a few games today of SG and my PA was classed as a bit
>over the top.
>
>PA Squad:
>Heavy, Fast
>1 command figure (Advanced Assult /w gl)
>1 trooper (Advanced Assult /w gl)
>2 troopers (Advanced Assult /w gl & MLR)
>1 SAW gunner (Gatling SAW)

Okay, so far so good...

>Total die: D6 (FP) D8 (MLR) D8 (MLR) D10 (SAW) + Quality
>or if you can only shoot 1 MLR per squad instead of per figure (I
assume
>only 1 per figure and that multiple in the squad can shoot together)
>Total die: D10 (FP) D8 (MLR) D10 (SAW) + Quality

Well, the MLR is a support weapon. So, if your guys are going to use
MLRs they
can't use their assault rifles. So, that would make them:

D6 (FP) + D8 + D8 (MLR) + D10 (SAW) + Quality. Or, D8 (FP) + D8 (MLR) +
D10
(SAW) + Quality. This isn't out of place. It's actually pretty close to
what
Jon has in the rulebook. In fact, you're one figure less than what Jon
has in
the NAC TO&E. I wouldn't have a problem with it.

However, how many of these puppies do you have? Jon has them at 3 PA
squads
and a command squad per PA platoon, and 1 platoon in a company, along
with 3
platoons of regular infantry. I found this to be about right. Specific
scenarios have had more (one of my scenarios had one side with nothing
but PA,
but they had to boogie pretty quickly, only had plasma guns, and only 4
per
squad).

As long as half your company isn't PA, or you aren't bringing one
platoon of
PA and a couple squads of infantry (unless the scenario requires it) I
don't
see this as being cheesy. 

>On second complaint, how many platoons do people generally have on the
>board before they put on an over all commander aka company commander.

Typically I'd figure you had to have a majority of the platoon on the
table.
It depends on the scenario. If you have a company of three infantry
platoons
and one PA platoon, I'd say you had to have at leat three of the four
platoons
on the table before the company commander is present. I can see a
scenario,
though, where an enemy unit has crashed through the lines and is hitting
a
company command area. You could have little more than a reinforced
platoon
protecting the company commander, but the company commander is on site
to
help. (If I was creating this kind of scenario, I'd probably have some
sort of
scenario rule to see if the company commander has to deal with any
interruptions from the rest of the company, maybe with some sort of test
when
it activates).

Again, it depends on the scenario. However, if this is a "design a TO&E
and
bring your figures" type engagement, I think your group needs to put in
some
ground rules. Perhaps only allow a company commander if there's an
entire
company on the board. Or, only if there is a majority, as mentioned
above. I
think you need to have the TO&Es figured out ahead of time and checked
out for
validity. 

SG2 doesn't do this kind of thing well, without an understanding amongst
players, because it has no point system. I would suggest limiting each
side to
a total number of squads or platoons. PA should count as two infantry
squads,
and count as 1 for the purposes of deciding if the company commander is
on the
table. For instance, say you are going to field 3 platoons and that you
have
to have a majority of platoons in a four platoon company in order to
bring in
the company commander. You could choose one infantry and one PA platoon
(equivalent to 3 infantry platoons) but you'd lose the chance to have
the
company commander. Or, you could put 3 infantry platoons and get the
company
commander as you have 3 out of 4 platoons on the table.

Another option is to give your TO&E to your opponents and let THEM
select your
forces. Likewise, you would select theirs. 

Allan Goodall		       awg@sympatico.ca
Goodall's Grotto:  http://www.vex.net/~agoodall

"Now, see, if you combine different colours of light,
 you get white! Try that with Play-Doh and you get
 brown! How come?" - Alan Moore & Kevin Nolan, 
   "Jack B. Quick, Boy Inventor"