(12-28-2013, 06:36 AM)dengelwood Wrote: Thanks for the answers to my rules questions. Like you, I question the intent of the rule vs. the strict reading of it. I'm no expert when it comes to the effectiveness of Flails viz a viz Engineers, but I have to think that the former's brute force method of removing mines is far more effective, and quicker, than the latter's (bayonets and metal detectors).
I don't see that Flails are given equivalency to Engineers when entering a minefield. That seems like an extrapolation on your part. My reading is that they are NOT like Engineers and impart none of an Engineer's ability (other than clearing mines).
Indeed, if a Crab can only remove 1 mine point per three activations, then how can it ever receive more than a -1 modifier for mine removal? It seems that they CAN remove ALL mine points, subtracting 1 from the damage roll for each point removed. If that's the case, then clearly they are not equivalent to engineers, but a special case. Sorry about being lawyerly about this, but I haven't played a game yet with mines that an engineer had the time or inclination to clear. That's why I think that for Crabs, the removal attempt is immediate.
I would agree that the Flails should be faster but not immediate and even with a big armored tank to protect you in is not without danger and there should be a chance of consequence, beyond the breaking of the chains. With ENG's they enter the hex but are only attacked by 2 or 3SP mines and even then there is 66% of no damage entering the hex. I would feel this is reasonable chance of the mines still inflicting damage on the Flails.
I could see the Flail clearing the entire hex in one activation with the associated possible penalty increasing for the density.
As a sample play, I could see a Flail moving into a mine hex on it's first activation. Possibly being attacked by the mines, then on a subsequent activation it removing any number of mines in the hex, with the associated possible loss of the Flails chains. This would clear the whole hex of mines in two activations as opposed to the ENG which require at least four turns to accomplish the same task.
