Combat Mecanism: Shooting - Javelins or Slings

[iparker]

Could someone enlighten me as to when the "1 dice per 3 bases outside effective range" is used for LH, LF or any Javelin, sling, firearm or bow* In a recent game my opponent had a 2 rank unit of MF Swordsmen with Javelins 2 inches away from a unit of mine. We used the 1 dice per 2 bases in effective range, but, as the range is measured from the front rank of the unit when is this used as most of the troop types mentioned do not have an "effective range". Am I missing something here?

Ian.

[jlopez]

MF Swordsmen with javelins? Are you sure they weren't armed with light spear instead? If that is the case, they don't shoot at all even if they did use javelins historically. These are included in the light spear POA in the impact phase of close combat.

Slings, javelins, mounted bow and Xbow, firearms only have an effective range so always shoot at 1 dice per 2 bases if LH or LF.

A BG of 8 LF armed with bows for example would shoot with 4 dice at effective range and with 2 dice (1 per 3) at ranges between four and six inches (maximum range). A BG of 6 LF armed with crossbows would shoot with 3 dice at effective range and with 2 dice (1 per 3) at ranges between four and six inches (maximum range).

Hope that helps.

Julian

[philqw78]

Javelin (2MU), sling (4MU) and firearm (2MU) only ever fire at effective range. As do all mounted missile weapons, Javelin and Firearm 2MU, Bow XBow 4MU. Bw* fire at the same ranges as bow but with less dice, in effect they have the same firepower as LF if Foot, LH if Mounted. So at ranges of over 4MU if MF Bw* or LF Bw or XBow you get 1 dice per 3. No MF, so far, get javelins.
At ranges over 2MU for firearms and javelins you don't fire mounted or foot, at ranges over 4MU Mounted Bw, Bw*, Xbow do not fire. Only Foot Bw, Bw*, LBow, XBow and Arty get an extreme range.

[rbodleyscott]

The above answers are correct. A further note:

Currently only LF or LH can distant shoot with javelins. The effect of javelins hurled by heavier troops is taken into account in impact phase close combat, by the light spear POAs. You will notice that no MF, HF, Cavalry or Chariots have javelins shooting capability listed in any of the currently published army lists. (Or if they do it is an erratum).

When the Meso-American supplement arrives, there may be some MF with javelins shooting capability, to represent the effects of the atlatl. They will shoot with 1 dice per 2 bases as per the normal rules.

[jlopez]

The above answers are correct. A further note:

Currently only LF or LH can distant shoot with javelins. The effect of javelins hurled by heavier troops is taken into account in impact phase close combat, by the light spear POAs. You will notice that no MF, HF, Cavalry or Chariots have javelins shooting capability listed in any of the currently published army lists. (Or if they do it is an erratum).

When the Meso-American supplement arrives, there may be some MF with javelins shooting capability, to represent the effects of the atlatl. They will shoot with 1 dice per 2 bases as per the normal rules.

The rules specifies "any javelins" and the Stradiots in the Italian Condotta list (Venice options) certainly do have them as LH and Cav. Or is that a mistake?

[rbodleyscott]

The rules specifies "any javelins" and the Stradiots in the Italian Condotta list (Venice options) certainly do have them as LH and Cav. Or is that a mistake?

It is a mistake, and you should find it in the official errata sheet on fieldofglory.com.