INTRODUCTION
These rules are designed to simulate modern company or battalion level ground combat using wargaming miniature for game play. As a player you represent battalion, regimental or divisional commanders who must maneuver your various ground and littoral air assets against the enemy. You may also be faced with elements outside of your control such as heavy artillery support, airstrikes and defensive positions that might show up courtesy of an optional setup system that allows the possibility of both tantalizing mismatches and dead-even slug-outs. After all, field commanders are rarely able to work out evenly matched scenarios with their enemies, so be prepared... you never know precisely what is to your front! Last updated: March 14, 2026.

1.1 Bases & Markers
In order to play Firestrike, virtually all figures or groups of figures should be mounted on bases made of thin wood, metal or plastic. Basic infantry combat is conducted per-bases (not per figure) and the number of figures mounted on each base does not matter for combat results. Likewise for vehicle bases, which will typically have one vehicle models mounted per base. Below is a chart showing some standard base sizes which were used to develop the rules, although most any basing is usable does not need to exactly match the sizes shown. It is common to vary the number of infantry figures mounted on the bases to give each unit a more varied appearance.

Scale - Each infantry base represents 25 soldiers, each weapon or vehicle base represents three vehicles or pieces of equipment. Each game turn represents a few minutes of battle time (averaging roughly two or three minutes). Due to the different scales offered, all distances discussed in the rules text are referred to in yards. The combat chart for each scale converts the corresponding movement and weapon ranges to inches for ease of play. All rules text defaults to discussion of the Micro-Armor scale of 1/285th (6mm), but there are also combat charts existing (or planned) for other scales including those optimized for 10mm and 15mm scales.

Game Markers - Game markers are used to track the status of combat units or bases, and may consist of miniatures mounted on single bases, colored wooden cubes or cardboard chits. There are also numerous wargame accessory manufacturers who make great looking plastic tokens of all types that work excellently as 1943 game markers. The following list outlines some of the more common markers that make game play more convenient:

• Prone: Green marker block, single prone figure on a base or plastic token like a Litko Mecha "Prone" marker.
• Pinned: Yellow cube marker.
• Immobilized: Tread segment or wheel on a base, or a chit or clear plastic token with Immobilized marked on it.
• Abandoned: Figure of dismounted crewman on a base or a chit or clear plastic token with Abandoned marked on it.
• Damaged: 6mm six-sided die, used as marker to show number of base damage points.
• Pass fired: White marker block or single firing figure.
• Destroyed Vehicle: Large smoke column marker (and remove tank turret). Or a black cube marker.
• Artillery Barrage: Disc markers are used to control barrage diameter. A plastic explosion token can also be used, although players must decide how to control barrage contact.
• Airstrike: Airstrikes tend to occupy square spaces, so using the leading edge of an aircraft model base (with jet or helicopter) or other square marker base that identifies it as an airstrike, and if necessary what type of airstrike (strafing, rocket, missile, etc.).
• Minefield: See Bases & Ranges table above, minefield are shown using 60 yard square bases.
• Smokescreen: White "cloud" marker made of felt, plastic or wood.
• Hull Down: A chit or plastic token like a Litko Mecha "Hull Down" marker.

« 1.2 Terrain
One of the most common terrain systems in miniature wargaming uses flocked stryofoam that is cut into shapes to create sloped hills. Another common and increasingly popular terrain system uses gaming mats made of mouse pad rubber which portray realistic looking ground surfaces. The latter can be cut into hill shaped sections like map contour lines and stacked to create shallow rises and dips. For game play, each hill section is considered to be one level high. Units within 40 yards of a "hill's" edge (the meeting line between the slope and flat hill-top) may spot and be spotted by those on lower levels, otherwise they are considered to be too far away from the edge of the plateau to establish line of sight. Treating gaming hills as the plateaus they resemble is usually the best way to interpret these features. This also creates dead ground along the bases of most hills or shallow rises, which is another realistic effect.

To create roadways and trench lines, use varying widths of gaffers tape to show main and secondary roads (roads and entrenchments may be tan or brown). Rubber gaming mats of forest, grass and related textures can also be cut into outlines or "footprints" for placement of trees and buildings. Lichen can be used to create hedges or areas of brush.

Each segment of game-board buildings actually represents the outline of a block of buildings. Troops inside these areas are not actually inside a single building, they are actually in a built up area which include everything from fence-lines, plots of land and farms to business blocks, cemeteries and government buildings. Make sure to consult the terrain chart below for general guidance on the game-specific characteristics of various terrain types. Players are encouraged to use this as a basis for creating their own interpretation of basic battlefield features.

Wire Entanglements - There are two types of wire entanglements: Heavy fence and Medium coil. Heavy fence blocks the movement of all but foot troops, who can only move at one-quarter speed across the entanglement (a half-inch wide heavy entanglement base costs two inches of movement to cross). Medium coil is not as heavy or secure to the ground, and can be crossed by foot troops and fully tracked vehicles (tanks). The passage of a tank base across a line of wire entanglement will destroy one wire segment at the point of passage (wire should be used in segments roughly equal to a tank width). There is a risk of tanks becoming temporarily immobilized when crossing medium entanglements, see the movement modifiers on the combat chart's Move table. Each barrage roll of a natural 6 will, in addition to other damaged inflicted, destroy one segment of wire if any are present within the barrage zone.

« 1.3 Unit Types
There are three types of combat units available to the player; personnel, armor and aviation. The distinctions are important to game play and should be remembered. Long range heavy artillery support from off-board is handled abstractly and does not require the building of units.

Personnel Units - These units are numerous but fragile. They are most susceptible to small arms fire and high explosives (C Type anti-personnel fire).

Infantry (Foot) - The bulk of any army is the infantry. Rifle and grenade armed troops directly supported by light machine guns, light mortars, anti-tank rifles, bazooka's and sometimes even flamethrowers.

Heavy weapons - These extra fire-support bases allow the flexible concentration of additional firepower. Heavy, medium and light machine guns, light and medium mortars, anti-tank rifles and flamethrowers are the most common types.

 

Artillery - Usually some kind of towed cannon or mortar for use as direct infantry support, direct anti-tank missions or some combination of the two. May also include heavy mortars and towed rocket launchers.

Cavalry - Yes, cavalry is still in service in 21st century, mostly relegated to scouting and partisan use but nevertheless there.

Transport - Lightly built vehicles such as trucks, jeeps, wagons and horse teams, they were used for moving infantry and heavy weapons. They had little or no protection and were not voluntarily exposed to direct enemy fire. These may include portee vehicles which are trucks with small cannon or heavy machine guns bolted to the open bed (like Technicals in Africa).

Tank Units - Tanks and their relations are heavyweight units which combine various levels of mobility, firepower and protection. Their most common shared feature is armor or other protection which shields against shrapnel, small arms fire, and other battlefield hazards. They are most vulnerable to direct fire armor piercing rounds and shaped charges (anti-tank fire), and are least vulnerable to small arms fire, high explosives and indirect barrages.

Main Battle Tank (MBT) - Tracked vehicle with its main weapon(s) mounted in a revolving turret. Its primary role is to destroy other tanks and help maintain the tempo of an advance.

Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) - An armored vehicle akin to a light tank, built to transport infantry while providing direct heavy fire support through a turret-mounted auto-cannon (usually 20mm or larger) and often carrying ATGM (anti-tank guided missiles) allowing it to engage enemy targets alongside its dismounted combat troops.

Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) - A modern wheeled armored vehicle that carries combat infantry with enhanced mobility, protection and built-in heavy weapons compared to APCs.

Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) - A lightly armored vehicle designed to transport infantry within a general battle zone with better protection than light transport, typically at a level to protect only from artillery shrapnel and light small-arms fire. Typically equipped only with machine guns or similar light weapons for self-defense.

Self-propelled artillery - Tank chassis with a shielded cannon mounted on top of the hull. Mostly used for antipersonnel fire, some are called "assault guns" and use dual purpose cannon for both anti-tank and antipersonnel fire.

Light Tank - For countries without the budget for lots of MBTs, the option is an economy version that costs less and it more easily knocked out. They have the benefit of being newer and easier to maintain than WWII tanks, which by now should be in museums but are still used in action (think Syria, Yemen).

Armored car - Fast, lightly protected and armed, these wheeled vehicles are used mostly for reconnaissance.

Medium & Heavy Tanks - Left over - literally - from World War II and the early Cold War era, these are mostly vintage pieces of equipment given leases on life through various upgrades, or not.

Half-track - Partially tracked, open-topped battle-taxis used to carry infantry and their support weapons into combat areas while giving them some protection against antipersonnel fire. Half-tracks move on roads as if they are tracked, but they are affected by other terrain as if they are wheeled.

Tank destroyer - A tank chassis with its main weapon mounted in the hull. Not common now, but still used.

Aviation - An air attack cannot occupy ground, but when properly employed it can paralyze and terrify the enemy. During game play, the margin by which a player wins control of the air over the battlefield may affect the number of airstrikes available for close ground support, along with other aviation assets like regional reconnaissance and air littoral forces (drones). No anti-aircraft is dealt with during the game, its resolution is folded into the air superiority and support die rolls. However, the presence of any aviation on (or over) the board may distract ground based AA guns away from conducting fire on ground targets. For more information see Command Control and Direct Fire Special Rules.

High Altitude Aircraft - A combination of various jets and prop driven aviation that will bomb, blast, laser or strafe ground targets at the ground controller's behest - or on their own initiative depending on the situation. This level of aviation tends to be large, fast and loud.

Air Littoral - This is the first few hundred feet above ground, mostly inhabited by small and medium sized drone aviation, controlled by some combination of human remote guidance and on-board algorithms. They are small, slow and quiet compared to their high altitude siblings, but over half of armored vehicle losses are now attributed (correctly or incorrectly) to drones.

«1.4 Game Units and Formations
Bases and Formations - The basic levels of organization used for game play are bases and formations. Each infantry base is composed of several foot figures or one vehicle model (maybe two for small vehicles) and each formation is composed of numerous bases. Bases belonging to the same formation can be marked to show they all belong together. Several formations can be nested within each other; several companies within a battalion, etc.

Formations - The most common command formations will usually be companies, battalions (or batteries) and brigades. When discussing a formation that is "under" command of a higher formation, it will commonly be referred to as the sub-formation. So for example, companies are sub-formations of battalions and battalions are sub-formations of brigades, etc. The Combat Units and Formations pages include selections of various real-life formations accompanied by the numbers and types of bases used to represent them for Firestrike game play.

Support Bases - Some formations may have extra heavy weapon or transport bases assigned as part of their organization's extra assets. The most common of these are heavy weapons or transport bases of various types. If associated with specific combat bases, the related transports must always operate in conjunction with their payload. Transport bases may however, standby by seeking cover anywhere within the combat zone, even if doing so puts them one or two full moves away from their assigned payload. General battalion, regimental or brigade level assets should be assigned to one or more of the lower level sub-formations in order to maintain a clear chain of command for the game. For example, if a brigade HQ comes with two mortar carriers (a common theme), for game play those two carriers would not just wander around the battlefield on their own, they would be assigned to one or more of that brigade's sub-formations (battalion, battery or company) to be part of them for the course of the battle.

Headquarters Bases - Every formation of battalion/battery level or higher will usually begin the game with one or more headquarters (HQ) bases which abstractly represents its command infrastructure. Command (HQ) bases cannot be attacked by direct ground fire or assault and they may not be used for attack purposes. Command bases may be attacked and damaged by enemy indirect fire and air attacks (including air littoral actions) and are still destroyed if they suffer more than six points of damage. Note that HQ vehicle bases have much stronger defense values than regular combat bases of the same types.

Base Intervals - All member bases of each unit may spread out as much as they want. The distance between bases is the base interval. While there is no maximum base interval for distances between bases in a formation, bases more than 12" from any friendly HQ base within their chain of command (i.e., "qualified" HQ bases) cannot receive addition situational awareness dice during the direct fire phase.

« 1.5 Troop Quality
Every unit in game play is assigned a morale level and a training level. These levels affect virtually every aspect of unit performance, and have a profound effect on the outcome of a battle. Below is an outline of these troop grades, and a short description of the conditions for each.

Morale Grades
• Elite: Usually highly trained specialists who are supremely confident in their abilities, these men are truly dangerous and they know it. They will take apparently suicidal risks in the daily pursuit of their job and come back ready for more the next day.
• Veteran: Good, old-fashioned experienced soldiers. There are a lot more veteran troops than elite troops, and do not have the same disregard for personal safety. But you had better pay them the respect they deserve, otherwise they will be eating dinner in your dugout tomorrow evening.
• Seasoned: The result of most armies of the world, average, steady troopers capable of dishing out plenty of punishment and absorbing quite a lot in return. They will however, eventually give way if put in too difficult of a situation.
• Inexperienced: The main issues with inexperienced troops are that they do not really know what to expect. They may or may not be certain of who their enemy is and how exactly high command plans to finish the job at hand. Overall they might be capable but nobody will know for sure until the shooting starts.
• Militia: These troops have no real military experience but are here anyway. They may or may not be volunteers, but typically those guys are already in the Inexperienced or Seasoned category by now. So we are left with the leftovers who might never have handled a rifle before.

Turn Sequence
• Command: HQ Broadcast marker discovery (for HQ bases whose units intend to move this turn):
  a) For any HQ bases that have Broadcast Markers on them from last turn, roll for discovery on the Command & Discovery table using that side's discovery rating on the Combat Roster (as established during game setup using the Setup Page). For bases that are "discovered," place a Discovered marker on them and remove the old broadcast marker.
  b) Each side roll for Situational Awareness (SA) dice: Refer to the SA Table on the combat chart and roll to see how many SA Dice will be available to each side for that turn.
  c) Place unit move order markers: Any unit that has any bases that intend to move this turn, place a Move marker nearby. Then roll for each HQ base that intends to move by rolling on the Command & Discovery table using that side's Command rating to see if the HQ may actually move this turn. If able to move, also place a move marker near them.
  d) For any HQ that had any of the units under their command take-on a Move Marker, place a Broadcast Marker at their current location (the marker will remain at that location even if the HQ base moves).
• Indirect Fire & Movement: Place indirect fire markers and move combat bases:
  a) Place 1st Indirect Fire impact zone markers.
  b) Move bases (as desired) for units that have Move markers (Mine roll PRN).
  c) Place 2nd Indirect Fire impact zones.
  d) Roll to rally pinned bases.
• Airstrikes: For resolving all airstrikes:
  a) Place airstrike impact zones for all airstrike fire.
  b) Resolve all airstrike fire.
• Indirect Fire Impact: For indirect fire resolution:
  a) Resolve & remove indirect fire impact zone markers
  b) Remove HQ Discovery markers.
  c) Leave persistent markers (NBC, etc.).
• Direct Fire & Assault:
  a) 1st Direct Fire: Resolve all heavy and light direct fire incidents.
  b) Roll for damage morale effects.
  c) Resolve all assaults
  d) 2nd Direct Fire: Resolve all heavy and light direct fire for bases that did not fire in the 1st Direct Fire step.
  e) Roll for immobilized base effects.

HQ Discovery Die Roll Modifiers
• Each enemy HQ base lost: Subtract four points (-4) from the discovery die roll for each enemy command (HQ) base anywhere on the field that has been lost. Opposing forces are less likely to spot your command bases if their own command structure is disrupted.
• NBC warfare in progress: Subtract four points (-4) from the die roll if there are any nuclear, biological or chemical warfare elements active on the battlefield.

2.2 Situational Awareness Dice
Situational Awareness dice can be used to backup combat bases when they conduct heavy fire. To find out how many SA dice will be available during the turn, each side rolls two twenty-sided dice (2D20) on the Situational Awareness (SA) table. They each then refer to their respective Situational Awareness Base Rate (SABR), modify it with the SABR Point Modifiers if applicable (see below and on combat chart) and then use those points to "buy" SA dice up to the limit of points rolled on the 2D20. SA dice expire at the end of the current turn and may not be saved for use in future turns.

SABR Point Modifiers
• Half (1/2): Halve the current SABR point rating if the commanding player's side has Air Littoral supremacy or majority Responsive troop types (the resulting smaller rating value results in more SA dice gained for the turn).
• Double (x2): Double the current SABR point rating if the commanding player's side has majority Uncoordinated troop types or for each HQ base lost.

2.3 Place Unit Move Markers
For any units that a player intends to move, place a Move marker, which can be anything from a chit to an arrow. The goal of the marker is merely to keep track of which command bases have bases within their chain of command moving, the moving units themselves are not required to conduct any activation or roll-to-move tests.

HQ Move markers - Unlike combat bases, command based do need to roll for permission to move. To roll for ability to move, use that side's Command rating recorded on the Combat Roster and roll 1D20. If the modified result is equal to or greater than the player's Command Rating, the HQ base may move, place a Move marker next to it to show it can move. If the die roll fails, the HQ base must remain where it is for the turn.

HQ Move Die Roll Modifiers
• Finished moving first on previous move: Since movement for both sides is simultaneous, there is an advantage to finishing one's movement first. The player who (truthfully) calls out that they are finished moving first will get this +4 bonus on their HQ Move die roll. If one side does not move anything and the other side does, the player who did not move any bases (at all) wins this bonus. If neither side moves, nobody gets the bonus next turn.

2.4 Place HQ Broadcast Markers
For any units who have a movement marker (i.e., some of their bases are intended to move this turn), place a Broadcast Marker immediately next to their respective HQ base. If there is more than one HQ base, place the marker next to the closest base. If there are second level (i.e., brigade or regimental) HQ markers present, also place broadcast markers next to all of them if more than one of their own subordinate formations has bases that moved. For example, if there are two battalions worth of troops on the board, each battalion with an HQ base, and then there is also a brigade HQ group of two bases, and only one of the battalions has units that moved, the brigade bases do not get flagged with broadcast markers. But if both battalions have any combat bases that move, both the immediate commanding battalion HQ bases are marked, and also the brigade bases (all) are marked as broadcasting.

3.2 Movement
All units which have Movement markers may now move some or all of their combat bases to the limit of each base's available movement allowance. HQ bases allowed to move may also move at this time. No tests or activation rolls are needed. See the vehicle and troop stat sheets for movement allowance details. Infantry and cavalry bases may move forward, sideways or backwards as part of their normal movement rate. They may not move sideways or backwards into assault contact with enemy bases (e.g. - combat bases may only initiate assault contact using the front edges of their bases). Definitions of the foot troop (infantry) movement categories are as follows:

Prone - Troops are laying down and using local terrain to create extra cover. A unit may go prone or stand once during each of its own movement phases; meaning that a unit may not stand from prone, move and then go prone again. Prone units may assault move (and move into assault contact) while remaining prone. Prone engineers may clear minefields while remaining prone, but no prone units may dig field entrenchments (foxholes, hasty dig-in, etc.) while prone. Mortars and heavy machine guns may not move or fire while prone.
Manhandling - Any towed cannon or mortar being moved without the aid of motorized transport.
Walking - Normal movement rate for infantry. Troops are considered to be moving upright, at a brisk pace.
Rushing - Troops are considered to be alternating between prone, and bursts of running, usually in a leapfrog pattern with some portions of the unit supplying covering fire. Bases may not use rushing movement to establish assault contact with an enemy unit.
Heavy Weapon - Maximum movement rate for heavy weapon bases such as machine guns and light mortars.

Cavalry Functions - Cavalry units may not use assault movement if they will enter woods, water obstacles, or buildings during the turn. They may mount/dismount their horses at a cost of 1/4 of their move on any turn in which they have not conducted assault movement. Dismounted status is indicated by replacing the mounted troop bases with dismounted infantry bases (horses are considered tied-up to the rear or held by extra manpower or small numbers of troops. Dismounted cavalry trooper bases operate in all respects as infantry.

3.21 Vehicle Movement
Vehicles may only move forward or backward, they may not move sideways. Driving forward is considered normal movement and represent the default movement direction for speeds provided in the Vehicle and Equipment Values pages. They may change facing at no movement cost in order to change their direction of travel. Vehicle bases must move a minimum of 1" yards in order to be considered to have moved. Vehicles which move less than 1" yards in a turn are considered to be tactically stationary, and may be fired upon as if they were stationary. Vehicles may also move backward at the reverse speed shown in their respective vehicle stats page, with some chance of being immobilized due to running into ditches, becoming stranded on obstacles, etc. Vehicles may also drive using an assault movement speed bonus over open ground, also with some chance of being immobilized for the same reasons.

3.22 Transport and Towing
Transporting Infantry - Infantry stands may be carried inside vehicles so designated in the vehicle charts. Infantry bases may mount/dismount a vehicle once per turn. The vehicle also pays half of its turn's movement for the unit to mount/dismount. Infantry stands share the fate of their transporting vehicle; if the vehicle is damaged/destroyed, all stands being carried by the vehicle are equally damaged/destroyed.

Example: A truck which can carry two infantry bases suffers two points of damage. Each infantry base being carried will also receive two points of damage.

Infantry as Riders - Each MBT class vehicle can carry one stand of infantry on its hull so long as the vehicle does not move into a building or water obstacle, or into woods not along a road. The cost for infantry to ride a vehicle is 1" of normal movement allowance to mount/dismount, and 2" of the vehicle's movement allowance for the turn.

Towing weapons - Weapon sections which require towing (see Formation and Equipment) need jeeps, trucks, tractors or prime movers for their mobility. Those vehicles capable of towing weapons should have that fact noted in the transport vehicle lists along with the largest gun class which that vehicle is capable of moving.
The limbering and set up time for each gun class is shown below. Limbering and unlimbering costs the towing vehicle a certain portion of its movement. Once unlimbered, a transport vehicle may then depart (if under fire it will want to do so quickly) and leave the gunners to set up their pieces. Weapons may not fire on any turn in which they expend all of their time limbered or being set up. If half or three quarters of a turn is spent setting up, a weapon will suffer the Moved modifier. If less than a half turn is expending in unlimbering and set up, the weapon does not suffer the Moved fire modifier.

« 3.23 Defenses
Digging-in - Foot units and heavy weapon bases which do not require towing may expend their movement allowance to prepare their own fieldworks (defenses). Units preparing defenses count as having moved and take six turns to complete a hasty dig-in or 12 turns to complete foxholes. An engineer base may dig-in infantry, heavy weapons sections or towed heavy equipment in half the time listed above (three and six turns respectively for hasty dig-in or foxholes).

The digging in of tanks and vehicles must be done using available Setup Sheet defenses at double normal usage. For example: A vehicle with a 40 yard frontage would consume 80 yards of trench-line in order to be considered entrenched.

3.3 Indirect Fire - 2nd Impact Zone Placement
Forces which have fire support technology that supports 2nd impact zone placement can place their barrage markers at this step. See the Set-up Guide for more about which nations place their barrages at this point.

3.4 Roll to Rally
Each base that is currently pinned (typically due to a previous turn's morale hit) rolls to Rally on the Morale Table by rolling 1D20. If the modified die roll result is equal to or greater than the corresponding Troop Grade and Rally cross-reference value, the base is restored to operational status, remove the Pinned marker. There is only one rally die roll modifier, which is a -4 for each headquarters base within that base's chain of command that had been lost.

Indirect Fire Point Modifiers
• Attack-Defense Difference - Add or subtract one point (+/- 1) for each point difference between the attacking value and the defending base's armor rating (Use heaviest/maximum defense value).
• Target position not observed - Halve the attack point level if the barrage impact zone is not observed by any friendly bases (i.e., blind fire).
• No Code Match - halve the attack point level if the attacking artillery/support weapon code(s) do not have any matches against the target base armor codes.

Indirect Fire Die Roll Modifiers
• Per attacker damage hit - Subtract two (-2) from the attack die roll for each damage point on the barrage marker's parent base.
• Target moved over 4" - Subtract two (-2) from the attack die roll if the target base moved more than 4" during this turn's movement step.

5.1 Hit Results
Each Kill result (K) will destroy the target base, or one base of a targeted unit. A Damage result (D) will damage the target base, or one base of a targeted unit. If the damaged base belongs to a personnel (infantry) unit which already has one damaged base, combine the two damage hits into one Kill and remove one base of the target unit. Infantry units can never have more than one damaged base each. Damaged vehicle bases retain their mobility, but their fire ability is impaired. Immobilized results ( I ) only happen to vehicles (include towed artillery). Vehicles immobilized due to direct fire are immobilized for the remainder of the game, even through combat lulls. It is an unrecoverable condition as far as game play is concerned. An immobilized vehicle base must roll for morale reaction during the Casualty Morale Test phase. Machine gun and mortar bases are killed when hit. Each machine gun base may be resurrected once by immediately removing the closest infantry base from the same battalion and using that base to reconstitute the machine gun section.

• No code match - Halve the attacking points if the firing weapon has no code match against the target's defense code. Example: A "B" rated ATGM attacking an "A" rated M1A2 will have its attack value halved. But if attacking an "AB" rated M60A1, it attacks with full value.
• Target covered - Halve the attacking points if the target is more than half covered by any terrain obstacles such as woods, walls, ruins, rubble, reserve slopes, etc.
• Attack/Defense Difference - Compare the attacking weapon's value against the targeted vehicle's defense size and apply the difference as a plus or minus to the attacker's Hit Die roll. For example: A modified 6 Attack versus a 10 Defense would mean -4 on the attack die roll.
• Under 8" range - Add two (+2) to the attack die roll if the target base is less that 8-inches away from the firing base.
• Per target damage - Add two (+2) to the attack die roll for each damage hit on the target base.
• Pinned - Subtract two (-2) from the attack die roll if the firing base is currently pinned.
• Over 24" range - Subtract two (-2) from the attack die roll if the target base for more than 24-inches away from the firing base.
• Per attacker damage - Subtract two (-2) from the attack die roll for each damage point on the firing base.

6.2 Damage Morale
Bases which have suffered any Damage Hits so far during this turn must check for morale reaction based on the total number of hits suffered so far in the game (not just this turn). There are no modifiers for this check, just a single randomizing die roll using the "Tens" system in which a 1D20 die is rolled; a result of 20 causes a -2 hit modifier for considering morale effect (does not reduce the number of actual hits suffered), a result of 10 through 19 causes a -1 hit modifier, and any result less than 10 (single digits) causes no change to the hits calculated for the turn. Once the number of hits to be considered is established, cross reference that value with the corresponding Troop Grade line that matches the troop grade of the base in question. The result in the Base Reaction.

Example: A seasoned MBT base which began the turn with two Damage Hits suffers another three Damage Hits during Indirect and 1st Direct fires, for a total of five hits so far in the game. The player rolls a 12, which lowers the 5 Reaction column to a 4 (does not reduce the number of hits suffered, the 12 only changes the Damage Hits Reaction column to be referenced). Cross referencing Seasoned with column 4 shows a P result, which means the base become Pinned. See the action results for pinned.

6.3 Damage Reaction (Morale)
Pinned - Foot troops will go prone and remain stationary until rallied. Vehicle bases will halt at their current location until rallied.

Hide - Foot troops move one normal move directly toward nearest cover and halt pinned at that cover. Bases already in cover remain there pinned. If there are several types of cover within movement range, the base will choose the best cover available that they can reach most safely. Seasoned or better vehicle bases may seek to hide while facing the enemy (i.e., moving in reverse), Inexperienced or worse grade vehicles will face in the direction of movement toward the cover, only being allowed to turn around once they reach cover.

Withdraw - Foot troop base will conduct one assault move directly away from the enemy, facing away. Base does not halt (if moving multiple turns is required) until it reaches cover, at which point it will continue one full move past the cover and then go pinned. The base is considered routing and cannot roll later for rally until after it has reach its "rout point" beyond the cover and gone pinned. Seasoned or better vehicles do the same unless immobilized, in which case they will be abandoned. Inexperienced vehicle bases which get Rout results will also be abandoned.

Rout - Foot troop base will conduct a double-assault move directly away from the enemy, facing away. Base does not halt (if moving multiple turns is required) until it reaches cover, at which point it goes pinned. The base is considered withdrawing and cannot roll later for rally until after it has reach cover and gone pinned. Vehicle do the same unless immobilized, in which case they will be abandoned..

Break-up - Foot troop base is removed from play, vehicle base is abandoned by its crew (vehicle remains as obstacle and capture/recovery object).

« 6.4 Assaults
An assault occurs when foot troops (infantry) begin an assault step in base to base contact with enemy foot units, which can include other infantry, towed artillery, mortars, etc. Once contacted during movement, opposing infantry bases are locked in place. Neither participant may break contact until the assault is resolved.

Defending foot troops involved in an assault may still employ small arms fire during their respective fire steps. Normally equipped assaulting personnel bases may not fire during their fire phase, although nearby units and heavy weapons from the attacking side may fire at the defending units if they are not in direct contact with enemies and do not violate line-of-sight rules.
Assaulting bases which are equipped with assault/engineering weapons may fire during their respective fire phase. This assault-fire ability does not extend to normally equipped "host" personnel bases or units which may have assault weapon bases as part of their OOB.

To resolve an assault, establish which bases or groups of bases are in contact with each other. Each side then rolls 1D20 and applies all applicable die roll modifiers shown on the Infantry Assault table. The side which loses the modified die roll loses all of their bases as killed. The side which rolled the natural (unmodified) low roll suffers one damage to each participating base. For obvious reasons, this last effect only applies to the winner of the modified point comparison (i.e., if a player rolls low but ultimately wins via modifiers, they still suffer damage). In case of a modified tie, both sides become pinned until next turn and may not attempt to rally until the assault has been decisively resolved.

Example: [enter example here...].

Assault Die Roll Modifiers - The following die roll modifiers apply to the assault 1D20 rolls:.

• Elite troops - Add eight points (+8) if half or more of involved bases for that side are elite grade.
• Veteran troops - Add four points (+4) if half or more of involved bases for that side are veteran grade.
• In #10 cover or better - Add four points (+4) if half or more of total bases involved for that side are in cover with a light fire defense value of ten or better. Does not apply to open sided cover such as reverse slopes.
• Friendly drones overhead - Add four points (+4) if any friendly drone bases are in base-to-base contact with any bases directly involved in the assault.
• Inexperienced troops - Subtract four points (-4) if half or more of involved bases for that side are inexperienced grade.
• Damaged - Subtract four points (-4) if half or more of involved bases for that side are more than half damaged (4+ points)..
• Unit hit on two or more sides - Subtract four points (-4) if half or more of total bases involved for that side belong to units which are in assault contact on any two of their four sides.
• Militia troops - Subtract eight points (-8) if half or more of involved bases for that side are militia grade.

6.5 2nd Direct Fire
Bases which failed to fire during the first direct fire step may attempt to fire one more time. Note that all damage and kill effects from the first direct fire step must have been applied for all three engagement levels before carrying-out the second direct fire step. Weapons which already fired during the first direct fire step (those should have been marked with Fired arrows) may not fire in the second direct fire step. Otherwise, carry out this direct fire step identically to the first.