[Kar98k]

Can mortars go on ambush? Can spotters trigger than firing if on ambush?

No, but the answer to your question is on page 101. Also have a look at Spotters on page 102.

[Kar98k]

I agree with Steve (see above). If you are interested in more historical realism, then just use the existing Theater Selectors. By why stop there! You can easily use actual historical military organizations as well. That is the nice thing about BA. You can use what they give you, or simply use actual historical settings and/or organizations without causing game play issues. One of the best BA scenarios I have ever played was hosted by a fellow club member. There were no points, but if I recall, the points were about 1,400 for one side and about 900 for the other side. Anyway, it was a really fun scenario that used actual historical unit organizations based on an historical event.

As a side note, most if not all of those ASL scenarios can easily be converted to and played with using BA. I remember this one ASL scenario from one of the GENERAL magazines that we played sometime ago (back in the 1E days) using BA, and that was a lot of fun.

[Kar98k]

In game terms, a hidden unit represents that the enemy knows that something is there, but can’t actually see it, so I agree with all that was said above. Overall, hidden units in buildings can cause issues during game play because how the rules address this situation. The idea of just using the “hidden” modifier is a good workable solution, and even the more simple “…you never get better than a 7+ to hit hidden units” makes for a good house rule.

However, why not just “Targeting Empty Buildings” as pointed out on page 126 of the 2E rule book. Players are allowed to target an empty buildings, and if a hidden unit is in that building, well, maybe it is in the building or maybe it is not in the building. Certainly, it can’t been seen as its “hidden”, so that means the building is probably empty. Problem solved. There is a building that the enemy can use against me that should be destroyed.

Yes, that means it might be easier to eliminate a hidden unit in a building by destroying the building; with a medium to heavy howitzer, not light howitzer.

Let’s hope this is resolved in 3E of the rules.

[Kar98k]

I second what SteveT said above, but a quick response “…but Panthers and panzerfausts in 1941 just doesn’t sit well with me.” might be in order here.

Even if you only have the Bolt Action Second Edition rule book and nothing else (like the campaign books), the Panther tank is not a choice for a 1941 game. Yep, even when using the Generic Reinforced Platoon in the BA2E rule book (or BA1E for that matter), the notes and unit stats for the Panther tank say which years it can be used. Hope this helps.

[Kar98k]

Reduce the cost. At the moment there is a bizarre anomaly that you can get an MMG armed jeep for less than an MMG team which feels wrong.

For 50 points, a player can get an MMG team (Regular).

For 36 points, a player can get a Jeep (Regular) with MMG, and for 46 points, a player can get a Jeep (Regular) with HMG.

Now considering that a Jeep+MMG can “Advance” and fire its MMG with only the normal “Fire on the move” penalty, and your standard MMG team cannot, which one would you pick?

[Kar98k]

The one thing I really like about plastic figures over metal is the ease of kit-bashing and conversions.

See the pictures below of some really simple German Grenadiers (Warlord plastics) conversions.
I made these using parts from other sets (bits box), or modifying the parts from the original sprue.
Yes, I still have mold lines to clean up, but some of the poses are really good.

Arm parts are as follows: AK = Afrika Korps plastic set, GG = German Grenadiers plastic set, BG = Blitzkrieg German plastic set, FJ = Fallschirmjager plastic set.

GG1 – AK#30, modified GG#25 and #39. Can also use AK#8 instead.

GG2 – BG#12, BG#40. GG#16-17, BG#9.

GG3 – GG#38, GG#15, GG#26. GG#18,GG#15, GG#59-60.

GG4 – AK#40-41. FJ#35.

GG5 – AK#20-21 (x2).

GG6 – GG#16-17 and GG13 but with shorter sling (modify) (x2).

GG7 – BG#34, BG#13. AK34, GG18 or BG11 or AK31.

Attachments:

1. 

   GG_group_rs.jpg
   

[Kar98k]

On April 17th, it was announced here:

Bolt Action: Third Edition – September 2024

[Kar98k]

Jermaine, I hear what you are saying. However, what if a player gets an exceptional damage roll with normal fire from a unit like an infantry squad? The player gets all excited about his very lucky roll, but only to have his lucky roll nullified by, “a loader to become a firer”. Of course, they are going to think, “what’s the point?” Also, as noted in the rules, exceptional damage might mean the equipment gets damaged or destroyed.

[Kar98k]

The only thing I don’t like about MMGs and HMGs is their ability to get sniped off the table. Maybe have at least a Morale check to convert a loader to a shooter vs death

This has more to do with how snipers are used in Bolt Action rather than about MMGs or HMGs. Fixing snipers in Bolt Action is a long and complex topic for another topic heading, but I agree with you on what you say.

[Kar98k]

>> tweak #1 – by soft targets you mean softskins, infantry & artillery?

Yes

>>Vehicle MGs – is this a blanket all none pintel LMGs, MMGs & HMGs apply an extra -1 mod on all shooting?

Yes

[Kar98k]

@Nat – I have to agree.

@Everyone – What Nat says.

[Kar98k]

Depends on which country, and of course which model. For example, the American truck (2½ ton 6×6 Truck CCKW-353) from Rubicon Models can be assembled with or without the MG.

Now, contrary to popular Bolt Action army lists, most trucks would not have an MGs, so it is not surprising that models do not include these bits as an option. That being said, there are some wartime photographs showing an occasional truck armed with an MG. However, in most if not all of these cases, the MGs seemed to have been mostly field modifications. So to make a long story short, take an MG from your bits box and add it to a truck of your choice.

What I tend to do is not make the MG permanent. For example, with my German truck, I modified an extra MG gunner (from a German half-track) so that it looks like he is firing from the truck. The great thing here is that I can use this same MG figure on any of my Opel Blitz or Maultier trucks.

Also, have a look at this thread:

MMGs On German Transport Trucks

[Kar98k]

Besides Facebook, does anyone know if there is any other site to download all the Bolt Action Alliance stuff?

 

[Kar98k]

Just to agree with what ST said above. It is recommended to get the Armies of Italy and the Axis book. The Fortress Budapest is a campaign book. With campaign books, any scenarios and/or special rules are usually restricted to games played with that campaign book.

[Kar98k]

It seems like a pretty easy fix would be WYSIWYG and you can only hit what you can see. Only those that can see a target can shoot at so the reciprocal would make sense and doesn’t add any complexity to the game that I can see.

To repeat what was said earlier, the answer is simple – game balance (it stops you poking one guy out with say a rifle to put a pin on a unit while keeping the rest untouchable.) and to help (as the rulebook says it the same paragraph) give the impression that everything /model is fluid and in motion…

[Author]

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