DS2 Drop Troops and Drop VEHICLES!!!

Still working the details on that low/mid tech force:  8^)

Okay I am looking at the rules for Dirtside 2 on page 43.

"...Certain specially-equipped elements (known as DROP TROOPS) may be
"directly inserted" to the battle area by either parachute/parajet from
high-flying transports, or in ballistic entry capsules from an orbiting
ship..."

Okay, so far.  There are two choices -

a) extensions of today's 82nd Airborne (to use the US model)
b) Death from WAY above - space 'dropped'

To continue:

"...If dropped from within atmosphere, line or powered infantry may be used;
only Powered troops may drop directly from orbit. Only infantry and Very Light
(class 1) vehicles and equipment may be paradropped, and
the only type of non-infantry element that may be orbitally dropped is
the Infantry Walker..."

Okay, a few points are raised -

As in case "a" above, it appears that class 1 AFV's can be dropped by
"within atmosphere" paradrop/parajet.  Yes?

Okay, I have some class 1 APC's (room for 1 FT, 2 APSW's - (one 'free'
APSW, and one 'at cost' [and the only weapon besides the 'free' one that can
be on that size vehicle]) for my Drop Troops to obtain some tactical mobility.
Do they drop as integral (shudder) or do they drop as an unattached unit and
use "Regrouping" to merge the two units?

Do the crews drop with the vehicles? I also have planned some other
class 1 vehicles for their support - an AGV (Assault Gun Vehicle ) -
class 1, fixed DFFG/2 plus 'free' APSW; and an (anti-armor/hold the
position)  ATM vehicle (size 1,  GMS/H and 'free' APSW.)  Do their crew
drop with the vehicles (same chit for vehicle and crew) or does it take an
extra turn (or different chits?!?!) for the vehicle crews to mount and begin
moving into integrity distance? I hold, given the time period (15 minutes)
referenced on page 4, and defined as '...pretty loose...' that the vehicle
crews can mount up and move into integrity with no further penalty other then
starting out of unit integrity. Whether or not they jump 'with,' 'in' or 'on'
the vehicles! Sound valid?

Class 2 can be Interface Lander entered I gather from the wording on page 43,
Interface Landing since Dropships specifically mention "...Heavy Armor..."
where the Assault Landers can carry "...couple of elements to one complete
unit..." I would assume that only one or two class 2 vehicles would drop in an
Interface Lander...

So, I could I.L. a unit of Class 2 LGV's (Light Gun Vehicle - turreted
DFFG/3,  2xAPSW (one free and one @ one cap point)) along with the I.L.
infantry.  I could also land their supporting assault mechanized units -

APC models : (1 FT space, GMS/H, PDS/basic, 'free APSW") OR (1 FT space,
GMS/L, PDS/Superior, 'free' APSW) OR ( 2 FT space, PDS/basic, 'free'
APSW)
IFV model: (1 FT space,Turreted  RFAC/2, "free APSW)
LGV/ATM hybrid: (Turreted DFFG/2, GMS/H, 'free' APSW)

And for the class 3, class 4 and (infrequent) class 5 vehicles it would be the
"Drop Ship" mode of entry, correct?

The size 3's are the 'Mech' arm of the force -
APC/IFV - (1 FT space, GMS/H, turreted DFFG/2, 2xAPSW)
APC - (2 FT space, GMS/H, MDC/1 turret, APSW)
MGV (Medium Gun Vehicle) - HVC/4* turret, PDS/Enhanced, APSW
* I am considering a DFFG/4 but that will depend on how 'mid-tech' I
want
this low/mid tech force to be on completion of the design.
LBT/LTD  - Turreted HKP/4**,  PDS/Enhanced, APSW
** Could sub HKP/3 with HEL/1 Coax and upgrade the PDS, but it seems a
bit 'high-tech' from the goal of the design...
ATM - two GMS/H, a PDS/Superior, and a 'free' APSW (*and two wasted cap
points.)

The "Armored" part:

There are MBT (HKP/5 based), TD (two models - using HKP/5 [2 fixed] OR
3xGMS/H  and a MDC/2 turret basis), and HGV (HVC/5 based) designs for
the size 4 vehicles.

There are HBT ( 2 models using HKP/5), VHGV (2xHVC5),  and ...shudder...
an HIFV (2 FT, HVC/5, PDS/basic) for size 5.  I don't know about that
HIFV....

Thanks for letting me ramble.

> -----Original Message-----
[Bri] True.

> Okay, I have some class 1 APC's (room for 1 FT, 2 APSW's - (one 'free'
[Bri] Good question. DS2 does not have any rules for combining two
units into one unit (just recombining units that are out of integrity). Many
use house rules to allow this however.

> Do the crews drop with the vehicles? I also have planned some other
[Bri]  See comment on above on combining units. I would suggest that the

answer depends on the player and unit organization. If the vehicle is part of
the unit, then the troops should drop with it. If the vehicle is a separate
unit, then it should drop separately. Page 43 indicates that units drop out of
integrity, so the 1st turn would be spent getting back in to unit integrity.
As a house rule I would allow the unit to mount the vehicle at the same time,
but I would clarify it before the game.

> Class 2 can be Interface Lander entered I gather from the wording on
[Bri] Assault Landers could be built to a number of sizes. The military
doctrine of your forces would determine the size of Lander used. You could
invest in an assault lander that drops an entire unit of 5 - Size 5
vehicles, but it would seem to draw a lot of AA attention. I would suggest
that you set a house rule on the size that the Lander can accommodate. You
could limit Assault Landers to be a max of size 5. To determine the amount of
capacity a vehicle takes up, multiply the size * 8 (p.12). Infantry may be IN
an APC that is in the Lander (ala Aliens) and the Lander would not have to pay
for the capacity to carry the infantry as it was already covered by the
capacity of the APC. Example: Size 5 (max) Assault lander has a capacity of
25. It devotes
9 of this to a HEL-3 fixed mount and 3 to a PDS system. This leaves
16 capacity points for it to carry. Thus it could carry 2 - size 1 APC
with infantry mounted in the APCs; 1 - size 2 vehicles; 4 line infantry
elements without vehicle support; OR 2 Power Infantry elements.

> So, I could I.L. a unit of Class 2 LGV's (Light Gun Vehicle - turreted
[Bri] If you took my suggestion, above, about limiting Assault Landers
to
size 5 vehicles, then you could land a size-3 vehicle (mech) but the
Lander would have no room for any systems (size-3 vehicle takes 24
capacity points out of the class-5's 25 available). Not a very good use
of an assault lander IMHO. So, yes, the units, below, would be better served
by landing in a Dropship.

> The size 3's are the 'Mech' arm of the force -
-----End Original Message-----

My comments marked by [Bri]

The above sounds like a good DS2 battle. Assault Landers bring in a force of
light (size 2 and smaller) units who have the mission to take a
spaceport/landing field needed for the Dropship.

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