During the game you take command of your force. Your opponent commands a rival force and your deadly opponents in the forthcoming conflict.
The units and scenery (the terrain) are set up on the tabletop/battlefield as appropriate for the mission you are playing. Missions are covered later on in the rules under the “Running a Game” chapter. There are many different types of missions, varying from the straightforward battle to a rescue mission, ambushes and daring raids. Depending on the mission being played, you can set up your units in different ways, but all games are basically played in the same fashion. Below shows how each game turn is structured.
The units and scenery (the terrain) are set up on the tabletop/battlefield as appropriate for the mission you are playing. Missions are covered later on in the rules under the “Running a Game” chapter. There are many different types of missions, varying from the straightforward battle to a rescue mission, ambushes and daring raids. Depending on the mission being played, you can set up your units in different ways, but all games are basically played in the same fashion. Below shows how each game turn is structured.
Turn Order
Each turn is split up into eight phases. Each player takes it in turn giving each of their units actions with each phase unless otherwise stated. The first player must finish all their actions in that phase for a unit , if any, of the current phase before the second can start their actions for the same phase, and also the last the last player must finish the current phase before the first player can start the next phase. These eight phases are:
1. Initiative Phase
Both players roll a D10 each and add their TCV to their dice roll. TCV means Team Command Value and is covered later on in the “Extra Rules” chapter. The player with the highest result may choose to be ever Player One or Player Two. If there is more than two players then there will be more than just Player One or Two. The next highest will choose from whatever is left, and so on until there are no more players. If there is a draws, then it is determined by the players’ TCV. If there is still a draw after that then the players must roll a D10 roll to determine who is higher. Also all abilities and/or skills that state “at the beginning of a turn” takes place here but after the dice rolls.
2. First Movement Phase
During this phase units can make a move action, if they are able to do so. Player One chooses one unit and moves it first. If Player One has more units than Player Two, they may need to move more than one unit, as described in the Unequal Number of Units. Then Player Two moves one unit. If Player Two has more units than Player One, it may need to move more than one unit (again see table below). Movement alternates between sides until all units that the players want to move has been moved. The unit must make all its move actions for that Phase while being moved.
3. First Strike Phase
During this phase units can use any Quick Actions in this phase. Also units that made a Charge Move Action that was unhindered by terrain and the unit did not make any turns it the move, they can make one standard melee attack ageist their target in this phase. This is classed as a Quick Action. Player One chooses one of their units that can make a Quick Action. If Player One has more units that can make Quick Actions than Player Two, they may need to make Quick Actions on more than one unit, as described in table below. Then Player Two does the same. Movement alternates between sides until all units that the players want to make Quick Actions have acted. A unit can only make one Quick Action a Turn.
4. Shooting Phase
During this phase units can make any number of range attacks. Player One makes their attacks first, then Player Two and so on. Player One chooses a unit to declare fire first. If Player One has more units than Player Two, they may need to declare range attacks for more than one unit as described in Unequal Number of Units. After all the range attacks that unit is going to make, Player Two then chooses a unit to declare fire with. Again if Player Two has more units than Player One, they may be required to declare range attacks for more than one unit (see Unequal Number of Units). The act of declaring range attacks alternates between players until
all fire has been declared.
5. Second Movement Phase
During this phase units can make up to two move actions. Remember Units cannot make more move actions than half (rounded up) their Output value during the whole turn. This runs like the First Movement Phase.
6. Melee Phase
During this phase units can make any number of melee attacks or one ram attack. This runs like the Shooting Phase, but its Melee Attack then range.
7. Support Phase
During this phase units can make one support action unless otherwise stated. Support actions are only gained from skills, powers and special abilities. Player One makes their actions first, then Player Two and so on.
8. End Phase
This is a clean up phase, where action counters are cleared, Courage tests are made and recovery attempts are made. There is no real order in this phase, however if there is more than one
Unequal Number of Units
The Movement Phases, First Strike Phase, Shooting Phase and Melee Phase require each player to alternate moving or declaring attacks with his or her units. When both sides have an equal number of units, each player simply takes a turn moving or declaring a single unit’s action, and then the other player declares movement or attack for one unit, and so on. If the number of units on each side is not equal, however, this procedure must be altered. If, prior to any pair of movement or attack declarations, one team has at least twice as many units left to declare for as the other team, the team with twice as many units declares for two units rather than one. If one team has at least three times as many units, it declares for three each time, and so on. See the table on the next page for an example for how to handle unequal number of units. However if a player does not what to move or declare attacks any more during that phase they may declare so and then the other play may move or declare attacks with the rest of their forces if they wish.
The Movement Phases, First Strike Phase, Shooting Phase and Melee Phase require each player to alternate moving or declaring attacks with his or her units. When both sides have an equal number of units, each player simply takes a turn moving or declaring a single unit’s action, and then the other player declares movement or attack for one unit, and so on. If the number of units on each side is not equal, however, this procedure must be altered. If, prior to any pair of movement or attack declarations, one team has at least twice as many units left to declare for as the other team, the team with twice as many units declares for two units rather than one. If one team has at least three times as many units, it declares for three each time, and so on. See the table on the next page for an example for how to handle unequal number of units. However if a player does not what to move or declare attacks any more during that phase they may declare so and then the other play may move or declare attacks with the rest of their forces if they wish.
Move No. | Player One’s Units left to move | Player Two’s Units left to move | Player One’s Moves | Player Two’s Move |
1 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
2 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Action Costs and Counters
Before we move on to the next chapter Movement, it is best that we cover Action Costs and Action Counters. Each time a unit makes an action, that action has a cost of call Action Cost. Before the unit makes an action, the player must places a number of Action Counters equal to the action’s Action Cost onto the unit. The unit cannot be given more Action Counters than its Action Value.