.com.unity Forums
  The Official e-Store of Shrapnel Games

This Month's Specials

BCT Commander- Save $8.00
winSPWW2- Save $5.00

   







Go Back   .com.unity Forums > Shrapnel Community > The Honorably Discharged > LockNLoad: The Forgotten Heroes

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old August 16th, 2002, 12:55 PM

Mark H. Walker Mark H. Walker is offline
Sergeant
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 307
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Mark H. Walker is on a distinguished road
Default So, you wanna be a priest?

Make no mistake, LnL is a realistic simulation, but I believe realism comes with "feel" not endless charts of numbers. I also believe in the "Army of One." Sometimes it is the individual that turns the tide of the fight, and it is the individual that we relate to in movies and books. So why not games?

LnL will have prominant individuals. Its leaders work much like those in ASL -they modify fire and rally troops. Heros also modify fire, and increase your chances of winning a melee, but can't rally troops.

Both leaders and heros receive special cards called Skill Cards. These bestow unique powers. For example, the "Charismatic" card allows leaders to rally troops in adjacent hexes. The "Thumper" card makes the hero carrying it an expert with the M-79 --a man capable of lobbing grenades over buildings and into the nest of VC waiting there.

There are medics who can --after passing a morale check-- rally one shaken squad or heal a wounded single man counter. And of course there are chaplains who may rally troops, but not when in the line of sight of the enemy.

What other characters would you all like to see?

Best,
Mark
__________________
Currently designing Aftermath: Battles of the Apocalypse and Lock 'n Load: Unsung Heroes.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old August 18th, 2002, 08:47 PM

Pete Atack Pete Atack is offline
Private
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 3
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Pete Atack is on a distinguished road
Default Re: So, you wanna be a priest?

I also agree that the presence of a senior NCO w/i the US ranks will add an interesting angle (be it the company 1SG, or Battalion Sergeant Major type), although, typically, the 1SG did not deploy with line units into the field.
As for the NVA / VC, I think the game covers most of the important figures. A political officer would create some neat variations, but from what I've read, we generally disliked by the infantry types (the political officers would whip everyone into a frenzy, but conveniently avoid the firefights). As for the VC, the only thing that pops into mind would be a counter representing political / military cadre. These men were very important to the recruiting and training of VC units and frequently found themselves the targets of ambushes or 'snatch' missions by US units for intel purposes. Other than that, civilians in the villages always created problems, but I don't know if we want to venture there at this level of the game.
Any ideas?
Pete
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old August 19th, 2002, 01:59 AM
Eddie Campisano's Avatar

Eddie Campisano Eddie Campisano is offline
Private
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Norwood, MA
Posts: 2
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Eddie Campisano is on a distinguished road
Default Re: So, you wanna be a priest?

In the Marine Corps the highest ranking field NCO was the company Gunnery Sargeant or "Gunny". They were almost always very charismatic and highly respected. They were a father figure to the men, including the officers. They were the most experienced Marines and also had the ability to command the company should all the officers be killed. I think the Army equivelant was the 1st Sargeant. In game terms this individual could be given the ability to boost morale and rally, or morale and rally could be negatively effected if this individual were killed. Or does LNL already take this effect into consideration?

Do the NVA have political officers (a chaplain equivelant)?

How about the effect of having a senior officer directing the battle from an overhead chopper? This could be either positive or negative. Positive in that he can see enemy out of the LOS of the ground commander; negative in that he adds to the confusion on the ground (false or confused reports of enemy sightings/intentions).

The use of special skill and event cards cards must really enhance the playability, and expansion, possibilities of LNL. Once I"ve seen the game rules and have played the demo I'm sure I'll have some ideas to "tweak" the game system.

Of course, we don't want to complicate the game or slowly turn it into another ASL. The aparant simplicity of LNL is what I find so attractive. It's a game you should be able to play and enjoy right out of the box!

Eddie Campisano
__________________
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,
how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old August 20th, 2002, 06:45 PM

Pete Atack Pete Atack is offline
Private
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 3
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Pete Atack is on a distinguished road
Default Re: So, you wanna be a priest?

Mark,
as for individual characters for a US counter mix, how about a Kit Carson scout. They usually weren't much in the way of trigger pullers, but may add an ability for scouting or detecting ambushes.
And I'm not sure about the level of off map support (arty, air, mortars)in the game, but maybe a Forward Observer / Fire Support Officer to add accuracy to indirect fires?

Pete
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old August 21st, 2002, 05:30 PM

Mark H. Walker Mark H. Walker is offline
Sergeant
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 307
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Mark H. Walker is on a distinguished road
Default Re: So, you wanna be a priest?

Hi All,

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the idea of the Kit Carson scout. Where can I find out more about those men? The game will also probably include civilians.

Best,
Mark
__________________
Currently designing Aftermath: Battles of the Apocalypse and Lock 'n Load: Unsung Heroes.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old August 21st, 2002, 06:24 PM

Pete Atack Pete Atack is offline
Private
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 3
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Pete Atack is on a distinguished road
Default Re: So, you wanna be a priest?

Here's a neat link to a first hand account of Kit Carson scouts (http://www.bonsai-american-style.com/Sam.htm).
From a quick glance and from what I know the KCs were ex-VC / NVA who came over on the Chu Hoi repatriation program and volunteered to work with US infantry units as scouts. Most acted as pointman for US squads and had a US slackman as a partner. They were generally dressed and equipped to look like VC / NVA to increase their utility as scouts. Hope that helps,

Pete
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©1999 - 2024, Shrapnel Games, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.