Battlefront WWII
Playtest Improved Position Rules
Playtest Improved Position Rules
Here are some playtest rules for different kinds of improved positions that were developed by Rich after a rather long discussion on the forum. Try them out and let us know what you think of them.
Improved positions
Representation
Improved positions are represented by markers provided with the game components, or by a scale model. Later I'll tell you how to construct nice looking fox holes using sand paper, cork model railroad bed and water color.Improved Position facing
An improved position now has a 180-degree front and rear orientation. Units occupying an improved position must conform their front or rear to the position. Units cannot conform by their flank. A unit positioned at an angle, or with its flank to an improved position, is not considered to be occupying the position and receives no benefit from it. There are several kinds of improved positions.Types of Improved Positions
| Type | Description | DF F | DF R | DF Enf |
IDF | CC | CC Flank |
Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanger | A sanger represents cover built on ground to hard (rock or frozen) to dig. You construct it by piling rocks, logs, etc. on the ground and then getting behind them. | -1 | 0 | Y | 0 | 0 | Y | Y |
| Shell scrapes Slit trenches |
Shell scrapes are fighting positions barely dug below ground. | -1 | -1 | Y | 0 | 0 | Y | Y |
| Fox Holes/ Rifle Pits |
More substantial improved positions, foxholes give protection against both direct and indirect fire. Foxholes cannot be constructed directly. Instead, you may upgrade a slit trench to a foxhole by conductin a successful "improve position" action. To construct a foxhole where no improvement exists thus takes two successfule IP actions. | -2 | -1 | Y | -1 | +1 | Y | Y* |
| Revetment | A revetment is a improved position for a vehicle or gun with the much the same characteristics as a fox hole. However, the unit may only conform to the front of the position. Vehicles and guns may only enter and exit a revetment by backing out through the rear of the position. Troops may occupy a revetment and treat it as a foxhole. Unlike other kinds of improved positions, vehicles DO get the direct and indirect fire protection of the position. | -2 | -1 | Y | -1 | +1 | Y | N |
| Improved Hard Cover | When a sanger or slit trench is constructed conformed behind a bank, embankment or wall, in a gully or ditch, or facing in any one direction in rough or rocky ground, it is considered improved hard-cover. It receives a -2 modifier against direct fire to its front, but other modifiers remain unchanged (N/C). | -2 | N/C | Y | 0 | +1 | Y | Y |
| Improved Hard Cover Built Up Sector | You can improve a hard cover built up sector. An enemy unit in an adjacent built up sector still receives the foothold modifier in close combat. | -2 | -2 | N | -1 | +1 | N* | Y |
| Dug-In | Dug-in positions are represented on the board with a scale model trench line.
Of course you must construct or purchase professional, diorama quality terrain
pieces so as to not sully our game system :-) Units must conform to the front,
flank or rear of the position and have all around defense. Therefore the terrain
model should be wide enough for a unit to move down the line of the trench.
Trench lines can be positioned in a perimeter defense as in a WWII style strong
point, or in successive lines as in a WWI style trench system. Minefields and barbed
wire and pillboxes should be incorporated into the defense. In close combat the enemy can receive a foothold modifier when it is attacking down the trench line and is also in the trench, but units in these positions cannot normally be enfiladed. |
-2 | -2 | N | -1 | +1 | N* | N |
DF F=Direct fire modifier when attacked from the front of the position.
DF R=Direct fire modifier when attacked from the rear of the position.
DF Enf=Does an attacking unit get the enfilade bonus when firing at a target in this type of position. Note that since the unit can be conformed toward the rear of the position, the enfilade bonus is determined relative to the unit while the DF F and DF R modifiers are determined relative to the orientation of the position.
IDF=Modifier against Indirect fire.
CC=Modifier given in close combat to a defender who occupies and is conformed to the position.
CC Flank=Are defending units in the position subject to the "outflanked" modifier in close-combat.
Build=Can the position be constructed during the course of a game by successfully completing an Improve Position check.
Some ideas for dug-in positions
Here is a strongpoint diagram from the official General Staff, War Office publication known as British Trench Warfare 1917-1918 (who definitely had some experience with trenches). It may be valuable for those interested in generating an Eastern Front strongpoint tabletop battle. The black boxes are dugouts.