DS II Battle Report

The first battle we fought was a study in contrasts.
It was a small, high-tech force vs. a large mid-tech
force.

The moral of this story is, quantity can beat the crap out of quality.

Force A: One platoon of size 4 grav tanks with HELs and missiles; two platoons
of size 1 infantry walkers; one platoon of size 2 APCs with a platoon of
infantry; one flight of VTOLs; one platoon of size 3 combat walkers. Primary
weapons were HELs and DFFGs.

Force B: Four platoons of size 3 tracked tanks; two platoons of size 2 APCs
with a platoon of infantry each; four platoons of size two fast GEV hover
tanks; one battery of light artillery. Primary weapons were MDCs.

The game was a 5,000 point meeting engagement. In the week leading up to the
game, I lobbied for 10,000 points, but the other players didn't want to go
that big.

On the first turn, it looked like my long range HELs would pay off. I boomed
one tank and immobilised another, but it was all downhill after that.
unfortunately, my MBTs were greens and panicked when they took fire. The next
turn, they were picked off in detail.

Artillery wasted one platoon of infantry walkers and a platoon of APCs on turn
two. My mistake in not realizing how far apart impact markers could be placed.

Also on turn two, the surviving platoon of infantry walkers advanced to the
front and blew away a platoon of Force B's tanks with size 2 DFFGs.

At the start of turn three, the ravaging infantry walkers were able to reduce
a platoon of GEVs to component atoms, but were in turn destroyed by artillery.

With just one VTOL, and three combat walkers left, I conceded the game.

I gave up a lot when I offered to keep my VTOLs at low level for the game
since my opponent didn't have any air defense. Seeing as how I didn't have
arty I should
have complained about that :-) I could have put my
VTOLs in high mode and destroyed his forces in detail, but I wanted a fun game
for both players. Next time,
however, the gloves are off :-)

Anyway, I loved the game... I just needed more guns.

I'm not real familiar with Dirtside. Are combat walkers like Battletech Mechs?
If so, can mechs stand up to tanks in DSII? If so, can you buy mechs with the
same points your opponent would use to buy a force that can stand up to his,
or will he likely win?

In Battletech, the mechs usually win, partially because it IS a mech game, so
there has to be some reason for fielding them. In a game like dirtside, I'd
almost expect them to encourage regular tanks to discourage mechs a little.

Can you use battletech tanks in DSII or are they the wrong scale? How about
Renegade Legion grav tanks? How about the regular modern tanks (M1A1's) you
see in the game store?

Thanks, hope I don't sound TOO ignorant.

Combat walkers are like mechs. The ones I'm using are Battletech mechs, some
small ones, the Purifier, I think, and some slightly bigger ones, can't think
of
the name but they're not as big as the full-size
Battletech mechs.

They have advantages and disadvantages, but my initial belief is that they are
slightly less powerful than a tank of the same size with similar equipment. I
base that on the fact that they have a profile one size larger than the tank,
making them easier to hit. A size three walker has a signature of a size four
vehicle (without stealth). By adding stealth, you're adding points to the
cost.

For my Main Battle Tanks, I'm using Renegade Legion tanks. They're close
enough to the same scale that it works on the table. All my Battletech
vehicles are large artillery pieces and a big ZAD platform.

I think the moderns would look ok, but depending on the manufacturer, probably
would be significantly smaller than the FASA pieces.

> --- David Griffin <carbon_dragon@yahoo.com> wrote:

[quoted original message omitted]

From: "David Griffin" <carbon_dragon@yahoo.com>
> Can you use battletech tanks in DSII or are they

You can use any kind of small scale tank miniature with Dirtside, whether
Battletech, Renegade Legion, Modern or whatever. What looks good may depend on
your tastes, however. I find most Battletech tanks far too big to field
alongside Moderns. GZG minis are in-between

Greetings Karl Heinz