Infantry Vs Mech? is it possible, how will it work?

[Nick]

hello all. Very very interesting game you guys got going here. I was wondering exactly how infantry comes into play with the game. Especially when fighting against a mech, or aircraft. Etc.

I'm a bit uninformed, as I don't know if I could concentrate on having...say "infantry skills" and still be able to hop into an aircraft, or a mech. Etc

[Hamilton]

Infantry will eventually be implemented, most likely with the introduction of human avatars.  As for wanting to play as infantry... you won't want to.

Being an infantry is much as it is like today, taking on a tank by one person is not easy.  Considering that Mechs can sustain multiple missile hits, make this even more difficult.  Taking on Mechs with infantry would require using Combat or Battle Armor (that is their purpose) and engaging at close range or placing demo charges.

[Mastiff]

Welcome to the site and we're glad you're liking what you see of Force of Arms at this point. You may want to have a look at the lorescape we have dedicated to infantry (more should be forthcoming in the future).

Here's the link for you:
http://www.forceofarms.com/foa_v1/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=71

[Dradiin]

Ohhh just had a brainstorm on how infantry could be useful in battles... EMP pulse charges.

They could place one in the field and the Mecha could trip the detonator. Place them in manpack warheads ? Make them attachable with swarm like techniques where the troopers grapple the Mecha from concealment and then magnetically graft them onto the Mecha.

These could force a Mech to restart taking a few second to reignition the the powerplant, or they could just cause haywire to the onboard targeting systems or even then controls.

I am sure there are tons of other ways this could be implemented.

[William]

Actually I can see it as quite possible for an infantryman to be able to stop a mech. However there are certain considerations.

In today's military it is possible for one lone infantryman to stop a tank or other heavily armored target. But there is a few issues. One is training. It takes alot of training to understand all the weakpoints of every type of armor out there. Plus the different types of anti armor out there. Its harder for a tank sqaud to notice one soldier on a battlefield compared to a squad or a whole platoon.

You have the choice of light and manuverable versus heavy and slow. A soldier with an AT4 is fast and can stop a heavy armored tank but not much else. He stopped its movement but now has to contend with a hard point heavy gun platform. While a soldier with a TOW can decimate a heavy armored unit. But he is slow to get into a prime position and set up.

To transfer this into game terms. First allow a soldier to take skills that reflect training in anti mech and anti armor. Skills that would be costly. Meaning no specialized training in other fields.

You then bring in various types of small "man carried" armaments. Suchs as missles and recoilless rifles. From light to heavy. Making weight and set up time an issue depending on the weapon.

So a light 57mm RR (Recoilless rifle) could be carried by one man on the shoulder. It wouldnt impede movement but have an ungodly reload time unless another soldier was there as well which would half the reload time. The weapon could stop a light mech in its tracks or slow a medium mech if the shot hit a hip, knee, or ankle joint. However the mech would still be able to fire weapons. And if elevation was good you could even try to hit the cockpit and stop the mech entirely. However firing from below would make the shot next to impossible so not practical.

Then you get into the 105mm RR. This requires a team of 2 soldiers or more. Has a long set up time (tripod, loading, etc) and is heavy to carry. However its effects are more damaging. Quite possibly being able to heavily damage a light mech, moderately damage a medium mech, and stop or slow a heavy mech. However being so slow to reload and heavy to pack up and move once you fire it your pretty much a squishy target.

On missle weapons the same ideas could be used however with anti missle systems in play a solider would have to get dangerously close to use them so the anti missle system wouldnt have time to counter the attack. Just move the scale up a notch on damage.

So a shoulder fired light missle could damage a light mech, stop a medium mech's movement,  and slow a heavy mech. But you have to be very close or the anti missle system would stop the missle from hitting.

A tripod mounted missle could severely damage a light mech, damage a medium mech, and stop a heavy mech. But even worse then having to be close to the mech you have the slow movement carrying it and slow set up time.

I would also add in that fielding an anti mech soldier would be moderately costly. This would help prevent factions from throwing out a ton of these guys to decimate a mech unit. So for every 20 soldiers on the field it would be feasable and not surprising to see one anti mech soldier.

Also with the counter balance of skill choice the anti mech soldier would have to contend with other infantry. Carrying a shoulder fired weapon would mean they could only carry an additional light weapon such as a pistol or SMG. Lastly firing one of these weapons like a 57mm RR would let every enemy infantryman on the battlefield know where you are. The mech might not see where the shot came from that stopped his movement but his infantry buddies know and can move in to wipe the poor sod off the field.

Will

[Hamilton]

Some good thoughts.

In theory, the goal is to allow five soldiers in power armor to be able to render ineffective or destroy a Main Mech (medium tonnage).  This is of course assuming that the soldiers are using terrain to their advantage to get within close range or rear section.  This hasn't been tested yet with the HERO System, but there are a number of added options that are possible.  For example though I dislike the Find Weakness ability (due to possible exploitation and abuses), I can see letting that ability to be used for infantry.  Kind of makes sense if a soldier is right next to the mech, that person should be able to see the weak points.

And would allow infantry to be deadly...

[Robgoblin]

I remember playing infantry in Battletech. Was awesome. I also played a driver/rifleman(sniper) in Mechwarrior RPG. I remember using the huge rifle there from a hidden hardened area to snipe the cockpit of one of the enemy mechs. It was awesome fun for me. It is also fun to pop out of a hidey hole after a mech would pass with infantry and fire 4 or 5 SRM-2 packs into the backside. So many options on how to make infantry dangerous.

[pht]

Mmm. Satchel charges anyone?

Obvoious question: will infantry/BA infantry be able to fight from inside buildings/etc, and what kind of bonuses, if so, does said impart to them...

[texmechs]

I remember using the huge rifle there from a hidden hardened area to snipe the cockpit of one of the enemy mechs. It was awesome fun for me.

There has been some speculation on this topic for quite a while.  It may even make an appearance in Phase 0..

[Hamilton]

Mmm. Satchel charges anyone?

Obvoious question: will infantry/BA infantry be able to fight from inside buildings/etc, and what kind of bonuses, if so, does said impart to them...

Bonus:
Not being picked up on sensors most likely and fairly easy to make to-hot rolls.  So most likely being a nice mosquito, just don't get spotted when you fire.

[pht]

Hmm.  I'm guessing unarmored PBI's have nil radar signature... how about BA?

[Robgoblin]

I remember using the huge rifle there from a hidden hardened area to snipe the cockpit of one of the enemy mechs. It was awesome fun for me.

There has been some speculation on this topic for quite a while.  It may even make an appearance in Phase 0..

That will be wild. I have no idea how exactly it would work but the idea of a sniper is awesome. I don't want it to be too rewarding but the fact that something like that is possible will be awesome fun.

[Hamilton]

Hmm.  I'm guessing unarmored PBI's have nil radar signature... how about BA?

Battle Armor and Suits, most likely will not be picked up on radar, or will have very low return signatures.  Most likely can only be picked up by Passive Sensors.  Combat Armor (1 ton to 5 tons) most likely will be picked up by active sensors.

[Boz]

I have absolutely no interest in Infantry in this game, unless it's cannon fodder NPC stuff.  I want a finely tuned, deep, mech simulation.  I would prefer a focused gem of a game over a rock with many sides.

If I want infantry, there's scores of acceptable games out there to give it to me.  What I don't have is mech.

[Robgoblin]

I have absolutely no interest in Infantry in this game, unless it's cannon fodder NPC stuff.  I want a finely tuned, deep, mech simulation.  I would prefer a focused gem of a game over a rock with many sides.

If I want infantry, there's scores of acceptable games out there to give it to me.  What I don't have is mech.

But just a Mech sim is not what they are after. The devs want to incorporate such things as infantry because some people like the challenge and there is the possibility of losing ones Mech. That makes a much better game to me than just a Mech sim.