Another great question from the Combat HQ Group.

I’m going to run a six player game next week so I’m thinking about your multiplayer rules. So I will probably run two battle groups each side but with a CO having a small group. But my reading of your rules for multiplayer seem to me like players move one after the other. Is this correct? If so this will slow the game down dramatically rather than allowing each player on one side activate together.

The Symmetrical Option

Activate the US or German players together. Total up the dice for both players on a side to see which side has the most 6s, etc. This side has the first Command Pulse. During a Command Pulse both players play simultaneously. Once both players on a side have used all of their Command Dice, it’s their Opponents’, Command Pulse.

The Asymmetrical Option

Divide the table into zones for each player. One an 8′ table assign the left half of the table to US player #1 and German player #1. Assign the right half to US player #2 and German player #2. Each player’s Deployment Zone is restricted to his half of the table. The CO can deploy his units into either Deployment Zone.

Command Dice are rolled by each pair of players as though they were in a single player game. The paired players then play against each other. This can mean that both US players are active, or one US player is active and one German player is active.

Handle any crossovers between the players as they occur. The active player can always trigger enemy opportunity fire, even if his current opponent is currently active against the other player.

Example

US Player #1 advances against German Player #2. Although German Player #2 is currently the active player against US Player #2, his units can conduct opportunity fire against US Player #1’s units.

This is also where having a CO comes in handy. As he’s looking at the big picture, he may spot some fire opportunities that would otherwise be overlooked by the players.

Command Failures

In the event of both paired players rolling Command Failures, they continue to play after removing all 1s rolled. In this case no 1s are passed to the opponent. This avoids one half of the table from not participating this turn.

A turn ends when all players have used their Command Dice.

Combat HQ Yahoo Group

You can join in the conversation at Combat HQ Yahoo Group.

Here are the rules for using Kangaroos in games of Combat HQ.

Army Morale Points

Calculate Army Morale Points normally counting the Kangaroo and its infantry as one unit.

Kangaroo Capacity

Each Kangaroo transports one platoon of infantry. Infantry begin the game loaded into their Kangaroos.

Targeting Kangaroos

When transported by Kangaroos the infantry unit is “hidden” inside the Kangaroo and cannot be targeted. Until the infantry dismount, all fire is against the Kangaroo.

Kangaroos are armoured targets and are fired at with AT. Dismounted infantry are fired at with FP.

Disruption Points and Suppressions

Disruptions and suppressions are on the combined unit.

A M7 De-frocked Priest Kangaroo carrying an infantry platoon advances towards a town in Normandy. It is hit by a Pak 40 anti-tank gun and takes a Disruption Point which is placed on the Kangaroo. It then dismounts its infantry. The Disruption also applies to them.

Transported Infantry

Transported infantry cannot fire while inside a Kangaroo.

Mounting and Dismounting Infantry

It costs one Fixed Move to mount or dismount infantry.

Infantry Dismounting Example

A RAM Kangaroo makes a Double Move and debuses its infantry. One Fixed Move is deducted from the Kangaroo’s move: it moves 6+2D6” and the infantry are placed in front of it.

Infantry Mounting a Kangaroo

Later the infantry mount their Kangaroo using a Single Dice Chain. The infantry are removed from the table (Fixed Move). The Kangaroo then moves D6” (Variable Move).

Kangaroos and Close Assault

Kangaroos cannot enter Close Assault. Infantry transported inside the Kangaroo can dismount and enter Close Assault.

Emergency Dismounting

If a Kangaroo is Close Assaulted by enemy infantry, the transported infantry dismount immediately (at no cost) but are subject to a –1D Close Assault penalty.

Armed Kangaroos

Kangaroos armed with machine guns negate the –1D penalty for emergency dismounting.

Kangaroos

Kangaroos are a special form of armoured transports. Their job is to get infantry safely to their destination, dismount the infantry, then retire to a safe location ready to pick up the infantry.

Kangaroos and their transported infantry are treated as one unit, but require two unit models or bases: the Kangaroo and a separate infantry base. When the troops are being transported the Kangaroo model or base is used; when the troops dismount, the infantry unit is placed in front of the Kangaroo model. If the infantry later mount up, they are removed from the table.

Kangaroo Statistics

A Kangaroo and its infantry have separate statistics. Use the infantry ones when the infantry are dismounted and the Kangaroo ones when mounted.

M7 Kangaroo Transporting Commonwealth Infantry Platoon

M7 “Unfrocked Priest” Kangaroo

Type: Kangaroo

Move: Average

• Reliability: Good

Reaction: 5D (Armoured)

Commonwealth Rifle Platoon

Type: Infantry

Training: Regular

Move: Slow

Reaction: 3D (Soft)

Weapon: Rifle

• Range: 4/8/16
• FP: 5D AT: –

Weapon: PIAT

• Range: 1/2/3
• FP: – AT: 5D

Notes: Going to ground. Deployed anti-tank teams.

Loss of command and control first appeared as part of the Combat Commander series of posts. I’ve included it again here as it also works really well when playing smaller games.

Command Dice Loss

When a unit is dispersed and loses three Morale Points, it can result in the loss of a Command Dice. When three Morale Points are lost an Army Morale Check is made.

The owning player CO rolls his Army Morale Dice. His opponent rolls three dice. All dice have a 4+ TN. If the owning player rolls more successes than his opponent, he passes the test. If he rolls the same or fewer successes, he fails the test. On a failed test, one Command Dice is permanently removed from the game.

Using a Staff Order to Boost an Army Morale Check Before making an Army Morale Check the owning player may use a Staff Order to increase his Army Morale Dice by +1D.

Reducing an Army’s Maximum Number of Staff Orders

Each Command Dice lost reduces the maximum number of Staff Orders that can be held by a player by -1.

For example, a Soviet force consisting of an Infantry Battle Group with 5 Command Dice can hold a maximum of five Staff Orders. If it loses a Command Dice, the maximum would be reduced to four. If another Command Dice is lost, the maximum would be reduced to three.