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.