Command, Control and Communication
Jan 20, 2019 23:49:15 GMT
David N.Tanner 07011959 and terrance like this
Post by hardlec on Jan 20, 2019 23:49:15 GMT
Pardon me for speaking ill of the "dead," but I was never fond of the E Baker's take on Infantry and even less so with the original mechanic for morale.
Troops do not "panic" or flee in terror very often. Troops can be pinned down, they can be "disrupted" and they will often retreat in event of battlefield confusion. There have been cases of a retreat becoming a route, but these are uncommon as well.
An army of badly treated, poorly lead and poorly fed conscripts will break quite easily. An army of desperate troops defending their homeland is more likely to fight to their last breath, then spit it at you. Early in the conflict, men would have the same fear of Martian Tripods and the Germans had of the first tanks. Tank Angst or Tank Terror was a thing. Soon enough, soldiers learn how to "Adapt, improvise and overcome" and before long the same troops are crawling up the Tripods to plant charges in their tender areas. It doesn't take all that long to channel your fear into hate, and then channel your hate into action. (Been there; done that; got the ribbon.)
I've long desired to replace "Morale" with Command, Control and Communication or C3.
A soldier that is well led, or under command, is going to fight. A soldier that is well trained and knows the stakes, or is in control, will fight. A soldier that is aware of the general situation of the battle and has contact with upper echelons, or is in communication, will fight. Breaking one, two, or all of these lifelines and the soldier is likely to fall back to regroup. Too many soldiers falling back can cause a route. A brave (or just well informed) man can (and has) stopped a route.
I'd like to see a larger role for command units or command vehicles, as well as more use of ambulances or supply vehicles. Ambulances and supply vehicles have communication with upper echelons (mostly) and have other positive things.
A unit that has taken fire must pass a test for C3 on a 6+ If the test fails, the unit will fall back to the nearest Command unit. When the unit is within 4" of the Command unit, it will stop. Once per turn the unit may make a C3 test, When the test is passed, it regains C3 and will follow orders (No further tests are made until the unit takes fire again.)
Modifiers to the die roll:
The unit has LOS to its command unit: +1
The unit has LOS to an ambulance or a supply vehicle: +1 cumulative for each vehicle
The unit has LOS to a friendly unit: +1
The unit has high morale +1 or +2 determined by scenario (mostly)
The unit is within 4" of civilians: +4
The unit is within 15" of an enemy unit: -1 (cumulative up to -3, but only -1 for any number of drones)
The unit has taken casualties this turn -1
For each friendly unit in LOS that has failed C3: -1
The unit is wearing gas masks (as appropriate) -1
The unit has lost two elements -1
Comments Requested:
Are their other circumstances that should be added?
What is the feedback on this idea: There is a deck of cards with different results possible from failing C3. Results range from the unit breaking to the unit gains +1 to C3. (I like the idea of cards as opposed to a chart or table. they are quicker to use.)
Troops do not "panic" or flee in terror very often. Troops can be pinned down, they can be "disrupted" and they will often retreat in event of battlefield confusion. There have been cases of a retreat becoming a route, but these are uncommon as well.
An army of badly treated, poorly lead and poorly fed conscripts will break quite easily. An army of desperate troops defending their homeland is more likely to fight to their last breath, then spit it at you. Early in the conflict, men would have the same fear of Martian Tripods and the Germans had of the first tanks. Tank Angst or Tank Terror was a thing. Soon enough, soldiers learn how to "Adapt, improvise and overcome" and before long the same troops are crawling up the Tripods to plant charges in their tender areas. It doesn't take all that long to channel your fear into hate, and then channel your hate into action. (Been there; done that; got the ribbon.)
I've long desired to replace "Morale" with Command, Control and Communication or C3.
A soldier that is well led, or under command, is going to fight. A soldier that is well trained and knows the stakes, or is in control, will fight. A soldier that is aware of the general situation of the battle and has contact with upper echelons, or is in communication, will fight. Breaking one, two, or all of these lifelines and the soldier is likely to fall back to regroup. Too many soldiers falling back can cause a route. A brave (or just well informed) man can (and has) stopped a route.
I'd like to see a larger role for command units or command vehicles, as well as more use of ambulances or supply vehicles. Ambulances and supply vehicles have communication with upper echelons (mostly) and have other positive things.
A unit that has taken fire must pass a test for C3 on a 6+ If the test fails, the unit will fall back to the nearest Command unit. When the unit is within 4" of the Command unit, it will stop. Once per turn the unit may make a C3 test, When the test is passed, it regains C3 and will follow orders (No further tests are made until the unit takes fire again.)
Modifiers to the die roll:
The unit has LOS to its command unit: +1
The unit has LOS to an ambulance or a supply vehicle: +1 cumulative for each vehicle
The unit has LOS to a friendly unit: +1
The unit has high morale +1 or +2 determined by scenario (mostly)
The unit is within 4" of civilians: +4
The unit is within 15" of an enemy unit: -1 (cumulative up to -3, but only -1 for any number of drones)
The unit has taken casualties this turn -1
For each friendly unit in LOS that has failed C3: -1
The unit is wearing gas masks (as appropriate) -1
The unit has lost two elements -1
Comments Requested:
Are their other circumstances that should be added?
What is the feedback on this idea: There is a deck of cards with different results possible from failing C3. Results range from the unit breaking to the unit gains +1 to C3. (I like the idea of cards as opposed to a chart or table. they are quicker to use.)
