[Rules] 4th Edition rules are up

[vince hughes]

One sad effect of the hill rules is that for some scenarios, they WILL completely change the game situation and therefore results of what has gone before.

Richvalle's example is a good one. Lets say in the previous 7 plays of his current match with John, side A won because they could use the hills as limiting terrain and therefore throw out a first fire advantage due to that limitation with great effect.

Now in the next 7 plays, they might as well be in clear land as they can be shot at from 12 hexes.

On the subject of hills limiting spotting distance, I really do think it is a simple case of being more abstract with platoon size games opposed to squad size games. There are no crest lines in the game (Peter's own innovation excepted of course), so in Richvalles example, there would be no way to simulate a group of units rolling behind the ridge and getting advantage of first fire. However, when units are on the same level AND same hill, we use the 12 hex spotting distance and not 3. For me, I use this 'broad-brush' approach to platoon gaming as the the acceptable compromise instead of having a manual of rules. Same goes for open ground. Its rolling and undulating with dips etc. That's why firing at troops in open ground is not a complete massacre.

Going back to my opening gambit. That hills are now clear WILL render many previous PGHQ results obsolete and give a false impression therefore of a scenario's balance. Yes we can check what edition of the rules were played with, but really ! Did we want to do that each and everytime from here on ?

The one optional I really did fight against was the efficient move and fire for AFV's. The advantage to the efficient units would have been horrendously slanted. Can't be bothered to write them all down here (plus the experience of the play-testers) but nope, not for me. I will be scanning the rules properly when I get a hard copy. From there, it DOES look like people will be bartering which rules to use with each and every opponent. Pity.