Swarming to take control of a vehicle

[grimlock1]

I just want to make sure that I did the right thing in a game last night...

Since the idea is to swarm until the attack hits the Rear arc of the vehicle, then throw 2D6, hoping for 10 or better, those location rolls are done on the Ground Combat Vehicle Hit Table's Rear column right?  I could't find a Swarm Attack Hit Location Table for vehicles in TW or TO.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I'd ask this in the rules subforum.

[Colt Ward]

I know infantry and maybe BA could take control of mechs & tanks in DA if they had the special equipment . . . but in TT?  This is news to me, and sounds fun!, but for a answers I think Ogre has the right suggestion.

Does the attacking player get full control?  Or is it only disabled for salvage purposes?

[grimlock1]

I'd ask this in the rules subforum.

Found it.  TW, pg 223.  Swarm damage to a vehicle is done using the Side Column, with left or right being random.

I know infantry and maybe BA could take control of mechs & tanks in DA if they had the special equipment . . . but in TT?  This is news to me, and sounds fun!, but for a answers I think Ogre has the right suggestion.

Does the attacking player get full control?  Or is it only disabled for salvage purposes?

See TO, pg 217.

I can't see how a BA unit could take full control over a vehicle.  I'm guessing disabled for salvage. Conventional, maybe... 

Once the swarm attack rolls a 9 on the location and hits the rear, that's when you "take control."  Odds of a 9 are about 11%, so its hardly a reliable plan.

[Kovax]

Once the swarm attack rolls a 9 on the location and hits the rear, that's when you "take control."  Odds of a 9 are about 11%, so its hardly a reliable plan.

Once the vehicle is immobilized, rolling for "9" is just a matter of time until you either gain control or else it runs out of armor and structure points.

[Colt Ward]

Well AFAIK, vehicles cannot dislodge swarmed BA like mechs can so . . .

[grimlock1]

Once the vehicle is immobilized, rolling for "9" is just a matter of time until you either gain control or else it runs out of armor and structure points.

Well AFAIK, vehicles cannot dislodge swarmed BA like mechs can so . . .

But vehicles can have friends.  And the last time I tried to swarm for control, there was a turn clock.  I pulled it off, but it was close.

[grimlock1]

Well AFAIK, vehicles cannot dislodge swarmed BA like mechs can so . . .

Doublechecked, vehicles can dislodge swarming infantry if they drive erratically. TW, pg 222

[NeonKnight]

Because I find this convo interesting...

Here are the relevant rules as mentioned.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS, page 217:

SWARMING
If an infantry unit has successfully swarmed an enemy unit, it may attempt to kill the crew with as little damage as possible to the unit, leaving it open for use by that infantry’s side (an extremely difficult and rare feat of infantry prowess).

Before the controlling player of a swarming unit rolls on the Swarm Attacks Hit Location Table (see p. 222, TW), that player may announce he is attempting to eliminate the pilot/crew while limiting damage. In this instance, the infantry forgoes its full damage and rolls on the Swarm Attacks Hit Location Table (or the appropriate hit location table if the target is a non-’Mech unit). Only a single point of damage is applied to the rolled location. If the location rolled is the head (rear for vehicles), the controlling player immediately rolls 2D6. On a result of 10+, the swarming unit has successfully breached the cockpit and killed the pilot without damaging the ’Mech or vehicle any further; the unit powers down (a ’Mech will not automatically fall, though it does so if a Piloting Skill Roll is required before another pilot takes control) and is considered abandoned. Another MechWarrior or vehicle crew can then take control of it as described above.

TOTAL WARFARE, Page 223:

Swarm Attack Damage
If the swarming infantry unit stays on the ’Mech, it may make normal arm-mounted weapon attacks during the Weapon Attack Phase of the turn after it successfully swarmed the ’Mech. Only weapons mounted in the arms of a battle armor unit can be used in swarm attacks.

All attacks automatically hit. The player rolls 2D6 and consults the appropriate Swarm Hit Location Table for a bipedal or four-legged ’Mech to determine the damage location. Swarm damage to vehicles uses a randomly determined side column of the Vehicle Hit Location Table. Swarm damage to grounded aerospace units uses a randomly determined side column of the appropriate column of the Aerospace Units Hit Location Table.

and TOTAL WARFARE, Page 222:

Vehicles: During the Movement Phase, a swarmed vehicle can perform erratic maneuvers to fight off the swarming unit. The vehicle must be capable of moving at flank speed; it is considered to be at flank speed for the turn, but can spend only its Cruising MP during the Movement Phase. All Driving Skill rolls receive a +1 modifier while the vehicle is performing erratic maneuvers. At the end of the vehicle’s movement, its controlling player makes a Driving Skill roll with a +4 modifier (this includes the +1 modifier already noted); this modifier drops to +2 if the vehicle is using VTOL MP. If the roll is successful, the swarming infantry is shaken loose as if knocked off by a jumping ’Mech , and each trooper takes 1 damage point.

[Colt Ward]

So you would not mark off infantry from the platoon but instead have to have a vehicle crew standing by?

[RoundTop]

and TOTAL WARFARE, Page 222:

And so the fun part is if a VTOL has been swarmed (it was at L0),  if you lift off vertically for your cruise amount, while "flying erratically", then and the swarm is shaken off (taking 1 point of damage for the shake off).... what happens now that they are level 9?  Falling damage :)

[NeonKnight]

So you would not mark off infantry from the platoon but instead have to have a vehicle crew standing by?

That's what it looks like.

Gives me an idea for some scenarios :D

[NeonKnight]

And so the fun part is if a VTOL has been swarmed (it was at L0),  if you lift off vertically for your cruise amount, while "flying erratically", then and the swarm is shaken off (taking 1 point of damage for the shake off).... what happens now that they are level 9?  Falling damage :)

Probably...Followed by lots of laughter at the table :P

[Weirdo]

*wanders through the thread erratically, waving his arms around and making ghostly moaning noises*

Ruuuule Elevennnnn...Ruuuuuule Eleveeeeeeeen! This isn't a hiiiiiint....oh, what a world......