Slitherine

Dice Allocation (page 51) first two bullets, namely:

a. "Artillery will always direct all their fire at targets within the closest range band."

b. "A unit must allocate maximum dice at a close range target before any are allocated to a medium range target."

Spliiting Fire section (page 52)

c. provides 4 bullet points about how the splitting of dice works, none of which talk about differing range bands.

Query:

When an infantry unit splits its fire between targets, a) above implies that this could be between diffeirng range bands and nothing in the spliting fire section contradicts nor supports that (otherwise the first bullet point would say "all units direct all their fire, etc"). In this context therefore what does the expression "maximum dice" mean in the 2nd bullet point ? Does this mean that all dice must be allocated at a close range target (cos it certainly doesn't say that, and which would render the 1st bullet point moot) ? Furthermore, the 2nd bullet clearly goes on to suggest that some dice can be allocated against a medium range target (in addition). So, what does this mean in practical terms ?

And, how many dice do you start with to allocate between close and medium range taregts ?? (After all infantry have different numbers of dice available at close and medium ranges !)

Easiest, IMHO, is that the 1st bullet point be simply amended to all "all units" instead of "artillery" ?

"A unit must allocate maximum dice at a close range target before any are allocated to a medium range target."

The only thing I can make out of this is that if you have a target at close range you shoot all your dice ie "maximum" at it.I have to say the wording is very odd at best. We have always played that you have to shoot at the closest target as in target in the closest range band. Only short range shooting is mandatory, medium and long range is optional, perhaps that is what the intent was there.

Easiest, IMHO, is that the 1st bullet point be simply amended to all "all units" instead of "artillery" ?

I agree, I always thought the intent was you have to shoot at the closest enemy, with the exception of artillery versus skirmishers but were not going to go there
Playing Austrians the unit itself can only shoot at close range thus making them the easiest troops to fire and not as confusing as all those fancy pants prancing reformed troops

As deadtorius answered, same for me . We always played ( in belgium and the french players I know ) taht a unit would shoot at the nearest units . it must split fire at different targets but always the same and nearest range .

Now Terry might give a better answer , but I suppose an errata will be needed

The wording could be covering the situatuion where a unit is firing at an enemy unit mostly displaced to one side of its frontage, or where a large unit has the same target and therefore is forced to fire as a SMALL unit at this close target. Another enemy unit would be at bedium range, but more in front of the firering unit. For the large firing unit, its 'small unit allocation' must be completely allocated against the target unit at close range. Any balance could be directed at the target at medium range, such if it was light infantry in skirmish or tactical, or there was a skirmish or gun attachment.

In most cases, however, the infanry unit has more dice at close range, and would have no balance of dice left for any medium range shooting.

Alastair Donald

The situation only affects large units that have an enemy to the front of only 1 base.
In this case the longer range firing is pretty minimal.

I use the following rule of thumb:
The unit fires with the dice of a small unit at the closest target (in general 2/3 of it's dice rounded up).
This would leave 1/3 (rounded down) of it's dice available at the longer target.
This would normaly give:
0 dice if the normal number of dice at this range is 2 or less.
1 dice if the normal number of dice at this range is 3, 4 or 5.
2 dice if the normal number of dice at this range is 6 or more.
NB: The 'normal' number of dice is considered to be AFTER deductions for cohesion losses.

The only real confusion is what happens with large artillery unit with attachments...