So, I've been trying to figure out the point of tank riders.

I keep looking at the low movement rates for things like the Sturmprinz, and I ask myself "why would you hitch a ride on this thing when it moves no faster than you can walk?"  Heck, the Sturmprinz actually moves slower than some Axis units (zombies, Sturmpionere, apes).

I mean, riding around inside a vehicle, I can totally understand, since it protects your squishy infantry units from infantry meat grinders like the Devil's Own.  But riding around outside a vehicle where you can still get shot at?  Why do that?

Well, I was reviewing the rules again today, and realization dawned on me.  The rules state that "When a unit riding a vehicle is activated, it can use any skills or take any actions available to it." (Operation Hades, pg. 12)

So, if I'm understanding that correctly, if you had, say, a Laser-Jagdgrenadiere unit riding on a Sturmprinz, the Sturmprinz could move two spaces on its turn, then, when the L-Jagds are activated, they could do a sustained attack against any foes within their range.

If that's the case, then vehicles that allow tank riding suddenly became a whole lot more appealing to me!

Thats the way I understood it also.

Tank riders get technically free movement for the vehicle they are on so they can get a sustained attack.

The only question I have is: how does Line of Sight works for a squad riding a tank? Do they have normal infantry LOS, or do they gain vehicle LOS? Meaning, can they see over other troops or tank traps, like the vehicle they're riding can?

Loophole Master said:

Good question!

Which raises another question in my mind: On a vehicle that takes up multiple squares, which square is the unit considered to occupy for determining LOS?  All of them?  Or a specific one?

It also made me think of a way for squads to get a free square of movement.  It works like this:

(1) There is a two-square long vehicle directly in front of a squad with a movement speed of 1.

(2) Squad spends one MOVE action to board the vehicle from the rear.

(3) Squad spends a second MOVE action to exit the vehicle from the front.

(4) The squad now has moved three spaces when it would normally be able to only move two spaces in a turn.

I would take the added height as one of the advantages of riding such a vehicle.

If i remember correctly you can't get in and then disembark a vehicle in the same activation.

Lska said:

That would make sense, but I looked in the carrying capacity rules in Cerebus and I don't see that restriction in there.

Well it's stated in operation Hades PDF in the rules for tank riders. That's strange BTW. So you can do that manuver with normal carry capacity but not with the tank riders?

I got an official answer long ago stating that you cannot enter and exit a vehicle in the same turn, which seems like a good rule IMO. So just extend that official rule about Tank Riders to normal Carry Capacity.

But the issue of which square the squad is firing from is an interesting one. The tank can fire each of its weapons from a different square, so can we also assume that the squad can spread itself across the tank and have the bazooka firing from the front square and the guns firing from the back square?

Well i would say that is logic, especially after reports that new german troop transports only take 2 squares.

Realistically, any tank riders would be at the rear using the turret as cover and not in the way of the tank weapons shooting, let alone getting knocked off by a rotating gun barrel.

Major Mishap said:

Any argument trying to apply realism to Dust Tactics tends to fall apart very quickly, unfortunately…

I'd say that, since tank riders can take damage no matter where the vehicle gets shot, they should be able to draw LOS from any square that the vehicle occupies.

Kriegschatten said:

Agreed.

Lska said:

Makes total sense, since it's on the exact same chassis as the Konigluther/sturmkonig

SeismicShock said:

How does that make sense? The Konigluther/sturmkonig takes 4 squares.

Despite the "press shots" showing otherwise, I believe FFG will rule any vehicle that does not have a base and is larger then one square will be treated like the Konigluther and Strumkionig and be made to occupy Four Squares, not two.

Even the SSU tanks do not perfectly fit in two squares they hang over a good bit.