what mix of forces do you use in PBEM?

[Marek_Tucan]

I try to get a realistic composition and I everytime forget one-two things to buy (like ammo trucks or MANPADS teams etc))
I haven't played all that lot of PBEM games, but usually I follow the pattern of equivalent units of tanks and infantry (meaning size). I also try not to have lots of arty and as on-board I often prefer SP mortars.
I don't use on-boards long range SAM's.
In one WW2 PBEM (small sale) I played I got a total of four light tanks and two 47mm AT-Guns (OK, since it was 1938 Czechoslovakia vs. Germany, LT-35 was still a tank compared to Panzer IIIa) and a lot of infantry (tried to play it realistically) against a German juggernaut of MANY Panzers. Ended up as draw though I lost no tank and last remaining Panzers were hiding between the village houses, praying for mercy But it was a short game and I didn't have time for counterattack.

[Cavalry_Scout]

Agree that the mix depends on the players. Some are hardcore realists, others want to use misc. systems and units, some like to experiment.

There are the acts of a scoundrel however!!

Buying a battalion of snipers would certainly qualify!!

I did once play an opponent who demanded that SAM's and AAA be severly restricted, then he flooded the battlefield with airmobile infantry. What a rat!!

Seems that some people favor restrictions on weapons that they have not learned to deal with.

I personally don't really care what an opponent purchases; most of the time it is a learning experience anyway.

Helo gunships are deadly in the later years. One has to use terrain in movement, and not neglect air defense.

But infra-red vision is also nasty when one is one the receiving end.

Don't quite agree with Mobhack's denial of special forces in PBEM, within reason, airborne in meeting engagements, and rather strict limitations on engineers.

Though again, If I use the above, I don't mind if they are used against me.

[narwan]

My preferences are for no snipers at all or if the opponent insist on having some, at most 1 per infantry type company.
Also, I prefer no (gunship) helicopters. I personally feel that both snipers and gunships are somewhat outside the scope of the game and not very well modelled compared to other elements of the game.

Scout, AT, mg and other infantry support teams a max of 1 section per company if none are provided in the company itself.
Except for ATGM's, if you want those, buy a company that has them. These weapons aren't/weren't nearly as common on the battlefield as many a PBEM game would have you believe.

My opponents can get as much arty as they want. For more modern games in particular the increased ranges of artillery and C3I inprovements make it possible for a lot of artillery to be concentrated in a small area fairly quickly. If my opponent wants to 'waste' his points on lots of arty, let him do so.

I do prefer limits on ammo units though. Ammo carriers and Buratino's for example make for a bad (balance wise) combo.

I don't mind some mixing of types of forces. There are many conceivable instances where such a thing could happen on the battlefield.
Nor do I mind cut & pasting companies. It is quite likely that at the moment of combat companies are not fully up to their TO&E (maintenance problems, acidents, previous combar losses, not fully mobilised or simply not fille dto the required strength due to manpower shortages) or have been reorganized (into combined arms formations for example).

Narwan

[Flyboy]

I generally propose a 10% limit on arty for PBEM games (includes CAS and attack helos). Keeps things balanced, and avoids massively unrealistic arty components (like 20 batteries of 203mm supporting a single tank company).

Of course, that's for a mtg-engagement. For an assault, I find that 20% for the attacked, 10% for the defender works well.

I guess I'm more concerned with game balance than realism.

[Pepper]

I like limiting non-organic arty, snipers and air support. No more than 10% attached arty, no more than [x] non-organic snipers (depending on points -- for 20,000 point batallion size conflict I find 5-10 non-organic snipers OK), and I really have found games more enjoyable if you limit the air to 1 or 2 airstrikes. Even 2 airstrikes (i.e. 4 heavy attack helos) can be quite devestating in the later years. I enjoy the modeling of scouting, tactical maneuvering and broad strategy more interesting than floating a gunship at the back above some ammo trucks and then blasting anything that moves with a TOW 2-B.

That said, I've got a few open slots -- anyone wanna play?

[Skirmisher]

I like to play smaller battles with limited points. This forces the purchasers to make hard decisions about what equipment to purchase. It also makes it intersting when you dont have enough troops to cover the whole map. More tough decisions.

As far as what I purchase its always a mix. Artillery,Im partial to rocket arty,but I dont always use it. Air is usually limited to 1 or 2 in games I play. Or none at all.
Armor. I usually buy some of the best tanks availible in any given situation. I generally like to buy a decent amount of infantry,then some enginners and /or para's.
I usually buy some aa guns and other gear like mg units,maybe inf sams in a more air oriented game. I like some AT or ATGM infantry. I dont usually buy mech infantry,but not always.