Comment: This rule is useful if you want to economize on figures or
have limited table space. If you are using Optional Rule No. 23, it is
also easier to maneuver units with a frontage of two stands to achieve
one-on-one melees between units than to use units with a frontage of
three
stands or units with mixed frontage (2-, 3-, and 4-stands wide).
Comment: The single most time-consuming task in melee resolution is
allocating stands and determining hits for several units with
overlapping
fronts in the same melee. The game is speeded up by requiring enemy
units
to pair off with each other. This rule is especially recommended if
using
Optional Rule No. 24.
When a stand armed with missiles shoots, it rolls three dice. When a unit with one actual stand strikes in melee, read the hits in the Hit Table for three stands attacking. A unit with one actual stand exchanges three hits for one fatigue point. When a unit of formed infantry having two actual stands strikes in melee, read the hits in the Hit Table for six stands attacking. A unit of formed infantry having two actual stands exchanges six hits for one fatigue point.
The distance required for support of formed infantry for the melee morale modifier for supporting formed infantry is reduced to 1 1/2" (15mm) [2" for 25mm] instead of 2" [3"].
Unit cost is reduced from 15 points to 5 points. The cost of a leader is reduced from 75 point to 25 points. Multiply all numbers in the "Stands" column in the army lists by 1/6, rounding fractions up. For example, if the number of stands specified for a particular troop type is 3-18, adjust the stands allowed to 1-3.
Comment: This rule provides for the most economical use of figures,
requiring 1/3 the number for an equivalent army using units with a
frontage
of three stands. The use of Optional Rule No. 23 is highly recommended.
Combat is not resolved using actual stand counts of one or two in a
unit
because the Hit Table does not provide a fine enough degree of
resolution.
Counting one stand as three might seem tedious, but is easy to adjust
to.
The addition of 5 points for unit cost to the points cost is important
because it preserves the original cost relationships of the various
troop
types. The points system was originally designed for armies consisting
of units with an average frontage of three stands. If you don't add in
unit cost, then the more expensive the troop type, the less cost
effective
it becomes. In keeping with the small-scale format, games no larger
than
400 points per side are recommended for a two-player game.
Optional Rule No. 25. Defending a River Against Troops Crossing It (4/25/2000)
Rivers or streams or bodies of water are defined as follows:
Small stream
Minor river
Moderate river
Major river
Impassable river
The type of water must be indicated when the water feature is placed on the table. A water feature may be of any width. All troops moving through water treat the water as rough terrain for movement purposes. See also page 23 in the rules text. Effects on melee and morale are described below. The effects of water derive from any combination of width, depth, fast current, and steep banks, which need not be specified or depicted by the model.
Small Stream
A small stream slows movement as described on page 23 in the rules
text.
A unit that charges out of a small stream cannot count the charge
modifier
for melee. A unit that charges into the stream does count the charge
modifier
for melee.
A small stream is fordable at all places.
Minor River
A minor river is fordable at all places. Troops who count as located in the river who engage in melee with defenders on the bank of a river count as fighting troops defending higher ground (even if the defending troops are not actually on higher ground).
Note that the following modifiers already in the basic rules apply:
The troops in the river count the - 1 melee modifier "Any vs foot defending higher ground and/or fieldworks."
The defenders count the + 1 morale modifier "Foot defending fieldworks, not charging"
Also note the following points:
1. The defending unit must be entirely out of the stream. That is,
it cannot be counted as being in the stream using the rules on page 49
in the rules text.
2. Medium, light, or skirmish foot cannot count the melee modifier
for being in rough terrain, provided the defenders do not count as
being
in the stream.
3. Neither the troops in the stream nor the defenders count the melee
modifier for charging.
4. If the defending unit counts as being in the stream, then the stream
counts as rough terrain and the defenders do not count as defending
higher
ground. (In other words, if the melee is in the stream, then the stream
is treated as rough terrain.)
Moderate River
All the rules for a MINOR RIVER apply in addition to the rules below, except that the river is not fordable at all places.
The location of fords is determined after completion of terrain placement and retention, prior to deployment of troops. Measure off each 2" [3" for 25mm] segment of the river. The player who placed the river rolls a number of D6 equal to the number of 2" [3"] segments. For each 1, 2 and 3 on the dice there is a ford. Each of the sides chooses a segment as a ford, alternating turns. The side that placed the river chooses first. If there is an odd number of fords, the side that placed the river gets the odd number. If the number of fords is less than the length of the river piece divided by 3 (round any fraction up), then the number of fords is set to this quotient. [Comment: The probability is that half the length of the river will be fordable. My thinking is that the river is a part of game tactics and not a near-impassable barrier. If the places to cross are severely restricted, it's going to produce a constricted game.]
Troops who declare a charge must check morale for charging if any part of the charge movement involves movement into, through, or out of water.
Melee modifier:
- 1 Knight, heavy, or subheavy infantry located in water (regardless
of the location of their opponents) (represents disorganization)
Major River
All the rules for a MINOR RIVER and MODERATE RIVER apply in addition to the rule below:
The following condition is inserted into the Melee Morale Check Precedence after "Contacted by fierce troops 1st turn" and before "Foot with 1 or more FP charge by mounted troops:"
Troops who are located in water fighting troops who are not located in the water. (In other words, troops fighting to cross the river must check morale at the end of melee every turn. This will be very deadly.)
Impassable River
Impassable in terms of fighting to cross it. A campaign might
specify
that a river could be crossed if not defended.
Optional Rule No. 26. Knight cavalry and cataphract melee factors (4/25/2000)
The "Troop Type Melee Factor" for Heavy Knight Cavalry fighting Heavy Knight Cavalry is 4 (instead of 3)
The "Troop Type Melee Factor" for Cataphract Cavalry fighting Cataphract Cavalry is 4 (instead of 3)
This is hard to represent on the table on the reference card. I suggest that you pencil in an asterisk on the appropriate numbers and make a note on the margin of the card.
The reason for this rule is that melees between the troop types
affected
by this rule take too long when the original melee factors are used.
Optional Rule No. 27. Neutral Terrain Selection (7/30/2000)
Delete the fourth paragraph on page 15 beginning with the sentence "Before dicing for terrain retention begins . . ." in its entirety. In other words, you cannot choose a piece of terrain for mandatory retention.
Comment: The terrain selection system provided in the basic rules
favors
an army positioned in a static defense with its flanks anchored on
rough
terrain. Use of this optional rule evens the odds somewhat without
favoring
the attacking army.
Optional Rule No. 28. Option for Mandatory Terrain Removal (7/30/2000)
Delete the fourth paragraph on page 15 beginning with the sentence "Before dicing for terrain retention begins . . ."
Replace the paragraph with the following:
"After dicing for terrain retention is completed, the side that placed a terrain piece first may remove one terrain piece that remains after dicing. The terrain piece may have been placed by either side. Then the other side may choose to remove a piece. The second side gets to choose a piece for removal regardless of whether the first side does so.
Comment: The terrain selection system provided in the basic rules
favors
an army positioned in a static defense with its flanks anchored on
rough
terrain. Use of this optional rule goes a bit further than Optional
Rule
No. 27 in evening the odds for an attacking army.
Optional Rule No. 29. Full Purchase Cost for Dismounted Cavalry (9/27/2001)
In the first paragraph under the heading Dismounted Cavalry Or Camelry on page 65, delete the following sentence: "If the cavalry are dismounted prior to placing them on the table, then the cost of the dismounted cavalry is the corresponding infantry cost."
Insert the following sentence in place of the deleted sentence: “The
full cost of mounted cavalry and mounted camelry must be paid, even
if the mounted troops are deployed dismounted prior to the first turn.
In addition, any mounted troops who dismount, other than medium knight
cavalry and heavy knight cavalry, are treated in their infantry form as
having one morale class lower than their purchased morale class. Note
that not all mounted troops are eligible to dismount (page 5).”
In addition, delete the next paragraph, beginning with the sentence
"For convenience, the cost for dismounted cavalry . . ."
Also delete the table beneath the second paragraph which shows costs
of dismounted cavalry and camelry.
In other words, cavalry must be purchased as cavalry and then the player has the option of dismounting them if he wishes.
Comment: The points cost system in MOA breaks down in the
following
tactical situation: When both flanks of a defensive battleline are
invulnerable
because of protection by terrain and the battleline consists of
high
morale heavy infantry or knight infantry, many armies have no troops
effective
in defeating the tough battleline. The challenge is even more difficult
when the defensive battleline has units armed with bow. In effect, the
defending troops have a points cost value much higher than what was
paid
for them. While this situation might be historical, in a game both
sides
need to have a chance for victory, which requires an acceptable play
balance.
This type of battleline can be created by several armies, notably the
later
Byzantine armies and certain medieval armies, by dismounting cavalry
that
was purchased at infantry cost. This optional rule restores play
balance
by approximately doubling the cost of dismounting and by penalizing
non-knight
troops in morale.
Optional Rule No. 30. Decrease of Melee Capability of Close-Order Infantry in Rough Terrain (9/27/2001)
In the table of Melee Morale Check Precedence Conditions on page 40, insert the following condition as a new item number 5: "Knight, heavy, or subheavy infantry counting as fighting in rough terrain." The conditions following the new item are renumbered 6 through 10.
Also insert the new condition on the reference card after "Foot with 1 or more FP charged by mounted troops" and before "Worn unit contacting enemy not worn."
In addition, add the following morale modifier to the table on page
36 and to the reference card:
Minus 1 Knight, heavy, or subheavy infantry in rough terrain
"In rough terrain" means slowed by rough terrain if the unit were to
move, or located in rough terrain for purposes of melee. The modifier
does
not apply to a unit in clear terrain and fighting a unit in rough
terrain.
Comment: The requirement for close-order infantry to check morale
when
fighting in rough terrain makes them inferior to loose-order troops
except
possibly for high-morale heavy knights when using this optional rule.
Checking
morale for melee and the morale modifier simulates the effects of
disorder.
This optional rule provides a reason for an army with strong
close-order
troops to supplement their order of battle with loose-order troops.
Optional Rule No. 31. Redefinition of “Worn” (9/27/2001)
Units with “A” or “B” morale class become worn when they have accumulated two fatigue points (instead of four or three, respectively).
Comment: Because of various adjustments made to the rules during
development,
A and B morale class units have a higher probability of surviving melee
than was originally intended in the design of MOA. This optional rule
makes
the endurance in melee of A and B troops less predictable. It turns out
that the play balance provided by the definition of worn in the basic
rules
(A and B become worn at four and three FP, respectively) is acceptable
to most MOA gamers. If you believe that A and B troops are too strong,
then use this optional rule.
Optional Rule No. 32. Infantry Charging
Cavalry
(10/12/2003)
An infantry unit is prohibited from declaring a charge against
cavalry engaged in a melee with friendly cavalry. In other words,
infantry may not charge cavalry in a continuing mounted melee. An
infantry unit may charge a cavalry unit that is in melee with friendly
infantry. A cavalry unit is
prohibited from being in melee with both an infantry unit and a cavalry
unit simultaneously. If a cavalry unit charges an enemy cavalry
unit that is
in melee with a friendly infantry unit, the melee between the enemy
cavalry and the friendly infantry ceases immediately. The infantry unit
must retire 1/2 inch [1 inch for
25mm scale] as part of charge response movement, with no penalty, in
order to provide a clear separation
between the cavalry melee and the infantry unit. An infantry unit
is allowed to be in melee with both an enemy cavalry unit and an enemy
infantry unit.
Optional Rule No. 33. Shooting Factor
for Heavy Infantry As a Target
(10/19/2003)
The shooting factor for bow, javelin, sling, and staff sling is changed from "3" to "2."
Comment: There is a disparity in play balance in the rules as
written, since the usual gamer expectation is that medium infantry
should be more vulnerable
than heavy infantry as shooting targets. The disparity is especially
apparent when bow-armed medium infantry and bow-armed heavy infantry
shoot at each other.