Something to think about; Command Structure of a Squad.

[The Old Soldier]

More food for thought.

Please I don't want a flame war, or what the hell are you thinking, or can't you read!, kind of responses that seem to pop up now and then when I start looking at the rules with a evil stare. I also want to let you know I'm a old SST gamer and since SST is the Grand daddy of the Battlefield Evo, I tend to think along SST lines when playing this fun little game. So first off here is the rule:

Every unit in the game has a unit leader as listed on its card. All models in the unit must end every action within 6" of the unit leader, or if the unit leader is killed then it will be out of command, losing it's next two actions. Models that are out of command may only make reactions. After two actions have been missed, you may nominate antother model in the unit to become unit leader, so long as the original unit leader has been removed form the table. A unit leader of one unit may not act as unit leader of another.

Now, 1 model is the unit leader no matter how many command models are in the squad. The British have a Corporal and a Lance Corporal model in thier squads. Only one can be the Unit leader (Corporal) of the squad while the squad is together. The PLA have a Sgt. and two corporals. The same is true of the USMC. The MEA are command models light, having only 1 model that is any kind of leader. SOooo.......

If say a unit of USMC comes under fire and the unit has not split into fire teams. Due to bad luck the Sgt. has been killed. Will the Corporal since he is a command figure step in and fill the void? Or will they mill around just the same as if they had no command figures like the MEA?

NOW I can see how, say a section leader is killed while the section is broke off from the squad, but while they are together is this still true?

In SST you could have a Sgt and a Corporal in the same squad as long as one was alive, and the troopers within thier command range, all was good. Only when both were down did a special ready action or a Company leader have to step in. Will Battlefield Evo continue along the same lines? If no, will such a thing be possible with the advance rules?

Really the main reason I started thinking about this was when I bought my USMC troops and noticed the different command structure with both section leaders and a Sgt. as a extra command model. It would make the USMC more flexible in its command structure, and maybe that is one reason for thier high cost. Any feedback or thoughts are welcome as well as more "offical" answers.
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"On the Bounce"

 

[cordas]

NOW I can see how, say a section leader is killed while the section is broke off from the squad, but while they are together is this still true?

I would say the LC (in the case of the Brits) should automaticaly step up and keep the unit in command, after all thats what these guys are trained to do. I would think its different if he bites the bullet as well as its then upto one of the Squadies to step forward and take command, as he is normally outside the chain of command.

 

[The Old Soldier]

Yes those are my thoughts too. Corporals are junior NCOs, they are trained to command. I was a acting squad leader and was a Corporal because there were a shortage of men in my unit.

Gamewise good placement of your NCOs should keep the squad effective if one of they should be removed during the game.

The USMC would have some extra strenght in this regard at the section level. One of the sections would have two NCOs in it. So even if the current leader is killed the Corporal of the section should be able to keep things going without having the 2 action penalty.

 

[weasel_fierce]

Im not sure if the rules cover it, but its easily fixed, but yes, the junior NCO is definately there to keep things going, if the boss gets cacked, as well as lead a separate fireteam (the old ww2 british idea of "gun group" and "assault group" really)

 

[Mr Evil]

hmmm

thing is EVO is about abstract simplicity, but toy never know rule book may have somthing

 

[cordas]

What if the squad has split off into fire teams?

I think if the remains of the fire team that has lost all of its NCOs (the USMC can have 2 NCOs in a fire team) then they will all have to be in command radius of the other teams NCO to join with it, if they aren't then they miss 2 actions to elect a new leader, or the NCO will have to spend an action (or more) moving to get them into command radius at which time they fall back under his command and become part of his unit..

I would also say that if the NCO uses a move action to gather his boys back under his command then , that move action can only be taken by the team that was already under his command. The FT that he is moving to has lost that action, and then the new squad acts as 1 with any remaining actions the NCO has left. Yes this means they have lost an action, but I think thats reasonable.

 

[The Old Soldier]

The USMC has a huge advantage in that it has a 12" command radius from the leader model as does the British with thier FIST system. All the other factions work within a 6" command radius.

The rules state that each unit has a unit leader as designated by the card. Well the cards really don't define the unit leader well. We all know that one model is designated as the unit leader while the squad is together. A when a squad is broke into sections each section becomes it's own unit per say. So one model from section then becomes the leader for that section. We also know that you can reform the unit just be declaring it so if they all are within command radius of each other.

So far the MEA, is simple in it's command structure. It has ONE model that is a leader and doesn't break into fire teams. So lets look hard at the other 3 factions, if you please.

1. PLA: Has a Sgt. and 2 Corporals. The Sgt. acts as the Unit leader when the squad is together. And each Corporal can command one fire team for a total of 3 teams, one which remains under the Sgt.'s leadership.
The PLA has some flexibility to them. If they only break one fire team away from the main squad, they still have a Sgt and a Cpl. in the 1st team.

2. The British Squad: These blokes are the second most brittle. They have presently only a Cpl. and a lance Cpl. This might be a hinderance if it wasn't for the Fist System which allows them to operate a 12" command radius. So operating either together or in 2 fire teams is not so bad if you keep them close enough if one of the section leaders are killed the other can call the unit together if within range.

3. The USMC are the real winners in command control structure. They have A Sgt plus 2 Cpls. each which is part of a section. Now the card states the Sgt will lead one of the sections with the unit splits apart. Plus the USMC can add up to 2 more fire teams to the squad each with a additional Cpl. With the 12" command range, these fellow are tough to break command integrity.
So, a Sgt could lead the unit and have 2 Cpls or more backing his play if the squad is together. The 1st fire team even if the rest are broke off, still has a extra command figure in the Cpl.

Now, I know that all we have is a puny 4 page rule sheet right now. So, these things I'm talking about really are not covered, or even touched on. And no where on that sheet can I find reference to once a squad breaks apart, can it reform. That said, here is how I am handling things at my home games.

A.All section leaders along with unit leaders are called Command Models.

B. If a section loses all the command models in that section, they are concidered out of command.

B1. If out of command the section will lose 2 actions to replace one model in that section with new Command model.

C. Units may reform back with the 1st Section at any time, but must be declared before a action is taken by the reforming unit (the 1st section). All models in the reforming section must be within Command range of the Leading Command model of the 1st section of the unit to reform. Note: a unit that is out of command control may still reform if within Command range. If they do reform, they will act as normal.

Note: If they were out of command and quickly brought back into command by reforming, they have not gain a new section leader. In other words if you want a new section leader they must either have one assigned to them if there is a extra command model available within Command range, or lose the two actions as normal to have one nominated.

Using the above defined Command Control (Leadership Rules) will led to some interesting Command control situations.

 

[BuShips]

That's the way I'd play it. I've even picked out infantry models and attached chevrons to the model bases ('v' orientation for the PLA and the British and '^' orientation for the USMC, heh). Over a year back TOS, I remember you commenting on the SST forum about the rank stripes looking "wrong". You were right btw, as the US is the only one I know of the reverses the "v" into a "^". The PLA and most other militaries follow the UK style usage. As to the game rules, I'm sure that the advanced rules will cover more detain on this, but just reading the simple rules I see it the way you do.