COMMAND 35: Mason-Dixon Questions & Answers =========================================== 1) Who sets up first in each scenario? BOTH SIDES SET UP SIMULTANEOUSLY 2) If a fort is destroyed by a para, is the hex enveloped? YES 3) Are there any retreats? I found no mention of retreat in the rules related to combat results, but one rule (I think 9.8) mentions that "a hex was vacated by the defender either due to losses or retreat", and the errata mention that "a defender may retreat into a fortress instead of out of the hex." THERE WERE ORIGINALLY VOLUNTARILY RETREATS OUT OF A HEX TO AVOID POCKETING, BUT THAT WENT AWAY WITH A CHANGE IN THE SEQUENCE OF POCKETING. HOWEVER, UNITS IN A HEX ARE NOW ALLOWED TO RETREAT INTO A FORT IN THE SAME HEX AFTER COMBAT. 4) For some reason, I find the various permutations of the exchange result on the combat table very confusing. For the EX result itself, it says, "The attacker must lose steps whose total strength is less than or equal to the defender's combat strength." Don't you mean, "greater than or equal to"? Otherwise, if I'm the attacker, won't I always opt to lose "less than"? ie, zero? NO, I MEANT LESS THAN. THE ATTACKER MUST LOSE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE, BUT NO MORE THAN THE DEFENDER'S LOSS. 5) Most of the exchanges have one side losing steps, then the other side losing steps whose combined strength is such and such. Is it the face up total strength that is used, or is it the difference between the two sides? FACE VALUE For example, a 7-6-2 units flips to 5-4-2. Does its loss count as 2 points or 6 points? SIX 6) How do overstacked units/reserves function in combat? They don't contribute to defense... but what happens if there is a DE result against their hex? ONLY THE UNITS TAKING PART ARE ELIMINATED; THE RESERVES JUST SIT THERE (BUT THEY WILL BE SUBJECT TO POCKETING IF THE ATTACKER ADVANCES). 7) Why are there different values for forts? DIFFERENT SIZES AND NUMBERS OF GUNS, BUNKERS, ETC. 8) Does the player placing the fort get to choose which he wants, or is it random? PLAYER'S CHOICE. 9) My previous questions are wrong, since coups occur in the combat phase, but can other units enter a hex a paratroop unit has landed on during the same movement phase, if it contains enemy troops or forts. THE PRESENCE OF PARATROOPERS IN A HEX DOES NOT IN ANY WAY AFFECT THE ABILITY OF OTHER FRIENDLY UNITS TO ENTER THE HEX (EXCEPT FOR RIVER COUPS). IF THE MOVING UNITS COULD HAVE ENTERED THE HEX IF THE PARAS WERE NOT THERE, THEN THEY COULD ENTER THE HEX IF THE PARAS ARE THERE. 10) 9.8 requires that all enemy units vacate - 11.1 says only a step loss is required to allow advance. 9.8 IS A MANDATORY ADVANCE; IF ALL ENEMY UNITS ARE ELIMINATED, THE ATTACKER MUST ADVANCE. 11.1 IS AN OPTIONAL ADVANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING A POCKET. 11) I assume you may advance *and* exploit if all enemy units are DE, otherwise just advance to get positional advantage. CORRECT 12) Costs for paratroopers out of GHQ boxes. SAME AS ANY OTHER UNIT 13) If they are used for a drop, do they count against the GHQ limits for that turn, YES or must resource points have been paid for them in the air phase? NO 14) If the hex with the GHQ is entered I have played that it is repositioned on the next friendly turn, with all its consequences. YES 15) 6.2 (unit supply lines) should have pockets added as a 4th case of hexes through which lines cannot be traced. CORRECT 16) May depots be set up on the map, with the necessary cost, during setup? NO 17) What is the status of the Mexican Protectorate during each scenario? A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF THE TEXAS PACIFIC RR (I.E. IT'S COMPLETELY CONFEDERATE). 18) Do the positional advantage/ pocket dice additions apply only if the units underneath are involved in the attack? (i.e. is a relief column handicapped also?) NO, THEY APPLY TO ALL ATTACKS ON THE HEX 19) The TEC has one unusual feature. Light inf. who are pocketed in a city defend with their AF, but not otherwise. Is there any way a rule could be added that allows units to be inside cities, benefiting from a better combat factor? I cannot see light infantry deploying out on the plain to meet an armoured column, when thay have a nice convenient city just to their rear! FAIR QUESTION; I SUPPOSE WE COULD ALLOW DEFENDERS TO VOLUNTARILY CREATE A POCKET IN A HEX (ESSENTIALLY THEY'D BE GIVING UP THE APPROACHES TO THE CITY AND HUNKERING DOWN IN IT). I HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT THERE IS A CERTAIN LOGIC TO IT. TRY IT AS A HOUSE RULE AND LET ME KNOW HOW IT WORKS. 20) Can one exploit into fort hexes? YES, BUT NOT OUT OF. THAT IS AN OMISSION FROM THE RULES. 21) 12.2 specifies that supporting units may only be attached to an "infantry division." How are "infantry divisions" defined? Does this include motorized infantry of various kinds? YES, ANY UNIT WITH THE CROSSED LINES (X) SYMBOL. NOTE THAT EXCLUDES MARINES AND PARAS. 22) What are the units with the upward-pointing-arrow unit symbol? What mobility type are they? MACHINEGUN REGTS, 3 MF 23) Is there any difference between major and minor rivers? THE "MAJOR" RIVERS ARE NAVIGABLE FOR RIVERINE AND SUPPLY PORPOSES; THE MINOR RIVERS ARE NOT. NO DIFFERENCE IN MOVEMENT EFFECTS ON OTHER UNITS. 24) On a design note, I was disappointed by the total lack of railroad rules. Even in 1940, railroads would play a vital part in any inter-American conflict. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE RAILROAD COVERAGE OF THE CONTINENTAL US THROUGHOUT THE 20TH CENTURY, YOU WILL SEE VIRTUALLY EVERY HEX ON THIS BOARD HAS AT LEAST ONE RAILLINE RUNNING THROUGH IT. IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO DRAW THEM ON THE MAP. THE EFFECTS OF RAILROADS ARE REPRESENTED IN THE SHORT SUPPLY LINE (ROAD-BOUND) TO A SUPPLY SOURCE (WHICH IS THEN CONNECTED BY RAILROAD TO THE GHQ), THE LIMITATIONS OF FREE TRANSFERS TO/FROM THE GHQ (MORE THAN THE FREE ONES REPRESENTS PULLING MORE ROLLING STOCK INTO THE MILITARY POOL), AND MOST IMPORTANTLY BY THE UNDEVELOPED HEXES, WHICH ARE THOSE AREAS WITH LITTLE OR NO ROAD/RAIL LINES (THERE WERE VERY FEW PLACES HAVING ONE OR THE OTHER; THEY TENDED TO BE CONGRUENT). Chris Perello