What we have in Dust are simulations of assaults. As the tech and player-base grows, I assume the scale of these assaults and maps will grow as well. However, they are only one part of the story in any given conflict.

I'm not going to try to give an actual number, but patrols are an integral to operations. Not only can they constitute land movement from one place to another at squad level, but patrols are also used for recon and even with the intention of initiating combat. This combat can be preliminary to a larger strike, and can either be used to gauge the strength of an enemy, or be used as a distraction. The point is patrols go on, and I have a feeling they constitute at least a plurality of engagements in conflict.

This idea was also made in response to all the vehicle hoopla in 1.7; so keep that in mind.

Essentially both sides have very small numbers. 6-10 would be appropriate. Neither side is in a defensive or offensive position, for the purpose of the conflict. There would be no defensive gun emplacements, or objectives to capture. What they have on their infantry fits is what they have to work with.

Oh, and no re-spawning. The patrol is too far away from a clone center to make it logistically feasible. Simply 6 v 6; small level attrition. Generally, there are no vehicles. Maybe there is a 'mounted patrol' variant, where they get two militia LAVs.

Okay, so now the berries are asking "this is ambush..minus tanks". Yup. Faster ambush, no vehicles. AR to your hearts content. Which does bring up a second point, in ambush...is one side actually ambushing the other? I guess it is easier to call it Ambush than Attrition mode or something.

I don't know how PC works yet, but I imagine that a patrol mode could be useful. Maybe patrol matches could be fought before the major skirmish (like 2 hours before). Patrols could count against clones for both sides, or maybe offer a slight on-map advantage for winning the most patrols.

Opinions?