Dirtside Engineering Rules

I noticed that Dirtside II's Engineering rules are really... simplified for
ease of play. I've done a little work throwing together some more... complex
and realistic(?) rules for obstacles and breaching (as well as divorcing the
ARV function from the CEV function, which is my only pet hate about the
Dirtside rules). What would the interest in such a house rule set be?

Yes please, lets see 'em

Mike Elliott, GZG

jatkins6@ix.netcom.com (John Atkinson)
27/04/98 20:11

Please respond to FTGZG-L@bolton.ac.uk

To:   FTGZG-L@bolton.ac.uk

On Tuesday, April 28, 1998 7:24 PM, John Atkinson
> [SMTP:jatkins6@ix.netcom.com] wrote:

For the combat engineeringly challenged, what is a Breach and an Abatis? It
would help to provide a picture or a simple description of the non obvious
features.

> You wrote:

Breach is defined as a gap in an obstacle through which the maneuver
elements can assault.  Maneuver elements is basically infantry/armor.

Abatis is a series of herring-bone pattern trees partially felled
across a roadway. I say partially because if you've done it right, the tree is
still attached to the stump, making it much more difficult to push out of the
way. Then it may be filled with dirt, have mines or booby traps emplaced, etc.

John M. Atkinon said:
Abatis is a series of herring-bone pattern trees partially felled
across a roadway. I say partially because if you've done it right, the tree is
still attached to the stump, making it much more difficult to push out of the
way. Then it may be filled with dirt, have mines or booby traps emplaced, etc.
John,
I assume you meant trees felled in a herring-bone pattern. ;->= 'Old
school, executive conifers...'

That said, thanks for the clarification. I'd never seen the term, though I
had seen photos, and was a bit lazy/timid to ask.

However, as SG/DS engineers are going to have to deal with many
environments(worlds of), I think we'll find that particular type of roadblock
rare. Is there a more generic military term other than 'roadblock'?

On the other hand, roadblocks vary in importance. In Western Europe, I
gather they can be well worth the time to dis-assemble. In most of the
Desert Storm campaign, I think I heard just going 'round was no problem, not
to mention trees difficult to find.

I feel that old lecture about the dangers of applying specifics to these game
systems, which I almost posted during the hull shape arguments in FT II,
rising in my mind, so I'll shut up now...

The_Beast

> You wrote:

> However, as SG/DS engineers are going to have to deal with many

Any environment humans are going to live on, will have trees. If they don't
come naturally, we'll plant 'em. Lumber is too important.

> roadblock rare. Is there a more generic military term other than

Road block it is. It's of no friggin' use if it can be bypassed. If necessary,
I will be more than happy to throw together a post on Engineer doctrine.

> I feel that old lecture about the dangers of applying specifics to

Singing to the choir.  METT-T the Army calls it.  IOW, you adapt to
your environment. If your environment has no trees, you don't do abatis. BUT,
as Engineers have only served on Terran environments, then I can only post out
of my experience and the experience of my fellow sappers. Any thing else would
be random speculation, which any
jackass with delusions of competence can do.  I _know_ my limits.  You
name a specific environment, and maybe I can come up with specific obstacles
for that environment. Maybe not. But 99% of the battles
fought using the SG/DS rules are fought in roughly terran environments.
I can say that all the Dirtside battles I've ever fought on have included
trees. To sum up, teach your grandmother to suck eggs before you preach about
the differences between various terrains to a sapper.

John spake thusly upon matters weighty:

> You wrote:

> don't come naturally, we'll plant 'em. Lumber is too important.

Tattoine. Arrakis. Pluto. Not everywhere will have trees.

> I can say that all the Dirtside battles I've ever fought on have

Because very few of us have actually set up a true Marscape or a Plutonic ice
battleground... (but we all have trees). Plus I do agree MOST places will have
plant life because we wouldn't settle there otherwise (exceptions noted
above).

Tom.

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