Special Weapons The following is a simple way of implementing support weapons in Memoir ’44. These ideas are based on the special weapons included with the sets of Italiari or Esci German and US infantry 1/72 figures see: http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.asp?manu=ESC&code=201 And: http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.asp?manu=ESC&code=202 For pictures of the sets that I used. The simple rules outlined here, combined with these relatively cheap figures or other markers, can greatly increase the strategy component of the game as well as the historical look and feel. For example, you could use Mortars to soften up a Heavy Machine Gun emplacement guarding Pegasus Bridge, whilst your Engineers storm the wire. Or use fame-throwers to flush the bunkers on Omaha Beach. Your Infantry can even use combined arms tactics against enemy tanks whilst your own armour provides long-range support. The following is based on a one for one substitution (one special figure for one standard figure) in a four-figure unit. My figures, mounted on small coins (you could also use washers), are stable and look great on the board. Antitank A unit equipped with Panzerschreck or Bazooka count Star results as Armour hits. A unit equipped with Panzerfaust may treat any one Star result as an Amour hit. (For scenario designers) An Artillery piece could be designated as an Antitank gun and move or fire 333, treating Star results as Amour Hits, as the PaK 40 was used in both an artillery and anti-tank role. Machine Gun A unit equipped with a Heavy Machine Gun counts Star results as Infantry hits. A unit equipped with LMG’s treat any one Star result as an Infantry hit. Flame-thrower A unit equipped with a fame-thrower treats Star results as Flag results. Mortar A unit equipped with Mortars may be activated as artillery, rather than infantry, in which case it moves and fires according to artillery rules. i.e. move or fire, no line of sight required, range 332211. Engineers Units equipped with Engineers (the figures holding a mine or mine-detector) may expend one turn clearing mines without taking a mine attack die roll. Leaders Units with an leader present may treat any one Star Result as a Grenade Result and may ignore the first Flag result against them. Leaders may move between squads and move up to three hexes, but must be activated as a unit to do so. Lone officers are killed by a grenade result and count as a victory point. (Refer to “Battle Cry” rules for more info). Artillery Artillery, other than Mortars, treat Star results as Grenade results for greater impact on tanks and opposing Artillery. Other Forces Of course other Armies such as Italian, British, Free French or Russian are also available in 1/72 scale and may be used for Eastern Front and earlier period scenarios. I hope these house rules improve your game experience as much as they did for me. Cheers Chris Roper -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. MailScanner thanks transtec Computers for their support.