Starting Detachments: SD, ARPA, NKVD

[gnomesofzurich]

I'm just starting out with the game, and my first purchase should be on its way next week.

I wanted to present the lists I've come up with, and see what people think.

ARPA Tank Detachment (very close to what was presented in OtW 11; 9 models plus 1 tank)
Elite: ARPA Field Mechanic
Regular: Buffalo (M1919)
Regular: GI Sergeant (Technician)
Green: GI Squad (one with rifle grenades)
Green: Sacrificed to upgrade the Veteran slot to Elite
Green: GI T.E.G. Squad (any word on when a GI model with a Tesla gun is being released?), or possibly Robot Troopers
Vehicle: Tumbleweed (T.E.G.)
Special Orders: Keep Moving

I figured I would rather have a few more bodies on the table than the War Hero on the Sergeant, which is why I went with the Technician. I like the GI Tesla squad, the low RC score matters less with autohits from the template, as long as they can get close enough to the action to use it.

SD Experimental Detachment (15 models)
Elite: Wehrmacht Officer (Scientist)
Veteran: Rohlingsoldat (M42)
Regular: Sturmaffe
Regular: Feuersoldat
Regular: Rohlingsoldat (Panzerschreck)
Green: Abgezhertsoldat
Green: Abgezhertsoldat
Green: Abgezhertsoldat
Special Orders: Coordinate Attack

This is a "go big or go home" list, with lots of abominations. I wanted to use all of the ones available in the main book, and give them a chance to shine.
Edit: Another option would be to go with the Mad Dokter and give him the Natural Leader hero type, but I decided I would rather have more models on the board for this detachment than the ability to Inoculate. I imagine I will test it out both ways when I have the opportunity.


NKVD Command Detachment (7 models plus 1 Jeep)
Elite: Psi Officer (Clouded Minds, War Hero)
Veteran: Psi Officer (Remove Fear, Latent Psi: Clouded Minds)
Veteran: Telekinetic
Regular: Psi Commandos (PPSh-41)
Regular: Psi-Cannon Team
Vehicle: Jeep
Special Orders: Anti-Tank Grenades, Stragglers

This detachment would operate in two groups, with the Psi Officers and Psi Commandos working together, and the Telekinetic and Psi-Cannon Team riding in the Jeep, giving them mobility to bring the Psi-Cannons to bear against problem units. Couple of questions concerning this one:
-Can anyone recommend a suitable Russian Jeep model to use for this detachment?
-Would the Soviet Special Edition test sculpt be a reasonable model to use for the Telekinetic?

I don't actually have the Occult expansion book yet (it's been ordered, should be on its way to me next week, along with my first batch of models), but the Tumbleweed looks cool, and from what I've read on the forum, the Telekinetic sounds like it should be a good fit to protect the Psi-Cannon Team and the Jeep. I also plan to make an ROA detachment, but will have to wait on the rules to build a detachment.

The one area I'm really unsure of is my Special Orders selections, particularly for the Command detachment. The Anti-Tank Grenades order was selected to give an option against heavy armour, and Stragglers to delay a problem unit from getting on the field, but I would be interested to hear other suggestions.

Any comments and suggestions would be appreciated!

[gnomesofzurich]

I realized that my NKVD Command detachment isn't legal, as it doesn't have enough Infantry/Specialist/Support units.

Alternate (legal) take on it:
Elite: Psi Officer (Clouded Minds)
Veteran: Soviet Officer (Latent Psi - Clouded Minds)
Veteran: Telekinetic
Regular: Psi-Cannon Team
Regular: Starshina (Latent Psi - Clouded Minds)
Vehicle: Jeep
Special Orders: Anti-Tank Grenades, Stragglers

Same basic idea, three (instead of four) man unit (Psi Officer, Soviet Officer and Starshina) with Clouded Minds, while the Telekinetic and Psi-Cannon Team ride in the Jeep.

[skorzeny]

Just me, but I'd get some regular infantry into both the Soviet and German detachments. Monsters and psionics are fun, but it always helps to have some normal shooty models on the table too.

[gnomesofzurich]

Jun 21, 2010 23:16:15 GMT -5 skorzeny said:

Just me, but I'd get some regular infantry into both the Soviet and German detachments. Monsters and psionics are fun, but it always helps to have some normal shooty models on the table too.

I can see your point.

How about the following (added advantage for the German one is that I can build it with the models I have on order):

SD Experimental Detachment (11 models)
Elite: Officer
Veteran: Mad Doktor (Scientist)
Regular: Wehrmacht
Regular: Rohlingsoldat (MG42)
Regular: Feuersoldat
Regular: Sturmaffe
Green: Sacrificed to upgrade a Green selection to Regular
Green: Abgezhertsoldat

It doesn't add a lot of regular shooting models, but the Officer, Wehrmacht and Rohlingsoldat can all lay down some fire, so that's a bit of an improvement over what I have in their now.

I've been trying to decide what to do with the NKVD detachment. I like the idea of the Psi-Cannon/Telekinetic team in the Jeep (which would then require an Elite Psi Officer), but I'm not sure what to do with the remaining two slots.