From: Brian Bell <bkb@b...>
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 10:23:45 -0500
Subject: [SG2] Mechanized Cavalry (2nd Run)
OK, Here is the second pass a Mechanized Cavalry for SG2. Comments welcome.
Intro Cavalry is described on p. 25 of the Dirtside II rules but not addressed
in the Stargrunt II rules. However, this describes cavalry as men on animal
transportation and does not address how to handle Mechanized Cavalry
(Motorcycles, Gravbikes, Gravboards, etc.). Following are rules on how to deal
with Mechanized Cavalry. These rules do not apply to Infantry Walkers.
Infantry Walkers are addressed
elsewhere in the rules.
Definition
Mechanized cavalry (MechCav) refers to one-man vehicles. Two man
vehicles are
considered Size-1 vehicles. (DS2 ruling by Mike Elliot).
A mechanized cavalry vehicle (MCV) has 1 capacity point that may be used to
mount a SAW or IVAR in a FIXED mount facing either Forward or Aft; or forward
observer equipment (rangefinders, Target Acquisition Gear (TAG), etc.).
MCVs are usually powered by Hydromagnetic Turbines (HMT) or small Fusion
Generation Plants (FGP). Both of these types of powerplants make the MCV not
much noisier than an infantry soldier (some, such as Gravboards, may actually
be quieter). On less advanced colonies, Chemical Fueled Engines (CFEs) are
still used for wheeled or tracked MCVs. MCVs with CFEs are are more noisy, and
are
unsuitable for stealth dependant operations.
Unit Organization Like sniper or forward observer teams, MechCav units tend to
be comprised of 1 to 3 elements. This is not always the case, but is done more
often than not to increase the unit flexibility and effectiveness.
MechCav are often used for Forward Observer, Sniper, Scout, and Courier
missions. They are occasionally used to transport troops behind enemy lines
(Special Forces), or to an enemy flank.
Movement
Base Movement MCV movement is as other vehicles (12" or 2xd12) while mounted.
Terrain Type Terrain type, while mounted, is based on the mobility type of the
vehicle and infantry if unmounted:
Mobility Method Example
GEV GEV Scooter, Hover Platform Grav Grav Board, Grav Bike, Grav Platform
Tracked Snowmobile, Tracked ATV Walker See Walker Rules Wheeled Motorcycle,
Wheeled ATV
Encumberment Elements that are dismounted, but keep the MCV with them, are
treated as
encumbered (see SG p.22). If elements abandon the MCV, they revert to their
normal infantry movement type (also SG p.22).
Going In Possition Mounted MechCav may NOT go 'In Possition' in the open.
Dismounted MechCav with thier MCV, may NOT go 'In Possition' in the open,
unless they abandon the MCV (becoming normal infantry).
Mounting/Dismounting
Mounting or dismounting a MCV requires a movement action. A mounted or
dismounted chit should be used to indicate if a figure is mounted or unmounted
(if you have mounted and unmounted figures, the actual figure may be switched
instead of using a chit).
The procedure is similar to entering/exiting an APC as described on p.24
or the SG rules.
Mounting An element must be within 6" of a MCV to mount it. It requires a
movement action to do so. Once mounted, a Mounted chit should be placed by the
element. If the entire unit is mounted, one chit may be used for the entire
unit. An element
must be mounted to take advantage of the added movement of the MCV (see
Movement above). Mounted elements that engage in combat do so at a penalty
(see Combat below).
Dismounting A unit may spend a movement action to dismount all or some of its
elements. Dismounted elements may move upto 6" away from the MCV as part of
the dismount. For elements dismounted, remove the Mounted chit for that
element. Dismounted elements do not gain from additional movement and, if they
keep the MCV with
them, they are treated as encumbered (see Movement above). Dismounted elements
do not, however, suffer any penalty to combat. If MCVs are used in a close
assault (CA), they are considered to have dismounted by the second round of
CA.
Mixed Units If only part of the unit is mounted, place a Detached marker with
the part of the unit that does NOT have the leader in it. That is, if the
leader is mounted, put the detachment marker with the unmounted part of the
unit; if the leader is unmounted, place the detachment marker with the mounted
part of the unit. A seperate Detachment action need NOT be performed (it is
included in the
mount/dismount action).
Abandoned MCVs If an element moves more than 6" away from the MCV, place an
abandoned marker next to the vehicle. Any element that comes within 6" of the
abandoned MCV, may utilize it (however, see rules about Mixed Unis above). An
element that abandons its MCV is now treated as normal infantry (may be light
infantry depending on how the soldier was equiped).
Combat
- Mounted Combat.
- Quality in Small Arms combat, while mounted, is shifted DOWN 2.
- Other weapons may not be fired while mounted unless built into the
design of the vehicle (see Difinition and capacity points above). In such
instances, Quality die is shifted DOWN 2.
- Unmounted Combat.
- Combat while unmounted follows normal infantry combat rules
- As targets
- Units of mechanized cavalry are treated as infantry for purposes of
targeting.
- If not in a unit or detached as individual figures, mechanized
cavalry are treated as individual figures (see p. 26)
- In Close Assaults (CA)
- Mounted Mechanized Cavalry are treated as infantry for CA. They
still suffer the downshift to their quality die in the CA.
- Unmounted Mechanized Cavalry may not bring their MCVs with them in a
CA.
- If a CA lasts more than 1 round, the Mechanized Cavalry are assumed
to have dismounted on the second round of the CA.
- If the defending unit voluntarilly retreats from a CA, a MechCav
unit that participated in the CA may continue conduct the Overrun and
Followthrough
attack. It may NOT mount/dismount between the CA and the
Followthrough/Overrun attack.
- Under Suppression
- Unmounted MechCav use the normal suppression rules.
- Mounted MechaCav are trained that speed and escape are better than
ducking and covering. A MechCav unit that is under suppression does not follow
the normal suppression rules.
- A mounted MechCav unit under suppression will attempt move to cover
or out of range of attacking units on its next activation.
- If seeking cover, the cover must be within 2x base range of the
MechCav unit. If unable to obtain cover with the use of its 1st action, the
MechCav must use its 2nd action to move into cover. If it fails to obtain
cover, it ends its movement with all suppression markers that it started with.
If it obtains cover, remove all the suppression markers from the unit.
- If seeking to get out of range of the opposition, figure the maximum
range for the units that applied the suppression. The mounted MechCav unit
must be able to get out of range in 2 movement actions. If this is the case,
the MechCav unit must spend a Movement action moving AWAY from the unit(s)
that applied the suppression. If it fails to get out of range with the first
action, it must spend the second action moving AWAY from the unit(s) that
applied the suppression. If it fails to get out of range, it retains all the
suppression markers it started with. If it succeeds in getting out of range,
it removes the suppression counters.
- If cover is out of range and it is impossible to move out of range
in this activation, the mounted MechCav unit must spend its next activation to
Dismount the MCV. It may then attempt to remove suppression as normal (or
perform other actions that are legal under suppression).
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