I just read up the rules for squads and squadrons in the AoR GM-kit adventure (mind nothing else in the book). Am I missing something or is the text seriously lacking information?

"..The squad and squadron rules allow GMs and players to organize minion groups under the leadership of PCs or rival and nemesis NPCs..."

You take an easy leadership test, build the squad with up fo 11 allied minions.

"These minions are now members of their squad or squadron and as such, no longer receive a turn in combat and do not roll for initiative [...] A squad or squadrons silhuette size is 1 higher than that of its largest member.

While leading a squad or squadron, a leader may redirect any hit he or his vessel suffers to a minion in his quad or squadron instead [...] Additional Benefits are gained by ordering squads and squadrons into formations covered later in this section"

And then we have different formations, each activated by an average leadership check. that give e.g. boost on their attack, setback to being attacked, specialists can to their thing etc.

And thats it.

Sorry, maybe I'm missing something, but how do they work in combat?

And if I lean out of the window that is RAI is it really meant to build eleven man minion groups that rolls at the least 6 yellow on attack?

http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/109944-gm-screen-squad-rules/

Go here. The author explains.

What's weird for me is that we've always played EotE (and D&D for that matter) where just standing near minions means they have to be taken out first. Now we have to roll and give up attacks to get that same effect

Only if you suck them up in a squad. If you roll a triumph they get an attack. They act as damage sheilds. Don't suck them all up. Leave some out to give you fire power.

I'm quite looking forward to these.

Of course by leading a squad my diplomat is probably going to be lowering their fightingness.

I wasn't going to get the GM screen for AoR, since I have the EotE screen and the only new thing (aside from the adventure) was this squad rule, but now I have to reconsider. This seems like a very useful addition, especially when operating starfighters in large-scale fights.

Thanks for the link Daglan. That clears up a lot. It's always awesome to met the creators in the forums

Is there a chance to get this pinned or edited and added to the FAQ? I think I'm not the last person to be confused by this (seriously) weird worded paragraphs.

Now it kinda makes sense. Its weird having a rule in the rulebook thats meant to be used so very much narratively.

I'm going to retreat into my Qabbrat and meditate over the thread you posted and the rules in the book a lot over the next days - maybe I'll even give it a spin tonight ^^ - and then come back with more questions.

ed:spelling

This is a perfect example of a rant Im having on my "Master Index" thread. An important rule tucked away in an obscure location. Surely to God someone at FFG can see the necessity of an index for their customers that is updated with each new publication. This is ridiculous. Unless your a scholar of every book they have out your bound to miss some really important stuff. Maybe its just me but I hate winging some element in the game only to realize there is a carefully thought out and designed alternative already in place.