(09-27-2013, 12:47 AM)Matt W Wrote: I have always played the Kommisars as if they were tank leaders. If they are in a hex with a leader and that senior leader activates then the Kommissar can activate as well. The Kommissar does not activate as a subordinate leader therefore if he is involved in a chain activation he must be in the primary hex with the senior leader or he does not activate. In large scenarios with Kommissars I find this very constricting for the Soviet as the rules state that they must activate, not that the layer cannot pass without activating but that they must activate meaning that you must use one of your first three activations on the Kommissar.
That, of course, may be a too literal reading of the rules. How does everyone else play this?
I agree with Matt on how the Kommissar activates. If you check the Annotated Rules,
Rule 6.6, you'll note that it states that "KOMs are treated as leaders for purposes of being killed (6.7) and rolling morale, but
otherwise do not function as leaders." (emphasis added) Also, the annotation says that "Leaders cannot activate Kommissars."
On the other hand, I agree with Hugmenot that you are not required to use your first three activations on your Kommissars. My take is that "must activate" is the same as the Demoralized unit's "Must attempt to recover morale on its activation." from
Rule 14.3. Per 6.65, you are not allowed to pass if you have both Kommissars and Demoralized units which are unactivated.
