Chapter 17

Machine Age Wargames Rules

UNIT TYPES

This game features the unit types of Infantry, Heavy Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery. The first three occupy a frontage of 4–6 inches, whereas ordnance is deployed over a width of 2–3 inches. Any size or scale of figure may be used; wargamers should decide for themselves how many figures constitute a given unit.

SEQUENCE OF PLAY

Each complete turn comprises two player turns. Each wargamer follows the sequence listed below in his or her player turn:

1. Movement
2. Shooting
3. Eliminating Units

1. MOVEMENT

Movement Allowances. Units may move up to the distances listed below during their turn:

Unit Type	Movement Distance
Infantry, Heavy Infantry and Artillery	6”
Cavalry	12”

Turning. Units turn by pivoting on their central point. They may do so at the start and/or the end of their move.

Terrain. Units are affected by terrain as follows:

• Woods. Only Infantry and Heavy Infantry may enter.
• Towns. Only Infantry and Heavy Infantry may end their move in a town.
• Marshland and Lakes. These are impassable to all units.
• Rivers. These may only be crossed via bridges or fords.
• Roads. Units moving by road increase their movement distance by 3” if their entire move is spent on the road.

Moving and Shooting. Units may not shoot if they have moved during the same turn.

Interpenetration. Units may not pass through each other.

2. SHOOTING

The procedure for shooting is as follows:

Adjudge Field of Fire. Units may only shoot at a single target within 45º of their frontal facing, except for:

• Units in Towns. These have a field of fire of 360º, and may therefore engage any single target in any direction.

Measure Range. Infantry, Heavy Infantry and Cavalry have a range of 12”; Artillery has a range of 48”.

Assess Casualties. Units roll a die when shooting. Infantry and Artillery use the unmodified score; the roll for Heavy Infantry is increased by 2; and the result for Cavalry is reduced by 2. The final score gives the number of hits the target acquires, which is modified by the following:

• Cover. Units in woods or towns only suffer half the registered number of hits (fractions are rounded in favour of the unit shooting).

3. ELIMINATING UNITS

Units are eliminated upon the acquisition of 15 hits.

4. ENTRENCHMENTS AND BARRAGES (OPTIONAL RULE)

The procedure for these is as follows:

Determine Status. Both players roll a die, with the winner deciding whether to attack or defend.

Defender Entrenches. All defending units in the open are entrenched. These units are treated as being under cover.

Attacker Fires Barrage. The attacker targets 1–3 units before the start of the game (roll a die and halve the result, rounding up any fractions). Roll a die for each unit targeted; the victim immediately acquires the indicated number of hits.