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So a few of us in our play group where thinking about Planetary Defense Forces and what that might look like on your average world. Were thinking we could play a few games where you have to make a landing/beach head/whatever againt an imperial planet that had an active defense force. The goal here to give the defense force some sort of chance while sticking to the idea that they aren't the best prepared nor the best equipped force. So nothing that is "rare", plasma for instance, however stuff that's not used very much by anyone else because it sucks is fine (so griffin for example). Points here a less important than the right feel for the force. Also, no named characters or veterans (other than what come in the company Command Squad).

We think we might do a campaign as well where this is the first force the invaders have to get through, then there is a pdf counter attack assuming they get through that and then a city battle as the final battle. So I think I will make a couple more lists on this thread for those as well.

Beachhead defense - pdf

Company Command Squad 75
vox
las Cannon


Infantry Platoon 55
vox
las Cannon

Infantry Squad 70
vox
-Sniper Rifle
-heavy bolter


Infantry Squad 70
vox
-sniper Rifle
-autocannon

Infantry Squad 70
vox
-sniper Rifle
-autocannon

Heavy Weapons Squad 60
mortar

Special Weapons Squad 50
3X Grenade Launcher

Speical Weapons Squad 50
3X Grenade Launcher

500


Infantry Platoon 55
vox
las Cannon

Infantry Squad 70
vox
-Sniper Rifle
-autocannon


Infantry Squad 70
vox
-sniper Rifle
-autocannon

Infantry Squad 70
vox
-sniper Rifle
-autocannon

Heavy Weapons Squad 60
mortar

Special Weapons Squad 50
3X Grenade Launcher

Speical Weapons Squad 50
3X Grenade Launcher

925

3X Hydra Flak Tank 225

3X Scount Sentinel 95
3x Lascannon
3X smoke launchers

I feel like if you are trying to go PDF you need to put in at least some conscripts. Maybe to emphasize the need for quick recruitment right before the enemies make planetfall? Nothing says imperial speed bump like 50 conscripts.

Yeah I want to put conscripts in, maybe since its private game anyways we break the rules and just make them 10 man conscript squads than can take a heavy weapon and a special weapon.

I was thinking of making the third (final) phase of the campaign in the city 90% conscripts on the PDF side. Basically the invading force got through the well thought out defensive front then weren't deterred by a counterstrike So they had to scrape up a bunch of half trained morons for a last ditch attempt to hold the capitol city (governors house/palace/ruling place).

the other 10% i was thinking shocktroopers with a couple of rule changes to reflect that the planetary governor put his own body guards into the fight and maybe one lemun russ they found somewhere.

If you imagine that before the invasion threat the PDF would probably be putting down civil unrest, then the force would probably have a few more APC type transports in the mix - a couple of chimeras or Tauroxes?

Also, for when they get to the city is might be nice to include a few Adeptus Arbites Squads, local police would most certainly be involved in the last ditch defence. Improvised defense might also be a good idea - make up some special rules for IEDs / Molotov Cocktails / Buildings booby-trapped with demolition charges/ etc, all of which can be triggered by the defender at different times.

Rough riders may also be a more suitable fast attack choice - low tech, readily available (using local fauna - doesn't have to be horses!) and more easily maintainable than sentinels with all those tricky moving parts.

If it's a beachhead defence, surely you'd want some fortifications?
I'd go for a Wall of Martyrs defence network with say, a bunker and maybe 2 each of defence lines and defence emplacements

or else a bastion and a couple of ADLs

I love this. The Normandy landings remain the epitome of bravery in historical war for myself. Are you working on a board for this scenario too?

Iapedus wrote:If you imagine that before the invasion threat the PDF would probably be putting down civil unrest, then the force would probably have a few more APC type transports in the mix - a couple of chimeras or Tauroxes?

Also, for when they get to the city is might be nice to include a few Adeptus Arbites Squads, local police would most certainly be involved in the last ditch defence. Improvised defense might also be a good idea - make up some special rules for IEDs / Molotov Cocktails / Buildings booby-trapped with demolition charges/ etc, all of which can be triggered by the defender at different times.

Rough riders may also be a more suitable fast attack choice - low tech, readily available (using local fauna - doesn't have to be horses!) and more easily maintainable than sentinels with all those tricky moving parts.

I am having a hard time coming up with a counter attack force because it keeps coming off as too well armed, but I was going to put a couple of chimeras there. Counter attack force is definitely going to have rough riders.

karlosovic wrote:If it's a beachhead defence, surely you'd want some fortifications?
I'd go for a Wall of Martyrs defence network with say, a bunker and maybe 2 each of defence lines and defence emplacements

or else a bastion and a couple of ADLs

oh yeah its going to have a pretty well built defense. although I don't want it crazy because in theory the pdf is supposed to have like a month max notice. So I want defences they could reasonable construct in a month. So rough trenches and dug outs, sand bag emplacements and maybe like 1 or 2 prefab pill boxes.

elfmonkey16 wrote:I love this. The Normandy landings remain the epitome of bravery in historical war for myself. Are you working on a board for this scenario too?

We are working on two boards, the first will be beach head landing and the second will be the capitol city. The counter attack board will just be fairly open ground with some terrain features and what not.

Post the battle report when it happens, please, it is everything I wish for.


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Also, If you can't be bothered to make the stuff, use a wall of martyrs defence line with some bunkers and firestorm redoubts kinda thing, since the Impreium has loads of prefab gak everywhere.