Low tech SG (was Re: A Humble Request)

7 posts ยท May 15 1998 to May 18 1998

From: tlsmith@m... (Terrance L. Smith)

Date: Thu, 14 May 1998 23:14:50 -0600

Subject: Low tech SG (was Re: A Humble Request)

> Could everyone, including all you lurkers, post where you are?

A mostly lurker in Nampa, Idaho (near Boise), USA. I own FT and DS, but have
been having so much fun with SG that I have not played them yet.

RE Stargrunt, there was a thread awhile back that related to low tech
opponents for assualt rifle armed platoons. I have been giving some thought to
this as it is a scenario idea that interests me.

I am thinking of breach loader rifles and no electronic communications. My
paper projections suggest that 3-12 man squads with breach loaders (fire
power 1, like hunting rifles, but I think I will lower the impact to d8) will
have a chance if they outnumber the high tech unit (perhaps a platoon of low
tech against 2 squads of high tech). These squads will start out rolling a d12
fire power die, but would be fragile. The fire power would drop rapidly with
casualties to a d6 with 6 remaining figures.

I may allow bugles or whistles for communication with a range of 12 inches.

I have the figures now and plan to run a playtest sometime in the next two
months. I'll let you know what happens.

Has anyone else tried such a scenario? How did it go? Any other ideas or
suggestions?

From: John Atkinson <johnmatkinson@y...>

Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 09:42:32 -0500 (CDT)

Subject: Re: Low tech SG (was Re: A Humble Request)

> You wrote:

> I am thinking of breach loader rifles and no electronic

I assume by that you mean something like the Martini-Henry or the US
Springfield, in which case the impact could be substantial.

would be fragile. The fire power would >drop rapidly with casualties to a d6
with 6 remaining figures.

And no support weapons.

> Has anyone else tried such a scenario? How did it go? Any other ideas

Primitive machine guns--Maxims?  Gatlings?

Zulus with spears?

From: Los <los@c...>

Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 09:48:08 -0700

Subject: Re: Low tech SG (was Re: A Humble Request)

I would imaginbe that slug throwers will find themselves in many inventories
far into the future. Especially on these out worlds ("third worlds?") where
money, powewr supplies and maintenance are scarce.

From: Nic Robson <nicr@e...>

Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 08:24:30 +1000

Subject: Re: Low tech SG (was Re: A Humble Request)

Squeal like a pig, boy!

Nic

> At 11:14 PM 5/14/98 -0600, you wrote:
My
> paper projections suggest that 3-12 man squads with breach loaders

From: tlsmith@m... (Terrance L. Smith)

Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 21:16:17 -0600

Subject: Re: Low tech SG (was Re: A Humble Request)

> You wrote:
I am arming aliens (using Space 1889 Martians), so was not thinking of these
specific rifles. This makes the question of impact open to personal
preference. In part I am trying to avoid reproducing human arms. On the other
hand, perhaps your local friendly arms dealer has managed to import a
warehouse full of Springfields (assuming you could still find a warehouse of
the things).

> Primitive machine guns--Maxims? Gatlings?
Yes, I am planning to add a Gatling (cannot call it that though, it's supposed
to be an alien weapon).
> Zulus with spears?
One idea, to get a battle doctrine different from modern (future?) humans, is
to include some pike and sword men. The standard tactic will then be to fire
for a suppression result, then charge into melee with the sharp pointy things.
This should make things interesting as the aliens will not be able to stand up
to a firefight, but if they get the chance to charge the picture totally
changes.

> John M. Atkinson

From: Noah Doyle <nvdoyle@m...>

Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 00:36:18 EDT

Subject: Re: Low tech SG (was Re: A Humble Request)

> In a message dated 98-05-18 00:09:24 EDT, (Terrance L. Smith) writes:

<< On the other hand, perhaps your local friendly arms dealer has managed to
import a warehouse full of Springfields (assuming you could still find a
warehouse of the things). >>

If you go to any half-way decent gun show with a wad of cash, you can
equip as
many people as you can afford with bolt-action rifles that have changed
little since the turn of the century. Most will be heavy caliber, have an
internal magazine, and be reloaded with stripper clips. And as much ammo as
you can
carry, too.  Bolt-actions are all over the place.  Usually $100-$200
each.
For single-shot bolt-actions, that's before my area of study - can't
accurately say, 'cause I haven't looked that hard. I'll check at the next show
here in town.

From: John Atkinson <johnmatkinson@y...>

Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 08:49:56 -0500 (CDT)

Subject: Re: Low tech SG (was Re: A Humble Request)

> You wrote:

> I am arming aliens (using Space 1889 Martians), so was not thinking of

Any large caliber, black powder single-shot breechloaders would work
out the same under Dirtside rules-it's not that picky.

> other hand, perhaps your local friendly arms dealer has managed to

Given the US's experience in this matter (with our natives), the local
arms dealers are likely to be selling _better_ guns than Army is using.
And if there is profit to be made (in our case, furs and buffallo hides), they
won't have any qualms about selling in large lots. The "standard" longarm for
a Sioux by the time Custer got wiped out was a Winchester carbine.