[SG] Special Ops + Indigenous forces

Note: I apologize to anyone who might be a 
little bit sensitive to this particular post - it 
draws a bit from current news. Hopefully not in 
a way that is unpalatable.

Onward....

I was thinking about SF + Indigenous forces 
(read: irregulars or militia) versus a middle of 
the road army. On the one hand, the middle of 
the road army will have a mix of regular and 
green units with some decent equipment, 
maybe some support elements like armour or 
arty, and they might even have a veteran unit 
or two as stiffeners.

The indigenous forces may well have a mix of 
forces from green to veteran (the mix 
depending on how much combat experience 
and how many recent combat losses). The 
special forces may be expected to be small in 
number, but of veteran or even elite quality, 
and well led. For that matter, some of the local 
indigenous forces may be very well led (others 
may have bad leadership though). The locals 
most likely are a lightly armoured force, that 
can move fast, but has little indigenous support 
in the way of armour, arty, air. 

Now, the SF being present may introduce air or 
artillery assets (with the SF acting as FAO/FAC). 
Also, the SF themselves will be well equiped. 

So far, we're not talking about anything vanilla 
SG doesn't represent. 

As part of the "evening up" between the two 
sides, the side with the SF may have off-board 
EW (from nearby flying command centers or 
from dedicated jammer planes or air 
scatterable jammers). They may have tacair 
(GMS, autocannons, deadfall ordinance, 
precision munitions). They may have off-board 
artillery and perhaps some on-board light 
mortars (man portable). 

One of the interesting aspects is the middle of 
the road army may have varying levels of 
morale, from green troops with motivation 
levels that are LOW (except within a short 
distance of certain key motivating units - the 
veterans/elite/commisars). The die-hards/elite 
units may well have HIGH motivation. However, 
if these HIGH motivation troops are removed, 
the LOW motivation the other units feel may be 
manifest. While the HIGH motivation units are 
still in the fight (and with LOS to the LOWer 
motivation units), these other units probably 
fight as MEDIUM motivation. 

On the SF side, the locals may also have a quite 
varied set of motivation levels. The SF 
undoubtedly add to the motivation of their 
forces, and if they were killed (thus possibly 
taking away the off-board support!), the overall 
motivation of the indigenous force may well 
drop to LOW. As long as the SF are on the 
table, they may well have MEDIUM or HIGH 
motivation. 

Either side, depending on the situation, may 
have suicide commandos (not terribly effective, 
unless they appear from hiding or the scenario 
also entails the presence of non-combatants 
they can hide within). 

That's kind of a general discussion, but I was 
thinking of trying out a generic scenario with 
Red SF and Red Indigs vs. Blue Army. Red force 
would have high motivation as long as the SF 
squads (maybe two fireteams out of a total of 
8-10 squads on the attacking Red side) and 
drop to LOW (and get no off board support 
when that happened!). The Blue force would 
have varying motivation levels across the force, 
but would have 6 squads plus 2-4 armoured 
vehicles, of which 2-3 fireteams would be 
Stiffeners. If these were destroyed, the forces 
morale would drop to LOW. As long as these 
were around, the force would have Medium 
motivation (the elite fireteam high). 

The objective for Red Force would be to use 
their indigenous forces and off board support 
to dislodge the defending Blue Force. Red 
would have tacair and artillery on call. Blue 
would have (sometimes.... random roll say 
50%) artillery on call. Red only SF can call the 
off board support, Blue any unit can (as long as 
it is still fighting). Red might also be granted 2 
or 3 EW chits. 

So Blue has defender advantages, perhaps 
some fighting positions, and AFVs and some 
arty. Red has slightly more numerous force 
(though lightly armoured), heavy off board 
support, and good morale. 
 
Remains to be seen if this will be balanced. 
Once I've done a few playtests, I'll write 
something up for stargrunt.ca. I'm already 
about 66% done a scenario based off of the 
final segment of 'Tears of the Sun' which should 
go up sooner or later. 

Tomb

PS - My heart goes out to the US POWs and 
their families. Bunch of mechanics.... seems like 
they made a wrong turn or something. Prayers 
for their safe return and fewer accidents and 
fratricides in the coming days. 

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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
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