The Utility of Very High Vehicle Skills in Combat

[AlexanderHowl]

Here is a fun thought scenario. You are an American expatriate fighting with the French in WW II in May 1940. You are on patrol on a WW II heavy motorcycle with a sidecar that contains a gunner and an Enfield Bren Mk. 1 (total +0 Handling/+3 Stability). You have heard over the radio that the Germans have broken through the French defensive line and are heading towards Paris, and your company is in the way. Your commander requests that you delay the Germans as much as possible so that the rest of the company can retreat to defend Paris.

Your character possesses a DX 12 [40], IQ 12 [40], Combat Reflexes [15], Driver's Reflexes 4 (with the Alternative Benefit of +1 Per/level to notice hazards) [20], and Driving (Motorcycle) (A) DX+12 [32]-24. We will say that the passenger possesses DX 12 [40], Combat Reflexes [15], Fast-Load (Ammo) (E) DX+4 [8]-16, and Guns (LMG) (E) DX+4 [12]-16. For the sake of the argument, we will say that the team possesses a full load in the weapon and nine reloads.

What type of stunts could you accomplish with such a vehicle skill? How much would you contribute to the pair's combat effectiveness? How effective would such a pair be against a standard WW II German infantry company? Could they meaningfully delay such a company?

[awesomenessofme1]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

Here is a fun thought scenario. You are an American expatriate fighting with the French in WW II in May 1940. You are on patrol on a WW II heavy motorcycle with a sidecar that contains a gunner and an Enfield Bren Mk. 1 (total +0 Handling/+3 Stability). You have heard over the radio that the Germans have broken through the French defensive line and are heading towards Paris, and your company is in the way. Your commander requests that you delay the Germans as much as possible so that the rest of the company can retreat to defend Paris.

Your character possesses a DX 12 [40], IQ 12 [40], Combat Reflexes [15], Driver's Reflexes 4 (with the Alternative Benefit of +1 Per/level to notice hazards) [20], and Driving (Motorcycle) (A) DX+12 [32]-24. We will say that the passenger possesses DX 12 [40], Combat Reflexes [15], Fast-Load (Ammo) (E) DX+4 [8]-16, and Guns (LMG) (E) DX+4 [12]-16. For the sake of the argument, we will say that the team possesses a full load in the weapon and nine reloads.

What type of stunts could you accomplish with such a vehicle skill? How much would you contribute to the pair's combat effectiveness? How effective would such a pair be against a standard WW II German infantry company? Could they meaningfully delay such a company?

The first thing that comes to mind is you'll have a vehicular Dodge of 13, not amazing but still very good. Combined with speed and range modifiers, it will be very hard to hit you. Skill of 24 means that you'll be at 91% chance of success to do something on the level of "A Driving roll to steer a car with the knees while firing a bazooka two-handed during a chase through a blizzard." (the example of a -10 roll) So I imagine there's very little you couldn't do. Drift sideways through mud while shooting at Germans with your rifle? No problem. I'd imagine the bigger limitation would be your gunner. Skill 16 is good, but it's probably not enough to be able to single-handedly wipe out an infantry company. You'd definitely be able to do a lot of damage, though.

[YankeeGamer]

I hope the driver has some skills in pistol or grenade, too...many problems are solved more effectively with high explosives. (Or if not more effectively, certainly flashier.)

[AlexanderHowl]

Probably, but it will not be anywhere as close to his Driving skill. Guns (Pistol)-12, Guns (Rifle)-12, and Throwing-12 would probably be expected (which would probably be why he is a driver rather than a gunner). Of course, the gunner may have some other high level combat skills.

[YankeeGamer]

I was just thinking that, with his driving skills, there re times that he might as well at least throw a grenade--with those skills, probably while jumping a ravine.
Has this pair worked together for an extended time?

[Donny Brook]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

What type of stunts could you accomplish with such a vehicle skill?

At that skill level, you are capable of doing any stunt that the machine is capable of.

How much would you contribute to the pair's combat effectiveness?

Around half.

Could they meaningfully delay such a company?

I don't think they could be expected to meaningfully delay a company through any sort of normal combat activities. But with some brilliant and creative ideas (which may or may not call for high driving skill), who knows?

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

How effective would such a pair be against a standard WW II German infantry company? Could they meaningfully delay such a company?

No.

The pair would die within seconds regardless of individual skill.

In order for small units of skilled specialists to have a chance to delay a much larger force, they have to be able to survive engagement by the organic heavy weapons attached to the larger force. At any kind of modern TL, that means stealth and camouflage, because anything that can be seen can be killed.

A moving vehicle effectively prevents the use of cover, concealment and camouflage. It's useful for escaping contact, which is what the pair should immediately do, but it's the wrong equipment for snipers or forward observers in a situation where they need to lay down or call in harassing fire.

[johndallman]

Very high vehicle-operation skills are likely to be much more useful in vehicle-vs-vehicle combat. For example, in aerial dogfighting, Piloting-24 against more quotidian skill levels is likely to be a huge advantage.

There's a set of rules for WWII aircraft combat in the latest Path of Cunning (link in signature), where high skill helps greatly, though you still need to be able to shoot straight and use sensible tactics.

[awesomenessofme1]

Originally Posted by Icelander

No.

The pair would die within seconds regardless of individual skill.

In order for small units of skilled specialists to have a chance to delay a much larger force, they have to be able to survive engagement by the organic heavy weapons attached to the larger force. At any kind of modern TL, that means stealth and camouflage, because anything that can be seen can be killed.

A moving vehicle effectively prevents the use of cover, concealment and camouflage. It's useful for escaping contact, which is what the pair should immediately do, but it's the wrong equipment for snipers or forward observers in a situation where they need to lay down or call in harassing fire.

I think if the gunner had similarly cinematic skills to the driver, they'd be able to stay at a range long enough that to-hit penalties and their high Dodge would keep them safe. But I'd tend to agree based on the state as written.

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by awesomenessofme1

I think if the gunner had similarly cinematic skills to the driver, they'd be able to stay at a range long enough that to-hit penalties and their high Dodge would keep them safe. But I'd tend to agree based on the state as written.

Eh, using realistic rules, Dodge doesn't really help against attacks you don't see launched (you Dodge away from the spot being aimed for, you don't actually Dodge bullets), so it wouldn't work against lots of machine guns and mortars at 800+ yards.

Plus, the attacks that kill the would probably be mortar rounds or machine gun fire not aimed at them directly, but just happening to hit them because they were within the beaten zone slash target area.