Elite formations

By The Hungarian, in Tide of Iron

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Does anyone actually use this card? We have started playing the final FOTB scenario and simply scrubbed it from the germans set up. In a scenario which is so troop heavy the effect it has on play is just too biased.

I think a very specific scenario could utilize this card effectively. It would have to involve a limited number of well armed (possibly elite) troops holding off against a numerically superior force. It could work well in a Stalingrad 'fortress' type setting, but to give a huge force elite formations is just too much.

When we have used it we've changed it completely to give the squad the option of +1 attack dice Or re-roll one miss at the discretion of the commander.

Ditching elite formations from this last battle works just fine. We have played the first 5 rounds and its still anyones game.

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I favor using the Expert specialization tokens to represent elite squads (makes them a bit more powerfull but not game dominating)

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I have played the last four scenarios as written so far, and that card has not made that much of a difference so far. I thought the impact would be stronger.

Sure, you roll more dice, but your infantry also becomes a more inviting target.

For late-war scenarios, the amount of firepower seems to be OK in general for certain formations from some nations. I would not use the card in any pre-1944 scenarios, except in very special cases.

Given the above, I also like the Expert (although that is a strange name for the effect, should have been something meaning automatic and semi-automatic weapons) specialization better, because it allows you to give that advantage to some squads and leave others as they are.

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KlausFritsch said:

I have played the last four scenarios as written so far, and that card has not made that much of a difference so far. I thought the impact would be stronger.

Sure, you roll more dice, but your infantry also becomes a more inviting target.

For late-war scenarios, the amount of firepower seems to be OK in general for certain formations from some nations. I would not use the card in any pre-1944 scenarios, except in very special cases.

Given the above, I also like the Expert (although that is a strange name for the effect, should have been something meaning automatic and semi-automatic weapons) specialization better, because it allows you to give that advantage to some squads and leave others as they are.

For experienced veterans, I prefer the campaign specializations form Normandy. I agree with the concept in Flames of War, that veterans are mostly better at surviving and do not necessarily project more firepower with the same weapons as rookies. A veteran squad with better weapons would get a Bronze Star (or better) Expert specialization from me.

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KlausFritsch said:

KlausFritsch said:

For experienced veterans, I prefer the campaign specializations form Normandy. I agree with the concept in Flames of War, that veterans are mostly better at surviving and do not necessarily project more firepower with the same weapons as rookies. A veteran squad with better weapons would get a Bronze Star (or better) Expert specialization from me.

Amazing Point of View my dear friend!

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I agree that veteran soldiers usualy would be better at surviving. But in most cases they would also show more stability under fire.
Veteran formations are a different kettle of fish. They also show a willingness to push harder and take more casualties in order to achive their mission goals.

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Hefsgaard said:

Veteran formations are a different kettle of fish. They also show a willingness to push harder and take more casualties in order to achive their mission goals.

They do. But at the squad level, as in ToI, this comes down to more or less the same thing, that troops are harder to pin and harder to destroy. Indirectly, this allows them to fight longer and project more force than squads from regular formations.