the shape of things to come

Oversized Platoons
Even though oversized platoons operate as separate subplatoons
on the battlefi eld, the calculations for total weapon
damage and damage by trooper may be computed for such
units across the entire platoon and then divided evenly across
the sub-platoons. A 36-man Word of Blake foot platoon, would
break into two 18-trooper sub-platoons for gameplay, but
would compute its damage based on the cumulative fi repower
of 36 troopers. Each 18-trooper sub-platoon would then receive
their allotment of damage points based on the average for the
whole platoon, with each sub-platoon computed evenly. If the
entire 36-man platoon could dish out 0.5 points per trooper,
then each 18-trooper platoon would see damage values of 1
point at a single trooper (0.5, rounded up, is 1) to 9 points at
the full 18 per sub-platoon (18 troopers in the sub-platoon x
0.5 points per trooper = 9 points per sub-platoon).
Note that while the sub-divisions of oversized platoons may
break up individual squads and their distribution of support
weaponry, the approach for these rules follows the abstract
principles that keep conventional infantry relatively easy to
play in Total Warfare.
As Darrell has decided not to equip his Motorized
Laser Rifle Platoon with Secondary Weapons, all 28
men in the platoon are using the same Primary Weapon,
which provides a –2 to-hit modifi er at a range of 0, a
+0 modifi er at ranges of 1 to 2 hexes, a +2 modifi er at
ranges 3 to 4 hexes and a +4 modifi er at 5 to 6 hexes.
He notes these numbers on the Range Modifi er lines
corresponding to each number of hexes, then blanks
out the remainder, as the platoon’s weapons become
ineff ective beyond 6 hexes.
He then adds up all his troopers’ Damage Values and
comes to a fi nal Platoon Damage Value of 8 points (0.28
per trooper x 28 troopers = 7.84, round up to 8), which he
divides among the platoon to fi nd the average damage
per trooper (8 ÷ 28 = 0.286 per trooper). Computing this
new damage, trooper by trooper, and rounding normally,
he computes the platoon’s Damage Value for every quantity
of troopers from 1 to 28, fi nding that the platoon will
deliver no damage at 1 trooper (1 x 0.286 = 0.286, rounded
normally to 0), 1 point at 2 troopers (2 x 0.286 = 0.572,
rounded normally to 1), 1 point at 3 troopers (3 x 0.286 =
0.858, rounded normally to 1) and so on. For each Damage
Value, he notes the number in the Max Weapon Damage
box corresponding to that number of surviving troopers.
Eberhard’s Marian Foot Platoon is equipped with
auto-rifl es as a Primary Weapon and Support machine
guns as a secondary, with each 10-man squad carrying
2 Support MGs. This means that the ranges and to-hit
modifiers for the Support machine guns will apply
over those of the platoon’s auto-rifl es. He thus notes
the machine guns’ to-hit modifi ers across the Range
Modifi ers row on each of his four platoon lines: –1 at
0 hexes (–2 initial, +1 for Crew Value of 2), +0 at hex
ranges 1 and 2, +2 at 3 to 4 hexes and +4 at 5 and 6
hexes. Eberhard blacks out the remaining ranges.
Eberhard’s platoon numbers 100 in all, at 10 squads
of 10. Of these troops, 2 per squad—for a total of 20 in
the platoon (2 Secondary Weapon troops per squad x 10
troopers per squad = 20)—are equipped with Support
machine guns, while the rest (80 troops; 100 – 20 = 80)
are equipped with the Primary Weapon (auto-rifl es). With
each auto-rifl e’s Damage Value of 0.52, and each Support
machine gun’s Damage Value of 0.94, Eberhard computes
a fi nal platoon Damage Value of 60 points ([20 Secondary
Weapons x 0.94 Damage per Secondary Weapon] + [80
Primary Weapons x 0.52 Damage per Primary Weapon]
= 60.4, rounded normally to 60). Dividing this value by
100, Eberhard finds that the average per-trooper Damage
Value for his platoon comes to 0.6 (60 Total Damage
÷ 100 troopers = 0.6 Damage per trooper). Multiplying
each trooper individually on the fi rst row for his four-row
Marian platoon, he determines the Damage Value of the
platoon for troops numbered 1 through 25 (then repeats
these values for each row).
Glenn’s Mechanized Hover Platoon is comprised of
4 squads of 5 troopers each, for a total of 20 soldiers.
Their Primary Weapon is the standard auto-rifl e, and
they are using Corean Farshot LRM launchers as a
Secondary Weapon. Because Glenn has given his
troops 2 Secondary Weapons per squad, the ranges
and modifi ers for those weapons will apply. On the
Range Modifi ers row for his platoon, he notes the following:
–1 at 0 hexes (–2 initial, +1 for the LRM’s Crew
Value of 1E), +0 at hex ranges 1 through 3, +2 for hexes
4 through 6 and +4 for hexes 7 through 9. Glenn then
blacks out the rest of the Range Modifi ers lines from 10
through 21 hexes, as the platoon may not eff ectively
attack at such ranges.
At 2 weapons per each of the platoon’s 4 squads, the
LRMs account for 8 troopers’ Damage Values. The remaining
12 troopers deliver the Damage Value for the platoon’s
Primary Weapon (20 total troops – 8 Secondary Weapons
= 12 Primary Weapon users). The LRMs have a Damage
Value of 0.19 each, and the auto-rifles have a Damage
Value of 0.52 points each, so the final Damage Value
comes to 8 for the platoon ([8 Secondary Weapons x 0.19
Damage per Secondary Weapon] + [12 Primary Weapons
x 0.52 Damage per Primary Weapon] = 7.76, rounded up
to 8). Dividing this value by 20, Glenn fi nds that the average
damage per trooper for his platoon is 0.4 (8 Damage
÷ 20 troops = 0.4 Damage per trooper). Multiplying each
trooper individually, Glenn determines the Damage Value
of the platoon for troops numbered 1 through 20.
MM MM
A Savannha Master driver pauses briefl y to coordinate with a nearby patrol.
INTRODUCTION
CONSTRUCTION
BASICS
BATTLEMECH
CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRIALMECH
CONSTRUCTION
PROTOMECH
CONSTRUCTION
COMBAT VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION
SUPPORT VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION
CONV. INFANTRY
CONSTRUCTION
BATTLE ARMOR
CONSTRUCTION
AEROSPACE UNIT
CONSTRUCTION
WEAPONS AND
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
INFANTRY WEAPONS
AND EQUIPMENT
COSTS AND
AVAILABILITY
BATTLE VALUE
INDEX
RECORD SHEETS
153