Illumination Rounds

[plloyd1010]

The procedure for illumination rounds doesn't make much sense. Specifically the part that says, "For each unit or artillery increment firing, the active player designates a spotted target hex within range ..." As the spotting range at night is 1 hex, 2 hexes with a full moon, one would be illumination their own position for their opponent to fire upon.

The clue to how badly worded this rule is comes from the official example:

Example: At night, a unit six hexes away that has an unobstructed line of sight to the target illumination hex could spot a target in the open there, and fire upon it if desired.

The implication being that "spotted target hex" is a hex which would be seen by the spotter when the illumination round is successfully placed.

Does that make sense to anyone else? Otherwise how would you reconcile the rule with the example?

[Grognard Gunny]

Typically, illumination rounds are not fired at a specific target (therefore do not have to be a "spotted" hex) but "over there" to see if there is any enemy about. I, for one, never thought that the hex in question should be spotted in the normal manner. 

GG

[treadasaurusrex]

Another confounding, contradictory & confusing rule and example!

In reality, potential illumination points are typically pre-planned during daylight hours so that one is firing them at a specific map grid reference point that is within the range of the mortar or artillery piece firing the illumination mission. For OBA, at this scale, this should mean that illum rounds may be placed wherever you chose, with no need for an observer to actually spot the proposed target hex.

[plloyd1010]

Typically, illumination rounds are not fired at a specific target (therefore do not have to be a "spotted" hex) but "over there" to see if there is any enemy about. I, for one, never thought that the hex in question should be spotted in the normal manner. 

In reality, potential illumination points are typically pre-planned during daylight hours so that one is firing them at a specific map grid reference point that is within the range of the mortar or artillery piece firing the illumination mission. For OBA, at this scale, this should mean that illum rounds may be placed wherever you chose, with no need for an observer to actually spot the proposed target hex.

Both point are valid so far as they go. My question though, and hopefully driving toward consensus, is how do illumination round work in the context of the 4th edition rules?

So far I glean that (based on the wording and example given) that an illumination round may be placed in a hex which can be spotted once an illumination round has be placed. In functional terms that would be within 8 hexes of the spotter, barring other potential LOS blockers.

That interpretation is also philosophically practical. A star shell placed within a hex of spotter is more to detriment of the owner's side than than the other, and definitely not how they were intended to be used in reality. On the other hand, what is the interest in illuminating hexes too far away to be seen? Placing an illumination round more than 8 hexes away means nothing in the 4-hex visibility band can be seen and everything from the placement hex and beyond is equally invisible. So yes, you could place an illumination round anywhere on the map, but why would you?

[Grognard Gunny]

I always thought that the illum round should be placed to where the enemy could be seen but friendly units could not. But that's just me being ever so careful and SAFE!

GG

[treadasaurusrex]

Typically, illumination rounds are not fired at a specific target (therefore do not have to be a "spotted" hex) but "over there" to see if there is any enemy about. I, for one, never thought that the hex in question should be spotted in the normal manner. 

In reality, potential illumination points are typically pre-planned during daylight hours so that one is firing them at a specific map grid reference point that is within the range of the mortar or artillery piece firing the illumination mission. For OBA, at this scale, this should mean that illum rounds may be placed wherever you chose, with no need for an observer to actually spot the proposed target hex.

Both point are valid so far as they go. My question though, and hopefully driving toward consensus, is how do illumination round work in the context of the 4th edition rules?

So far I glean that (based on the wording and example given) that an illumination round may be placed in a hex which can be spotted once an illumination round has be placed. In functional terms that would be within 8 hexes of the spotter, barring other potential LOS blockers.

That interpretation is also philosophically practical. A star shell placed within a hex of spotter is more to detriment of the owner's side than than the other, and definitely not how they were intended to be used in reality. On the other hand, what is the interest in illuminating hexes too far away to be seen? Placing an illumination round more than 8 hexes away means nothing in the 4-hex visibility band can be seen and everything from the placement hex and beyond is equally invisible. So yes, you could place an illumination round anywhere on the map, but why would you?

I like the idea that placement of an illumination round (on a 2D6 roll of 5 or higher) in a hex which may be observed by a leader once the illumination round has been successfully placed. This would need to be within 8 hexes of the spotting leader.

[CavDo]

Typically, illumination rounds are not fired at a specific target (therefore do not have to be a "spotted" hex) but "over there" to see if there is any enemy about. I, for one, never thought that the hex in question should be spotted in the normal manner. 

In reality, potential illumination points are typically pre-planned during daylight hours so that one is firing them at a specific map grid reference point that is within the range of the mortar or artillery piece firing the illumination mission. For OBA, at this scale, this should mean that illum rounds may be placed wherever you chose, with no need for an observer to actually spot the proposed target hex.

Both point are valid so far as they go. My question though, and hopefully driving toward consensus, is how do illumination round work in the context of the 4th edition rules?

So far I glean that (based on the wording and example given) that an illumination round may be placed in a hex which can be spotted once an illumination round has be placed. In functional terms that would be within 8 hexes of the spotter, barring other potential LOS blockers.

That interpretation is also philosophically practical. A star shell placed within a hex of spotter is more to detriment of the owner's side than than the other, and definitely not how they were intended to be used in reality. On the other hand, what is the interest in illuminating hexes too far away to be seen? Placing an illumination round more than 8 hexes away means nothing in the 4-hex visibility band can be seen and everything from the placement hex and beyond is equally invisible. So yes, you could place an illumination round anywhere on the map, but why would you?

I like the idea that placement of an illumination round (on a 2D6 roll of 5 or higher) in a hex which may be observed by a leader once the illumination round has been successfully placed. This would need to be within 8 hexes of the spotting leader.

This sounds like a house rule we should play test. I volunteer to try it in shared play.

[plloyd1010]

I like the idea that placement of an illumination round (on a 2D6 roll of 5 or higher) in a hex which may be observed by a leader once the illumination round has been successfully placed. This would need to be within 8 hexes of the spotting leader.

I would expect the technical rational is that it starts with map coordinate fire, if the first star shell in in the right zone, shot some more for adequate concentration.

This sounds like a house rule we should play test. I volunteer to try in shared play.

If you think this is a house rule concept, how do you explain the example given in the rule book? I'm pretty sure that it the example only works if spotting is done from where the illumination round is visible from. Thursday or Friday,  battlecarrysabot and I are going to test that concept.

[plloyd1010]

I've asked the question on the APL support page on Consim.

[leonard]

Good question! The problem is that the rules say that the hex where the illuminating round is placed must be the spotted target hex.
What if the only restriction was that the spotted target hex should be included in the illuminated area (thus, not the center of the area) ?