Basic unit types
Average combatants
Average combatant |
Most troops in Down Range have the same basic statistics. If in doubt, use the "average combatant" statistics to represent most military members.
This type of unit is also appropriate for trained paramilitaries, hardened insurgents, and other professionals who are trained and/or experienced in combat techniques. Even if a soldier's primary duty is not direct front-line combat, they are still likely to be average combatants.
Players should be wary of creating individual combatants whose statistics exceed the average combatant statistics.
Even the best-trained soldier is still subject to human limitations, and even exceptional skill and training are likely to regress to a mean in the inevitable chaos of combat.
Substandard combatants
Substandard combatant |
The substandard combatant may have the will to fight, but for reasons of poor training, age, equipment, or infirmity is unable to be as effective as a professional combatant. |
The substandard combatant unit type is appropriate for representing members of slapdash militias, poorly-trained conscripts, child soldiers, armed mobs, and the like.
Generally, substandard combatants may be motivated, well-equipped, or willing to die for their cause, but lack the technical acumen, coordination, or discipline to do things like utilize cover well, take well-aimed shots, or conduct maneuvers that require timing or precision.
This does not make them useless - a savvy commander may employ substandard combatants to exhaust the enemy, conduct reconnaissance, or free up professional troops for more demanding duties.
Non-combatants
Noncombatant |
Whether too ill, injured, or incapable of fighting, the noncombatant can't or won't participate effectively in hostilities. |
For those whose actions when bullets start flying are likely to be limited to immediate self-preservation, and who lack the ability to meaningfully contribute to combat efforts, use the non-combatant statistics. This can be used to represent scared and wholly untrained civilians, as well as young children, the very elderly, and those too ill or infirm to fight even in self-defense.
Note that this does not necessarily align with "non-combatant" status as defined in international law - doctors, clergymen, children, and the like may well be considered average or substandard combatants in Down Range based on their abilities, training, and inclination (whether willing or not) to fight.
No special game penalties are applied for targeting non-combatants. When using Down Range in an educational setting, players should consider the larger operational and political effects of such an action, however, and exercise judicious use of force accordingly. Depending on the force they're playing as, players are also advised to make creative use of non-combatants to further their objectives.
Specialist combatants
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Specialist combatant | |
With a particular expertise in a specific area, the specialist can roll a |
Some troops have an unusual level of training and experience in a particular task or tasks. These troops are similar to the "average combatant" statistics, but have a higher level of skill in their specialty.
Players should be sparing about designating a unit as a specialist combatant; this designation should reflect genuine expertise or significant additional training, not merely assignment to a particular military specialty or branch. For example:
- A soldier trained in basic first aid is not a specialist in medicine. A medic or corpsman with extensive additional training and access to specialized medical equipment, however, might be.
- A generic special operations soldier may be considered a specialist in relevant skills, using a
for 
skill in close-quarters marksmanship or negotiating book deals. However, they'll still use a for most tasks outside their very narrow area of unusual expertise.