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First off, some background. I have not played FOW yet, have no clue how the rules work, and have not built a list. But there is a local play group for FOW that has been burning up the tabletops locally and keeps trying to temp me into buying in (I am a 15’s junky from way back). I like the look of the LRDG and SAS forces, but have been hesitant to take the plunge into an army that I have no clue how it performs on the table.

So my question is, how viable is an all LRDG and SAS list for play? I know that you can build a list from one of the books using their list, but is it a decent army? Will it get rolled by every list out there that is not built by a player on crack? I can guess it is more of a finesse army just by looking at what it has available, but is it decent?

I have never played them. So I cannot speak on their qualitity. So far they are only available mid war. They are rated as FV, and don't have many units at their disposal, but they have a lot of firepower.

But Try this. http://easyarmy.com/FOWCompany.aspx?PDF=20&Company=3 and this http://www.flamesofwar.com/Portals/0/Documents/RaidingAces/Raiding-Aces.pdf, also here is an older example of their rules. It is a legal list, but it is very much out of date IIRC. http://www.flamesofwar.com/Portals/0/Documents/Scenarios/Raiding/LRDG-SAS-rulebook.pdf

Well, first off, make sure that the group players Early/Mid War in the desert.

Another problem is that the LRDG patrol and SAS squadron lists are more meant for Raiding Aces, a FoW campaign system. They'll be severely hampered against anything armored, as the heaviest support they can take are a pair of Honey Stuarts - and the SAS squadron can't even get that.

I'd hate to say it, but I'd think that, unless you can convince your local group to play Raiding Aces from Burning Empires, the SRDG and SAS lists aren't a good choice.

infinite_array wrote:Well, first off, make sure that the group players Early/Mid War in the desert.

Another problem is that the LRDG patrol and SAS squadron lists are more meant for Raiding Aces, a FoW campaign system. They'll be severely hampered against anything armored, as the heaviest support they can take are a pair of Honey Stuarts - and the SAS squadron can't even get that.

I'd hate to say it, but I'd think that, unless you can convince your local group to play Raiding Aces from Burning Empires, the SRDG and SAS lists aren't a good choice.

There have been some early\mid war games, but I dont think they are too keen on a raiding campaign.

And I asked for honest answers, just because the figures look cool does not mean they can do bukiss on the field. Looks like I get to do the German panzer company I keep thinking about lol.

They are surprisingly good, their MG's get extra bits like being FP 5 against Objectives, which can be infuriating on Raiding Aces missions.

They race around gunning like fury, especially in Desert Raider missions in BURNING EMPIRES. As troops they are tough as nails, or do I mean NAILS! You do not want Infantry to go near them you will get mullered.

Their weaknesses are small numbers, and their vulnerability to HMG's, AAA, Mortars, armour and Artillery (infact everything that isn't infantry or Softskin vehicles), I would not recommend them for a 1st time player. You need to be a veteran with a good knowledge of the rules to get the most out of them. If you did this as your 1st force, you will get battered and lose motivation and drift away.

Start with a simple and cheap Tank company.

If you are set on Elite Formations try the British Commando's or the Special Service brigade. Alternatively look at Para-troopers or Gebirgsjaeger. SAS are all about "Butcher and Bolt" they would very rarely if ever, get into massive actions versus Company sized Battlegroups, they are surgical strike team not Frontline Assault units.

mwnciboo wrote:

Start with a simple and cheap Tank company.

.

I am not particularly attached to small elite armies; I play IG in 40k after all. There was just something about the LRDG that looked really cool. Probably all of the stowage and crew figs overloading the jeeps and trucks.

I was actually looking at a Tank Company for Late War if the LRDG did not work out. Panzer 4’s, Panthers, and Sturmtigers are exactly what I am in the mood to paint (as opposed to the piles of 40k sitting around gathering dust).

Sturmtiged may be a bit of a problem to find, but I don't think you'll be disappointed when it comes to Panzer IV's and V's!

^this, a Panzer IV army is a cracking starter, grab three boxes of PSC Panzer IV's (15 tanks in total). Giving you HQ of 2, and two Platoons of 4 and one platoon of 5, total cost £50.

HQ 2 x PANZER IV

5 x PANZER IV 1st Platoon
4 x PANZER IV 2nd Platoon
4 x PANZER IV 3rd Platoon

Then divide your HQ into two and add one to 2nd and 3rd Platoon = Bingo 3 x Full Platoons!!!!!!!!!! (A SOLID LIST for 1350 and leaves alot of points for extra's if you are playing 1750 or 2000 pts.

Round out the force with Arty/ Recon/ Small infantry section, whole army for just under £70. Bargain.

Also check out this article. It might help

http://www.wwpd.net/2012/07/raiding-forces-long-range-desert-group.html

Or just take British Commandos as the basis and add some tanks.