Borger Borgersen - 02:02pm Apr 23, 2002 PST (#666 of 668)

Answer to Masterfront combat resolution.

Jay Muchnij wrote:

Can anyone clarify what the actual intent of the rules are?

Combat units participating in a battle fire *simultaneously* (not unit by 
unit). But it's very common to roll the DF dice rolls first and the SF dice 
rolls last (or vice versa). If you have more dice rolls than you have dice 
you will have to roll several times (7xSF with 4 dice = 4 dice + 3 dice).
The clue is that you accumulate the total damage from *all* dice rolls 
before you assign any damage.

Remaining unassigned damage from previous impulses within the same combat 
phase are added to the total as well (typically half-hits remaining from 
airstrikes).

Let's consider this example : Russia defends in July turn I 1941 with 2 
units in the forest hex of Chernigov (Kiev NE1). The hex is protected by 
river from 3 sides. These units are: 3cv arm + 4cv inf
Germany attacks with 4 units (3 across river and 1 from a paradrop). These 
units are: 3cv arm + 4 cv inf + 3 cv inf + 2 cv para These units are 
supported by the blitzing 3cv Army Group Center located in Kiev and the 
Supreme HQ OKH located in Minsk acting as a para HQ.

Since all attackers attack across a river or by paradrop a repulse may 
occur. The German para unit reduces the repulse from a DR of 1-2 to a DR of 1.
The German player assigns a 3 cv airstrike from the OKH.
The Offensive Airstrike impulse is conducted first: Germany rolls: 3xTF and 
gets 4,6,6 = 3 half-hits = 1 hit + unassigned half-hit that will be 
transferred to the Offensive Fire impulse.

Russia must lose one step on his strongest unit, i. e. the 4cv inf. So 
Russia has 3cv arm + 3cv inf remaining. Notice that the remaining half-hit 
is *not* assigned yet.

Next is the Defensive Fire impulse: Russia rolls: 3xDF + 3xSF and gets 5, 
2, 1 + 1, 3, 5 = 1 hit + 2 repulses. Germany must repulse his 2 weakest 
units and lose 1 step on his strongest unit. The 2cv para is repulsed and 
loses another step (air assault effect). Germany can now choose whether he 
wants to repulse the 3cv inf or 3cv arm and selects the 3cv inf as he needs 
the extra firepower from the arm. He must now remove a step loss from his 
strongest unit and that is the 4cv inf.

So Germany had to repulse the 3cv inf and 2cv para (which was reduced to 
1cv para) and remained with 3cv arm + 3cv inf.

Next is the Offensive Fire impulse: Germany rolls 3xDF + 3xSF and gets 5, 
3, 2 + 1, 5, 4 = 1 half-hit But the remaining half-hit from the Offensive 
Airstrike impulse can be added to the total so you end up with 2 half-hits 
= 1 hit.

Notice that the half-hit from the airstrike was not yet assigned to a 
particular unit.

Russia must now remove 1 step from one of his strongest units and selects 
the 3cv inf because it's cheaper than the 3 cv arm. So Russia ends the 
phase with a 3cv arm + 2 cv inf

Notice that the Russian player was not allowed to e. g. assign the 
airstrike first half hit from the airstrike to the 3cv inf unit and the 
other half-hit from the offensive fire to the armor unit (thus not losing a 
step on either of the units). You only assign hits to a unit when you can 
inflict a step loss.

Next is the blitz phase: Germany reinforces the hex with 3 cv arm + 4 cv 
inf The combat is supported by the now 2cv Army Group Center. AG Center has 
also assigned a 2cv airstrike to the battle.
There are no repulses this phase because the Germans managed to form a 
bridgehead in the first combat phase.

These are the remaining fighting units: Germany: 3cv arm + 3cv arm + 4cv 
inf + 3cv inf Russia: 3cv arm + 2cv inf
Offensive Airstrike impulse: Germany rolls 2xTF and gets 4,6 = 2 half-hits 
= 1 hit. Russia must lose a step on his strongest 3cv arm and remains with 
2cv arm + 2cv inf

Defensive Fire impulse: Russia rolls: 2xDF + 2xSF and gets 5, 2 + 3, 6 = 2 
hits. Germany loses 2 steps on his strongest unit 4cv inf (still strongest 
after first step reduction) and remains with: 3cv arm + 3cv arm + 3cv inf + 
2cv inf.

Offensive Fire impulse: Germany rolls: 6xDF + 5xSF and gets 4, 3, 5, 2, 6, 
1 + 3, 2, 4, 6, 5 = 3 half-hits = 1 hit (the remaining half-hit is lost 
because there are not subsequent combat impulses in the blitz phase). 
Russia loses a step on his 2cv inf and remains with 2cv arm + 1cv inf
Germany has managed to cut the supply to Chernigov (by succeding in some 
other battles) so all Russian units in the hex will lose one step. So 
Russian units in the hex are reduced to only 1cv arm after the German 
Supply phase.

I hope this example makes things a bit clearer.

Regards Borger Borgersen