Lets Talk Paratroopers!

Holden

I think your idea is perhaps the best modification of my attempt to create a paratrooper rule that started this thread.  It is simple and not overly complicated and I think would integrate well without the use of an air transport piece.

The idea of placing an airborne marker during the “Place New Unit” is a good idea.  This means that unit would be potentially vulnerable for at least a full turn before it can be used.

I also like the idea that once an airborne marker has been place on a unit.  It’s next move, no matter how it moves, the marker is considered spent.  This will make players think hard about when and where to use this capability.  Because if you don’t do it right, you could potentially throw your money away and/or tie-up some troops for a turn or more.

I would also add that once you purchase a marker, it must be deployed at during the “Place New Unit Phase”.  This would prevent players from hoarding their markers and deploying them all at once.

Your range, attack and defend rule are good the way they are.  However, I think paratroopers should have a little bit more of an advantage on the first round of combat to simulate the confusion they tend to create among the defenders.  One is to give them a first strike capability like a sub as Emperor Taiki suggested.  Two, all defending units defend at minus -1.  I’d like to hear some thoughts on this one.

The only area I would disagree with is the cost.  5 IPC is too much.  I think 3 IPC is more reasonable for something that is a one time use.  Some may argue that this is cheaper than buying a troop transport.  True, but a transport use is unlimited as long as it survives.  Now lets say someone decides to buy 3 airborne markers at 3 IPC, that’s 9 IPC.  The average IPC per country is 30 IPC.  So if someone spends 9 IPC for an airborne attack.  That’s a third of his budget for something that is a one time use.  Now some may argue that it should cost more to prevent potential abuse.  But lets say some one does decide to buy 4 or 5 markers.  I say let them.  They may gain in the short term but I think in the long term they’ll soon realize it was a big mistake.  A big part of this game is learning how to spend your money wisely.

Anyway, great idea!  With the exception of the IPC cost, I’m going to use this rule for my paratroopers!

By the way Dezrtfisf, nice toys you have there, M249 Mk-46 Mod1, Beretta 92 and a M-14 or shotgun?  Little difficult to tell which gun that is on your lap.  Do you ever get to play with the M-240 and M-2 too :-D?

Thanks for your service!

It’s an M4 on my lap, I have qualified on the M2 and the M240B as well.  The 240B is my favorite as long as it’s mounted.  I have also qualified with an M60, a long time ago ;)

Well at least paratroopers will be in AA40. Quote from Larry from his sight yesterday 11-19-09.

"I can tell you this… There will be Paratroopers. They will be one of 12 techs (which are all pretty close to the Anniversary game’s techs.)

I call out Paratroopers because they have been radically changed from that tech in Anniversary. Infantry (up to 2) can be flown, to join an attack, if that location is within a 3 territory/sea zone range. They don’t need bombers or any other aircraft representation. They must however be on a territory with an airbase."

I like what he did hear, not using a bmr as a transport plane is a much better way to go. I would have maybe liked paratroopers not be a tech (like mech inf now), but at least they will be in the game. It also gives them some limits.

Hi

I been playing with Paratroopers a long time.
I have been using these rules :
-Paratroopers cost a additional 1.IPC (This for the training)
-Paratroopers is transported and dropped by Bomber
-Paratroopers attack on a 2
-Paratrooper revert back to normal infantry after attack

If the game should include a new special unit piece, example Paratroopers or Paratroop markers, I think it should cost 1.IPC more than a normal Infantry Unit because of the training. It could have an attack of 3 or 2 first round of combat, than 1 as normal Infantry and defend on a 2 as normal Infantry. If people dont want to use their Bombers as transports for their Paratroopers, Paratroopers could have a COMBAT Movement/Range of 6, this would make the Paratrooper Unit unique & special. In the Non-Combat Movement Phase it should only have a movement/range of 1 as normal Infantry.

Yea I also think you should pay 1 ipc per p-trooper.
I like that you can only p-tp from an airbase. Having an air base assumes you will have transport planes. There could be a lot of air bases around however. A lot of your inf will now be 3 move units if you get this tech. Larry doesn’t normally make you pay for tech upgrades, so I wouldn’t think there would be a cost involved. I like his concept, but wonder if it will be overpowering.

It’s an M4 on my lap, I have qualified on the M2 and the M240B as well.  The 240B is my favorite as long as it’s mounted.  I have also qualified with an M60, a long time ago Wink

Dezertfish

I have all of these weapons in my personal armory.  Unfortunately they are all airsoft :-(  But I do have a real armored HMMWV to mount them on :-D

I did have the opportunity to shoot all the real steel versions except the M240.  One of these days I’ll get that checked off on my list.

To stay on the topic

Hi

I been playing with Paratroopers a long time.
I have been using these rules :
-Paratroopers cost a additional 1.IPC (This for the training)
-Paratroopers is transported and dropped by Bomber
-Paratroopers attack on a 2
-Paratrooper revert back to normal infantry after attack

If the game should include a new special unit piece, example Paratroopers or Paratroop markers, I think it should cost 1.IPC more than a normal Infantry Unit because of the training. It could have an attack of 3 or 2 first round of combat, than 1 as normal Infantry and defend on a 2 as normal Infantry. If people dont want to use their Bombers as transports for their Paratroopers, Paratroopers could have a COMBAT Movement/Range of 6, this would make the Paratrooper Unit unique & special. In the Non-Combat Movement Phase it should only have a movement/range of 1 as normal Infantry.

Thanks Supermestizo.  I’ll keep this in my book too.

You must have some pretty chil neighbors :-)

Hi ET

My neighbors either love me or fear & hate me.  That’s pretty much the par when you own a weaponized military vehicle.  They tend to draw extreme reaction.  Especially when it says “A WHOLE CAN OF WHOOPASS!” on the side of the turret. :-D  Fortunately the neighbors around me love the vehicle.  Those who don’t tend to keep to themselves. :-D

Normally though, the weapons aren’t mounted except for special occasions when I take it to a parade.  When I do, the vehicle is fully loaded as shown in the picture.  However, before I do that.  I always notify local law enforcement as to who I am, what I’m doing and the area I’ll be traveling in.  I also offer to take it to the police station for inspection if they wish.  They really appreciate it and will keep you out of any serious trouble should any issues arise.  Most cops I run into though are interested in playing with the toys themselves!  :-D

By the way, the avatar that I use with German sdkfz251, I know the owner.  He has 2 of them in Chandler Arizona.  They are actually modified Czech OT-10.  For more info on them, you can go here.  http://www.sdkfz251.com/  I wouldn’t mind having one of these in my inventory.

I’ll go ahead and add my version of the Paratrooper Rule:

Cost 4, Att 1, Def 1. Delivery method: Your choice, whatever you like best. LH rule is good (bomber drops one into first hostile zone), or many of the others here are great as well.

Here’s the kicker: Special ability- Match either 1-1 or 1-2 (haven’t play tested enough yet to decide) with DEFENDER’S UNITS, reducing the defender unit by 1 Def.

Example: 1 tank and 1 paratrooper attack 1 infantry and 1 tank. Attackers = 1@3 (tank) and 1@1 (para). Defenders = 1@2 (inf) and 1@2 (tank) instead of 1@3 (tank). If you decide to match 1-2, then defender would be 1@1 (inf) and 1@2 (tank)

Thoughts?

Thanks Variable

Much appreciated.

Here is my take on paratroopers using some of the fine ideas from previous post.

PARATROPERS
Description: These specialized units have the ability to drop behind enemy lines and disrupt enemy defenses.
Cost: 4
Attack: 1 (2 when supported by artillery)
Defense: 1
Move: 1 (2 if attacking by air)
Special Abilities

Infiltration: When a paratrooper unit makes an attack by air it lowers the defense of one enemy unit by -1 for the first round of combat. (The attacking player may choose which unit to target)

Supported by Artillery: When a paratrooper unit attacks along with an artillery unit, the paratrooper’s attack value increases from 1 to 2. Each paratrooper must be matched one-for-one with supporting artillery. Paratroopers can only receive the bonus from artillery if they making a normal attack from the ground.

Airborne Tokens: Every time a paratrooper unit makes an attack by air it must discard its airborne token. Airborne tokens cost 2 IPCs. Airborne tokens are bought during the purchase phase and placed under paratrooper units on one-to-one bases during the place unit phase. Airborne tokens may be placed under any paratrooper unit as long as its in a territory that’s been held for one turn.

Notes

1. Like many people have mentioned previously, paratroopers are lightly armed so that justifies making them attack and defend at 1. The paratrooper’s most powerful weapon against an enemy is surprise so this would equate to an enemy fighting less effectively not adding greater firepower to the paratroopers.

2. I felt that paratroopers are elite units so their numbers need to be indirectly limited somehow. Instead of limiting a player to just one purchase per turn I just made every special airborne attack cost additional IPCs. This way you can make as many paratroopers in the game as you want but its going to cost you.

3. Since the airborne tokens are representing transport plains and possibly gliders as well there deployment movement should be treated just like bombers and fighters. OOB rules state that no air unit can land in a territory that was just captured that turn. Thus airborne tokens can only be placed in a friendly territory that has been held for one turn.

4. I am still a little worried that paratroopers will be abused even with the IPC cost for each airborne attack. I don’t want capitols to be taken by just paratroopers as this would not be historical. Paratroopers where almost always supported by conventional ground forces. With this in mind I was considering banning paratroopers from being able to take enemy territories with out ground support. Then again this might be to extreme.

5. I choose paratroopers costing 4 because when you add the 2 IPC airborne token, it adds up to 6 IPC’s.(One more than tanks)  In my opinion training men to jump out of plains behind enemy lines and having the right amount of plains/fuel for transporting a entire division by air would cost more that building one armor division.

I have had Paratroops in my house rules since 1984. It is obvious what their stats are; 1 Att, 1 Def, 1 Move Cost 4. Paratroops must be carried by a Bomber, hence, their true cost is 19 (4/Para & 15/Bomb). Paratroops have their uses. It would be expensive to build & use mass Paratroops. A very useful & historical addition to A&A.

I thought that there were going to be paratroopers in the new 1940 games?

That you could take any infantry from an airbase and drop them within 2/3 spaces away including behind the lines.

What happened to them in Pac 1940?

@Shakespeare:

I thought that there were going to be paratroopers in the new 1940 games?

That you could take any infantry from an airbase and drop them within 2/3 spaces away including behind the lines.

What happened to them in Pac 1940?

its gonna be a tech in the global game

Hi

I hope they include Paratroopers in the Global Game that is to be released.
I dont know if I like the idea of this being a tech, it would be better if this was something all nation/players could “invest in”.
Everybody should be able to buy a “paratroop marker” for paratrooper academy, that allowed the player/nation to start to build paratrooper units. A Paratrooper could cost 1.IPC more than normal infantry (for training), Movement 1 (same as normal infantry), Attack on a 1* and Defend on a 2 (same as normal infantry).
A Paratrooper should be transported and dropped by a Bomber or/and Tactical Bomber.
*Paratroopers should attack on a 3 or 2 first round of combat, as a special ability, then attack on a 1.
Maybe a Bomber should be able to transport two Paratroop units, and Tactical Bomber one Paratroop unit?
They also should defend like normal infantry, I see many want them to defend on a one because of light equipment, but they are also a special/elite unit, so despite lighter equipment than normal infantry, in my opinion they should defend on a 2 because of better training!

@Variable:

I’ll go ahead and add my version of the Paratrooper Rule:

Cost 4, Att 1, Def 1. Delivery method: Your choice, whatever you like best. LH rule is good (bomber drops one into first hostile zone), or many of the others here are great as well.

Here’s the kicker: Special ability- Match either 1-1 or 1-2 (haven’t play tested enough yet to decide) with DEFENDER’S UNITS, reducing the defender unit by 1 Def.

Example: 1 tank and 1 paratrooper attack 1 infantry and 1 tank. Attackers = 1@3 (tank) and 1@1 (para). Defenders = 1@2 (inf) and 1@2 (tank) instead of 1@3 (tank). If you decide to match 1-2, then defender would be 1@1 (inf) and 1@2 (tank)

Thoughts?

After going back over this a few times, I’ve decided on 1-2 matching. First, the delivery method is a bit complex and expensive. 2, with bases having their own air defense now there is more tactical AA fire on the board. 3, at a 1/1/1/4 unit, they need 2 “points” more to be worth it. So match 'em 1-2 if you use my rules.