[Apache6]

I've 'started' campaigns as a GM four times.

Once was 'straight from the book.' Each player had a PC. No NPCs, though they collected a few along the way. They had a LAV and a motorcycle.

Second time I gave each player two PC and a "T2K platoon" of NCPs, each PC was a small unit leader (platoon cmdr, squad leader, or vehicle cmdr). They started out as a kampfagroup with a tank platoon (2 M1), a mechanized platoon (1 M2, 1 M113, 1 BMP-2), a motorized infantry platoon (1 LAV-25, 2 "armored 5 tons w HMG", and a HMMWV TOW), a literally horse mounted cavalry platoon (with 15 riders), and an engineer platoon (M-88 ARV, See-tractor and a dump truck). Each player had one PC as a platoon leader and one as a squad leader or vehicle commander (they could not be in the same unit). The "group commander" was not a PC but a 'salty NPC LtCol' who had his own LAV-25. There was also a 'npc controlled artillery battery' (a M-109 howitzer, a BM-21 MRL and two 120mm mortars (only the mortars had a good supply of ammo) and a logistics detachment (one HEMMT with large still and tanker and a HMMWV with field kitchen trailer, which often ended up carrying wounded). They were tasked as the rear guard of their brigade. We played this out by shifting between RPGing and minature wargaming. The "colonel" often took advice from the PCs. It was a doomed force, as it lay smack in the path of a motorized rifle division's advance. It gave us lots of epic last stands. We gamed this over the course of about 6 months, playing about once a month until the 'unit' was eroded down to a smaller party, consisting of one PC and two or three NPCs for each of the players. One of our players lost each of his PCs a couple of times over and I let him 'switch personas' to one of the NPCs.

Third time, the PCs were a local resistance cell in Tennessee fighting against the New Confederacy (our version of New America), Soviet Spetnez made an occasional appearance for some reason, and trying to survive. Each player played pretty much themselves.

Fourth time each player got one NPC, they started off as members of the 5th Infantry Division COC, including liaison officers (explaining Special Operations and Polish PCs) when it was overrun. Several of the PCs started off with vehicles, they were shot to pieces when the division was overrun. They had to escape and evade. They eventually stole a UAZ-469 and a Ural truck. I had them liberate a few POWs when a couple of players (who were a literal married) couple wanted to join. In addition to the PCs, one of the NPCs they liberated became their medic.