Light Assault
NOTE: This is the offensive side of POW #2, so you can check that for information on the target.
<<April 11, 1998>>
You stare up at the sparce clouds drifting through the sky, as if the answer to your dilemma lies up there. For once, it's nice not to be pressed for so much time.
Your plan had been perfect. Your group had been trained so thoroughly in stealth that you should not have been seen when burdened with only the light and medium weapons you carried. You had carefully plotted a path which would take you clear of every place it would have made sense to place a scout . . .
But you had been seen, because your opponent let that accursed green scout choose where to patrol.
You despise rookies.
One of your more familiar soldiers carefully approaches you, "Sir," he whispers, "What do we do now?"
That is the question. The frank response instantly forms in your mind. Not the kind of thing to say to your subordinates. You can't think of anything, so you ignore him.
Fifteen soldiers, brought this far, only to be thwarted by the most erratic behavior a scout has ever been known to perform. You had specifically told everyone to bring only light or medium weapons back at the meeting place, so that they could strike quickly and swarm into the base . . . but now they were alerted to your presence.
Fifteen troops. Seven XP 105s. Two XP 110s. Three XP 150s. Three XXP 175s.
The clouds parted to reveal the light of the sky. The sun glared down at you.
Resigned to your fate, you finally turned to your soldiers to explain the revised plan . . .
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First off I would return to the base. If there is any ground you should be capable of fighting a battle on it is your base. Then assuming that the enemies are trying to locate you in the bush where you were you make a fast run with all your troops. You should take the open path to the enemy base and engage whoever is left behind. Then if you have secured their base leave 3 people with the XXP 175's behind to guard the place. Then assuming that the enemy is still looking for you return to your location when you were trying to sneak up on them and ambush them. With any luck you will be able to soak enough people and pull out because you have their base secured where they will want to go. Then return to your base after evacuating their base as if it was your own and wait to engage the survivors of the ambush. '
If there is any problem with my assumptions.
~Thomas Warwick
Let's see . . . as I understand it, your plan is to return to your base and then immediately attack theirs, followed by an attack on any search parties they have out, and anevacuation of their base.
You missed the note at the top mentioning that this was the offensive side of POW #2, didn't you?
First of all, if you're not going to *DO* anything at your "base" (you dont technically have a "base", see text), then why return there? Next, making an open attack on the enemy base with the assumption that it's virtually unguarded is suicide. Also, once you've taken the enemy base, you've won, so the game ends.
Um, other than that . . . wait a minute, there's nothing else! Never mind.
Take a 175 for yourself with a backup 105. Evenly distribuite the rest. Break into 5, 3 person groups and get ready for the ambush. All of the groups should have slightly even power. If any group has more power, make it #1, your group. Here is a (horrible) diagram on where to place:
4
5
3 2
1
While moving towards the enemy, this fleet should keep everyone mostly dry. When you get to the other team, go straight in cycled lines, like this is the first cycle:
3 4 5
1 2
1 and 2 fire. Now switch 1and 3, 4 and 5, 5 and 2, and 2 and 1. Hope you got that. Always have the front two provide fire till tanks are empty, and the 3 back pump. If needed, switch so 3 fire and 2 pump.
~C-House
Are you changing from 5 groups of 3 to 3 groups of 5, or do each of the numbers in the second diagram represent an entire 3-person group like in the first one?
I only see two major problems: first, I suggest that (in general) you stay away from formations--they allow your opponent to predict your movement, and virtually eliminate the players' impulses to dodge; second, those cycle lines (if I understand them correctly) are far better suited to passing through several lines of (virtually) immobile defense rather than the (probably) highly grouped forces likely to surround the target.
Um, did you have any specific plans for where you're going to attack the enemy base from and what entrances you're going to try and take, or were you planning on the chaotic "beginner's luck" approach? Or, as a third option, did you too miss the note at the top of the POW? I would have thought it was obvious.
Most of my troops are lightly armed. This means we could be easily defeated if I spead my forces to attack from several sides. Since the North is the easiest side to attack from, and because the enemy heard of my plans, he most likely would send most of his forces to defend there. However, since I spotted his scout he would be aware that I might attack from a different side (unless he were incompetent, which would make him relatively easy to defeat). He would most likely spread his forces evenly around his base slightly concentrated at the north. I would have 3 soldiers with 105's, 1 soldier with a 110, and 1 soldier with a 150 move quickly to the south side and attack there immediately (most likely I would appoint the soldier with the 150 as the leader if he was competant). I would have them use power and force while shouting (perhaps "hizaaaaah!!") to make the enemy overestimate their numbers. This would hopefully make them call for reinforcements.
Immediately after the south side attack, I (equipped with a 150) and my other soldiers (equipped with the remaining weapons) will attack the north side. We will use stealth to get as close to the base as possible. When we are spotted we will attack with full force. Hopefully the south side attack will draw some defenders away from the north. If we are lucky this will allow us (the northern attackers) to get through the defences more easily. Maybe the southern attackers can get through the defences also. NOTICE: If it is easier for them to get through, the southern attackers can attack the west or east instead.
~Daniel Caputo
Well, at least SOMEONE saw the note.
Given your goal, concentrated numbers would probably be a good idea even if you had heavy weapons, but more so with lighter ones--just make sure your troops have enough room to dodge. An attack from the south would be a good prelude to the attack from the north, but better to have them almost synchronized (with the north occuring slightly later) and with battle cries all over, which would probably cause chaos among the enemy ranks and manage to pull more forces to the south.
The situation would seem at this point very dire...The only real advantage you would have had in the attack is the element of surprise... And now that is gone. But because I'm sitting at my computer now and not actually out in the fray, I can carefully rethink my attack.
Your weapons are, for the most part, light. You do have 3 XP 175's, however, which, together, might just be able to provide enough supporting fire for a sustained attack. Still, in this case, speed is your advantage. Almost your entire force is made up light scouting weapons...But this is not entirely a bad thing. The XP 105, XP 110, and Xp 150 all can put out a exceptional amount of water for thier size...
I have corrected a type-o and a grammatical error in that paragraph :)
Have you ever actually used an XXP 175? They do have decent power, but because its split between two barrels you have to hit with both to do more than light damage, and their range is inferior even to that of the XP 105s . . . all these weapons have VERY similar characteristics.
I would not usually divide my forces, as there are endless folleys to dividing up an already light force into even more suseptible untis, but in this situation It might just be for the best. Recalling the infamouse Swamp Fox from the American Revolution, I would want to cause problems for the enemy on multiple fronts. I would create 4 units units of men: 1 force would be all of the XXP 175's. This force would be what in this case will become a rather poor excuse for a Heavy Weaponry platoon.Then I would divide up the other remaining weapons into 3 groups of 4. The guns in these groups are very similar, and will serve the same purpose, so for this reason I will disregard there different names...They are are all light weapons. So now what do we have? 1 "Heavy" Weapons platoon, and three groups of light scouts. At this point we must decide how to attack the enemy so that we are given the advantage...
That does it, I give up on correcting the spelling and gramatical errors, its hopeless :P
Attacking a one point would almost certainly be fatal. The defenders are equiped with a number of heavy weapons, and could easily repulse your advances. Therefor I would choose to asault the enemy base quickly and on three fronts, with the eastern and northern attack occuring at about the same time, and before the southern attack:
The East: In the east I would have 1 light unit run loudly through the woods In a dash to the southern door. In this way hopefully the southern defenders would give there attention to this attack and not the other one. This would be the only attack for which it's only purpose would be to draw out defenders, and not actually to open a door.
The North: Even though your main route of attack has been discovered, I would not give the enemy the pleasure of being safe from any attack there. In fact, because of the two doors in the north, and the enormouse advantage you would have in your attack there, I would not give it up. Also, if you proceed with your attack immediatly, the enemy will still be confused...Perhaps in his worries he will decide to spread out his force more.
No doubt he will second guess himself many times, and we will use his parinoia to help achieve our victory. That is why I would still send my XXP 175s and 1 unit of light weaponry to attack there. I would also want them to make the attack very loudly here, also, to try to get the enemy to divert thier forces here. I would first have the XP 175s make a mad dash to the sliding door in an attempt to draw out as many of the enemy forces to that door as possible. Then I would, at almost the same time that the XP 175s reached the enemy base, have the lighter units with them attempt to make a run for the easier to open door. Both of these groups would fire as they charged, and both of them would attempt to actually open the doors. The real attack, however, would be made at the south....
The South: This would be the last attack, and would occur much more quietly than the rest after the others were already well underway. From the south the attack is obviouse. The bushes. I would have 1 light unit make their way sneekily into the bushes, in a drive to the southern door. By this time the southern force will be confused, or maybe even diverted to the north or the east. And if not, they would soon have aid from the invading eastern unit.
This is the way I would proceed with my attack. As soon can see the bottom line would be to confuse the enemy. A confused enemy is a disorganized enemy, and a disorganized enemy is a victory for you.
~Ben Katz
Hm, I would have thought that running through woods was noisy be definition.
All right, the first thing I would change would be that the attack from the east should either set out with the intention of getting in, or they should be told to head to the north side and cut off any forces that try to circle around from the east to the north. Forces told that they are going to run in without planned escape or victory (ie suicide run) tend to be disheartened, and so you'd have to make them elite troops to be able to carry the feint out well--and it seems like such a waste to use elite troopers on a feint. Even if you fully expect and intend for them to be lost, at least TELL them that they have a good chance of making it inside.
What else . . . I would have had the group of XXP 175s heading to the sliding door attack from the west or northwest instead of straight north, to get in more quickly and draw defenders' attention even further away from the other attack.
And, as most of you have probably gleened from the second paragraph of my response, make sure that you give the impression to the northern attackers that you expect them to be the ones to make it inside (I suggest a private talk with each platoon), even if you expect them to serve no purpose but to draw off defenders.
I would give the other guy lots of time to prepare. To much time. I would just turn around and leave. A while later, I would return.
Why in the world would I do that? To make a nervous wreck out of the other team. Sounds crazy, I know. But it would be like the Cold War. The longer everyone waited for nuclear holocaust, the more nervous everyone became. I'd wait so long that the other team would let down their gaurd, thinking that I had given up knowing that I had been seen.
When I finally attacked, I'd attack from the west. Not much cover there, but that means that I've blocked off their easiest escape path, while leaving it open to my own guys.
The north was too heavily patrolled, and there was most likely a reception committee that would literally put a damper on my attack.
The south wouldn't let advance fast enough. While I'm crawling through blackberry bushes, they could be retreating.
And the east had that blasted fence. While my guys were climbing it, we wouldn't be able to shoot back. We'd also be moving very slowly.
Definately an attack from the West. When I reached the building, I'd go around south so that anyone returning from the north wouldn't be able to get at me. While one guy opened the door, the rest of us would protect him. When the door is opened, half the team goes in first, followed by the other half.
The first half covers the doors to get at anyone who tries to get in, while the other half takes care of anyone inside the base. The base is mine, for now.
~Matt Lindsay
Did you pick that up from the "Luck" essay I sent to Lucky (no irony intended), or did you think it up on your own?
Well, whether produced by creativity or research, the tactic is still just as good, valid, and deserved.
All right, the west is probably a good choice, but you might want one or two guys to circle to the north just to make sure that several defenders have to stay there to guard those doors. Even just one guy, who did nothing but look around the corner every 30 or so seconds, would force them to keep a guard present. If they didn't, he could just walk in the door and win you the game.
At the southern side, it looks like you ought to be able to take care of them pretty effectively--of course, you don't need to get both halves of your team in, you just need a single player and the match ends, but its a good idea to have several people charge to take care of any internal defense would be a good move.
The first thing to look at here is the goal - get at least one person inside that barn. Nowhere does it say that the entire team has to take the base, just one. While the defense will likely have better weapons and a preplanned strategy, their weakness lies in their lack of information. The enemy believes that your last strategy was to attack from the north; this info may or may not be discarded depending on whether the scout knew he had been discovered and whether he had reported this to the rest of his team. In any case, it is safer to assume that the enemy has prepared for as many contingencies as possible, and as a result I would only meet some of the enemy at any given point. Considering the goal I have, which is to get one person to enter the building, and the forces I have, fifteen people with light weaponry, I would decide that the best use of my forces would involve a lightning strike with all my people - strength in numbers, and for a short while the defense will be unable to send in reinforcements because they are so far away.
Looking at the situation, I have a couple of choices. First, I could stay with the northern attack, since it's still the closest path to the base and in the ensuing fury I could slip one person inside the base. The problem with this approach is that the defense is still more prepared and organized than I am, and there is no guarantee that anyone will make it to the door in time. The second choice would involve attacking through the west side and heading for the south door. The advantage is that it would be the second fastest route to a door. Disadvantage is that in the elongated path, I'll likely encounter more defenders, and there's also the possibility that I'll be discovered on my way to the west side, completely eliminating the advantage of surprise. Finally, there's the attack to the east and around to the south. There is a fence in the way, and the forest is a prime place to be ambushed once I got inside, but if I were to head for the forest bent on occupying it, then I would be able to a) control the best cover in the scenario, and b) control the fence, forcing any reinforcements to go around the other side, giving me valuable time to slip someone in. The eastern attack would certainly be the hardest attack to perform, but if done successfully I would have a base of operations and a possible headstart to the south door over reinforcements.
Let's assume, then, that I do go for the eastern attack. I'd have to bring everyone I had with me, to ensure a quick defeat of enemy forces. However, fifteen people in a large formation is as sound as a bomber box formation in World War 2 - good on paper, bad in practice. In order to get everything moving a little faster and to allow for some flexibility in case the eastern attack doesn't work, I'd split my team into three groups, each having the following formations:
FRONT - XP150
LEFT FLANK - XP105/110
RIGHT FLANK - XP105/110
REAR DEFENSE - XP105/110
REAR DEFENSE - XXP175
This will allow for some cover as the first team moves through the gate into the forest, and if there are defenders in the forest area as well the first team will serve as cover for the second and third teams. This split of the force will also allow more speed in getting through that gate. Of course, the teams themselves will travel closely together, with two in front and one covering the rear.
Once control of the forest is secured, one team will set up in the forest and gate to retain control, while the other two teams attempt to secure the southern doors. In no way will the foliage be used for tunnels - this would eliminate any numerical and time advantage I had at that point. Instead, I'd make a full-frontal attack on the south door before reinforcements could arrive. Once the attack begins, reinforcements coming from both sides should be too far out of reach unless there is a lot of resistance by those south doors, in which case I'd have to recall my remaining forces from the forest and try to secure the south doors. Hopefully, in the ensuing chaos, one guy can get inside.
This plan is a very delicate one, and in many cases chances for success with the forewarned and organized defense along with my weaker weapons are low. Still, the upside is that the goal is easier to accomplish, and hopefully with the strength in numbers I can accomplish this.
~Wesley Folk
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY EVERYONE ASSUMES THAT THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TREE THAT THE FENCE LINKS TO OFF THE NORTHEAST CORNER AND THE BUILDING IS TOO SMALL TO FIT THROUGH? FOR ALL YOU KNOW IT COULD BE YARDS!!!!!
Sorry, but that was starting to get annoying. When I wrote the fence description, I had every intention of giving the impression that forces COULD go between the north and east sides directly, but only right up against the base or far away from it.
All right, when taking the forest: those 3 teams of five are going to create almost as much, if not more, noise than the original fifteen. Also, if any enemy troops are in the forest, when they retreat (or whatever) they can warn the enemy (again) of your position, likly causing a reorientation of troops to more heavily guard the east, rather than north, side. Also, I don't think that leaving ANY troops behind to guard the gate is wise, let alone a third of your force--even if the fence did reach all the way to the base, troops could still go around the other way or climb it--or heck, even shoot through it.
Beyond that . . . the plan is fairly sound, if not the best option.
I would have three XP 105's attack from the north, yelling battle cries as soon as they were noticed, and not before. Before the enemy could regroup, I would have them retreat to the south, where my other troops were waiting, and attack from the south, with my troops in ranks, 3 in the first rank, 4 in the second, third, and fourth, so the front rank would take the blunt force of the defense, and the other ranks could shoot over their heads. After a minute or so of fighting (If the enemy had not retreated), I would have twelve soldiers fight so they could form an aisle, with six on each side, and then the two remaining soldiers and myself try to get into their base while the twelve soldiers held off any attack.
~ScHuLzE11
Maybe I'm just totally missing something here, but I'm not sure how exactly you envision your troops which were on the north of the base retreating to the south--you've kind of got this problem of the enemy base in the way.
Let's see, I'm not sure how you intend to have a formation like that advance through blackberry tunnels on the south, and (as I said in an earlier response) you generally want to stay away from formations, because they apply pressure to stay in formation rather than dodging, which, in turn, allows the enemies to predict your movement and compensate for it, increasing their accuracy.
And you'd think that even if you decided it was best to use a formation you'd realize how hard it was to make drastic, unpracticed formation changed during battle . . . ?
<<February 6, 2001>>
I would use stealth to eliminate any other sentries I could see, then take the top of the hill and rain fire down on their base from out of their range. I would keep this up until we've mowed them down, driven them out, or somehow failed.
I don't see how we could fail, because we have the range advantage (because we're uphill), and if they charge us, they'll get mowed down. If they are driven out we take the fort and finish them off, if they're still in range. If they aren't, I don't think we should pursue them for two reasons:
1. Our orders were to take the fort.
2. We could probably get killed.
~Commander Max Von Bargen.
Actually, on a twenty-degree slope, if they've got CPS weapons and you only have XP's, your range advantage would be dubious at best. I don't think they'd need to charge more than a few feet to get within range (I made some rough trigonometric calculations, but I'm no physicist).
However, that dubious advantage is reduced to nil if they climb up into a tree or onto the roof, so I don't think your bombardment would work very well. Even barring that, they could get behind cover on the east or west sides near the north, and wait until you stopped your bombardment and came in close to try to take possession of the base to launch a charge. You'd have to fire an awfully long time with a Super Soaker to plow through a tree.
Also, I agree that you should not devote all your forces to chase down runaways if you win, but if you win as overwhelmingly as you plan, you can probably spare a few troops to pursue them a short distance and make sure they don't double back and launch a counter-attack before you're ready.