Proteus454
Mongoose
Consider, if you will, the humble Skinnie Militia.
In points per model (champion notwithstanding), they're the second cheapest troop type in the entire game, second only to cliff mites at a mighty 5 pts per. They're somewhat more durable than MI Lights, with their Exothermic Dodge save, and can tote a pair of heavy weapons along with the constrictor weapons they wield as well as any Soldier. As a cheap and expendable semi-mobile firebase, they're hard to beat.
As I mulled over the implications of their abilities, however, I was struck by one thing. In effect, they're armed civilians with a bare minimum of compulsory training. Yet they handle their weapons better than the Light Troopers, with their Condensed Training, handle their Morita rifles, and their overall fire discipline likewise eclipses that of the much-maligned LAMI - the Skinnie Militia suffer no penalty beyond the usual for forming more than one fire zone.
The very first Skinnie army list made much of their ability to form a workable armed force out of what amounted to civilian and irregular forces - the D20 stats note their high intelligence and manual dexterity - and the army book expands just a little bit on their recorded capabilities.
Among other things, it is my fond hope that SST: Evo will either see the capabilities of the Militia and/or Raiders (well, maybe not the Raiders) brought more in line with the Light Infantry, or else (preferably) a much more in-depth examination of the Skinnies and their culture and training methods, whether it be in the wargaming fluff or in a roleplaying supplement.
I'm also curious to hear from those Skinnie commanders who've made use of the Militia in their Tribes. On the face of it, you could build a decent shooty horde using mainly Militia, especially led by a Warchief. Or in the alternative, you could surprise your foe by fielding a General or Lord and bulking your elite troops out with a Militia levy (THEY get unlimited use of that troop type as well, after all...)
In points per model (champion notwithstanding), they're the second cheapest troop type in the entire game, second only to cliff mites at a mighty 5 pts per. They're somewhat more durable than MI Lights, with their Exothermic Dodge save, and can tote a pair of heavy weapons along with the constrictor weapons they wield as well as any Soldier. As a cheap and expendable semi-mobile firebase, they're hard to beat.
As I mulled over the implications of their abilities, however, I was struck by one thing. In effect, they're armed civilians with a bare minimum of compulsory training. Yet they handle their weapons better than the Light Troopers, with their Condensed Training, handle their Morita rifles, and their overall fire discipline likewise eclipses that of the much-maligned LAMI - the Skinnie Militia suffer no penalty beyond the usual for forming more than one fire zone.
The very first Skinnie army list made much of their ability to form a workable armed force out of what amounted to civilian and irregular forces - the D20 stats note their high intelligence and manual dexterity - and the army book expands just a little bit on their recorded capabilities.
Among other things, it is my fond hope that SST: Evo will either see the capabilities of the Militia and/or Raiders (well, maybe not the Raiders) brought more in line with the Light Infantry, or else (preferably) a much more in-depth examination of the Skinnies and their culture and training methods, whether it be in the wargaming fluff or in a roleplaying supplement.
I'm also curious to hear from those Skinnie commanders who've made use of the Militia in their Tribes. On the face of it, you could build a decent shooty horde using mainly Militia, especially led by a Warchief. Or in the alternative, you could surprise your foe by fielding a General or Lord and bulking your elite troops out with a Militia levy (THEY get unlimited use of that troop type as well, after all...)
