Ideal size of a VSF army???

[Sterling Moose]

You can never have too much VSF.......................or was that Zombies?  Anyway the same applies.

[Malamute]

Ray,

That's certainly about right for the type of Gaslight games we have played over the years.

We usually have three infantry for every piece of steam tech, you could  also add an MG and crew or artillery piece/lightning gun.

remember too for every piece of steam tech such as a walker, tank, impervious suit, the opposition will need something to be able to take it out, otherwise your game will be unbalanced.

As you have now listed your force, I feel it appropriate to ask for a group photo  

[Froggy the Great]

Well, I know that the proper size of my Hinterland army is one more large Aeronef, a unit of sailors, someone please kill me now before I build again, and maybe another unit of Cytherian lizardfolk.

And someone's getting a unit of robotic cavalry.  Not sure yet.

[joroas]

I always admire Matakishi's single-minded approach to an army.........................

[Ray Rivers]

We usually have three infantry for every piece of steam tech, you could  also add an MG and crew or artillery piece/lightning gun.

remember too for every piece of steam tech such as a walker, tank, impervious suit, the opposition will need something to be able to take it out, otherwise your game will be unbalanced.

Ah ha!

That was what I was looking for. So a 3 to 1 ratio.  How about characters, about the same?

As you have now listed your force, I feel it appropriate to ask for a group photo  

Not quite finished with my Yanks yet. Still need one more infantry unit and a dynamite gun. The plan is to finish these and then I'll post a final "Here they are folks!"

Boy, has this taken time to put together... 

[watchtower78]

If you were using When the Navy Walked rules you would need at least two units of 12 each, a commander and a piece of steam tech though the game allows for a good deal more units. I find that people seem to like the 3:1, 6:2, 12:2(3) ratio in their games for VSF for steamtech as compared to infantry.

[Ray Rivers]

Well... here is my force list for my Yankee Army:

American Forces

Phil Sheriton, General Commanding, US Expeditionary Force, Venus

Seagram's Brigade, Col. George Seagram commanding

-The Boston Guard
-1st US Regulars
-Gatling gun

The Swamp Brigade, Col. Jack Daniels commanding

-1st Louisiana Volunteer Zouves (Coloured)
-2nd Louisiana Volunteer Zouves (Coloured)
-Dynamite Gun ***

New Albany Legion, Maj. Edward Glennfiddich commanding ***

-1st New Albany (Venus) Infantry
-2nd New Albany (Venus) Infantry ***
-New Albany (Venus) Volunteer Lancers

US Expeditionary Cavalry Brigade, Col. Jim Beam commanding

-7th North Carolina Volunteer Dragoons
-Two "Jeb Stupart" light steam tanks

Unattached:

-Aeronef USS Blunderbuss

So here is the question:  Is it balanced? I have an Army Commander and 4 Brigade Commanders as "characters." Is that too much?

[Froggy the Great]

Your force organization is whatever you say it is.

My Confederates take issue with your having a NC group in the north, and will happily meet you on the field to settle this difference of opinion on the blood-soaked earth.

You're in California or something, aren't you.  Poo.

[Malamute]

Looks pretty balanced to me Ray

hmmm....Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Edward Glennfiddich? I see a pattern forming here
Anyone would think you ran a bar

[Ray Rivers]

Cheers Nick!

A bar... heaven forbid! 

Don't forget Seagram's... another great Yank Whiskey! 

[Ray Rivers]

You're in California or something, aren't you.  Poo.

A tad east of there... Spain. 

[Mason]

Looking forward to seeing these boys!

I like the composition and appreciate the posting of this question as I am about to embark myself (with a few others who's arms I have twisted!) into the murky world of VSF.
I was wondering what would be an appropriate balance and was just going with what 'felt' right at first.
Nice to get the opinion of the more experienced.
Thank you all!

A lot in common though between those 2 places...sunshine, wine, architecture.

They have both heard of Arnold Schwarzenegger? Struggling now....

They arte both warmer than where I am sitting!

[Red Orc]

I was asking some similar questions a while back, and garnered a lot of very useful responses. They relate particularly to GASLIGHT and Battles By GASLIGHT (so forces may be slightly larger than if you're using Froggy's FUBAR-VSF expansion for instance). Anyway, here are the threads that I found particularly useful:

Thread by me about GASLIGHT forces

Questions by Fjodin about GASLIGHT forces

Old thread about a GASLIGHT convention game

Off-hand, I can also remember that my VSF army contains...

2x10 standard infantry units
1x10 elite rifle unit (higher shooting stat) - this unit has a special-tech weapon
1x10 elite assault unit (higher combat stats) - this unit has a special-tech weapon

2x heroic officer types
1x heroic NCO in experimental battlesuit

2x armoured steam walkers
1x armoured steam tank

and my plans are to add another infantry unit, then I'm hoping to get another couple of heroic characters.

[Mason]

Thanks for the links, Red Orc! 

[Red Orc]

 

No worries. Two of the great things about LAF are that there are lots of helpful people here, and also many questions have already been asked over the years. It behoves those of us who asked advice when we were starting off to then pass that advice on to those who came after us.

And thus the circle of life that is the Crazy World of VSF renews itself eternally...