Barrage

[ATD]

The usual SPI genius for ambiguity...

[12.32] No target may be barraged more than once in a Combat Segment from each adjacent enemy occupied hex. Of course, Artillery units in a Forward position may combine Barrage strengths in one Barrage against a given Target.


Changed to: -


[12.32] No target may be barraged more than once in a Combat Segment from each adjacent enemy occupied hex (it may therefore still undergo more than one attack – if adjacent to two or more enemy occupied hexes). Of course, Artillery units in a Forward position may combine Barrage strengths in one Barrage against a given Target.

[soontobegrognard]

I know this is old and has probably been resolved but, to be honest, I did not see ambiguity in the original rule.

[ATD]

It could conceivably could have supported the contention that only one attack were allowed on the hex.

[Michael Miller]

As I read this case, it applies only to artillery placed Back for combat. I might rewrite it so:

[12.32] Artillery units in multiple hexes may not combine strengths to Barrage adjacent enemy units during a Combat Segment, unless all such artillery units are placed Forward (see 12.13) for that combat. Italian artillery is prohibited from doing so even if Forward (see 12.14). Artillery placed Back may still separately conduct multiple Barrages against enemy units in the target hex within the same Combat Segment.

[ATD]

If artillery could not combine, it follows that artillery in hexes other than the first could not bombard at all (due to the prohibition on a target undergoing multiple barrages).

[tim]

There is no prohibition of a target unit from undergoing multiple barrage attacks - just that the target unit can only be attacked once from each adjacent hex.

Oh, and I like Micheal's update - I had noticed that 12.32 needed to add the clarification about Italians not being able to combine units in different hexes.

So if some poor sap is surrounded, they could undergo up to six separate barrage attacks. Now that's the American way of war - throw ordinance at them!

[tim]

While we're at it, 12.17 needs a small correction in the third sentence. It says "All non-Phasing (Forward or Back)are subject to Close Assault losses..."

That would read better as "All non-Phasing Guns (Forward or Back)..."

[Michael Miller]

Yes, let's add the missing word in 12.17.

As to the multiple hex barrage question, prohibiting that altogether doesn't make sense to me. The issue is coordination of fire for the ability to gain a higher single strength and attendant favorable outcomes on the results table. Requiring units to barrage separately using the lesser columns already diminishes the possible results. Disallowing separate barrage attacks would render all artillery coordination even less effective than that of the Italians. It would thereby remove a huge disadvantage faced by units in salients or surrounded.

This is one of the areas where the designer's note regarding abstraction of aspects of artillery becomes more obvious.

[ATD]

"There is no prohibition of a target unit from undergoing multiple barrage attacks - just that the target unit can only be attacked once from each adjacent hex. "

Only if you read it that way. Another interpretation is possible (even if unlikely), hence the above addition to place the matter beyond all conceivable doubt. It hinges on the inclusive/exclusive group nature of "each adjacent hex". It's only a question of wording; we are agreed as to what is required.

Other comments noted for updating.

[Michael Miller]

Thankfully it looks like we have good agreement here.

[Michael Miller]

Summarizing, the recommendation is to change below cases as follows:

[12.17] All non-Phasing Players’ Guns in a Forward position are subject to losses from Close Assault, even if they do not participate in such an assault. See Section 15.8 for details on losses. All non-Phasing Guns, regardless whether Forward or Back, are subject to Close Assault losses if the Close Assault by the Phasing Player is conducted in the Overrun Columns of the Close Assault CRT (see Case 15.84).

[12.32] Artillery units in multiple hexes may not combine strengths to Barrage adjacent enemy units during a Combat Segment, unless all such artillery units are placed Forward (see 12.13) for that combat. Italian artillery is prohibited from doing so even if Forward (see 12.14). Artillery placed Back may still separately conduct multiple Barrages against enemy units in the target hex within the same Combat Segment.

[ATD]

Tiny re-wording of last sentence but good as far as I am concerned.

[tim]

[12.32] Artillery units in multiple hexes may not combine strengths to Barrage adjacent enemy units during a Combat Segment, unless all such artillery units are placed Forward (see [12.13]) for that combat. Italian artillery is prohibited from doing so even if Forward (see [12.14]). Artillery placed Back may still separately conduct multiple Barrages against enemy units in the target hex within the same Combat Segment. No target may be barraged more than once in a Combat Segment from each adjacent enemy occupied hex.

Per Tony's comment, I agree that there's something missing.  The last sentence was left in from the original rule as it further restricts bombardment. 

The above, as adjusted was included in the v1.3 draft.

[Michael Miller]

Sure, looks good to me.

[ATD]

IIRC it's the green bit that exercised me. Here's what I hope to be a clear, watertight version, with the additional merit of being 40% shorter!

[12.32] Non-Italian artillery may combine strengths from several hexes to barrage an adjacent target if the artillery is placed Forward(see [12.13] & [12.14]). Otherwise, artillery may conduct separate Barrages, providing a hex Is not Barraged more than once from any single hex within the same Combat Segment.


Now if only that sort of saving in wordage could be applied to the entire rules...