TO&E for the Vilani Army aka Gisadia Ziru Sirka (Army of the Grand Empire of the Stars)

[kilemall]

Were the combat ratings for the Jump Divisions on average higher than the Regular Army Division? Airborne/Air Assault infantry are generally considered to be more "elite" than regular infantry.

Yes they are, jump troop ratings are on average something like just under double strength, and cost more.

They skip PD fire coming down, whereas the regulars have to come in on transports and face PD shots.

I seem to recall regulars having some first shot advantage but I don’t remember the exact rule. I always assumed due to artillery firepower.

 

[jec10]

Were the combat ratings for the Jump Divisions on average higher than the Regular Army Division? Airborne/Air Assault infantry are generally considered to be more "elite" than regular infantry.

You're right - the worst Vilani Jump Troops division is rated as equal to the best RATED regular division.

And, yes, we're explicitly told that regular divisions have artillery support whereas jump divisions are lighter and don't.

 

[kilemall]

I'll just add to this thread for completeness on Vilani ground force organisation that the countermix of the GDW boardgame Imperium includes 4 Vilani Jump Divisions and 12 Vilani regular army divisions.
The combat ratings of the divisions varies - I'm not sure if that is because their strength/organisation varies, or they have the same fighting strength but are just better or worse quality soldiers (we aren't told in Imperium why they are rated differently).

That’s for forces deployable by the local governor, not the Imperium in general.

 

[jec10]

That’s for forces deployable by the local governor, not the Imperium in general.

Of course you're right these are the troops available in this corner of the First Imperium.

But I'm not clear if you're suggesting the Imperium generally has different forces than these? And these are somehow atypical?

 

[kilemall]

Of course you're right these are the troops available in this corner of the First Imperium.

But I'm not clear if you're suggesting the Imperium generally has different forces than these? And these are somehow atypical?

Assuming we accept the GT ISW view of the Vilani, it’s a very regimented all answers are literally in the book culture. As though a whole society dropped intelligence and just used education.

So we can be pretty certain the force mix is representative.

Any factors making it a competitive game can be ignored as a coincidence.