How to counter swarm tactics

[Louie N]

Hello,

I was just thinking of how to counter swarm tactics in AS.  This is when lots of fast light mechs / vehicles make up the opposing force. 

Lots of initiative sinks, can get to your back side, etc. 

Thanks

[Charistoph]

First thing that comes to mind is Artillery.  It doesn't care how fast the units are, and the faster and more numerous they are, the more fragile they tend to be.

[Elmoth]

Terrain!

If you play in a golf pitch, you are going to be screwed. Death by a thousand cuts. But terrain can help the smaller sized factuon reducing the ammount of retirn fire. It can cause some parts of the enemy force be unable to shoot at your forces.

Swarm tactics also means aversge pilots at most. If you can force.lobg range engagements it also works in your favor.

Metagame. Max out on the killing power. If they have 4 points.of internals + armor, try to find mechs that do exactly 4 poibts.of damage for your force. 2+3 if they have 5 points of armor+structure.

Artillery as.mentioned. ASF play a similar role here.

In metagaming, you could also use the edge of the world. And then divide your forces betwen the 2 side edges to avoid offering rear shots AND obtaining rear shots yourself.

[Weirdo]

I'll third the artillery/aero suggestion, and throw in mines as well, both standard and weapon-delivered. Alpha Strike has plenty of options for area-effect damage that can hit multiple targets and doesn't care how fast you're going, don't hobble yourself by ignoring them.

[Louie N]

Does standard AS rules allow split fire?  I cannot recall. 

[Charistoph]

Does standard AS rules allow split fire?  I cannot recall.

They do if you use the Multiple Attack Dice Optional Rule.

[mitchberthelson]

They do if you use the Multiple Attack Dice Optional Rule.

Yeah. When using Multiple Attacks, everyone gets to choose an extra target at a penalty and I believe Multi-Tasker can offset that. Might be time to start using that rule, especially since it also helps you get at least SOME damage through via multiple rolls instead of risking your entire damage amount on one die roll vs. high TMM.

If you're using Formations, things like Multi-Tasker and Demoralizer from Assault Lances can help, as can things like Speed Demon or Combat Intuition from other formations. There are also Special Command Abilities for your overall force that can help. Banking Initiative in particular is often helpful for planning counterattacks.

That said, AoE attacks, mines, and use of terrain can help a lot as others have said. Precision Ammo for autocannons can help too, if the unit in question has a decent AC special ability.

Using infantry to guard the flanks of your slower units can work, especially Power Armor. Infantry have a 360 arc of fire and do not take additional damage from being hit in the rear. Many can also inflict automatic Crit Rolls if they get close enough to a target, in ADDITION to whatever damage or HT they do at short range.

Multiple Attack Rolls, in particular, have gone a long way toward balancing swarms in our game. Most extreme swarm units are made of paper individually and one or two points of damage can cripple or kill.

Finally, I'd advise playing with Forced Withdrawal, which reduces the ability of swarm players to treat their units as expendable missiles instead of trained crews piloting valuable equipment.

[Louie N]

Is there a "total" force morale rule in the options.  Something that says at 50% unit losses start checking for Team morale failure. 

Unless your Liao, then at 50% you hit you first bonus goal milestone.   

[nckestrel]

The closest to a "total force morale rule" is in victory conditions for a scenario, that are often won when 50% (or whatever percentage) of the enemy are destroyed or crippled. 

[Weirdo]

Pretty much that. Combine forced withdrawal rules with scenarios that end before total destruction, and you end up with swarms that have to work extremely fast, otherwise they run out of enough units to win.