Tuesday 22 January 2013

Border Princes 16: IMPORTANT - Revised Battle Resolution Rules


Ok, so one of our players has pointed out that the system of battle resolution in 8th edition doesn't exactly fit with the original one described HERE, as derived from the original rules in the General's Compendium.  SO, I have altered the rules for battle resolution BELOW.  Please see the bits in RED for changes/additions.  

Before reading these changes, it is important to remember the ways in which battles are resolved in 8th edition.  First, each side calculates their VICTORY POINTS as found in the 8th Ed. rulebook in conjunction with the particular scenario.  If one player scores 100 victory points more than their opponent then that player scores a VICTORY.  If a player scores DOUBLE the number of victory points than their opponent than the player scores a CRUSHING VICTORY.  Any other result is a draw.

  • Each player controls a force which is made up of 'banners' (armies essentially) which are moved around the map.  Each 'banner' normally represents a 2,250 point army (though there are ways to increase the pts. of each banner, eg. fortifying, allies, etc.).
  • Each Banner is not a 'fixed' list - the 2250 points are chosen differently every battle.  It is assumed that  between battles troops are redistributed across the players' realm, etc.  This keeps bookkeeping simple, which for a first campaign is very important.  Of course, each Banner should absolutely have an appropriate name, named characters, etc.!
  • A Banner takes CONTROL of a terrain section (special or normal) by moving into it in the CAMPAIGN PHASE, UNLESS it is occupied by an enemy banner, in which case a battle is fought in the BATTLE PHASE to determine control of that territory.
  • When a BANNER is DEFEATED in the Battle Phase (in other words, if the banner's opponent scores a VICTORY, but NOT a CRUSHING VICTORY or a draw), then that Banner must fall back to an adjacent FRIENDLY territory (controlled by either the defeated player or one of his/her allies).  If the only available adjacent territory is occupied by a another banner, that Banner is automatically displaced into a further friendly territory (such that multiple friendly banners may be displaced in one go).  If the only available territory is occupied by an ALLIED player, the ALLIED player may decide whether or not to allow that banner to be displaced.
  • If a defeated banner is SOUNDLY DEFEATED, then the above-rules apply, but that unit MAY NOT undertake any actions in the following turn which involve moving into an ENEMY CONTROLLED TERRITORY (including SUPPORTING the invasion of enemy territory).  The SOUNDLY DEFEATED banner is licking its wounds and regrouping, but may perform any action which does not involve invading enemy territory (including moving through uncontrolled or friendly territory, or defending against enemy attacks).
  • If there is NO AVAILABLE friendly territory to fall back to OR if the defeated banner is defeated by a CRUSHING VICTORY, then that banner is considered to be SCATTERED.
  • A SCATTERED banner represents forces which have been resoundingly defeated and forced to retreat helter skelter (often in small groups) towards their HQ before forming up again/recruiting reinforcements.  Troops which are scattered are removed from the board until the END OF CAMPAIGN PHASE, at which point it REFORMS at the players HQ territory at HALF POINTS.  The reformed banner returns to full points in the following END OF TURN PHASE, whether or not it remains in the HQ.  This represents the gradual regrouping of scattered units and raising of new levies to form a fighting force.
  • Once CONTROLLED, a terrain section does NOT need to be occupied by a banner - the occupying banner can move on without losing control over the territory.  Obviously, undefended territories are easily lost to opposing banners, however.
  • The more terrain sections you CONTROL (special or normal) which are NOT RAZED, the more BANNERS you can support.  Specifically, for EVERY THREE TERRITORIES you control, you may field ONE ADDITIONAL BANNER, provided none of your territories have been RAZED (ie. a player with 3 territories may support 2 banners, a player with 6 territories may support 3 banners, etc.).
  • Acquiring/losing territories and RAZING/RECOVERING territories changes the number of banners a player can support, and this all happens at the END OF TURN PHASE.  An extended example follows:

The Bretonnian player has two UNRAZED territories and 1 Banner, the Empire Player has 2 UNRAZED territories and 1 RAZED territory and 1 Banner, the Orcs and Goblins Player has 3 UNRAZED territories and 2 banners and the Chaos Warriors player has 6 UNRAZED territories and 3 banners.

In the campaign phase the Bretonnian player captures one of the Chaos player's territories, The Empire player RECOVERS its razed territory, the Orcs and goblins player RAZES TWO of the Chaos player's territories (using a rule specific to Orc and Goblin banners called FORCED MARCH - more on this later) with one banner and captures another Chaos territory with the other.  The Chaos player is unsuccessul in attacking the Bretonnian player: the Chaos warrior banner is defeated and SCATTERED.  So, at the END OF TURN PHASE:

Bretonnians: Now have 3 UNRAZED territories (they captured 1 territory), so they can support a new banner in their HQ territory.
Empire: Now has 3 UNRAZED territories (they recovered 1 territory), so they can support a new banner starting in their HQ territory.
Orcs and Goblins: Now have 4 unrazed territories (captured 1 territory), so they still support their current 2 banners.  If they can capture a further 2 territories they will have 6 territories and support THREE Banners (the new banner begins in the HQ).
Chaos Warriors: Now have 2 UNRAZED territories (lost 1 to Bretonnians and 1 to Orcs) and 2 RAZED territories (Orcs razed 2 territories) so they can only support ONE of their three banners.  In the End of Turn Phase the Chaos player must DISBAND TWO Banners.  The Chaos player MUST disband his SCATTERED banner FIRST, and then may CHOOSE which of the remaining Banners to disband.


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