A not quite in depth article on the uses of strategy and tactics in the Star Wars Roleplaying Game.
This article is to prime players of the SWC on the various tactics used to achieve military objectives. And while it shall cover a broad area, it will not guarantee a victory, nor shall it cover every situation. Those who read this article shall find useful military tactics for use in the Tactical side of the SWC. Hopefully I shall not be the only person adding to this. I have a good deal of Tactical and Strategic Wargaming experience, and have read a great many books on the subject of strategy and tactical thought. So I think I may enlighten some of you... I am shall we say... EVIL. Yes, that would be the term for it. I quite simply have a nasty, sneaky, and devious side that has only been shown so far in the Kelada boarding operations... Now on to a small, but hopefully not for long, primer on...
Boarding operations can be broken down into several smaller steps. Failing to follow the basic steps can, and will, lead to utter failure.
Determine the troops available, and the transport capacity of the fleet. Without this first step you will fail, due in no small part to overestimation of transport capacity. When determining the troops available, also determine the exact types of troops, and their numbers. As has been found at Kelada, even the NR GM has no idea how many troops are Army, and how many are Navy. This is a problem.
Determine what equipment is available to the troops that will be involved. Failure to determine the load out of troops will have a the effect of seriously hampering the attempt. Basic equipment load outs should include basic armor, side arms, long arms, grenades of various types, squad level deployment of repeating weapons, cutting equipment, medkits, breath masks, glo-rods, and security bypass kits. This is a bare bones load out.
If you expect heavy resistance, then deploy heavy weapons at either the squad or platoon level. At this level stun gas should be considered a heavy weapon.
Determine an area of weakness, if none can be determined create one. If there is a hanger bay on the vessel being boarded, it is a weak point. It allows greater access to troop deployment, and increased threat of attack to other areas of the ship. This area WILL be heavily defended. Suppression of defensive troops should be the priority. Other areas of weakness are airlocks, since an airlock can be forced.
A note about airlock boardings. Since it is a known weak point, the access corridors around any airlock will tend to be another defensive focal point.
And finally, when in doubt create an entrance. Plasma Torch Boarding devices are specifically designed with this tactic in mind. They allow you to create an entry point which the defenders will have very little time to respond defensively to.
Any entry point must be reinforced. The operational tempo must not ebb, or the boarding troops may get bogged down, or taken out. If you can't send reinforcements steadily then casualties will mount. The first group into any entry point is attempting to create a 'beach head' on the ship. All further reinforcements should be to any 'beach heads' that have formed.
Kelada is a perfect example of this failing.
Make sure you send enough troops with the initial wave to secure a reinforcement 'zone'. Without the ability to hold a secure entry point to the vessel you will find that men/women are thrown into firefights as soon as they arrive. This will increase your casualty rates far above acceptable levels.
Don't give the enemy enough time to set up static defenses. Static defenses are the hardest target to take down in an infantry battle, which any boarding operation is. Static defenses not only reduce enemy casualties, but increase the overall firepower against attacking troops.
Kelada once again shows this to be true. 20 minutes is more than enough time to set up defenses inside of a ship. And also to take other precautions necessary to remove critical information from systems, and to sabotage other systems. If the enemy knows that it is a loosing battle, they will damage or destroy as much equipment as possible before surrendering.
Thank you for looking over the first installment of the Strategy and Tactics discussion. Further articles will be brought forward as time, and battles show their need.
GM Kris Lewison, SWI Military GM