Alternate Artillery Rule

[Glenn Saunders]

What I am confused about is the rationale for the attack strength. The help file says that the attack factor is doubled and multiplied by the number of guns and the result is applied against all units in the hex. An artillery piece only fires once per phase.

Actually David - what the docs say is:

"Alternative Indirect Fire Resolution – when this rule is selected, Indirect Fire of non-mortar, non-heavy weapon units is conducted under different rules. First, each such Indirect Fire is doubled in fire value, but the cost of firing is doubled. Second, such Indirect Fire is applied against all units in the target hex, proportional to their strength, instead of being applied against a single target unit."

Now I agree this is not well written and could lead to the confusion but I think what it means is simply that
- fire is condusted under DIFFERENT RULES -and different here means target density is taken into consideration as well, the hex is targeted and while one unit may be focused upon, collateral damage may occur to other units in the hex.
- also, there is only ONE SHOT instead of TWO but teh fire is doubled.

If there is a question setup up a test scn with a test shot - try it with and wuithout the rule using "ON MAP RESULTS" off, so you can see the values. I think you will find that the fire valuye is twice with the rule on.

FWIW- the ALT Fire rules were made early in the series to differenciate the combat in Normandy from the fighting in the steppe around Smolensk. The ground in Normandy was tight and firing at a target unit in a hex was not as precise in this environment.

During the third game of the series - Kharkov, we did a bunch of test to see if the ALT fire was stronger or weaker. IT is neither - the effect depends upon target density so it is neither stronger or weaker - rather it is DIFFERENT. As a result, using the rule on a scn will alter the effect on the vic levels - just as long as your aware of this effect.

Glenn