Air and Artillery by the Map Optional Rule for D85

[Glenn Saunders]

Yes the 1/4 fire value against an unspotted unit has always been there, but the issue is when you mass every artillery unit on the map and, as long as you fire on a spotted enemy, you can mass artillery with devistating effects.

Guys:

Adding to what Ed is saying here - the situation as I see it is this.

When one is discussion the rules and how it could and might work in practical terms one can easily rationalize that a Btty could fire in support of any unit, it would seem like a good idea to turn ON the rule.

However, what happens then in practice is that players are able to view the map from a different POV from a general and can setup a situation where EVERY friggen gun in a sector fires at one critical target hex at the complete exclusion of all fire to all other locations.

This sets up what we see as a strange and unrealistic situation because you know some of these other units will get some arty fire in the course of a 3 hour day game turn.

That said - it is an optional rule and of course you are free to use it if you feel it makes the game better. I suspect it would help the WP player as NATO is more often spread out and not concentrating their fire to that high a density.

Glenn