- - - - - - - - - - - INTRODUCTION - - - - - - - - - - The mech clans are articulated into mobile battle units, with a great destructive warfare as projection forces and substitute of the old conventional armies.
The effectiveness of a clan mech can vary between nine (9) to nineteen (19) squads, considering any larger battle group as one that will lose maneuvering and operational status
Sometimes, a congregation of clans can become as true armies led under a single Flag. These forces are known as Factions.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I. SIZE CLASSIFICATION: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
According to their effectiveness, the clans can be classified in:
A. ARMY DIVISION:
Large tactical units composed of 14 to 16 squads.
B. BATTALION:
Medium tactical units composed of 9 to 13 squads.
C. COMPANY:
Small units (unable to join the Senate tournaments) typically composed of 2 to 8 squads.
D. SQUAD:
Is the smaller projection unit that constitutes the basis of any other Force. A squad can make a tiny clan, but this is not the standard. It is composed of two mechs as the smaller one and as much as 36 mechs for the larger elite Squads. Typical squads go around fifteen to twenty mechs.
From these groups, the most efficient and skilled constitute the army division and battalion, capable to summon a high enough number of squads like to join the Senate Tournaments in preparation to fight the waves of the scourge menacing the Galaxy by training and polishing their skills and tactics for combat during the maneuvers known as Clan Wars.
Some consider that the Senate made the competitions not just to keep them ready to fight possible enemies, but also to keep them entertained and away from any attempt of a coup against the own Senate and their allies.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - II. STRENGH CLASSIFICATION: - - - - - - - - - - - -
When using as reference their strength or projection power, the clans can be classified as:
1. ELITE / MIGHTY: every member is a tank that will rush with the enemy, no matter who.
2. VETERAN: every member is very good skilled and geared as to give a harsh battle.
3. BALANCED: There is a reasonable balance between the strong and weaker components.
4. HOLLOW: While the clan may have strong components, it keeps also important vulnerabilities.
5. ROOKIE: A new trainee clan that still below the standard clans.
- - - - - - - - - III. TACTICS/FORMATIONS CLASSIFICATION: - - - - - - - -
Each clan, well an Army Division or a Battalion, uses different tactics and formations in which they train and polish their ways to march towards the battle, always looking for the highest possible success.
Some of those techniques can be summarized in the following groups:
1. BATTLEGROUP (aka BLOCK)
2. PHALANX (aka FRONTASSAULT)
3. LINE (aka FRONTLINE, WALL)
4. WEDGE (aka VIC, VEE, FLYING V, ARROW)
5. SPEAR (aka LANCE, SWORD)
6. HAMMER (aka VANGUARD)
7. ECHELON (aka OUTFLANK)
8. ANTIPODE (aka SMOKESCREEN)
9. CLOUD (aka SWARM, MOB)
We will see how works each formation. Some samples will be show with random numbers just to show the placement of the different squad levels.
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1. THE BATTLEGROUP (AKA BLOCK)
A Battlegroup or block deploys the force into a compact square or circle, what includes all the force mass.
It contains a balanced amount of squads for each level bracket in a regular spread and ordered with a homogeneous pattern.
A bad performed Battlegroup becomes called Cloud, Swarm or Mob (see the last formation)
Frontward
150 . . . 150 . . . 150 . . . 150 . . .
120 . . . 120 . . . 120 . . . 120
100 . . . 100 . . . 100 . . . 100 . . .
70 . . . . 70 . . . . . 70 . . . . 70
Backward
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2. THE PHALANX:
A phalanx is a rectangular mass military formation that include the total number of fight units in a single formation, usually composed entirely of heavy armored units
History and etymology: Originated in the Ancient Greek Warfare, the Phalanx (whose name comes from the word phalangos=finger) was constituted by armored infantry formations, that could deploy in some columns or lines during the battle to offer a long battlefront.
This battle formation relay in the strength of balance, keeping to eradicate any vulnerability or hole, by opposing to the enemy a regular line or rectangle of equally skilled mech squads.
Deploy in the ground:
Frontward
150 . . . 150 . . . 150 . . . 150 . . . 150 . . . 150 . . . 150 . . . 150
100 . . . 100 . . . 100 . . . 100 . . . 100 . . . 100 . . . 100 . . . 100
Backward
Phalanx is a dangerous formation; typically adopted by Stalker Clans (aka Campers), Clans that keep polishing their skills and loading more strength rather than invest in upgrades.
But Phalanx can be equally deadly, if not more, when deployed by the top elite Clans.
PROS:
- This formation is balanced, making hardest to the enemy Intel to detect the vulnerable points without a deeper analysis.
- When the strength was high and equal for all the components of a Phalanx,
CONS:
- Vulnerable to piercing formations as Wedge or Antipode Phalanx.
- The Division assigned will be always rigged for them, as they won’t have flexibility to choose their “own field” to battle.
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3. LINE (aka FRONTLINE , WALL):
The line formation is a standard tactical formation used in early modern warfare. It is an evolution of the Phalanx formation or shield wall, in use since the older antiquity.
The line formation can provided the best frontage for volley fire, while sacrificing maneuverability and defense against fast pierce units, or when there is a need to protect a wide area to offer a long battlefront.
Frontward
100 . . . 100 . . . 100 . . . 100 . . . 100 . . . 100 . . . 100 . . . 100
Backward
PROS:
- This formation is balanced, making hardest to the enemy Intel to detect the vulnerable points without a deeper analysis.
- When the strength was high and equal for all the components of a Phalanx, any piercing enemy formation not well built will face serious troubles.
CONS:
- Vulnerable to piercing (and leveled balanced) formations.
- The Division assigned will be always rigged for them, as they won’t have flexibility to choose their “own field” to battle.
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4. WEDGE (AKA FLYING WEDGE, ARROW, VIC, VEE OR V).
This formation deploys the squads in an inverted “V” or triangle to trample and smash through the enemy lines. The V could be a right one, using two piercing points instead one.
The vertex of the V groups the stronger squads, and the wings of the “V” groups the remnant squads, in order of strength. In a right V formation, the vertex will be the weaker squad, placed backward.
Levels Sample: 80, 80, 100, 100, 150, 150, 180, 180, and 200
Deploy in the ground of a standard inverted Vic:
>> Frontward
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 . . . 180 . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 150 . . . . . . . 150 . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80. .
>> Backward
PROS:
- If the clan managed to get most of the arrow vertex piercing the opponent force, the success will be good.
- The weaker squads will get, on success, good prizes to boost them.
CONS:
- The stronger components will usually get underrated prizes.
- The weaker wing components will need to be less than the strong or the Vic formation will collapse, giving more victory points to the enemy.
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5. SPEAR OR LANCE:
The Spear Formation has his squads escalated by levels, including a gradated evolution, from the weaker squad in the backward to the stronger in vanguard, and deployed in lance or spear formation, whose goal is to pierce the enemy forces with a fast penetration through their front lines.
By its shape and tactical goals, is like the Wedge or Vic and the opposite of a line or wall, and relies in its deep piercing power of their top half.
>> Frontward
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
>> Backward
PROS:
- High piercing power when the levels were properly set. (As with the Vic, if the clan managed to get most of the line components piercing the opponent force, the success will be granted)
- The weaker squads will get, on success, good prizes to boost them.
CONS:
- The stronger components might get underrated prizes.
- The weaker spear squads shall be less than the stronger or the formation will be unsuccessful.
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6. ECHELON:
An echelon formation is a usually military formation in which its units are arranged diagonally. Each unit is stationed behind and to the right (a "right echelon"), or behind and to the left ("left echelon"), of the unit ahead, with flanking intentions.
As a possible variant of the Vic formation, the main difference will be that echelon has not a vertex squad from where deploy two wings…
History and etymology: The name of the formation comes from the French word “échelon”, meaning a rung of a ladder, which describes the shape that this formation has when viewed from above or below.
>> Frontward
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 . . .200. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180. . . .180 . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 . . 150. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 . .100. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 . .80. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>> Backward
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7. HAMMER OR VANGUARD:
The hammer is a fusion of the Phalanx and the spear, that strives in a strong head or vanguard group to crush the enemy battle front and a weaker column behind to pursuit the enemy in flee.
The shape
>> Front
. . . . . . 200 . . . 200 . . . 200 . . . 200 . . . . .
. . . . . . 180 . . . 180 . . . 180 . . . 180. . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>> Back
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8. ANTIPODE (AKA SMOKESCREEN)
This trickery but effective formation when used for a strong front force can be quite deadly and will usually give a hell of battle with a high success against standard, casual and MIA enemies.
To a given number of high leveled squads, a lesser amount of sandbags (clone, animatronics or rookie squads usually level 1) is added to deceive the Senate Rule to assign the divisions, making their own average drastically drop into a lower division where their real hitters will usually stomp the lower level enemy.
While the use of this formation can be seen as unsportsmanlike, there are opposed opinions… Or let’s say Antipodes opinions: Many strategists consider the War not as a Game but as a need to achieve victory, and in war, as in love, all is available for them. This view of war is in direct opposition with the Knightly and Gently style of old school honor keepers, but for those who all strive in success, the honor might be seen as an overrated and anachronism valor.
History:
During the Clan Wars of the year 3303, the Clan ITC used this formation reaching a sudden and unexpected success that gave them the Gold in the division 16, breaking bets for many and opening the Pandora Box as more Clans started to use this tactic looking for more success.
Previously to the year 3306 Clan Wars, the College of Judges and Arbiters of the Senate Tournaments changed the rules to calculate the average level, turning out from the average level calculation not one but the two lower level squads from the average level calculation to assign the divisions to the participating clans, making this formation hardest to balance but not disabling it yet.
Etymology:
Antipodes is the diametric opposed spot for a point in the surface of a sphere or planet.
Smokescreen is another descriptive name given as this formation uses a wall of sandbags to cover behind the true fighting strong squads.
Sample:
. . . . . . 200 . . . 200 . . . 200 . . . 200 . .200 . . .
. . . . . . .1 . . . 1. . . 1 . . . . 1 . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . .
REQUIREMENTS:
- The amount of sandbag squads can’t equal or over number the amount of the true squads or any success will automatically fail. Usual patterns are 5/4; 6/4; 6/5; 7/5; 7/6… The more sandbags were added, the more the clan will drop in lower divisions but also the higher risk for the success if the core fighters kept any hollow squad.
- The first two sandbags won’t count into the average level calculation made by the Senate arbiters, so the lesser the sandbags were; the higher the squad will drop, allowing a fight with a greater disadvantage for their enemies.
- The real squads should be unstoppable or strong for a better success, as if they were only standard or even worse: hollow or weak, the higher level will not be enough against lower leveled but stronger forces.
PROS:
- Can give a great advantage, forcing the enemy to battle higher leveled squads, creating an atmosphere of bullying or overwhelming.
- Allows a great ground control of the divisions positioning.
- The sandbags will get extraordinary overrated prizes for their level when the division where they joined was high enough.
CONS:
- The stronger components might get underrated prizes.
- The balance between the strong squads and the sandbags must be carefully built… Too many sandbags will collapse the formation during the battle.
- Your high units must be 100% active during the battle: Since your weak sandbags will automatically be taken as victories for your enemy, if your high squads went MIA your Clan will suffer a sure defeat.
- If the division drop was so big, there will be a risk to be nerfing the prizes. Caution.
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9. CLOUD (SWARM OR MOB).
The common of the formations or non-formations is the Cloud that can be a swarm or a mob according the quality of its units.
It resembles a chaotic pattern of squads not caring on formation built, but just deployed as a cloud of squads marching from all directions against the enemy.
SWARM: I call it Swarm when the Clan is an Elite, Veteran os Balanced one.
MOB: When the clan using the formation is a Hollow or Weak one.
Usually there is no purpose behind this formation but allow anyway in.
Typically, there will be random amount of high, medium and low squads, mixed without apparent pattern.
PROS:
- The freedom speech.
- You won't waste time in plannification.
- Good for casual players.
- Good ground control positioning the chosen division if there were not troubles transferring or dropping out the squads.
CONS:
- Low performance on Clan and Faction Wars (unless some architecture build was used to seat properly the levels).
- For the leader, may be harder to balance the power of its squads due the great instability and level unbalance (unless he doesn't care about squads transfers).
Submitted by Germán Jaramillo # 685605