Enfilade Fire

[DocD]

Very good points warspite. I personally would like to see this rule limited to just units that don't give any 1+ bonus to attack dice. That will take care of a lot of headaches.
Disrupted units should also not be allowed to use this....for the reason you spoke of.

[BogenBlitz]

We have been using a house rule which seems to be in the spirit of enfilade, but may not have some of the pitfalls:

Up to three adjacent soldiers (of the soldier type, not "soldier-artillary," for example) may combine fire against a single target. The unit rolling the attack die gains one additional attack die for each soldier assisting in the attack (+2 max). Units with a face up disruption counter may not combine fire. The combined fire attack constitutes all actions for the participating firing units for the attack round. A unit fired upon by combined fire from two or more soliders receives a -1 penalty to its cover roll.

The rule basically allows for cheaper, and sometimes less effective infantry, to combine fire and take out those nasty 5/5 units.

[Uncle_Joe]

I think the proposed Enfilade rules will help vehicles too. Infantry to 'fix' the enemy and then the vehicles bring the hurt. Even 7/7/6 armor can hurt infanfry if given the +1.

[shadowhooch]

Good points warspite.

However, if 3 or 4 squads were firing on 1 squad from all directions - then yes, they SHOULD be kind of screwed. So I still like Enfilade. It is kind of a counter balance to cover rolls as cover rolls really deter you from concentrating fire on one target too much.

Maybe Enflilade should cause a -1 on cover rolls instead of a +1 to attack. Are you easier to disrupt when being fired at on 2 sides or easier to kill?

Either way, I'm fine with it.

[CommanderlessMosinNagant]

Originally Posted by Colonel_Coo

This ability with Grazing fire will dominate play.

I agree with this quote, but the combination that was proposed seems to complicated. Wouldn't it be much more likely to see combinations of BMW's with MG-42's? Simple and sweet, without all of the extra point cost. The BMW's should be sufficient fast to move into position to an opposite adjacent space. Sure it's probably dead, but so are the adjacent units under the MG-42's fire. With double shot and grazing fire, that could be a 4-to-1 trade.

[Grenzewolf]

Originally Posted by shadowhooch

Good points warspite.

However, if 3 or 4 squads were firing on 1 squad from all directions - then yes, they SHOULD be kind of screwed. So I still like Enfilade. It is kind of a counter balance to cover rolls as cover rolls really deter you from concentrating fire on one target too much.

Maybe Enflilade should cause a -1 on cover rolls instead of a +1 to attack. Are you easier to disrupt when being fired at on 2 sides or easier to kill?

Either way, I'm fine with it.

I tend to agree with the "Hooch" on this. +1 is huge. Hell, snipers only get 5 dice but are intended to be leathal with "crackshot". Just because your back is turned doesnt make some twit at 200+ meters a better shot. However it does make finding cover from multiple angles more difficult. Most people complain about continous cover saves bordering on ridiculous so just reduce the cover bonous. Seems like a KISS solution to me without getting twisted over all the hypothetical scenarios.

Why is it called "Common Sense" when its so hard to find?

[Colonel_Coo]

This rule may be the most awesome change yet! A total re-write of tactics & builds.

First I assume units in TRANSPORT cannot trigger the Enfilde attack. I could be wrong.
Second, I assume when they wrote it, they deliberately allowed ANY friendly unit to be granted the bonus. This is a massive change.


Why?

T-34/76
Red Army FO
82mm Mortar
Sturmivek

Turn 1 Russia starts with the FO in transport. Turn 1 moves to be adjacent and from the right side of the enemy unit (A MG-42 and SS PG) . Dismounts the FO.
Air strike phase. The Sturmivek attacks! FO granst an additional DIE and the Enfilde fire grants +1 on each attack dice.
Normal Combat the 82mm rains fire from the far corner of the map. Hitting the rear side as well. -1 then +1. The Mortar kills the other unit.

[warspite]

Originally Posted by shadowhooch

Maybe Enflilade should cause a -1 on cover rolls instead of a +1 to attack. Are you easier to disrupt when being fired at on 2 sides or easier to kill?

Either way, I'm fine with it.

Ooh! Or how 'bout this idea...firer gets CHOICE; before rolling, either call +1 to dice or -1 cover rolls. That would really push the game towards tactics and away from lucky rolls. Kind of like the Ranger bonus die, but more useful (how many rivers/cliffs will they be crossing, anyway?). Also makes the number-cruncher scenarios more complicated. Not so easy to say one way or the other what's really best. Besides, if the target's in the open, -1 cover is useless, anyway.

[warspite]

Originally Posted by Colonel_Coo

First I assume units in TRANSPORT cannot trigger the Enfilde attack. I could be wrong.

Fighting Platform should allow it, so long as the soldier fires in the same phase. Prevents the transport from driving off, which would negate it.

Perhaps the unit triggering enfilade must fire first, to avoid silliness like moving away without actually shooting, but after giving the enfilade to other units. Could cause sequencing conflicts with the aforementioned air unit attacks, of course.

But, really, how would enfilade really help planes? They can attack from angle of choice already. The reverse might be true though, that an air attack could provide an enfilade of some kind, like covering fire prevents shooting, regardless of actual casualties. That would make planes more useful, even when they aren't doing direct damage. (Note: I'm not trying to reignite the discussions about AA changes here, so disregard any other benefits planes may be getting from the expert rules suggestions )

[Uncle_Joe]

I think the way to 'counter' enfilade is to actually have a LINE rather than little isolated groups of units. Its going to be hard for those bikers to flank properly if you cover your flanks with more infantry (or perhaps Overwatching MGs?? ).

I really like the potential that this rule has for changing up the game mechanics. And anything that helps kill infantry is a good thing IMO, especially one that requires the player to actually outmaneuver his opponent.