BattleSystem Rules Summary
2E Battlesystem
Scale: The ground scale is 1 inch = 10 yards. Figures are at a 10:1 ratio, so that each figure in a unit represents 10 individual combatants of that figure type. The game is designed for use with 25mm figures. Units are described by the statistics on the unit roster: Type, Weapon(s) Used, Attack Dice, Armor Rating, Hits, Morale, and Movement.
Attack Dice (AD) specifies a size of die (d4, d6, d8, dlO, or dl2). On rare occasions, an AD notation will be given as the total of two dice, such as 10 + 8 or 2dlO; otherwise, only a single numeral appears, indicating a single die that has that many sides.
A player rolls one attack die for each figure in an attacking unit. The result of each roll is compared to the table on the top of the Reference Card to find out how many hits were scored on the defending unit by that roll. The attacker adds up the hits scored by all his AD rolls to determine how many hits were scored by the entire attack. Occasionally (such as during a charge or when missile weapons are fired; see the Reference Card), the number of attack dice allowed for a unit is increased or decreased. In all such cases, round fractions up. For example, a unit with 5 figures that is allowed a bonus of x11/2 AD gets to roll 3 extra attack dice; the same unit attacking at x 1/2 AD must roll only 3 attack dice instead of 5.
Armor Rating (AR) represents a unit's ability to withstand hits—the lower a unit's AR number, the harder it is to defeat. When the attacker has finished rolling his attack dice and has totaled all the hits scored, the defender rolls 1d10 for each hit. Each result higher than the defending unit's AR means one of the hits is cancelled by armor. Circumstances often affect a unit's armor rating, modifying it for the purpose of determining hits scored by a specific attack. A negative modifier to AR is an improvement, increasing the target's chance of avoiding hits, while a positive modifier makes the defender more vulnerable. In some cases, more than one of the modifiers to a target's AR (see the Reference Card) will apply at the same time.
Hits represents the number of hits required to remove one figure from the unit. Figures can be removed from anywhere in the unit. Partial damage to a figure can be recorded by placing a d6 next to the unit. For example, if it takes 4 hits to remove a figure from a unit and that unit suffers 3 hits, then a d6 with the "3" facing up is placed next to the unit to keep track of the hits it has suffered. As soon as the unit takes 1 more hit, then a figure must be removed.
Example of combat procedure: Unit A (8 figures, AD 8) engages in melee (hand-to-hand) combat with Unit B (6 figures, AR 7, Hits 2). For the attack, Player A rolls 8d8, getting results of 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, and 8. The three lowest rolls score no hits; the next three highest rolls score 1 hit each; and the two highest rolls score 2 hits each, for a total of 7 hits. Player B rolls 7dlO to see how many of the hits are cancelled out by armor, getting results of 1, 3, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9. The two highest rolls are greater than Unit B's armor rating of 7, meaning that only 5 of the hits actually did damage. Since each figure in Unit B can take 2 hits before having to be removed, this means that Player B must take 2 figures off the tabletop and then note (with a d6, as described above, or some other marker) that the unit has suffered 1 additional hit of damage.
Morale (ML) refers to the morale rating of the unit. When a unit makes a morale check, the player must roll 2dlO. A result equal to or less than the unit's ML means that the check is passed, and the unit does not suffer any penalties. A result greater than the unit's ML means that the check is failed, which has varying effects, depending on the status of the unit when the check is made. All units begin the game in good order. When a unit in good order reaches a situation that calls for a morale check (see the Reference Card), the unit must either make a morale check or retreat 4" (player's choice). If the check is made and failed, the unit goes to shaken order and must retreat 4". When a shaken unit readies a situation that calls for a morale check, the check is mandatory. If the check is failed, the unit must retreat 4" and make another check. A failure on this second check causes the unit to rout. A unit that has been routed will attempt to retreat from the battlefield as quickly as possible. A unit that is shaken or routed and is not in contact with enemy forces can be rallied (improved to good or shaken order) if it makes a successful morale check. Any unit that fails a morale check by 7 or more is routed immediately. For a unit with ML 12, for instance, this occurs if the 2dlO roll is 19 or 20. It is important to remember that a high ML is good, but a high roll on a morale check is bad, since a check is failed whenever the roll exceeds the unit's ML. In certain circumstances, a unit's ML is modified before a check is made; see the Reference Card. For scenarios that use the intermediate rules concerning individual units (heroes and commanders), the heading on this column of the unit roster is given as ML/CD, and the number for an individual, expressed in inches, represents that figure's command diameter (see the intermediate rules). Heroes and commanders do not have morale ratings (in effect, their ML is considered to be so high that it need never be checked).
Movement (MV) is the number of inches a unit can move across clear, flat terrain. A unit conducting a charge can move farther than its normal MV. Special terrain—anything other than clear, flat ground—has an effect on movement (see the Reference Card); sometimes a unit is slowed, and certain types of units are not allowed to move into some types of terrain.
