Battlesuit Box: Review and Playtest

[Aman]

Well, I got this game originally with the magazine, but despite closely reading the rules I never cut the counters and played it. Then I lost the map [or misplaced it somewhere...]. In the end, I bought the new mini box for kicks, and the larger counters...and the map!

Played a few times, think I kinda know what to do, and did a review.
https://upthebluefow.blogspot.com/20...x-opening.html

Overall, I think the game's a great deal as is, plus the system has plenty of future expansion possibilities. A recommended purchase!

[43Supporter]

And if one has one of the Minis boxes, one can play it with minis rather than counters. :)

Also: _BS_ sort-of establishes what a "normal INF" unit looks like:

-- 1x Command, or Assault, Suit (1/3 chance CMD)
-- 4x Standard Suit
-- 1x Ranger Suit .

So a "platoon" (3 INF) might look like this:

1 Squad: CMD (Platoon Cmdr.); 4x STD; RNG (Recon)
2 Squad: AST; (Squad Cmdr.); 4x STD; RNG (Recon)
3 Squad: AST; (Squad Cmdr.); 4x STD; RNG (Recon) .

[Aman]

Hmmm, countermix TO&E??

But, must say that the numbers look reasonable!

Probably in the future the "leader" to follower ratio will continue to improve, especially among battlesuit infantry in the first line.

Looking forward to trying out drones and commanders.

[selenite]

Nice session report. I haven't played my copy in decades.

[43Supporter]

Originally Posted by Aman

Hmmm, countermix TO&E??

Something like that -- I don't have my 1st-ed. box to hand, but one of the scenarios lists a full platoon (with some add-ons), as well as the "upgraded" squad in the training scenario.

Originally Posted by Aman

Probably in the future the "leader" to follower ratio will continue to improve, especially among battlesuit infantry in the first line.

Looking forward to trying out drones and commanders.

Looking at the CMD and AST suit specs, and based on something in the "flavor text": I think the CMD and AST suits differ only in that the former has a few more communication pieces attached to it -- the AST suit is suitable [ahem :) ] for handling four STDs and a RNG; the CMD suit is riding herd on three times that many grunts.

That said: One could build "specialist" squads, and even platoons -- an "assault platoon" [1 CMD; 17 AST w/ HW] would make a bad foe to fight; but would also be expensive, and thus passingly-rare.