Bolt Action Getting started with Bolt Action

[Agincourt]

Stu - our debate on the ambiguity of 'shooters'.

I had a re-read last night and tried to find in FAQs and on forum, nothing quite the same there, but while I think my interpretation is correct, one comment meant I am less confident now... It is ambiguous.

Maybe we should send a newbie question in...

Yeah, definitely ambiguous, certainly worth clearing up.

Might be worth collating all the questions that cropped up last night - we weren't sure whether team weapon units could run and things like that?

I think I have most of it covered now.

Team weapon units come under infantry and under movement rules infantry can run in open, buildings and roads. Arguably teams can still run as they share the load. The disadvantage is as stated with an advance order they cant move AND fire, with a run no-one can fire.

However your howitzer is Artillery and they have different rules. Advance is used to turn them on the spot (but cannot also fire). Run orders enable a 6" move (if more than one crew left). {All under artillery section}. I also think you had a gunshield which means need 6+ to wound.

I think we cocked up mortars too - everything needs LoS to its target - mine certainly didn't have! This comes from the crew's vision, and one reason why they can have observers further forward etc.

And shooters have -1 to hit per pin marker, we forgot that too.

We already picked up that choosing the model you wound is by exceptional damage, i.e. after rolling a 6 to wound, you then roll a second 6. The shooter (!!!) then picks the model casualty.

Assault weapons like our SMGs and my Assault rifles do not suffer -1 to hit when moving and shooting (Advance order). AND they allow 2 attacks in close quarter fighting rather than the 1 we gave them.

I have re-read everything on the shooters topic again tonight and I am 99% confident I have interpreted it right now. Page 32 'DECLARE TARGET' sums it up for me. 'When a unit opens fire only those models that can draw a clear line of fire to their target actually shoot. Any models unable to shoot will not fire, e.g. can't see target, or out of range.' This therefore makes a distinction between 'shooters' and 'non-shooters'. Yes there may be other models that have guns and could shoot, but are currently employed as loaders, and are therefore non-shooters; and some models do not have weapons (like my medic!). A 'clear line of fire' is defined as can see head or torso. If you accept this interpretation then all the cover rules on page 39 make sense.

[Stuart]

Nice one Paul, there were bound to be things that we missed last night. I definitely feel a crib sheet coming on!

[Stuart]

500 is fine, its all i have ready as well =) as for fighting paras bring 'em on!

Bostin!

Still got a load of plastic aquarium plants left from when I was working on the desert island board, so might be able to knock up some jungle terrain with those.

[Agincourt]

You can get the battle scribe files from this link- http://catalogue.randomhit.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=211
Might be worthwhile as if it is anything like the 40k ones, you can build your army on it and it will print out a summary of your units as well as any special rules relevant, plus what page to find them in the rulebook.

Always handy!

Nice one - great tool

[johnb60]

Thanks for the Replies Stuart.

John B.

[actungpanzer]

just found some basic rule walk throughs on youtube

Bolt Action! Rules part 1 - order dice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPzl120FCew

Bolt Action! Rules part 2 - setting up a game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26UZGvd8T_c

Bolt Action! Rules part 3 - Movement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGUu6PY87Eo

Bolt Action! Rules part 4 - shooting with infantry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFi0PyDBHiw

Bolt Action! Rules part 5 - Tanks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw4Q2bjV6...b8&index=3

Bolt Action! Rules part 6 - more Tanks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KogbD7gUS...xhasitXub8

Bolt Action! Rules part 7 - Close Combat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWcYJIqYV...xhasitXub8

Bolt Action! Rules part 8 - Infantry Assaulting vehicles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPi281tJ2r8

[Noisysteve]

So how many points for a standard force? Got plenty of figures( British Infantry, Paras, Home guard(!), US Airborne, US Rangers, German Infantry, German Airborne, some waffen SS) plus tanks and trucks!!

[Agincourt]

So how many points for a standard force? Got plenty of figures( British Infantry, Paras, Home guard(!), US Airborne, US Rangers, German Infantry, German Airborne, some waffen SS) plus tanks and trucks!!

If I understand aright the system is based around a 1,000 point force. me and Stu have 500 at the mo, but I think we'll both have 1,000 soon

I was watching a tournament match on u-tube last night with 750 point forces took 1 hour 20 to play (and they were fairly efficient!), also watched the designers play a 3000 point battle with two teams of two, heavily edited.

Me and Stu played a very slow 500 point game an managed only 5 turnes (of 6 or poss 7 for a normal game).

I should think 1000 points will work for us once we get going...

[Stuart]

just found some basic rule walk throughs on youtube

Nice find Jim.

...but I think we'll both have 1,000 soon

[actungpanzer]

Light mortars Can move an fire!