Of Tanks, Soldiers and cover

[HerrBrenner]

Hi evreybody,

after another game I wondered about blocking los. Units don't block any line of sight. Why don't they do?
It was normal for Infantry to advance in the cover of armored vehicles, they accompanied. The mass of the Tank gave protection to the infantry, that covered the blind spots in the tanks defense against other Infantry with AT weapons.
I think that a Soldier should get a cover save when in the same hex with a Tank and that attacks from enemy Infantry should be against front armor, as the friendly Troops protect the back.

What are your opinions on that?

Regads

M.Brenner

[mexdiaz]

I agree with you completely and I was actually planning on creating a house rule very similar to this one. My other main complaint is how easy it is to target commanders on the battlefield, but I haven't found a good way to deal with this. Maybe having a rule that when a commander is stacked in a hex with another friendly unit, it can't be targeted. I don't know!

[roguetrada]

"Why don't they do?" maybe cos' they wanted to avoid the whole "boba fett is behind that figure, so he's not a legal target" from swm

[Dr.Cornelius]

"Why don't they do?" maybe cos' they wanted to avoid the whole "boba fett is behind that figure, so he's not a legal target" from swmThe actual reason is that the AAM rules were developed to be accessible to players aged 12 and up.

I am maintaining a list of possible additions to an "expert" rules set. I will add Infantry taking cover behind vehicles to the queue.

With respect to blocking LOS, remember that the hexes are 100 meters across and a tank is around 7 meters long and 3 meters high. It is unlikely that one tank would block LOS to another tank unless the two tanks happened to be in a line intersecting the observing tank.

[XAos]

"Why don't they do?" maybe cos' they wanted to avoid the whole "boba fett is behind that figure, so he's not a legal target" from swm
I think you hit the nail on the head with that.
If the game had a simple rule like "Vehicles block LoS" then a jeep could protect a Sherman from an enemy Tiger. :eek:
Add since casualties are not destroyed till after all firing is finished in this game. So you won't even have the option to kill the cheap figure & then shoot "boba-fett" in the same turn.

[Danyel Phelps]

As far as I know, the pieces in this game represent several units of that type (Tanks being a section/platoon, infantry being half-squads.) The hexes also are supposed to represent a greater distance that how it looks on the board. Armed with this information, it's easy to see how Infantry units a hex behind a tank aren't nessisarily moving directly behind the tanks.

That would be a neat ability, though, for a friendly tank with said ability to be able to shield an infantry unit as long as it is in the same hex.

[Vulturedoodle]

I've also read in a number of different sources that behind the tank might have been a very unhealthy place to be, as the tank tended to attract more fire. I can't say, as I've never advanced into combat behind a tank.

Regards,
Steve F.

[Bobsalt]

As far as I know, the pieces in this game represent several units of that type (Tanks being a section/platoon, infantry being half-squads.)

I think you're half-right. I've seen in print (or on screen?) that the soldiers do represent several individuals, but I think one vehicle represents exactly that - one vehicle.

[Demolitiondude]

Wouldn't infantry get point defense for being in formation of the tank?

[Vulturedoodle]

Wouldn't infantry get point defense for being in formation of the tank?
What is "point defense"?

--SEF

[Demolitiondude]

What is "point defense"?

--SEF
Point defense is units such as infantry in formation with a unit (like a tank or mech) with the highest defense (usually that has point defense) shares the defense of the unit with the highest defense. Every MechWarrior player knows point defense (me included). Would infantry get point defense in formation with a tank?

[Plagued]

I've also read in a number of different sources that behind the tank might have been a very unhealthy place to be, as the tank tended to attract more fire. I can't say, as I've never advanced into combat behind a tank.

Regards,
Steve F.

There are some instances I've seen of it.

Cooper's "Death Traps" mentions U.S. Troops hiding behind Shermans during the Normandy invasion on one or two occassions. There are also a few 'action' photos of soviets going into combat behind a tank. I'm thinking that it was mainly as a cover against MGs. The tank can advance and suppress an MG position far better than a group of rifle armed infantry can.
I really think it depends on the situation.


As for the game, the ground/miniature scale is really inconsistent. Where the tanks -should- block LOS, the size of the hex area they occupy is actually supposed to be quite a bit bigger than they are. (Despite the fact that some tanks occupy 9/10ths of a hex.)

[Demolitiondude]

What about blocking terrain, artillery fire, point defense, and what-not?

[Vulturedoodle]

Point defense is units such as infantry in formation with a unit (like a tank or mech) with the highest defense (usually that has point defense) shares the defense of the unit with the highest defense. Every MechWarrior player knows point defense (me included). Would infantry get point defense in formation with a tank?
Ah. This is Axis & Allies. Here's the rules link:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/article/ah20050715c

Regards,
Steve F. :)

[Demolitiondude]

Looks like I'll be reinstalling Acrobat reader. But lets just ignore me being a MechWarrior. Would there be point defense for infantry in formation with tanks?

[Vulturedoodle]

Looks like I'll be reinstalling Acrobat reader. But lets just ignore me being a MechWarrior. Would there be point defense for infantry in formation with tanks?
No, no point defense. Respectfully, it's good form to read the rules before participating in rules discussions.

Regards,
Steve F.