For the Corps units (Rebel Troopers, Stormtroopers, etc), is there a reason why you wouln't add the additional trooper? Obviously points is the limiting factor, but I feel that bringing up the trooper unit strength up to 5 for 10-11 points is a smart decision. It will keep them alive longer and give you better attacks. Whats that point in fielding a squad and getting it into a good position/objective, if it can't survive? So far, I build my lists by always adding the additional trooper. Does anyone feel differently?

Maybe to spread out more units? Objectives and fodder squads.

I'm always bringing the extra troopers if possible. Im sure you'll run into cases where you need to shave points and have to cut a trooper or two.

If you are running 4 corps units, the option might come down to an additional model per unit or an additional unit. It's also possible that in future we will see an upgrade that uses the Trooper slot of a unit that is not the same as the added model.

Have they mentioned whether there is an absolute upward limit of troops you could put in a squad? For example, if you had three squads, each pack giving you an extra "additional trooper" card, could you decide to add all three to one squad, instead of putting an extra trooper in three squads?

Another reason really depends on how the game plays, but there's a psychological factor in having one large squad and one small one. In most miniature wargames, larger blobs attract more attention and counter-fire, so there might be value in having a couple of max strength squads and one min strength one.

6 troops max per sqd

Just now, Nihm said:

6 troops max per sqd

A shame.

4 minutes ago, Nihm said:

6 troops max per sqd

3 minutes ago, srMontresor said:

A shame.

So far............

There's no reason in the future they couldn't vary unit sizes or have the trooper upgrade expand unit sizes further.....

57 minutes ago, Nihm said:

Maybe to spread out more units? Objectives and fodder squads.

Yeah, that could be a good strategy. Especially if you want 4 cheap squads to produce a broad front and spend the rest on support or heavies.

Yeah so I've been thinking about this some anyway, so I wrote a blog post about it.

2 hours ago, Ralgon said:

So far............

There's no reason in the future they couldn't vary unit sizes or have the trooper upgrade expand unit sizes further.....

I hope not, I don't want this to turn into 40k or too large scale where you're moving a horde of models. The more tight and restrictive units force players to make compromises and choices. A lot of the ground battles in the OT were almost more skirmish sized anyways, the rebels on Endor really only had what something like a couple dozen troops on the planet...as far as what was actually shown in the movie.

3 minutes ago, Rammstein117 said:

I hope not, I don't want this to turn into 40k or too large scale where you're moving a horde of models. The more tight and restrictive units force players to make compromises and choices. A lot of the ground battles in the OT were almost more skirmish sized anyways, the rebels on Endor really only had what something like a couple dozen troops on the planet...as far as what was actually shown in the movie.

True, but then the movement system here is more what 40k should be (unless it was redesigned in 8th). 1 model measures and the rest just move......

5 minutes ago, Ralgon said:

True, but then the movement system here is more what 40k should be (unless it was redesigned in 8th). 1 model measures and the rest just move......

Since they got rid of templates, just set up your units in formations!

4 minutes ago, Ralgon said:

True, but then the movement system here is more what 40k should be (unless it was redesigned in 8th). 1 model measures and the rest just move......

True but 40k also doesn't have the clutter of all these tokens everywhere around the units, and a lot of space on the table being taken up by cards. If you start making squads larger on a 6x3 table it'll quickly turn into a mess of a table. Not to mention the models in this game are kind of large to begin with I think Vader is about 2 inches tall on his base, if I recall that is larger than Necromunda Goliath gangers.

Certain units later on could certainly be larger, Ewoks could have 10 models total or something. But I think FFG hit the sweet spot in regards to squad sizes.

Smaller units frees up points to be used elsewhere, possibly enough for an additional unit - I'm guessing that activation advantage will be important (waiting for enemy units to move into range etc.) Just like in Armada.

On the flip side though, if you add a heavy weapon, you want those extra points to count, so the extra trooper makes it more cost effective (i.e. you are getting a greater benefit from the heavy weapon).

Options, I mean the face of the choice comes down to

5 x 4 trooper Squads Units

4 x 5 trooper Squads Units

For the purpose of suppression and routing, If the suppression value is for the unit, not the model, it would be more efficient to have more units with fewer models, at the same suppression value, than fewer units with more models...right?

In one of the articles I thought I saw that the heavy weapon troopers also have the basic attack as the standard troopers and you can choose which weapon they use on each attack. If this is the case it seems to me that a heavy weapon trooper is a better initial point investment than a regular trooper since they are more versatile, if more expensive.

Added to that is the fact that unit size doesn't matter when it comes to suppression and courage (as far as we know at this time) so a smaller unit would, theoretically, be less of a loss if you do end up having a unit run off the board.

The one aspect we aren't aware of yet is how scoring works. We know that objectives will play a part but will it be like Runewars and Armada were they just add points to your total score? If so, then what remains to be seen is how you determine that score to begin with. In X-Wing and Armada you calculate your score based on how many of your opponent's units you destroy, but in Runewars you calculate your score based on how many of your units are still on the table.

1 hour ago, Kojib said:

For the purpose of suppression and routing, If the suppression value is for the unit, not the model, it would be more efficient to have more units with fewer models, at the same suppression value, than fewer units with more models...right?

Yes, but as cover does not scale and every die seems to profit from every key word, you want to create dice pools as large as possible.

Just now, Rumar said:

Yes, but as cover does not scale and every die seems to profit from every key word, you want to create dice pools as large as possible.

This is also predicated on the assumption that dice pools include different weapons. An assumption that I am in agreement with, but until we get actual rules we are only speculating as to advantages/disadvantages of multiple small units over fewer, larger units.

6 hours ago, Caimheul1313 said:

This is also predicated on the assumption that dice pools include different weapons. An assumption that I am in agreement with, but until we get actual rules we are only speculating as to advantages/disadvantages of multiple small units over fewer, larger units.

"Each Model In the Unit gets to use a weapon"

From Alex Davy to Team Covenant, at Gencon. On camera.

22 hours ago, Y-Wing said:

For the Corps units (Rebel Troopers, Stormtroopers, etc), is there a reason why you wouln't add the additional trooper? Obviously points is the limiting factor, but I feel that bringing up the trooper unit strength up to 5 for 10-11 points is a smart decision. It will keep them alive longer and give you better attacks. Whats that point in fielding a squad and getting it into a good position/objective, if it can't survive? So far, I build my lists by always adding the additional trooper. Does anyone feel differently?

I imagine it might happen in a situation where you’re fielding multiple heavy, support, specialist, and commander units, but are trying to only spend the bare minimum on the 3 required corps units. Ie you want to only spend 120 and no more on those infantry.

I think it's great that there are reasons to take the extra trooper (larger dice pool, more hit points) and reasons you may not want to (more units for less points, more suppression). Upgrades that are an auto include are not my favorite.

On 2/6/2018 at 1:11 AM, ShadowKite said:

Yeah so I've been thinking about this some anyway, so I wrote a blog post about it.

I’ve really been enjoying your write ups (especially the statistics portions, as I can’t be bothered to do the math myself). Keep doing your thing - the blog posts are helpful and comprehensive.

On 06/02/2018 at 6:11 AM, ShadowKite said:

Yeah so I've been thinking about this some anyway, so I wrote a blog post about it.

Good Write up, but I am not seeing how My Ally is the Force benefits any number of troopers beyond the two you issue orders to?

• Benefit more from global effects, for example, the My Ally is the Force command card

Just curious as to you thinking in case I have something wrong.