Playing around with numbers for Platoon organizations for SG 2 using GZG
figures (plus others) for some scenarios.
Since GZG packages 15 mm figures in packs of 8, I set up a spread sheet for
HQ, APSWs, GMS/Ls, LADs, and 2 to 5 Squads (4 to 11 figures per squad).
1) Does anyone routinely field platoons under 24 figures?
2) Does anyone routinely field platoons over 48 figures?
I discovered that 48 figures is a two to one (two packs to obtain one platoon)
ratio, 40 figures is 5:3 (five packs to get three platoons), 36 is 3:2, 32 is
4:3, 30 is 5:4 and 28 is 7:6. And of course 24 is 1:1.
Since I had different platoon numbers (Usually squads of 6 or 8 - with
one
at 10 figures per squad - plus support) for various nations I concluded
that buying 7 packs to get 6 squads (Where would you need so many?) didn't
make economic sense in SG 2 games terms. 3:2 is okay since a scenario might
have two platoons on one side in an assault scenario, 4:3 is passable if a
campaign is involved, 2:1 is economically 'viable' to my mind, 5:4 starts
getting 'carried away' (Four platoons on the board for one side?) but thought
I would query other people's opinions on buying "X" packs to get "Y" Platoons.
How many platoons per side do you think are best for SG 2? Would you buy 7
packs to get 6 platoons?
Like I said, ramblings...
This also impacts linked DS 2 organizations since GZG packs 24 figures per
pack in 6 mm...
Gracias,
Glenn/Warbeads said:
> How many platoons per side do you think are best for SG 2? Would you
Ideally, I'd like to own a platoon of fedayeen, a platoon of Guards, a
company of regulars, and a company of militia--ideally. But I
certainly wouldn't put them all on the table at once. If you're using fire
teams as units, a platoon per player is about right. If you're using squads,
then a reinforced platoon per player.
2) Does anyone routinely field platoons over 48 figures?
Yeah that's generally my plt of four standard squads with one command squad
with attached heavy weapons.This works out to approximately 54 figures.
> 1) Does anyone routinely field platoons under 24 figures?
"Routinely"? No to either.
I've fielded forces of less than 24 in games with mixed units (ie two vs. one
scenario), and occasionally I've run games with special scenarios that had few
figures on one side. Generally no, however, 24 is about as small
as I'd want to go (my NI unit is 24 actually - but they're "commandos"
and deploy in teams of four, so 24 figs is plenty for a good game).
I've played many games with more than 48 figures on a side (several company
size battles with multiple platoons, vehicles, etc) but I have maybe one
actual single organized platoon that is that big (out of the 20 or so that I
own).
I find that a single platoon starts to run into command-and-control
problems once you get beyond about 6 sub-units. Check out some of the
TO&Es
on stargrunt.ca - those are mostly forces I actually play with - but I
commonly do stuff like have a command squad (4 figs), a team of medics
(2),
three "rifle" squads (8 each), and maybe an attached marksman team (2) or
weapon team (2 - 6), for a total 32 - 34 in five-six separate units.
Any more than that within one single platoon and the platoon commander's
ability to command the squad (transfer actions) becomes too diluted.
This comes down to play style, however. If I'm going to have a big game, I'd
rather have 2 or 3 platoons (well, 2 or 3 platoon commanders who can transfer
actions) than a single really big one. OR, I'll have a single platoon and add
attachments that just aren't part of that platoon's
chain-of-command (like a couple of combat walkers) and can't get
reactivated.
I'll also do stuff like play a "mechanized" unit with a single platoon or
infantry, all mounted with a light tank in support. Then instead of 4 or 5
units I have 10 or 11 (each vehicle being a separate unit) and if you try to
run THAT with a single platoon commander you don't get many reactivations
relative to the number of units. In this situation I've
designated the vehicles as a separate platoon for in-game purposes and
have one of them as the vehicle platoon commander (kind of like USArmy Mech
Platoons with the officer dismounting to command the infantry and the platoon
sergeant commanding the vehicles).
If I'm playing a game big enough for two infantry platoons and some support
(maybe a few vehicles), I'll very rarely add the next command level (and bring
on a company command squad), because then games take a *long* time to
play...
> I discovered that 48 figures is a two to one (two packs to obtain one
48 figures is a good selection. You can build yourself a "reasonable"
platoon (of say 30 - 36), but then have enough left for "specialist"
stuff
like creating a squad of assault pioneers (sappers / light combat
engineers), marksmen, extra HW squads, etc. OR you can have extra figures so
you can change the equipment given to the squads. Maybe the force uses
two SAW per squad one time, and a SAW + GMS/P another time - and you
have extra figures. If you want to play a bigger game, you could break that 48
figures down into two platoons organized very simply (3 rifle squads of
6,
medic team of 2, command team of 4; total 24 figures) and have two full
platoons.
So buying two packs (with 24 figs per) for each force will give you lots of
flexibility, and you don't need to buy more than 2 packs...
> is involved, 2:1 is economically 'viable' to my mind, 5:4 starts
I've played in several games quite a bit bigger than that, but you only want
to do it once or twice a year and you need really big tables...:)
> Would you buy 7 packs to
Not for a single force, no - though I have to admit I've painted one
complete company for my NAC (with two "standard" rifle platoons, one light
infantry platoon, one PA platoon, company HQ, mortars, etc) - but that's
mostly just excessive.
Now, TomB (who hasn't posted here on the main list for a while, but he's still
out there rumbling around) seems to be on a mission to collect a company size
force of all the GZGverse nations. He has a *lot* of
figs...
all in 25mm (like me), and mostly unpainted. It's an impressive collection.
:)