wld427 1705 Posted April 24, 2017 4 hours ago, C.T said: What's the plan for vehicles...the original green or are you going with any camo versions? So far, it looks to be the original green. yes there is a lot of homage to the original SLA army with primary vehicles wearing the plain light field green. There will also include some variations. Stand by for the next spotlight from Cannonsong. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CannonSong 688 Posted May 7, 2017 After a long break and a semester culminating in a published piece by yours truly in his college literary journal, we bring you the next spotlight! SLA Forces Spotlight“Hit and Run” As US and RACS forces went on the offensive in the 2006 conflict on Sahrani, their rear lines and supply chains fell prey to perhaps the most iconic unit of soldiers in SLA service: the Especas. Today, we take a look at how these clandestine warriors have evolved over the last decade.Who Are They?The SLA Especas Command. “Especas” is a broad term for a number of units under the broader jurisdiction of the SLA that specialize in reconnaissance, sabotage, and clandestine warfare. They’re somewhat comparable to the GRU Spetsnaz of the former USSR, or the United States’ Green Berets, though generally combat-focused and expected to work in concert with- or in support of- more traditional troops.In SLA ServiceAsk any veteran of the 2006 conflict, be they American, RACS, or SLA, and they’ll probably have a story to tell about the Especas. Supply dumps going up in flames far behind lines that were supposedly secure, convoys never reaching their destinations, whole squads cut down by highly accurate fire from positions abandoned long before return fire arrived, the ‘Green Ghosts’ were the boogeymen responsible for every bit of bad luck the forces of South Sahrani faced on their push northwards. These men weren’t the poorly-trained ‘Slags’ their enemies encountered during the early stages of the war; well-trained, highly-disciplined, and unconventional, the Especas held the rare distinction of being respected- and feared- by their opponents, and though many of the forces committed to the fight on Sahrani proper were all but decimated in the short-but-intense campaign, the Especas escaped relatively unscathed.What made the Especas so effective in a war practically defined by the incompetence of their peers is a subject of some debate in military circles today. Whether it was their relative freedom in making tactical decisions in the field, their intense training, or some sort of unnatural good fortune, what was clear at the war’s end was that the Especas were a rarity in the SLA hierarchy: they were something that worked. As such, in the last 11 years, the Especas themselves haven’t changed much.Given they’re comprised of an abnormally-high number of combat veterans compared to the rest of the SLA, Especas soldiers are highly-valued as advisors, trainers, and consultants through the rest of the army. An Infantry or even Guards commander that can call upon the experience of veteran Especas advisors is fortunate indeed, and though much of the Especas Command’s work in the interwar period remains highly classified, their use as trainers is well-documented. The only major change to Especas Command- aside from their increased integration into traditional forces- is the addition of the CTU or Counter Terrorism Unit. This group, comparable to the MVD or a more militant FBI, are a sign of the SLA’s reluctant drift towards a more westernized concept of special forces. Though they’re technically under military command, many of the Especas’ old guard don’t consider the CTU ‘true’ Especas, given their more ‘civilian’ role.Features and Use In-GameThe Especas of the Project RACS SLA Faction are pretty darn similar to the Especas of old, though we’ve been sure to give them plenty of new toys to play with! Along with the classic Especas troops (green berets and all,) we’ve included expanded Recon troops and the aforementioned CTU, who sport body armor and ballistic helmets, making them well-suited to assault roles other Especas troops may be less equipped for. Generally-speaking, Especas soldiers come with better equipment, and carry modernized firearms and sights.One thing to note is that the Especas are heavily focused on tactical missions and not necessarily strategic ones. Though they operate behind enemy lines, their objectives are almost always intended to be in support of other troops. If you’re looking for lone-wolf, black-ops style DEVGRUCOMFOR, you’ll not find them here. Rumor has it the Especas troops even come with a CTU sergeant modeled after yours truly. This is, of course, merely nonsensical speculation spread by enemies of the state.You know, fake news. ;)Until next time, Viva la Revolución! 17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wld427 1705 Posted May 7, 2017 ^^^^^ simply the best! well done as always Cannonsong! Stay tuned folks he has a lot more to show you. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CannonSong 688 Posted May 7, 2017 Thank you, as ever! Yeah, next planned spotlight is going to be on one of my favorite aspects of the mod: The TONS of fantastic aerial weapons we're lucky enough to have, many of which were made by the legendary RKSL-Rock! You guys have seen some of these already, but we want to spotlight the sheer variety you'll have to choose from- including a few neat toys you haven't likely seen anywhere else ;) 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bars91 956 Posted May 7, 2017 Yet another awesome read! ONLY one microscopic point: BMD-2s only real bonus is it's air-mobility. Other then that i'd go with up-armored BMP-1\2s any day ))) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CannonSong 688 Posted May 7, 2017 I'd rather give people the choice to use whatever they fancy ;) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bars91 956 Posted May 7, 2017 Agreed - i'm assuming Especias have access to whatever hardware SLA got + some VIP swag if I were to make a lore-friendly mission? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CannonSong 688 Posted May 7, 2017 That's actually a Guards vehicle, not Especas. You might note the fellows in front of it aren't wearing green berets. I included that shot as a teaser of what's to come :D The Especas probably piggyback on whatever they can get ahold of, especially since nine time out of ten, whatever Rambo shit they're doing likely takes command priority. No dedicated aircraft or vehicles under their command, but if one of the most badass units in your military asks for something, chances are, they'll get to borrow it! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bars91 956 Posted May 7, 2017 Shit - after re-reading I spotted 'em too. Yeah - guards might be more for "show 'em your size" rather then actual tactical application - BMD-2 sure looks sleek and all! Might also give the Guards some fancy toys like bare-bones AS-VALs (i'm looking at you RF Guards VDV on 9th May parade) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slatts 1978 Posted May 7, 2017 Nicely done. A bit of lore with soul put into it is never something to turn down! 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bars91 956 Posted May 7, 2017 1 minute ago, slatts said: Nicely done. A bit of lore with soul put into it is never something to turn down! THIS! Actually this is why I like VTN alot - they (like this mod) have actual written lore and they build assets around it! A detail (unfortunately) often overlooked by mod devs... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CannonSong 688 Posted May 7, 2017 The Guards are something of a middle-ground between something like the Airborne/Rangers and better-equipped conscripts. Their best guys probably scratch right up against the middle of the pile for a first-world country's elite divisions, but their greenest guys are just conscripts with more patriotic fervor and a bit more body armor. They get -74s and the occasional fancy optic, but don't mistake 'motivated' for 'elite.' As for their use of BMD-2s: Given their use as shock troops, there are a few air-mobile Guards units, and of course, anything you can drop on a parachute or sling below a chopper is a godsend to them. The BMP-2 is certainly more protection, but if you want to get boots on the ground in an archipelago and naval transport is out of the question, a little less armor and a cramped troop bay in exchange for a 30mm gun and ATGMs in the field is a perfectly acceptable trade for them. Plus- yeah, I reckon there are a fair few of them that think it just looks sleeker, too. ;P And thanks, guys! I love stretching the ol' creative-writing muscles with stuff like this, and it keeps wld motivated, so it's fun to do! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bars91 956 Posted May 7, 2017 My mistake - I was thinking more like "capital city barracks queens squad" Guards rather then shock\assault troops ))) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CannonSong 688 Posted May 7, 2017 Yeah, they've got a little bit of that, don't get me wrong- SLA requisitions has quite a few headache thanks to the Guards demanding 'cooler' equipment (Or as they'd put it, 'weapons fitting of the most dedicated soldiers of the Revolución!') but at the end of the day, they are meant to back that image up by being the tip of the spear in any conflict. How WELL they'd do is to be seen... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brett Staats 7 Posted May 7, 2017 Great job on the lore maybe on the release of the version a pdf of the lore & back story could be prepared 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HazardousJay 83 Posted May 7, 2017 another perfect showcase for the glorious Sahrani Liberation Army! north sahrani TRUE SAHRANI brothers!!! in serious note, those model and texture work is top-notch! brings the southern kingdom to shame :P 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deathwatch4 89 Posted May 8, 2017 Absolutely gorgeous! The uniforms look so crisp and clean! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wld427 1705 Posted May 20, 2017 On 5/7/2017 at 4:56 PM, Brett Staats said: Great job on the lore maybe on the release of the version a pdf of the lore & back story could be prepared Very good idea... Once Cannon gets a bit more out would you be interested in working on this? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CannonSong 688 Posted May 20, 2017 5 hours ago, wld427 said: Very good idea... Once Cannon gets a bit more out would you be interested in working on this? Could take a bit of doing, but I can probably organize something. Once there's more, of course! SO MUCH to sort out, organize, make up on the spot... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carlosxx 63 Posted May 21, 2017 Nice work guys!! Maybe there is another chopper for the bad guys, with is not that well known? He seems to be active, maybe he is willing to let his beauty to be ported? Cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brett Staats 7 Posted May 23, 2017 On 5/20/2017 at 9:04 AM, wld427 said: Very good idea... Once Cannon gets a bit more out would you be interested in working on this? yeah Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M4NUM4N 47 Posted May 23, 2017 Something that would also fit pretty well in my opinion would be those two vehicles. They are some modifications of the BTR-60 made by Cuba and would be pretty much what the SLA might be using. Spoiler 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wld427 1705 Posted May 25, 2017 those are some great suggestions.... i want to get the stock core finished before i start making any "funnies". things will be getting a little dangerous for low flying aircraft and helicopters..... 15 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bars91 956 Posted May 25, 2017 I'll take two... to the capitalist F-181 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wld427 1705 Posted May 26, 2017 8 hours ago, bars91 said: I'll take two... to the capitalist F-181 That was actually an SA-13..... and only time will tell if you will get one of those.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
