Post by gadge on Jul 8, 2010 11:51:31 GMT -5
I've noticed a glut of threads latley along the lines of
"i'm putting together my first impression I want to be Waffen SS Recconasiance officer in the most obscure unit I can find..."
Or similar.
So I thought it might be a good idea to summarise some of the responses in one thread and hopefully be able to direct folk here.
First of all, its a game its your game. For all i care you can be a mongolian naval parachute infantry brigadier for all i care (I'm unlikely to run into you on site across the pond)... but it does in some ways detract from others games.
Heres why:
one: In many games and battles the officers are usually the organisers. This makes sense as they *usually* have a lot of experience, they know how to get guys moving as they are often site orperators or team captains. They also know the full scenario for both sides so can subtly direct the battle to have more action. If *you* look like an officer as a general player you're quite likely to have folk come to you and expect guidance.
At best you might be able to help , at worst you'll stuff up the scenario!
two: Officers lead men into battle... its not rocket science to work out that you need men with you for a credible officer impression. So an officer without at least half a dozen guys in his unit looks daft. Ideally you want one for every 30 guys playing.. if you're doing it *and* the site organiser then it starts to look silly. A worst case scenario is every other guy with pips on his shoulders!
So really get a group togehter with mates first and when you've got ten of you into it.. then think about being a leutnant... not a major or colonel a leutnant will do the job amply
Three: Its actually difficult to lead men in a skirmish well. Some of the best officers in airsoft have actually at the very least been soldiers in real life and know the skills of small unit tactics, ground appraisal and have the ability to issue concise and useful orders.
"follow me" or " you guys run to those trees!" just doesnt cut it.
You dont *have* to have been a soldier but i've generally found those *desperate* to be officers are usually the least suited to do the job... they tend to be more interested in looking sartorially elegant than actually putting a good plan of attack together or maintaining cohesion.
Four: Its damn expensive. Putting togehter a *good* riflemans impression is costly enough. Now consider that officers actually had clothing allowances and had tailored uniforms. looking right wil cost you a lot more than a private and thats not good for a first impression. Officers did have the option of wearing 'off the stores' other ranks kit in the field (and the clever ones did to be less visible to snipers) but its still better to get a good set of riflemans basics togehter first... which leads me onto....
Five: There is a crippling shortage of basic heer riflemen. Everybody wants to be special, everyone wants to be an elite underwater knifefighting panzer commando from the panzer lehrs elite airborne company.
Nobody wants to be in the 358th infantry division as its not sexy enough..? consider the vast majority of german troops were enlisted men in field grey, with steel helmets.... thats a pretty cool look anyway IMO. What will really make you stand out (and trust me on this) is even a small number of guys dressed as a UNIT.
And the more basic the unit the more impact the uniformity has...and not only do you look great but you get a sense of team spirit and it also makes the oppostion wary of you as you look like you've got it together. While i'm loathe to load this post with pictures... check this - basic infantry units with no special smocks... just wool and webbing... and it looks great.
So rant over, these are just my opinions and personal preferences but it does seem to be the case from my experience of running and reporting on games in the UK and reading about those in the states that nobody actually wants to be a regular landser!
"i'm putting together my first impression I want to be Waffen SS Recconasiance officer in the most obscure unit I can find..."
Or similar.
So I thought it might be a good idea to summarise some of the responses in one thread and hopefully be able to direct folk here.
First of all, its a game its your game. For all i care you can be a mongolian naval parachute infantry brigadier for all i care (I'm unlikely to run into you on site across the pond)... but it does in some ways detract from others games.
Heres why:
one: In many games and battles the officers are usually the organisers. This makes sense as they *usually* have a lot of experience, they know how to get guys moving as they are often site orperators or team captains. They also know the full scenario for both sides so can subtly direct the battle to have more action. If *you* look like an officer as a general player you're quite likely to have folk come to you and expect guidance.
At best you might be able to help , at worst you'll stuff up the scenario!
two: Officers lead men into battle... its not rocket science to work out that you need men with you for a credible officer impression. So an officer without at least half a dozen guys in his unit looks daft. Ideally you want one for every 30 guys playing.. if you're doing it *and* the site organiser then it starts to look silly. A worst case scenario is every other guy with pips on his shoulders!
So really get a group togehter with mates first and when you've got ten of you into it.. then think about being a leutnant... not a major or colonel a leutnant will do the job amply
Three: Its actually difficult to lead men in a skirmish well. Some of the best officers in airsoft have actually at the very least been soldiers in real life and know the skills of small unit tactics, ground appraisal and have the ability to issue concise and useful orders.
"follow me" or " you guys run to those trees!" just doesnt cut it.
You dont *have* to have been a soldier but i've generally found those *desperate* to be officers are usually the least suited to do the job... they tend to be more interested in looking sartorially elegant than actually putting a good plan of attack together or maintaining cohesion.
Four: Its damn expensive. Putting togehter a *good* riflemans impression is costly enough. Now consider that officers actually had clothing allowances and had tailored uniforms. looking right wil cost you a lot more than a private and thats not good for a first impression. Officers did have the option of wearing 'off the stores' other ranks kit in the field (and the clever ones did to be less visible to snipers) but its still better to get a good set of riflemans basics togehter first... which leads me onto....
Five: There is a crippling shortage of basic heer riflemen. Everybody wants to be special, everyone wants to be an elite underwater knifefighting panzer commando from the panzer lehrs elite airborne company.
Nobody wants to be in the 358th infantry division as its not sexy enough..? consider the vast majority of german troops were enlisted men in field grey, with steel helmets.... thats a pretty cool look anyway IMO. What will really make you stand out (and trust me on this) is even a small number of guys dressed as a UNIT.
And the more basic the unit the more impact the uniformity has...and not only do you look great but you get a sense of team spirit and it also makes the oppostion wary of you as you look like you've got it together. While i'm loathe to load this post with pictures... check this - basic infantry units with no special smocks... just wool and webbing... and it looks great.
So rant over, these are just my opinions and personal preferences but it does seem to be the case from my experience of running and reporting on games in the UK and reading about those in the states that nobody actually wants to be a regular landser!
