3025 AFFS Brigade of Guards Unit Composition: 4 Companies

[Boo Hagen]

Next up for me is a (hopefully) strong historical OpFor candidate for my DCMS Sword of Light.  Bouncing around in research, I have come across a few references where BoG and SoL faced off. 

To review my objectives, requirements, limitations, and development discussion, please see http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,37495.0.html

Asking the fantastic fans here to scrutinize and provide feedback on my unit compositions, hopefully nearly within the confines of my existing miniature collection.

I want to break this down into the independent units, but keep them all within the same thread.

For this series of Guards, I hoped to focus on core mechs traditionally representing each of the four 'levels' of Guards.  Bonus is, since the parade scheme are uniform, I can mix and match even after painting.

The goal of this composition is twofold (above and beyond the objectives set overall): 1) can operate as a single, all-on-the-board force, 2) can operate in independent companies.

I can't wait to try to paint this unit.  I am going with the 'thin striping' look, broad-based blue with the white and red piping on the left side.


Here we go:


Davion Light Guard
Scout      
Cicada   2A   8/12/0
Ostscout   OTT-7J   8/12/8
Locust   LCT-1M   8/12/0
Locust   LCT-1V   8/12/0
      
Striker Support      
Assassin   101   7/11/5
Wolverine   WVR-6R   5/8/5
Valkyrie   VLK-QA   5/8/5
Valkyrie   VLK-QA   5/8/5
      
Deep Insertion      
Javelin   JVN-10F   6/9/6
Javelin   JVN-10F   6/9/6
Vulcan   VL-2T   6/9/6
Stinger   STG-3R   6/9/6



Davion Guard
Command / Scout      
Cyclops   CP-10-Q   4/6/0
Hunchback   HBK-4H   4/6/0
Hermes   HER-1A   9/14/0
Stinger   STG-3G   6/9/6
      
Battle      
Shadow Hawk   SHD-2H   5/8/3
Dervish   DV-6M   5/8/5
Centurion   CN9-A   4/6/0
Rifleman   RFL-3N   4/6/0
      
Battle      
Centurion   CN9-AH   4/6/0
Centurion   CN9-AL   4/6/0
Enforcer   ENF-4R   4/6/4
Enforcer   ENF-4R   4/6/4



Davion Heavy Guard
Command      
Awesome   AWS-8T   3/5/0
Marauder   MAD-3D   4/6/0
Jagermech   JM6-S   4/6/0
Warhammer   WHM-6R   4/6/0
      
Battle Flanker      
Shadow Hawk   SHD-2D   5/8/3
Trebuchet   TBT-5N   5/8/0
Dervish   DV-6M   5/8/5
Dervish   DV-6M   5/8/5
      
Battle Flanker      
Phoenix Hawk   PXH-1D   6/9/6
Wolverine   WVR-6R   5/8/5
Wolverine   WVR-6R   5/8/5
Stinger   STG-3G   6/9/6



Davion Assault Guard
Command Assault      
Battlemaster   BLR-1D   4/6/0
Victor   VTR-9B   4/6/4
Atlas   AS7-D   4/6/0
Black Knight   BL-7-KNT   4/6/0
      
Assault Support      
King Crab   KGC-000   3/5/0
Hammerhands   HMH-3D   3/5/3
Stalker   STK-3F   3/5/0
Stalker   STK-3F   3/5/0
      
Assault Close      
Awesome   AWS-8V   3/5/0
Battlemaster   BLR-1D   4/6/0
Thunderbolt   TDR-5S   4/6/0
Thunderbolt   TDR-5S   4/6/0

Thoughts so far?

Thanks!

Edit: cross post link

[ijewett]

It looks pretty good from here. The only thing I'd change up is replacing the Heavy Guard Awesome with something faster. They are Heavy Cavalry Mechs, that would be a bit too slow even in 3025 for a Cav unit.

Maybe switch out the Warhammer with the D model. But both were common in the Fed Suns at that period so very minor.

[Arkansas Warrior]

The Awesome is a little slow for the Heavy Guard.  You have an AS7-D listed as 4/6/0 in the last company, it's only 3/5/0.  You also have a Hammerhands in that company, but I believe they were extinct during the Succession Wars.  I might change the STG-3R in the "Deep Insertion" lance to a 3G, which doesn't need ammo and has more armor.  It's a rare Davion unit that has more CNTs than ENFs.  Both were used, but the CNT was fairly rare, whee the ENF was a mainstay, IIRC.  Likewise I'd expect more Valkyries than Javelins.  Outside of the bug mechs, Valkyries are probably built in greater numbers than any other mech, especially within the FS.  Javelins were very rare outside the FS, but even inside they weren't all that common.  In your 2nd Company, a Cyclops is an odd choice there.  That's a huge range in weight and speed ratings.  Awfully fragile group to go with your commander too.  I'd either put the CO in something lighter and more mobile like a PXH, or replace the Hermes and Stinger with heavier designs.

[Davion_Boy_74]

I like what you're done so far  O0,

I would replace the Stinger STG-3G for a Wasp WSP-1D in the Davion Heavy Guard Battle Flanker Lance, but that's my personal preference  ;).

Dave.

[mike19k]

So what time period are you looking at? The reason I ask is the Hammerhands, King Crab and Black Knight? My other thoughts I did not see any rifleman, and blackjacks, both are more popular with Davion than some other factions. Just some other thoughts for pre 4th sussion war time. Maybe a firestarter and if you are looking 3rd to 4th war time maybe adding one or two Steiner types (commando, hatchetman, zeus, banshee-s). Last thought and then I am out for now, if you are making this unit to go against you Kurita SOL unit for fun pick a Kurita mech and when you paint it have a little red show through as if they captured it from them. If I remember correctly in the old Sorrenson Sabres book one of the stinger in that unit still has the Davion sword and sunburst from where he took the mech from a Davion repair facility.

[Boo Hagen]

Thanks for the input!  With as little as I felt I knew in the SoL exercise, I know I know less about AFFS compositions.

I didn't make a record of the changes, so presenting as is.

Light Guard
Scout      
Cicada   2A   8/12/0
Ostscout   OTT-7J   8/12/8
Locust   LCT-1M   8/12/0
Locust   LCT-1V   8/12/0
      
Striker Support      
Assassin   101   7/11/5
Wolverine   WVR-6R   5/8/5
Valkyrie   VLK-QA   5/8/5
Valkyrie   VLK-QA   5/8/5
      
Deep Insertion      
Firestarter   FS9-H   6/9/6
Javelin   JVN-10F   6/9/6
Vulcan   VL-2T   6/9/6
Stinger   STG-3G   6/9/6


Davion Guard
Command      
Enforcer   ENF-4R   4/6/4
Hunchback   HBK-4H   4/6/0
Blackjack   BJ-1   4/6/4
Centurion   CN9-A   4/6/0
      
Battle      
Shadow Hawk   SHD-2H   5/8/3
Dervish   DV-6M   5/8/5
Wolverine   WVR-6R   5/8/5
Valkyrie   VLK-QA   5/8/5
      
Battle      
Centurion   CN9-AH   4/6/0
Centurion   CN9-AL   4/6/0
Enforcer   ENF-4R   4/6/4
Enforcer   ENF-4R   4/6/4


Heavy Guard
Command      
Archer   ARC-2R   4/6/0
Marauder   MAD-3D   4/6/0
Jagermech   JM6-S   4/6/0
Warhammer   WHM-6R   4/6/0
      
Battle Flanker      
Shadow Hawk   SHD-2D   5/8/3
Trebuchet   TBT-5N   5/8/0
Dervish   DV-6M   5/8/5
Dervish   DV-6M   5/8/5
      
Battle Flanker      
Phoenix Hawk   PXH-1D   6/9/6
Javelin   JVN-10F   6/9/6
Wasp   WSP-1D   6/9/6
Clint   CLNT-2-3T   6/9/6


Assault Guard
Command Assault      
Battlemaster   BLR-1D   4/6/0
Victor   VTR-9B   4/6/4
Cyclops   CP-10-Q   4/6/0
Black Knight   BL-7-KNT   4/6/0
      
Assault      
King Crab   KGC-000   3/5/0
Atlas   AS7-D   3/5/0
Stalker   STK-3F   3/5/0
Awesome   AWS-8V   3/5/0
      
Assault      
Jagermech   JM6-S   4/6/0
Battlemaster   BLR-1D   4/6/0
Rifleman   RFL-3N   4/6/0
Thunderbolt   TDR-5S   4/6/0


Not so sure about the Enforcer as the company commander in the Guards, but there could be some novelty to that.  Right?

Would like to keep King Crab and Black Knight.  Both showing on xtol's Faction Assignment, admittedly very, very rare, but heck...I have to find some 3025 units to drop some of these in to.  Plus, AC20s.

I did drop Hammyhands though.  Have to find a new home for him.  Maybe the 3067 variation of this group?

Love the idea of a Kurita mech hidden in this group.  Just not sure how to do so without it being too on the nose.  Jenner Dragon or Panther just screams 'Wait, whut?'  Maybe?

Although overall I want to splash this unit with Valkyries, I have yet to decide if BoG or another AFFS unit will be gifted with my limited unseen Valks.  I still have Crucis Lancers and FedSuns AC to consider.  This is a much more painful decision than it needs to be, I admit that.

Thanks thanks!

[Arkansas Warrior]

Nothing wrong with an Enforcer as a Company CO.  Hell, in the early '60s Arthur Steiner-Davion drove an Enforcer III.  If it's good enough for the Archon-Prince's youngest brother, it's good enough for any mere Captain.

I could definitely see a captured Kurita mech being used in this era.  Remember, this is still the time of mechwarriors-as-knights and hereditary mechwarrior families being all the rage.  "Grandpappy took this off a Snake back in Prince Melissa's days." is a completely valid boast and would probably win the guy considerable prestige in the mess hall.  Maybe a -K variant unseen?  PXH-1K, WVR-6K, ARC-2K, WHM-6K....

[mike19k]

My thoughts take them for what they are worth (what you paid for them). I do not have an issue with a couple of super rares in a unit like the BoG, in a Milita I would but that may be just me, so having one of each in the unit I do not see an issue, I would possable be able to be talked into letting one of them still have one or two pieces of advanced tech if I was running the campane. For the former Kurita unit my thought is.
For the Striker Support Lance if you swapped out the Wolverine with the Jenner for the flavor?
Striker Support      
Assassin   101   7/11/5
Wolverine   WVR-6R   5/8/5            Swap for Jenner (former Kurita)
Valkyrie   VLK-QA   5/8/5
Valkyrie   VLK-QA   5/8/5

If you want to use more Valks my thoughts for them would be use them in place of Bugs, my understanding is that is one of the things that FS did (may be wrong can not site source, but my old memory). If you are planing on making units for all the houses this save you some of the bugs for the other houses.
Deep Insertion     
Firestarter   FS9-H   6/9/6
Javelin   JVN-10F   6/9/6
Vulcan   VL-2T   6/9/6
Stinger   STG-3G   6/9/6             Swap for the Valkyrie (a little slower but not bad, gives some LRM's to lance)

Battle     
Shadow Hawk   SHD-2H   5/8/3
Dervish   DV-6M   5/8/5
Wolverine   WVR-6R   5/8/5       Swap for second Valkyrie (a weaker up close but better able to work with rest for LRM strike)
Valkyrie   VLK-QA   5/8/5

Battle Flanker     
Phoenix Hawk   PXH-1D   6/9/6
Javelin   JVN-10F   6/9/6
Wasp   WSP-1D   6/9/6           Swap for Valkryie (again a little slower but not bad, and gives some LRM's to lance)
Clint   CLNT-2-3T   6/9/6

My last thought with this after looking at what I proposed I noticed that if you do all of what I suggested it takes all of your Wolverines away as well, to me that is OK as even though FS has some to me it is much more a FWL mech and I would want to have lots of them for it, but to each there own.
Enjoy

[Boo Hagen]

Just a couple of modifications, based on Mike and Arkansas' suggestions.  I think I'm fit to print, unless there is any additional oversights someone sees:

Light Guard
Scout      
Cicada   2A   8/12/0
Ostscout   OTT-7J   8/12/8
Locust   LCT-1M   8/12/0
Locust   LCT-1V   8/12/0
      
Striker Support      
Assassin   101   7/11/5
Jenner   JR7-F   7/11/5
Valkyrie   VLK-QA   5/8/5
Valkyrie   VLK-QA   5/8/5
      
Deep Insertion      
Firestarter   FS9-H   6/9/6
Javelin   JVN-10F   6/9/6
Vulcan   VL-2T   6/9/6
Stinger   STG-3G   6/9/6


Davion Guard
Command      
Enforcer   ENF-4R   4/6/4
Hunchback   HBK-4H   4/6/0
Blackjack   BJ-1   4/6/4
Centurion   CN9-A   4/6/0
      
Battle      
Valkyrie   VLK-QA   5/8/5
Dervish   DV-6M   5/8/5
Wolverine   WVR-6R   5/8/5
Valkyrie   VLK-QA   5/8/5
      
Battle      
Centurion   CN9-AH   4/6/0
Centurion   CN9-AL   4/6/0
Enforcer   ENF-4R   4/6/4
Enforcer   ENF-4R   4/6/4


Heavy Guard
Command      
Archer   ARC-2R   4/6/0
Marauder   MAD-3D   4/6/0
Jagermech   JM6-S   4/6/0
Warhammer   WHM-6K   4/6/0
      
Battle Flanker      
Shadow Hawk   SHD-2D   5/8/3
Trebuchet   TBT-5N   5/8/0
Dervish   DV-6M   5/8/5
Dervish   DV-6M   5/8/5
      
Battle Flanker      
Phoenix Hawk   PXH-1D   6/9/6
Javelin   JVN-10F   6/9/6
Wasp   WSP-1D   6/9/6
Clint   CLNT-2-3T   6/9/6


Assault Guard
Command Assault      
Battlemaster   BLR-1D   4/6/0
Victor   VTR-9B   4/6/4
Cyclops   CP-10-Q   4/6/0
Black Knight   BL-7-KNT   4/6/0
      
Assault      
King Crab   KGC-000   3/5/0
Atlas   AS7-D   3/5/0
Stalker   STK-3F   3/5/0
Awesome   AWS-8V   3/5/0
      
Assault      
Jagermech   JM6-S   4/6/0
Battlemaster   BLR-1D   4/6/0
Rifleman   RFL-3N   4/6/0
Thunderbolt   TDR-5S   4/6/0

Jenner present in the Striker Support (and fits quite well in the movement profile), Warhammy is now a -K (quite a catch indeed, gaffer), paired Valks now in place of the Davion Guard's Shadow Hawk.

How we looking?


Thank you!

[Boo Hagen]

Mike,

Indeed have a list of house units I am working towards.  Here's the short list:

DCMS Sword of Light (assembled)
AFFS Davion Guard (working)
LAAF Lyran Guard
AFFS Crucis Lancers
AFFS Deneb Cavalry
Wolf's Dragoons
LAAF Royal Guards
Mercenary company of my design
AFFS Fed Suns Armored Cav
DCMS Genyosha
DCMS Ryuken
DCMS (undetermined regulars unit)
AFFS Avalon Hussars
CCAF House Dai Dai Chi

The SoL and BoG have eaten up a lot of my unseen designs, but I like that classic look in those units, which is why I worked them first.  However, those Valks I have...maybe better looking in Crucis Lancers or Armored Cav green?

Thanks all!