sides and squads

Webby has already prepared an Org chart for the Allies. Webby?

It's up for interpretation at the moment, I think it's prolly best sorting it on the day to be honest.

OOOh, Me US RO,
Carly US medic

OK, so we have even sides which is nice, so how are we wanting to organise the squads.

Given the nature of a large portion of the day the organisation wants to be practical, and similar on either side I think.

We could attempt to use real squad structures, if doing that then I would suggest two 'under-strength squads' of 8-10 players (if we get a booking of one or two more)

these would then be split into respective teams for ease of command for whoever is appointed squad leaders.

A more 'airsoft friendly playable' alternative is to just use 4 teams of 4-5 players.

Carly is only the medic in the last scenario though isn't she?

Are you wanting to have all 3 of us in the command section of the US?

I was thinking 2 fireteams for the US, each with their respective TLs, its then up to the TLs how the split their teams into 1 or 2 squads for respective tasks.

Overall command is with the CO, but orders are issued to the TLs by the NCOs

Yeah only in the last scenario, I have medic bags and a red cross to issue to her

For the Germans I was thinking 2, 8 man squads for the Germans plus Dean and a runner.
I take command of 1 squad and find a 'volunteer' for the second. We then pick a 2iC for each squad to take over if the leader goes down or to command the second half of the squad if the leader decided to split it.
I would aim to split the squads into either a 5 man rifle (1IC +4men) and a 3 man support (2iC+ MG & MG support) team if we have an MG in the squad or 2, 4 man fire teams if not as required.

There is a reason the german method is still used today; it works.

I'd suggest you stick with Dean in HQ as his 2IC and find someone else to lead the squad you had in mind. You can always take over command of any squad at any time, but it leaves you free to oversee things if needed.

It's what we have planned for the allies. Me, Webby and Craig will not be the leaders of squads.

Well, we may need to make that decision on the day, as it stands, to have an HQ element of 3 people is going to leave the US squads short handed if we have additional squad leaders

I think they'll be okay... and anyway just because Craig and you are in HQ doesn't mean you won't be spending most of the time with the squads anyway! It just means we're more flexible.

Yup, we can always communicate with you via me on the handie talkie

I'd suggest you stick with Dean in HQ as his 2IC and find someone else to lead the squad you had in mind. You can always take over command of any squad at any time, but it leaves you free to oversee things if needed.

That is just what Dean said. I Dean is back at the rear line organising fortifications, then you will be at the forward post organising the defence. If a patrol goes out you should not be leading it - that is what minions are for.

I think they'll be okay... and anyway just because Craig and you are in HQ doesn't mean you won't be spending most of the time with the squads anyway! It just means we're more flexible.

Up to now I had assumed that I was just a regular player in this game on the day. I'm not sure if three people might be too many for the HQ

As I said... on paper you may be the "runner" or whatever, but in reality you may well be with a squad most of the time.

Sticking you in the same squad all the time reduces our flexibility...

That is just what Dean said. I Dean is back at the rear line organising fortifications, then you will be at the forward post organising the defence. If a patrol goes out you should not be leading it - that is what minions are for.

In the German army NCOs are expected to lead by example, if I believe a patrol requires my presence I will lead it. If I don't take personal command of a squad then that leaves either Dean without a runner or one squad a man short with the current numbers.

I think the thing to remember here is that you are an organiser for this event, not a player. Hence although you will definitely get to do some shooting time your main purpose is to make sure everything goes well and to support Dean whilst he's doing the same.

You can't do this if you're permanently attached to leading a single squad. However there's nothing to say that you can't temporarily take command of a squad when needed.

Being in HQ does not mean permanently staying at the back in all the scenarios, it just means that you're a lot more in the know about what is going on and a lot more flexible. Which is what an organiser needs to be!

Yes Yith is right,

OK the best bet is that we keep the organisers in the HQ as officers and runners and organise the 'squad' structure totally discounting we organisers. We will be allocated tasks by the officer - if that is commanding a defence, reporting to him on the situation or just ordering one squad to withdraw to another position

In which case I suggest we organise the side with a series of teams, each composed of 4-5 players that the commander commits as he desires, under the command of one of us if wanted, to accomplish the objectives that he has to.

That way there is enough flexibility for the commander to make tactical decisions, the 'elements' he is commanding are of a good size for players to be able to command, and the situation will be dynamic enough for the NCOs to be required.

Yes it sacrifices some historical accuracy in the composition of units, but it is required to make a fun, dynamic game for all the players.

Agreed, as NCOs we can offer presence, and perhaps the runner to the CO and squads, without being drawn out into full combat.