So, how did you cross?

[plloyd1010]

Deluge #13, Manteuffel’s Crossing has the Germans on the far side of a major river, without engineers and the bridge is out. Rule 5.72 says, "...  no unit may cross a major river at any spot other than a bridge or ford unless it is an ENG, or has the assistance of an ENG."

So Juiceman, treadasaurusrex and someone else, how did you get across? It seems that we need a special rule for this scenario.

[cjsiam]

...Or a correction.....

[Grognard Gunny]

Or neither.... a major river WAS a difficult problem for the various Armies of the day, hence the "Eng support" rule. Which would make the problem difficult but not insurmountable. (As the rules were probably intended.)

GG

[Grognard Gunny]

Or neither.... a major river WAS a difficult problem for the various Armies of the day, hence the "Eng support" rule. Which would make the problem difficult but not insurmountable. (As the rules were probably intended.)

GG

[treadasaurusrex]

Hmm, as usual, the very practical & wise Grognard Gunny called this one!

 This relatively minor, scenario design error was an easy fix considering that both players were experienced PG veterans and well aware of: 1) the poorly written & edited 4th edition rules, 2) the fact that the scenario rules specified that foot units may cross a major river on a die roll of 8 or less, and 3) the scenario description & outcome information specifies that Manteuffel's intrepid soldiers crossed at the "burned out" railroad trestle bridge by paddling across in inflatable rafts. 

 Yes, the dedicated purists among us have noticed that there was not a German Pioneer platoon included in the Axis counter mix, so according to the rulebook, it should literally have been impossible to cross the major river as per 5.72. However, given how sloppily a number of PG scenarios were designed, a pair of clever players simply "read between the lines," playing for fun - with realism in mind - making each advancing unit in the bridge hex throw the river crossing number assigned by the scenario designer. As we all know, enterprising players can make even the most confusing & badly designed/edited scenarios work, e.g., like many Desert Rats & Afrika Korps scenarios.

 BTW, further research on this engagement also indicates that at least 2 of the 8 German infantry platoons should have been motorcycle scout platoons that in 1939, typically deployed with inflatable rafts and plenty of tools & rope. Dismounted, motorcycle infantry would not have been dismayed or put off by the challenge of crossing a burned out railroad trestle over a major river.

[cjsiam]

8 or less, when you have an ENG to help...

But, we've all actually resolved it that same way....

But...to miss the chance to pull the leg...oh no no no.....we do not miss such an opportunity as this....

[Juiceman]

The write up and the conclusion talk about Manteuffel's troops having rubber boats they used to cross the river, since no engineers were included in the scenario, I just used the river crossing number for the troops on hand, figured they brought their own boats and did not need any engineers.

[ACav]

It's your game, it can be with your rules.

Life is too short to fuss with poorly written and organized board game rules

 Don't let the rules lawyers intimidate you.

 Shared play rules!

 Just be sure that your opponents agree on the darn definitions and interpretations, then play for fun.

[plloyd1010]

We just suspended the ENG requirement for crossing. I put a note in the errata about that.