Forcing Bridges against ZOC

[Mr Grumpy]

This rule was originally created for F14, when i realised that engineers could not assault or allow troops (on foot) to assault across river side hex's i suggested to VM that this would make the placing of a unit to the side of a bridge and hence blocking it with a ZOC even more effective than in PzC, add in to that mix the small MG units that were almost invulnerable to direct fire had a ZOC i could see straight away how they would be used to block bridges as you could not assault them away using engineers or break them with direct fire.

So i assume that VM took the issue to JT and this is the fix that was introduced, it was then later on rolled out over the PzC series as well.

I cannot speak for PzC games, but i have used this rule a few times in F14 games, of course i plastered the defenders with ranged field gun and MG fire for several moves to try to leave the defending battalions disrupted and unable to assault the units that had crossed, it may be the case that the large number of FG/MG units in F14 that can fire 2+ hex's may make this new rule more effective than in PzC games where units with a SA range of 2+ hex's are quite rare?