DrUnK3n_PaNdA
Mongoose
This is in no way an official errata, but after playing many games of BF:Evo I wanted to create a more realistic list and offer some much needed rebalancing to the rules. Feel free to use this in your games, and let me know how it plays!
Entries marked with asterisks indicate a change. In the case of transport options, they should replace existing options. All other entries indicate an addition.
British Army:
Infantry Platoon:
Must select Air-Mobile, Standard, Recce or Mechanized
1 Command Asset
3-9 Section Assets
0-3 Other Assets (Maximum 1 Air Asset)
Armor Squadron:
Must select Recce or Standard
1 Command Asset
2-4 Armor Assets
0-3 Other Assets (Maximum 1 Air Asset)
Command Section: 50/*75 Points if Recce
*Experienced Observers: If the platoon is recce, when this, or any Section Asset (Or the Command Section’s Spartan or any Scimitar, if the platoon is Armored) in a the Recce platoon can draw line of sight to the target, D6’s, instead of D10’s are rolled when moving the impact point of artillery.
Options:
* The section may be mounted aboard a Warrior for +140 if the platoon is mechanized. The section may be mounted in a Spartan for +75, or a Land Rover for +30 if the platoon is Recce. The section may be mounted in a Land Rover for +30 or a Saxon for +60 if the platoon is standard. If the platoon is Air-Mobile, the Command Section may be mounted on a Lynx for +125.
Alternatively, if the platoon is a standard armored platoon, then this section must be replaced by a Challenger II MBT for +375 points. This Challenger II MBT may call artillery strikes and use the 'Field Promotions' rule as though it were a Lieutenant. If the platoon is armored recce, then the section must be mounted on a Spartan for +75 points. While the section is mounted in their transport, then the vehicle may take 'Ready' actions to utilize the 'Field Promotions' rule and may call Artillery Strikes.
When modelling the section, the Spartan should be replaced with a CVRT Sultan
Rifleman Section:
Options:
* The section may be mounted on board a Warrior for +140 points if mechanized. Each Fireteam may be mounted in a Spartan for +75 points each, a Land Rover for +30 points each if Recce. Standard Infantry platoons’ Rifleman sections may be mounted on a Pinzgauer Vector for +40 points or a Saxon for +60 points. If air-mobile, may be mounted on a Lynx for +125 points or a Chinook for +120 points.
Manoeuvre Support Section:
Options
*The section may be mounted aboard a Warrior for +140 points if mechanized. If the platoon is standard, the squad may be mounted aboard a Pinzgauer Vector for +40 points, or a Saxon for +60 . If the platoon is air-mobile, the squad may be mounted on a Lynx for +125 points or a Chinook for +120 points. If Recce, the squad may be mounted aboard a Saxon for +60 points or a Pinzgauer Vector for +40 points.
Anti-Aircraft Section:
Options:
*May add an additional Anti-Aircraft Section for +50 points. The squad may be mounted on a Land Rover for +30 points or a Spartan for +75 points.
SAS Patrol: *195 Points
*Command Privilege: This unit may call in artillery strikes as though it were a Lieutenant
Spartan CVRT: *75 Points
*Options: Up to 2 Spartans may be chosen as a single asset.
Scimitar CVRT:
*Options: Up to 2 Scimitars may be chosen as a single asset.
Striker CVRT:
*Options: Up to 2 Strikers may be chosen as a single asset
Lynx:
*Options: If purchased as a transport for an infantry squad, this model may not be upgraded to a gunship.
Warrior:
*Options: If purchased as a transport for an infantry squad, this model may not be upgraded to OPV.
Redesign Philosophy:
The British Army encompasses many different types of units, all of which have radically differing composition. Much like the US army list to come, there was no concession made to allow for airborne platoons, which to me seemed a terrible shame. Armored units generally have a command vehicle, rather than a standard squad, so provisions were made for that as well, especially for those heavy armored units with no dismounts. Recce was added as an extra option. While the CVRT vehicle line is becoming somewhat anachronistic for ultra-modern wargaming, since they were included in the rules it seems a shame to not allow them to be used in the capacity they’re designed for, working in teams of 2. I’m also always eager to do something to boost the effectiveness of Artillery which seems terribly weak in the game at present, especially when using 20mm miniatures. Anti-aircraft teams in the British army have worked in small squads since the Cold War, generally deploying in groups of 2 or 3 teams. It seemed odd to me that the SAS was not qualified to call for Artillery. As an elite force, I’ve given them that capability.
In the future, I intend to add MILAN teams, as well as a specific list for the elite Royal Marines, however, for now a recce infantry platoon should do well to represent them, even if not their skills beyond that of a common soldier. I also have faction-specific vehicle upgrades for the game in the works that will include upgrading vehicles to MRAPs, adding smoke launchers and more.
In the future, when it comes to the core rules errata, units with slow weapons will be allowed to take a ready action to go on 'overwatch' and fire slow weapons as a reaction. Feel free to use this with your Starstreak launchers. Ground-based AA is underpowered in the game and this is a good way to buff it. Note: This does not override the slow rule disallowing weapons from firing once per GAME TURN, so if you fire as a reaction, you will not be able to fire during your turn as normal.
I'd totally appreciate some playtesting and feedback to see how this changes the game. Hopefully this will breathe some new life into British lists by representing much more realistic and balanced forces. I'll be going through and tweaking lists for realism as they appear in the book, so next will be the USMC if there's a favorable response/interest in this post. If you love LAV's like I do, be excited for a playable LAR platoon!
Entries marked with asterisks indicate a change. In the case of transport options, they should replace existing options. All other entries indicate an addition.
British Army:
Infantry Platoon:
Must select Air-Mobile, Standard, Recce or Mechanized
1 Command Asset
3-9 Section Assets
0-3 Other Assets (Maximum 1 Air Asset)
Armor Squadron:
Must select Recce or Standard
1 Command Asset
2-4 Armor Assets
0-3 Other Assets (Maximum 1 Air Asset)
Command Section: 50/*75 Points if Recce
*Experienced Observers: If the platoon is recce, when this, or any Section Asset (Or the Command Section’s Spartan or any Scimitar, if the platoon is Armored) in a the Recce platoon can draw line of sight to the target, D6’s, instead of D10’s are rolled when moving the impact point of artillery.
Options:
* The section may be mounted aboard a Warrior for +140 if the platoon is mechanized. The section may be mounted in a Spartan for +75, or a Land Rover for +30 if the platoon is Recce. The section may be mounted in a Land Rover for +30 or a Saxon for +60 if the platoon is standard. If the platoon is Air-Mobile, the Command Section may be mounted on a Lynx for +125.
Alternatively, if the platoon is a standard armored platoon, then this section must be replaced by a Challenger II MBT for +375 points. This Challenger II MBT may call artillery strikes and use the 'Field Promotions' rule as though it were a Lieutenant. If the platoon is armored recce, then the section must be mounted on a Spartan for +75 points. While the section is mounted in their transport, then the vehicle may take 'Ready' actions to utilize the 'Field Promotions' rule and may call Artillery Strikes.
When modelling the section, the Spartan should be replaced with a CVRT Sultan
Rifleman Section:
Options:
* The section may be mounted on board a Warrior for +140 points if mechanized. Each Fireteam may be mounted in a Spartan for +75 points each, a Land Rover for +30 points each if Recce. Standard Infantry platoons’ Rifleman sections may be mounted on a Pinzgauer Vector for +40 points or a Saxon for +60 points. If air-mobile, may be mounted on a Lynx for +125 points or a Chinook for +120 points.
Manoeuvre Support Section:
Options
*The section may be mounted aboard a Warrior for +140 points if mechanized. If the platoon is standard, the squad may be mounted aboard a Pinzgauer Vector for +40 points, or a Saxon for +60 . If the platoon is air-mobile, the squad may be mounted on a Lynx for +125 points or a Chinook for +120 points. If Recce, the squad may be mounted aboard a Saxon for +60 points or a Pinzgauer Vector for +40 points.
Anti-Aircraft Section:
Options:
*May add an additional Anti-Aircraft Section for +50 points. The squad may be mounted on a Land Rover for +30 points or a Spartan for +75 points.
SAS Patrol: *195 Points
*Command Privilege: This unit may call in artillery strikes as though it were a Lieutenant
Spartan CVRT: *75 Points
*Options: Up to 2 Spartans may be chosen as a single asset.
Scimitar CVRT:
*Options: Up to 2 Scimitars may be chosen as a single asset.
Striker CVRT:
*Options: Up to 2 Strikers may be chosen as a single asset
Lynx:
*Options: If purchased as a transport for an infantry squad, this model may not be upgraded to a gunship.
Warrior:
*Options: If purchased as a transport for an infantry squad, this model may not be upgraded to OPV.
Redesign Philosophy:
The British Army encompasses many different types of units, all of which have radically differing composition. Much like the US army list to come, there was no concession made to allow for airborne platoons, which to me seemed a terrible shame. Armored units generally have a command vehicle, rather than a standard squad, so provisions were made for that as well, especially for those heavy armored units with no dismounts. Recce was added as an extra option. While the CVRT vehicle line is becoming somewhat anachronistic for ultra-modern wargaming, since they were included in the rules it seems a shame to not allow them to be used in the capacity they’re designed for, working in teams of 2. I’m also always eager to do something to boost the effectiveness of Artillery which seems terribly weak in the game at present, especially when using 20mm miniatures. Anti-aircraft teams in the British army have worked in small squads since the Cold War, generally deploying in groups of 2 or 3 teams. It seemed odd to me that the SAS was not qualified to call for Artillery. As an elite force, I’ve given them that capability.
In the future, I intend to add MILAN teams, as well as a specific list for the elite Royal Marines, however, for now a recce infantry platoon should do well to represent them, even if not their skills beyond that of a common soldier. I also have faction-specific vehicle upgrades for the game in the works that will include upgrading vehicles to MRAPs, adding smoke launchers and more.
In the future, when it comes to the core rules errata, units with slow weapons will be allowed to take a ready action to go on 'overwatch' and fire slow weapons as a reaction. Feel free to use this with your Starstreak launchers. Ground-based AA is underpowered in the game and this is a good way to buff it. Note: This does not override the slow rule disallowing weapons from firing once per GAME TURN, so if you fire as a reaction, you will not be able to fire during your turn as normal.
I'd totally appreciate some playtesting and feedback to see how this changes the game. Hopefully this will breathe some new life into British lists by representing much more realistic and balanced forces. I'll be going through and tweaking lists for realism as they appear in the book, so next will be the USMC if there's a favorable response/interest in this post. If you love LAV's like I do, be excited for a playable LAR platoon!
