Brandon replied to me: > > When battlesuits become general issue rather than specialized > > equipment, you are effectively bringing their entry requirement > > down to that of the infantry. > > Okay, but I don't see that until TL10+, and I think training/education > techniques and technology will be up to the challenge.
Does that mean TL10+ characters average a higher IQ and DX? That would break some assumptions in GURPS, I think. > >> A nine suit platoon sounds like you are organizing them like > >> tanks, not infantry. > > > > Halfway in between. A tank platoon has four vehicles, a leg > > infantry platoon has four squads, and the battlesuit platoon > > has four two-suit fire teams. > > I'd go with at least three, where the third trooper hangs back and > supports whichever one of the other two needs the most help. Reinforce success, not failure. But apart from that, there are good reasons why many maneuver units have triangular tables of organization. Two forward, one makes contact and gets pinned by that, one strikes, the one in reserve exploits. On the other hand, there are reasons why many vehicle platoons have two or three sections of two -- four tanks, four IFV, six CFV. Two is the minimum to provide overwatch for each other. More vehicles in each section means fewer sections. With four vehicles, you can split in two sections with equal size. With three vehicles, you can't do that. Would you ever send out single suits? Unpowered infantry can't recover a damaged battlesuit, they'd have to call for a tow truck. My idea was to have two two-suit teams in each squad, with the senior team leader doubling as the squad leader, and a ninth battlesuit for the platoon leader. The platoon sergeant stays with the transport/maintenance element. Or should it be the butterbar in front of a bank of monitors, and the sergeant out at the sharp end? On the other hand, three three-suit squads could reinforce all three maneuver companies of the battalion. They can then send one to each maneuver platoon. Meanwhile the battlesuit transport truck gets to carry their rucksacks. Penny-packet madness or a pragmatic solution? > Vehicle crew could wear a lighter battlesuit, for safety in > case the vehicle is holed in a dangerous environment. Such > suits can also be used for Marines serving as security on > ships or bases not in combat zones. I thought of the Cybersuit from Ultra-Tech. Not a battlesuit, really, more powered armor. Regards, Onno _______________________________________________ GurpsNet-L mailing list <[email protected]> http://mail.sjgames.com/mailman/listinfo/gurpsnet-l
