Parachutist Drift in Crete

[saracv3]

Starting over w Crete scenario #6 after a game hiatus. One unanswered question is that the Parachute Drop process is some what unclear. When dropping a stack of units in a hex, does one roll the die for each unit to drift or does one roll for the entire stack at one time?

Nihon Silks’ method appears to be different, and I don’t see any drop rules in the Airborne series. I haven’t looked at Invasion 1944.

[plloyd1010]

The rule says roll for which units and/or leaders drift. So, not by stack. Airborne landings tended to scatter troops all over, and in fragments below the scale of the game. That creates a logical reason for not stacks, beyond the rule.

The first airdrop rules appeared in Behind the Beaches in 2009, after War on the Equator. I mention WotE because it also had an airborne landing scenario. Anyway, the Behind the Beaches rules appear to have been the basis for the Nihon Silk rules. Those rules then reappeared in Airborne remastered.

[saracv3]

Scenarios can become very short using these rUles, which is not to say they aren’t realistic. I’m fact, they are.provide a tense and exciting game for the player w the paratroopers. For example, in Crete #10, Agia, the Germans Los the game in the first turn because nine steps blew off the board! It was the first time I had ever played w paratroopers and I set the drop zone too close to the edge of the board.

Lesson learned!

[saracv3]

One more situation: Leaders apparently don’t separate from the stack. Since I put the leader on top of the stack as general rule, the first thing I did was roll for the leader and got a drift for the leader, but really the unit(s) would drift plus the leader. The leader drifted directly over an NZ Unit,landing one hex away. Now I’m assuming that the unit(s) go w the leader. But what if there are two units? Which unit does the leader go with? Roll a die? Or can the leader travel alone?

[mike perryman]

One more situation: Leaders apparently don’t separate from the stack. Since I put the leader on top of the stack as general rule, the first thing I did was roll for the leader and got a drift for the leader, but really the unit(s) would drift plus the leader. The leader drifted directly over an NZ Unit,landing one hex away. Now I’m assuming that the unit(s) go w the leader. But what if there are two units? Which unit does the leader go with? Roll a die? Or can the leader travel alone?

Leaders may drop with any unit in the stack the German player chooses or drop by themselves. Thanks, Mike

[saracv3]

Yes. I kinda thought this, but wasn’t 100% sure.

[J6A]

I think there may have been airdrop rules in the bonus scenario for Airborne:  Introductory Edition that predated War on the Equator.  I've never played that one as it's something like 60 turns long.

[plloyd1010]

96 turns. Also appears in Airborne Remastered. Still wasn't enough time to get a last reduced German HMG platoon to leave the village at the end of the causeway.

[saracv3]

I was rereading Parachute Landings for the 54th time tonight. (The scenario book is so beat, that it is dogeared, torn, wrinkled and re-stapled.) I couldn't believe we had missed this : "...Roll one die for each hex in which unit(s) land....".  Each hex for the entire stack drift; leader(s) included. That's my reading here.

Comments?

Question/Comment #2: Greek and British units seem to be excluded from parachute/glider shoot downs. An oversight? I play it as a Yes. Greeks/Brits can shoot down Germans.

[mike perryman]

I was rereading Parachute Landings for the 54th time tonight. (The scenario book is so beat, that it is dogeared, torn, wrinkled and re-stapled.) I couldn't believe we had missed this : "...Roll one die for each hex in which unit(s) land....".  Each hex for the entire stack drift; leader(s) included. That's my reading here.

Comments?

Question/Comment #2: Greek and British units seem to be excluded from parachute/glider shoot downs. An oversight? I play it as a Yes. Greeks/Brits can shoot down Germans.

Question One: I knew the landing rules needed streamlining when I submitted them and you are correct in your interpretation as the rule is written.
Question Two: Yes any Allied unit in range may use opportunity fire against a landing German unit subject to the rules in front of the scenario book. 
                                                                       Thanks, Mike