ARTILLERY in FIELD FORTIFICATIONS

[nhaycock]

I am planning to make up an Ottoman Turk army and i am having problems understanding the rules for Artillery in Field Fortifications.
My question is what is the arc of fire of an immobile artillery battery emplaced in field fortifications? Page 78 says units may not fire out the rear of a fortification so i assume they can fire out of any of the other 3 sides? Does facing matter for the artillery or is it allowed to fire out of any of the 3 sides or all if it chooses to divide its fire?

[terrys]

Artillery can fire out of a fortification in any direction except the rear.
It can fire all of it's dice at a single target, or reduced dice at multiple targets. These may be any traget(s) with range of any of its faces.
It MUSTstill fire the maximum number of dice at the target(s) within the closest range band - therefore can never fire at 2 different range bands. (since the option to fire all its dice at a single target will be in efffect).

Anyone placing a fortification will have to define its 'rear' when first placed - And for ease of reference, this should be easily identifiable throughout.

[BrettPT]

Thanks, good to know Terry.

Mike, I'll bring my box Turkish figures to the club on Sunday so you can have a squiz at them.

[bahdahbum]

By the way it seems strange that wavering infantry will not "retire" when in a fortification, but artillery yes !

[Sarmaticus]

By the way it seems strange that wavering infantry will not "retire" when in a fortification, but artillery yes !

Is that to represent the silencing of batteries. IIRC it was possible to make artillery emplacements untenable by the intensity of the fire at their embrasures.

[terrys]

By the way it seems strange that wavering infantry will not "retire" when in a fortification, but artillery yes !

Is that to represent the silencing of batteries. IIRC it was possible to make artillery emplacements untenable by the intensity of the fire at their embrasures.

No - it's an oversight!

[bahdahbum]

So do what do you mean . What should happen ? should we threat artillery as infantry in that case ?

[bahdahbum]

So do what do you mean . What should happen ? should we threat artillery as infantry in that case ?

[BrettPT]

Here in NZ we have FoGN tournaments lined up in January and at Easter. With 2 players (one being me!) currently painting Turks, it is likely that we will see fortifications deployed for the first time.

Would it be possible to tweak the errata and/or include a FAQ before Christmas so that the rules on fortifications are a little clearer? It would be great if this could be 'officially' sorted before we need to figure it out during a tournament.

Minimum changes that seem neccessary:

1. Field fortifications can be placed even if you are the attacker;
2. What happens if troops get a retire result while defending fortifications;
3. Do artillery chosing to stand and fire when charged need to take a CT, and if this is failed do they abandon the guns;
4. Specifying that firing from fortifications has a 180 degree arc; and
5. Clarifying whether troops in fortifications can/cannot get flank support in combat.

There are probably other points that could be clarified, but the above five loom largest for me at the moment.

Cheers
Brett

[bahdahbum]

No - it's an oversight!

Hy still no explanation ?

[terrys]

Would it be possible to tweak the errata and/or include a FAQ before Christmas so that the rules on fortifications are a little clearer? It would be great if this could be 'officially' sorted before we need to figure it out during a tournament.

Minimum changes that seem neccessary:

1. Field fortifications can be placed even if you are the attacker;
2. What happens if troops get a retire result while defending fortifications;
3. Do artillery chosing to stand and fire when charged need to take a CT, and if this is failed do they abandon the guns;
4. Specifying that firing from fortifications has a 180 degree arc; and
5. Clarifying whether troops in fortifications can/cannot get flank support in combat.

There are probably other points that could be clarified, but the above five loom largest for me at the moment.

I will post an updated errata/FAQ around the end of November.
Is answer to your questions:
1) Yes
2) Artillery will use the same rules as for infantry when in fortifications.
3) My thought at the moment is that they must stand, but do not take a CT.
4) Agreed
5) Agreed

I think the simplest way to do this is to update the FAQ on buildings to include fortifications.

[terrys]

Would it be possible to tweak the errata and/or include a FAQ before Christmas so that the rules on fortifications are a little clearer? It would be great if this could be 'officially' sorted before we need to figure it out during a tournament.

Minimum changes that seem neccessary:

1. Field fortifications can be placed even if you are the attacker;
2. What happens if troops get a retire result while defending fortifications;
3. Do artillery chosing to stand and fire when charged need to take a CT, and if this is failed do they abandon the guns;
4. Specifying that firing from fortifications has a 180 degree arc; and
5. Clarifying whether troops in fortifications can/cannot get flank support in combat.

There are probably other points that could be clarified, but the above five loom largest for me at the moment.

I will post an updated errata/FAQ around the end of November.
Is answer to your questions:
1) Yes
2) Artillery will use the same rules as for infantry when in fortifications.
3) My thought at the moment is that they must stand, but do not take a CT.
4) Agreed
5) Agreed

I think the simplest way to do this is to update the FAQ on buildings to include fortifications.

[Russ1664]

Have these amendments made it into an official errata or FAQ yet? I've had a check but can't find any reference to the changes to fortification rules.

Having just discovered the benefits of fortifications for my Russians, I'm keen to see the amendments added to the official errata. Our game earlier this week stayed within the normal rules for the fortifications, but I can see the situation arising where the amendments will come into play if I use fortifications more often.

[terrys]

I've almost completed them - plus a rewording of the building FAQ, and the latest rules update.
Since we have the warfare competition this weekend I'll wait until next week to post.

[Russ1664]

Brilliant! look forward to them.

many thanks

[pugsville]

Just what are the terrain effect of field fortifications, Can units move/assault through empty or occupied FF?

Can cavalry move or assault through FF?

vaguely come up in a game the other day, artillery was forced to retire by shooting (an error now correct?) but cavalry could they assault though a FF (they are not entering) ?

[deadtorius]

I believe the current rules state that cavalry can only assault through the rear of a field fortification.
If its empty you just move through it I believe.

[KeefM]

There is a whole section in the back of the rules about FF. FF are treated as an obstacle. Worth reading cos it does cover the last couple of questions.

The thread above was more about placement (currently you lose the use of any FF you have paid for if you are an attacker), arcs of fire aren't specified, nor are outcomes for a unit inside FF, etc.

[pugsville]

I mean when they are empty, can cavalry or infantry just move or assault through empty field fortifications, does it count as open? rough? difficult? If they cant move all the way through is it allowed?

[deadtorius]

well the rules constantly refer to them as obstacles if they are empty but don't go into any actual rules about how obstacles actually work except for some reference to crossing a bridge or a ford through a river or stream that is more than ankle deep. Page 79.

As near as I can tell it looks like you need to pass a CMT to cross it, same as crossing a bridge which I guess counts as an obstacle
Thats the best I can come up with at present.

Terry you might need to include some actual rules on obstacles since they seem to be totally missing but are referred to in the movement, combat and special features sections of the rules but don't actually show up anywhere in the book.