3025 DCMS Sword of Light Battalion Composition

[Fat Guy]

FG, looks like K2s aren't in until the '30s.

What's your source on that? It's in TRO 3025.

[Paladin1]

Okay, I took a second to reorganize and tweak the TO&E again this morning and here's what I came up with.

Alpha - Command
Battlemaster - 2C
Marauder 3R
Warhammer 6K
Archer 2R

Alpha - Assault
Atlas 7D
Stalker 3F
Awesome 8Q
Grasshopper 5H

Alpha - Support
Crusader 3K
Archer 2K
Panther 9R
Hunchback 4G

Bravo - Command
Dragon 1N
Ostroc 2C
Shadow Hawk 2K
Griffin 1N

Bravo - Battle
Grand Dragon
Lancelot 02
Hunchback 4G
Panther 9R

Bravo - Recon
Phoenix Hawk 1
Jenner 7D
Stinger 3R
Wasp 1K

Charlie - Command
Wolverine 6K
Panther 9R
Quickdraw 4G
Dragon 1N


Charlie - Battle
Thunderbolt 5S
Rifleman 3N
Dragon 1N
Panther 9R

Charlie - Recon
Jenner 7D
Ostscout 7J
Jenner 7D
Spider 5K


Now, all of these are either general availability designs or are Kurita specific designs.  The only exception to this is the BLR-2C variant of the Battlemaster, which is a command version with a second cockpit for your Battalion CO.  Given that this is a SoL Battalion, I don't really see that as being that much of a stretch, considering that the rest of the unit is fairly tame and this is supposed to be an elite unit.

You'll also notice that I reused some of the minis you mentioned before, such as the Ostscout and Rifleman.  They were good designs, you just need to put them in a good location with the proper support in the rest of their lance.

So, what do you think?

[Boo Hagen]

Thank you for the research Failure!  Combined with what I've learned so far, and Arkansas Warrior's input, I feel like I do need to change the overall profile.

And yes indeed Failure: giving the right feel of the unit (along with sense of playability interest for me) is what I am shooting for.

Fat Guy, I was reading the fluff on Catapult's Sarna entry, and then cross checked SSW's availability list up to 3028, but there is consensus here with regards to TRO3025, so I'm good with that.  Also I now notice it as rare but available on xotl's Faction Assignment, Kurita 3025 tab.  I'd be happy to find a way to include a Catapult; love them.

Looking at Paladin's work (thank you for the time!), all of these suggestions seem to fall into place.  This line up gives us 2 recon lances, tighter integration to the battalion command lance and the assaults, a couple of premiere units, and makes use of mech variety.

I want to think on this composition.  I was starting to get used to the idea of almost unified movement profiles across each lance, and I see some lances where there is more variability.

Work calls, so I likely won't be able to add more until say Saturday, but still have my ears open.

Thanks all!

[mike19k]

So I am at home and looking through cannon sources for Sword of the Light units are as follows

5th Sword of the Light (Sorenson's Sabres Company) From Sorenson's Sabres Scenario book Time setting is 3 Oct 3021 to 15 Sep 3026
Command Lance
Marauder MAD-3R
Warhammer WHM-6R
Samurai SL-25 (Fighter)
Phoenix Hawk PHX-1K

Medium Lance
Longbow LGB-0W
Rifleman RFL-3N
Trebuchet TBT-7K
Stinger STG-3R

Pursuit Lance
Archer ARCH-2K
Phoenix Hawk LAM PHX-HK2
Hermes III HER-4K
Wasp WSP-1K

Only change from above for the Starterbook Sword and Dragon is in 3021 the Medium Lance is called Fire Lance

From The Kell Hounds Scenario Book (All are basic models unless listed.)
Zakahashi's Zombies of the Second Sword of Light 21 Oct 3013
Assault Lance
BattleMaster
Marauder
Grasshopper
Ostsol

Support Lance
 Orion
Rifleman
Dervish
Enforcer

Light Lance
Javelin
Stinger
Locust
Locust

Part of First Battalion, Second Sword of Light Regiment 1 Mar 3027 to 25 May 3027
Torinaga's Company
Panther
Panther
Panther
Panther

Panther
Panther
Panther
Panther

Panther
Panther
Panther
Panther

Kamekura's Company
Panther
Panther
Panther
Panther

Panther
Panther
Panther
Panther

Panther
Panther
Panther
Panther

Yoshogi's Support Lance
Griffin
Griffin
Shadow Hawk SHD-2K
Shadow Hawk SHD-2K

Miscellaneous Mechs
Grand Dragon
Awesome

So looking over this it could be said that you can put almost any unit that you want in to it that was around at the time, but if you look at the first battalion 2nd Sword of the Light in the cannon scenario book they list 30 of the 36 mech in a normal battalion and 24 of them are panthers, if you go off of that you could make the argument that 2 out of every three mechs should be a panther. My self if I was making my own Sword of the Light Battalion I would think you should have at least 12 panthers spread through out the battalion. But would most likely not got 2 out of 3 my self unless I was making that specific unit.

[truetanker]

What no Trenchbuckets?!

Trebuchet-5J, 5K and 5N.

TT

[Boo Hagen]

Here we go.

Advancing Paladin's company re-org, stretching back into some more Panthers and Dragons, and preserving all but two lances W/R profiles, I'm nearly settled on this:

Command      
Dragon   1N   5/8/0
Ostroc    2L   5/8/0
Dragon   1N   5/8/0
Dragon    1N   5/8/0

Assault      
Atlas           D   3/5/0
Stalker    3F   3/5/0
Awesome    8Q   3/5/0
Panther    9R   4/6/4

Support      
Crusader    3K   4/6/0
Archer    2K   4/6/0
Archer    2K   4/6/0
Panther    9R   4/6/4

Command      
Battlemaster   1G   4/6/0
Panther           9R   4/6/4
Warhammer   6K   4/6/0
Grasshopper   5H   4/6/4

Battle      
Lancelot    02   4/6/0
Lancelot   02   4/6/0
Panther   9R   4/6/4
Hunchback    4G   4/6/0

Recon      
Phoenix Hawk    1K   6/9/6
Wasp   1K   6/9/6
Stinger    3R   6/9/6
Wasp    1A   6/9/6

Command      
Marauder   3R   4/6/0
Panther   9R   4/6/4
Panther   9R   4/6/4
Panther   9R   4/6/4

Battle      
Wolverine   6K   5/8/0
Quickdraw   4G   5/8/5
Griffin          1N   5/8/5
Quickdraw   4G   5/8/5

Ranger      
Jenner   D   7/11/5
Jenner   D   7/11/5
Jenner   D   7/11/5
Shadow Hawk   2K   5/8/3

Nice thing is, since we abide WYSIWYG down only to the mech / mini, I can still 'swap' the Battlemaster for a command variant, and the DRG for a Granddaddy for any specific matches.

No 'buckets in this lineup TT: I only have two minis to spare, and I think they might better fit in a FWL or CCAF unit (coming later).

How we living?

[Boo Hagen]

Also, I realized earlier in the week that this exercise might best fit in the Successor States sub.  Thoughts?

I have about a dozen more to work through.

Thanks errybody!

[truetanker]

May I suggest a swap?

Assault      
Atlas               D     3/5/0
Stalker            3F    3/5/0
Awesome         8Q   3/5/0
Warhammer     6K   4/6/0 <--

Command      
Battlemaster    1G   4/6/0
Panther           9R   4/6/4
Panther           9R   4/6/4  <--
Grasshopper    5H   4/6/4

Battle     
Lancelot          02   4/6/0
Lancelot          02   4/6/0
Panther           9R  4/6/4
Hunchback      4J   4/6/0  <--

Reason is Assualt now has 5 PPCs, paired LLs, LRMs galore, and a AC/20 plus ML-spam with SRM backup. Also 3 Small lasers o' Doom!! >:D
Command now has 3 Jumpers to corral them towards the Anchor, your B-Master, and now Battle has a good LRM missile boat with good ML-spam-ability, also makes a good anchor unit. Panther scouts and the Lancelots pound downrange like a good CAV unit it is.

TT

[Arkansas Warrior]

I, on the other hand, would go for an all 4/6/4 Battle lance and all 4/6/0 Command lance, because I'd hate for the CO to have to abandon his mech and ride a jump seat to travel with the rest of his lance.  Like so:

Assault     
Atlas               D     3/5/0
Stalker            3F    3/5/0
Awesome         8Q   3/5/0
Warhammer     6K   4/6/0

Command     
Battlemaster    1G   4/6/0
Lancelot          02   4/6/0
Lancelot          02   4/6/0
Hunchback      4J   4/6/0

Battle     
Grasshopper    5H   4/6/4
Panther           9R   4/6/4
Panther           9R   4/6/4
Panther           9R  4/6/4



Or I'd trade the Beemer and Whammy, and have the CO personally lead the Assault lance.  Yes, he might run off and leave them(if he's an idiot...), but at least he's got a lot of heavy metal to keep him safe normally.


I'm only belatedly realizing that these weren't all in the same company, so my second idea would require some rejiggering of which lance is in which company.  oh well.

[Boo Hagen]

Thanks again TT and Arkansas!

I applied elements of both.

Have to say Charlie Company will be quite nasty on a mixed ground field.

Command      
Dragon   1N   5/8/0
Ostroc   2L   5/8/0
Dragon   1N   5/8/0
Dragon   1N   5/8/0

Assault      
Atlas                 D   3/5/0
Stalker         3F   3/5/0
Awesome    8Q   3/5/0
Warhammer   6K   4/6/0

Support      
Crusader   3K   4/6/0
Archer   2K   4/6/0
Archer   2K   4/6/0
Panther   9R   4/6/4

Command      
Battlemaster    1G   4/6/0
Lancelot   02   4/6/0
Lancelot   02   4/6/0
Hunchback   4J   4/6/0

Battle      
Panther    9R   4/6/4
Panther   9R   4/6/4
Grasshopper   5H   4/6/4
Panther    9R   4/6/4

Recon      
Phoenix Hawk   1K   6/9/6
Wasp   1K   6/9/6
Stinger   3R   6/9/6
Wasp   1A   6/9/6

Command      
Marauder   3R   4/6/0
Panther   9R   4/6/4
Panther   9R   4/6/4
Panther   9R   4/6/4

Battle      
Wolverine   6K   5/8/0
Quickdraw   4G   5/8/5
Griffin   1N   5/8/5
Quickdraw   4G   5/8/5

Ranger      
Jenner   D   7/11/5
Jenner   D   7/11/5
Jenner   D   7/11/5
Shadow Hawk   2K   5/8/3

I feel set.  2nd Sword of Light, assigned.

Thanks for everybody's input!  Glad to have y'all help me through this, and adding both canon information and flavor.

[massey]

If I recall correctly, the 2nd Sword of Light was actually made up of 4 battalions.  Most of the SoL regiments were overstrength in some way.

[Boo Hagen]

massey,

I remember reading that somewhere as well.  If needed, I can look at adding a fourth combat vee company, explain it is a dark period for this SoL unit, running short handed and desperate.

thank you!