Q&A With the Designer

Some questions culled from emails to the BayonetGames Staff, answered by Brant, the designer of the Warfighter 101 series.

Don't forget to check out the new Terms & Graphics page for explanations of the many acronyms and map graphics used in the rules and scenarios.

Q. Does a stunned unit return fire sequentially (i.e. after taking damage) or simultaneously. Simultaneously is what I get out of the rules, but the process described in the stunned result whereby Highlander 30 could lose his chance to shoot at any unit firing at him confused me.

A. If the example is confusing, then I apologize. The STUN doesn't take place until the following turn. If a unit is stunned this turn, it still gets to shoot.

Q. Does smoke/dust affect helicopters? Indirect fire units?

A. Smoke/dust does not affect indirect fire or helicopters in the current rules.

Q. OPFOR Order Blackhorse Gallop packs more units into the Main Effort AA than can be stacked in 4 hexes. What should be done with the excess?
A. Units can start the scenario "overstacked" and must meet stacking limits after the first turn. I'm not sure how we missed this one.

Q. The Opsheets state that contours block LOS, but if applied literally this means units cannot see over an adjacent contour line. Is this meant to exclude situations where 1/both units are adjacent to the contour in question?
A. Units may see over an adjacent contour line.

Q. Dismount troops seem completely useless, which seems at odds with the modern experience. Now, this isn't to suggest that infantry ought to do well in desert warfare, but as things stand, they seem (a) too easy to eliminate from a distance and (b) too weak in built-up terrain (the game would seem to suggest that armor firing at a distance would be the best way to clear infantry from a city hex, which doesn't seem to fit into the modern experience). Finally, their points value seems very high - losing an APC PLT+Dismount PLT costs twice the VPs of a tank PLT.

A. There is a defensive bonus that dismounts gain in city hexes. Infantry are *not* particularly useful in the desert, except (a) at night, and (b) in the difficult terrain with rough hexes and contour lines. The NTC rotation I fought again the 101st ABN was entertaining; we spent most of it ignoring them and chasing their supporting armor battalion around the desert. Keep in mind, too, that some mechanics are simplified for game play. The goal is not to replicate the battlefield, but to represent it enough to enjoy a game with a friend.

Q. Indirect fire seems extraordinarily effective against armored vehicles.
A. It really is effective against vehicles. The toughest part is targeting, which gets a revamp in the upcoming artillery expansion rules. Having watched several "CAPEX"es at Fort Sill, I can assure you that a mortar battery can ruin a Bradley platoon's day, if they have good targeting data.

Q. Do command units such as Alpha 06 or Animal 5 count as mounted units for stacking?
A. Yes they are mounted for stacking. It's not 100% realistic, but as noted elsewhere, this is the 101 version. More complex rules will be released as an add-on module down the line.

Q. Some CCIR are specific (i.e. location of BN Command group (both)) while others are not (i.e. Location of Scouts or Location of Angel). In the latter case, are points awarded as long as any one of the units in the larger group are spotted?
A. Points are awarded for any of the larger units. In the case of something like TF Angel, where there's one, there's usually more. In the case of scouts, one is often sufficient to ruin your day, so you get points for finding any of them.

Q. Do units block LOS?
A. Units do not block LOS.

Q. Can aviation units fly over enemy units?
A. No. Though we are testing some options for a forthcoming expansion.

Q. Can ground units activate ZOC against aviation units?
A. Yes, but that doesn't mean they will hit. Again, this is a simplified mechanic for Warfighter 101 that may get expanded with more advanced rules.

Q. Does Range equal LOS in all cases, including spotting for indirect fire?
A. If LOS is broken before the full range is met, then yes, LOS is limited for the purpose of spotting for indirect fire.

Q. Curious as to rationale for hit probability of 50% - is that based on any specific data or just more KISS in line with this being 101?
A. KISS, more than anything else, but more dice = more chances to hit. More dice are indicative of better gunners/faster loaders/better training, etc.