This is a custom card being designed for my Strike North Campaign Scenario which I will be GMing during the upcoming MaizeCon in Waterloo, IA happening in October 2018. I'm using the Polish Determined Infantryman as starting point for my own version. Changed the name and flavor text. Added mountaineering. Otherwise it is the same.
Looking for feedback. What do you think? Is it balanced in terms of cost? Any concerns or questions?
Close Assault 6 - This unit has an attack value of 6 against vehicles in its’ hex. This attack ignores cover.
Steely Resolve 2 - An attack must beat this unit’s defense by 2 or more in order to score two hits against it.
Mountaineering - This unit gets +1 on movement rolls.
After the fall of Poland in September 1939 the Podhalanska Brigade was organized in France. It consisted of escaped soldiers and Polish expats living abroad. It was modeled & trained along the same lines as the french Chasseurs Alpins. Initially intended for use during the 1940 Finnish War, it was deployed to Norway in May 1940.
Post by armchair general on Aug 8, 2018 18:20:15 GMT
Sarge:
First, thanks for making this card. Can't get enough Polish units!!
Second, my initial reaction would be to consider increasing the point value for the unit from "4" to "5". I'm basing this on 3 cards/units:
(1) The Italian Alpine Troop is the same as your Polish Rifleman, except he throws one less die at Medium range (5 instead of 6) and has a Close Assault (CA) of 5 instead of 6. Thus, why it's worth 4 points.
(2) The French Alpine Troop as you know is worth 6 points mainly because it's a 5/5 unit. Otherwise, it has the same stats as the Polish version (9/6, CA of 6, and Mountaineering SA).
Just taking those 2 cards into account, I think the Podhale Rifleman is somewhere in between these 2. The extra die at Medium range is a BIG deal, and the extra CA die doesn't hurt either. Thus, it should be worth 5 points in my opinion.
(3) Of course, when I'm also looking at creating cards, I always look at what Sharpe has done, as I know you do. His Podhale Rifle card reads as follows (I'm posting the card here so others can see the stats):
5 points 4/4 AI 8/6/3 AV 2/-/-
CA 6 Steely Resolve 2 "Alpine" SA: "Unit gets +1 attack die against unit in a hill; enemy gets -1 attack die vs unit in a hill. Unit may reroll all Movement rolls except crossing streams."
In this case, the comparison is a little more complicated. If we compare it with yours, the all important Medium range dice are the same, and both units have the same CA, plus Steely Resolve. It's the same cost as yours for 1 less die at Close Range, with a somewhat more powerful SA ("Alpine" vs. Mountaineering). The two units are trading the bonus attack die (or negative attack die in the case of an enemy) for not being able to cross streams, which may or may not be a big deal depending on the scenario. Your Podhale unit would be just as powerful with Sharpe's if the fighting is taking place in a hilly area, where fighting from one Hill hex to another will be at Close Range.
Ultimately, I'd be fine with keeping it at 4 points, but I think you should make it 5. Just my two cents.
Thank you for that detailed comparison and breakdown of units. I agree with your logic and conclusion that the unit should cost 5 instead of 4. I will update it.