Illumination Rounds

[treadasaurusrex]

Brief update - NBGB and I used the draft rule in a nighttime battle (DoF-03) with visibility set at 1 hex.

It worked perfectly, allowing my distinguished opponent to catch a number of hapless French infantry platoons in the open with his OBA. The results were ugly for my side, but the house rules does clarify the illumination situation.

[Tambu]

The Treadasaur and I finished playing night scenario (KwCa-59) also used this new clarification rule. Worked just fine in our playthrough.

[plloyd1010]

Still no answer on Consim from APL.

[leonard]

I think that the idea of firing illuminating rounds in any direction gives too much insight to the player. He should have a reason to do so ; hence the restriction of the spotted target hex.
If the rule is changed so as to include the spotted target hex within the illuminated area, that solves the problem.

[plloyd1010]

"Any direction"? Seems a little hyperbolic to me, especially considering the limited ammunition for this type of fire mission. Americans when using star shells, normally fired them behind the enemy, thus minimizing illumination of their own position. Nearly every one fired star shells out along their path of advance or in the direction of expected enemy approach. That seems to be more than one hex away.

For the game I am in now, we have 9 turns of darkness and only 14 illumination missions to use. Of that I can expect 11 or 12 to be successfully placed, and I've used 4.

[leonard]

Exactly. Firing an illuminating round so that the illuminated area includes the spotted target hex is ok with me. Not firing any direction at any hex within 8 hexes.

[Tubac52]

I don't think that the Treadasaurus was saying that a player should be able to fire illumination rounds in any direction, willy nilly -- although that might have a major impact on operations if the shared players are using the "Recon by Fire" optional rule . . .

I think that his intent was that illum rounds may be fired if the intended target is within 8 hexes of the "spotter" unit, once the illum round lights up.