Brandon replied to me: > In theory, yes. But I decided for game purposes I'd like to have all suit > types represented in a single platoon.
Hello Brandon, in that case, how about a platoon with three line squads (five standard and two recon suits), one assault squad (three assault and three engineer suits), and the headquarters (two command and two flak suits, plus one standard for the medic)? Later in the game, the assault squad might swap the assault suits for more engineer suits, or standard with rocket pods, while the flak suits upgrade first one, then both to .50s. > > To support each platoon of 30 suits, you need perhaps 15 to > > 20 > > cargo trucks (two suits per truck, plus some extras), a > > couple > > of workshop trucks, and perhaps a few jeeps for command and > > control. > > Originally, I thought about them being carried on reinforced flatbed > trailers, perhaps 3-5 a trailer. I ended up deciding to just have them walk > unless they really had to be moved quickly. Have you looked at the breakdown rules for legged drivetrains? Almost as bad as tracks. On the other hand, you probably don't have to reinforce the trucks or trailers. Deuce-and-a-half means 2.5 tons offroad or 5 tons on the road, it could easily handle three suits. > > So platoons are deployed independently? > > No, they are part of their battalion, but rather than every battalion > getting one, only one in three battalions got a battlesuit platoon. Earlier, you wrote about battlesuit companies and their HQ. Are the battlesuit platoons organic to their leg infantry battalions, or temporary attachments with a battlesuit parent unit somewhere? If they are organic, the extra trucks and mechanics might be part of the parent battalion train. If they are attached, they have to take a 'slice' of support from their parent unit along, because leg infantry won't be prepared to fill their specialized needs. > > Are the pods slowing them down significantly, or why employ > > suits without pods? > > Extra cost. A gun pod costs from $700 to $1200 each. You don't send out infantrymen without rifles, even if they are expensive, either. On the battlesuit scale, the arm MGs are sidearms, and the pod weapons are longarms. > I wanted symmetrical arms, which I only broke with the engineering suit > (and even then both arms are of equal volume). The reason to carry multiple handguns was reloading, before modern magazine pistols came along. I wonder if a suited trooper can reload for himself (or herself, I notice your infantry suits are 120-150 lbs. as well). If not, another 750 rounds in the other arm would have been useless, while another loaded MG is another 250 rounds of fumble-free fire. And can they change barrels without leaving their suit? that would be another explanation for two guns. Regards, Onno _______________________________________________ GurpsNet-L mailing list <[email protected]> http://mail.sjgames.com/mailman/listinfo/gurpsnet-l
