[SG] Close Combat Re: 15mm FCT/Kwa'Zulu pics - Saeed Khalifate, etc.

> --- Adrian Johnson <adrian@stargrunt.ca> wrote:

So, do you find it 'cost-effective' to equip squads
specifically for close combat? I never have because I have this huge aversion
to reducing my ranged firepower. Does it work for you?

Hi John,

> 2 x Assault Squads (8 ORs each)

Yes and no. Depends on what you mean "does it work". Is it perfectly optimized
for maximum effectiveness in all situations? No.

There are eight troopers in the squad, seven of whom are potentially
"riflemen" (and the eighth carrying a SAW). If using FP2 weapons, that is FP14
total (which is a d12 in game effects). If two are using "assault weapons",
then it goes down to FP10 (d10) at range, which isn't a huge drop from the d12
they could have. Yes, the squad is a bit more brittle in terms of how fast it
might lose its long range effectiveness if it suffers casualties. But since I
run mine with flamers instead of SMG's and I use "terror" effects and a
houserule that allows flame throwers to shoot out to the first rangeband (and
NOT just be useful in close assaults), the flamer troops add a bit of
"flavour" and tactical challenge.

Is it an optimum squad? Probably not (though that does depend on situational
stuff like terrain and mission parameters). But it is more interesting than
having every squad in all my platoons organzied the same overall way. I
currently have something like 12 fully painted 25mm Stargrunt platoons, and I
own around 20, I think. I don't want them all to be organized the same... that
would be *dull*. So, I mix things up a bit. Besides, I think having the
flamers in the force is characteristic of the "style" that I imagine for the
Saeed Khalifate...

My NI troops are organzied in squads of four, but have really good guns and
armour.  So, they're very potent, very flexible, but brittle - like
"real-life" commandos.  My NSL are organized right out of the rulebook.
My FSE platoon is also. My NAC platoon is similar to the book, though I split
out a two-figure medic team as a separate 'squad'.  These three are
basically "all rounders". My Saeed Khalifate troops are organized in a
slightly different way, which in some ways emphasizes both their strengths and
weaknesses (makes the effect of the strengths and weaknesses more "extreme").
I find it more interesting that way in games, and have seen them kick some
serious ass when it goes their way. I've seen them lose pretty badly too.

I find having mixed forces like this adds tactical challenges (and interest)
during play, and that works for me.