Author Topic: Kuritan-flavored combined arms  (Read 14243 times)

3rdCrucisLancers

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Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« on: 17 August 2011, 12:09:49 »
Say you're building a Kuritan combined arms force, maybe a battalion strong. What non-mech units do you feel are particularly effective, or particularly flavorful? Alternately, I will accept units you have a sentimental fondness for, provided you explain why. Go!
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StuartYee

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #1 on: 17 August 2011, 12:56:59 »
Off the top of my head, Rifle (Laser or Ballistic) equipped Jump Infantry with adequate anti-Battlemech skill.

Probably not very original, and somewhat bland in game terms, but I'm harkening back to the ISF Jump Infantry that were referred to as "Ninjas" in Stackpole's warrior trilogy. A bit campy even by 80's standards, but I thought it quaint.
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Crunch

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #2 on: 17 August 2011, 13:05:33 »
Any of the specialized infantry from 3085 particularly the Mechanised Field Artillery.

Any of the S series hovercraft.

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #3 on: 17 August 2011, 13:28:11 »
Era?
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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #4 on: 17 August 2011, 13:30:15 »
"Kurita Combine-Arms" is kind of an oxymoron, akin to "Clan strategy" and "Taurian sensibility", but I understand you are looking at putting a force of Kurita 'Mechs on the table with another force of Kurita vehicles and/or infantry.

Most of the effective Drac vehicles tend to be of the fast & expendable variety.  The J.Edgar and Pegaus are popular, along with the Azami trio of Saladin, Saracen and Scimitar.  Depending on the era of play, you could toss in the Yasha VTOL as well. 
Most of their heavier designs are effective, if not particularly appealing.  The Tokugawa is solid, if unimpressive.  The Schiltron can be an excellent support platfrom, but isn't much of a direct combatant.  Perhaps the best Drac tracked vehicle, outside the generic Demolishers and Behemoths, is the simple Bulldog medium tank.  It's moderately fast, has a weapon for every occasion, and whips the pants off the Vedettes & Pos that everyone else use.

My only other suggestion is to not discount the value of the Kanazuchi.  While it's no Grenadier, for one of the first generation of Battle Armor, four medium lasers with significant armor is nothing to sneeze at in a defensive position.

Youngblood

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #5 on: 17 August 2011, 13:30:44 »
WiGEs!  Put in WiGEs like the Hiryo!  They can transport Kanazuchis and the like, and they're still Total Warfare-legal!

3rdCrucisLancers

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #6 on: 17 August 2011, 13:31:15 »
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Youngblood

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #7 on: 17 August 2011, 13:38:30 »
Holy moly, then put in more WiGEs!  Or like MadCap suggests, the Yasha.

I'd also like to put in a nomination for the Tonbo; it can carry 12 tons of infantry in addition to whatever its Lift Hoists can.
« Last Edit: 17 August 2011, 13:41:49 by Youngblood »

3rdCrucisLancers

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #8 on: 17 August 2011, 13:40:31 »
I should also add "...with miniatures presently available".
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Youngblood

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #9 on: 17 August 2011, 13:43:34 »
I should also add "...with miniatures presently available".

I wouldn't play combined arms in the 3090s, then...just my opinion.

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #10 on: 17 August 2011, 13:44:21 »
I wouldn't play combined arms in the 3090s, then...just my opinion.

Noted.
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Crunch

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #11 on: 17 August 2011, 13:45:53 »
I should also add "...with miniatures presently available".

Available in your collection or available from IWM?
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3rdCrucisLancers

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #12 on: 17 August 2011, 13:46:24 »
Available in your collection or available from IWM?

The latter.
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Dread Moores

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #13 on: 17 August 2011, 13:51:35 »
A Schiltron, two Demolisher MRMs, and a Pegasus c3 make a nice Kuritan fire support unit. The Yasha was already mentioned, along with the Hiryo. I'd also give a whole lot of love to the Tokugawa. Pegasus c3 spotters could also be swapped with c3 Crows. Heck, even the export version of the Crow isn't bad for a cheap rocket launcher platform.

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #14 on: 17 August 2011, 14:05:16 »
Combined arms in the DCMS?
Isn't that when you mix light, heavy and assault battlemechs? :D

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #15 on: 17 August 2011, 14:08:46 »
Evidence is that post-Jihad, the Combine is forced to take on a more pro-combined arms outlook, just like everyone else.
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Youngblood

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #16 on: 17 August 2011, 14:13:32 »
Evidence is that post-Jihad, the Combine is forced to take on a more pro-combined arms outlook, just like everyone else.

With newer units, units that don't have miniatures.  You're in a bind, sir.

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #17 on: 17 August 2011, 14:22:01 »
With newer units, units that don't have miniatures.  You're in a bind, sir.

Well, some of the units do have miniatures. The Hiryo, for instance, has a miniature. I'm curious about those units.
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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #18 on: 17 August 2011, 14:23:23 »
The Hiryo, for instance, has a miniature.

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #19 on: 17 August 2011, 14:45:24 »
The Bulldog beats the pants off of a Po?  Since when?

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #20 on: 17 August 2011, 15:44:39 »
The Bulldog beats the pants off of a Po?  Since when?

Ever since you could load a SRM-4 with infernos.   :P

Gracus

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #21 on: 17 August 2011, 15:44:53 »
"Kurita Combine-Arms" is kind of an oxymoron, akin to "Clan strategy" and "Taurian sensibility", but I understand you are looking at putting a force of Kurita 'Mechs on the table with another force of Kurita vehicles and/or infantry.

Most of the effective Drac vehicles tend to be of the fast & expendable variety.  The J.Edgar and Pegaus are popular, along with the Azami trio of Saladin, Saracen and Scimitar.  Depending on the era of play, you could toss in the Yasha VTOL as well. 
Most of their heavier designs are effective, if not particularly appealing.  The Tokugawa is solid, if unimpressive.  The Schiltron can be an excellent support platfrom, but isn't much of a direct combatant.  Perhaps the best Drac tracked vehicle, outside the generic Demolishers and Behemoths, is the simple Bulldog medium tank.  It's moderately fast, has a weapon for every occasion, and whips the pants off the Vedettes & Pos that everyone else use.

My only other suggestion is to not discount the value of the Kanazuchi.  While it's no Grenadier, for one of the first generation of Battle Armor, four medium lasers with significant armor is nothing to sneeze at in a defensive position.

I thought Kurita Combined-Arms referred to the tanto and wakizashi used during seppuku after getting rolled by an infantry platoon. 
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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #22 on: 17 August 2011, 16:13:32 »
As far as armor goes, the Tokugawa and Manticore are generally the backbone of any frontline DCMS tank unit. There's also that sweet new Pegasus out of TRO Prototypes, which makes a great C3 spotter.


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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #23 on: 17 August 2011, 16:29:12 »
Whatever you go with I would highly suggest a C3 network very Kurita and very effective for combined arms.
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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #24 on: 17 August 2011, 17:40:36 »
I wonder if DCA Aerospace Fighters will start using iC3 for their demi-companies...

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #25 on: 17 August 2011, 18:13:33 »
Maybe a Maxim or two for carrying infantry.
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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #26 on: 17 August 2011, 20:49:48 »
At least for early Kurita "combined arms", go heavy on the infantry. Though the temptation is to give them all jump packs, I'd make them decently armed foot sloggers, instead. Also, as stated, the Azami manufactured S-series tanks can easily feature. But there shouldn't be much emphasis on combined arms as a serious options, but infantry as fodder sounds fine.

For units utilizing the combine arms concept more in earnest, see at least the 2nd Sword of Light (with attached artillery never far) and of course the Ryuken regiments, which would've fully adopted the concept from the Dragoons.

Later on, with successive changes brought by Theodore's restructuring, the Clan invasion and the Jihad, you get more options for tanks, Battle Armor and - I believe - in general for utilizing more combined arms tactics.

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #27 on: 17 August 2011, 23:44:06 »
Quote
I wonder if DCA Aerospace Fighters will start using iC3 for their demi-companies...

They can try, but since C3 is illegal on ASFs any way, it'd be a futile effort.

At the OP: The Draconis Combine has traditionally relied on laser-equipped infantry, often with jump packs. If you can buld a platoon with Blazer carbines (the DCMS's preferred for that duty) it would also help.

BA and vehicle-wise, you're just totally outclassed by all of your neighbours, so unless you're willing to use them as purely expendable units, there's not much point fielding non-APC or artillery units.
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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #28 on: 18 August 2011, 00:33:16 »
Here's a suggestion just to start discussion.

Strike Company

A Platoon
2 Saladin LB X
1 Saladin Ultra
1 Scimitar C3 *

B Platoon
3 Saracen MRM
1 Scimitar C3 *

C Platoon
2 Scimitar Missile
1 Scimitar TAG
1 Scimitar C3 *

Armor Company

A Platoon
4 Bulldog Medium Tanks

B Platoon
4 Bulldog Medium Tanks LRM

C Platoon
3 Manticore Heavy Tanks (HPPC)
1 Manticore Heavy Tank (C3M) (Controlling one Scimitar in each Platoon of Strike Company)

Mech Company

Assault Lance
1 Daishi (Dire Wolf)
1 Marauder II 4K
1 Naginata NG-C3B (Controlling the Manticore in the Armor Company, the Fire Support Lance, And the 2 Jenners in the Skirmish lance)
1 Akuma 1X or 1XJ

Fire Support Lance
1 Mauler 3R *
1 Naginata C3C *
1 Dragon 5Nr *
1 Grand Dragon C *

Skirmish Lance
1 Jenner JR7- C2 *
1 Jenner JR7-C3 *
1 Panther 13K
1 Wight 1LAW/SC

Infantry Company
4 Platoons Heavy Jump Infantry
4 Squads Battle Armor of Choice
4 Hiryo Armored Infantry Transport

Headquarters

1 Teppo Support Vehicle with both trailers (no mini) or Mobile Headquarters

Artillery Battery
2 O Bakemo M10
4 Platoon's Mechanised Field Artillery (No Mini)
2 Crow Scout Helicopters (No Mini)


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Marwynn

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Re: Kuritan-flavored combined arms
« Reply #29 on: 18 August 2011, 00:34:36 »
Kuritan Combined Arms is a state-secret... it's when 'Mechs combine to form Voltron.

Oddly enough, despite being one of the earliest adopters of battle armour the DCMS doesn't seem to have a preponderance of them. At least, in some of the publications but I think that's been corrected somewhat.

I would imagine the vehicles to be used in a purely supporting fashion. Since the newer DCMS 'Mechs somehow all make use of LB2Xs and LB5Xs and are armed with melee weapons, I'm thinking the vehicles would be shorter-ranged and harder hitting. Hiryos with Battle Armour combined with the S-series craft and Light and Heavy 'Mechs.

Oh, and the requisite human wave.