Finally played, few more questions!

[k07]

Fun game! I've played it a few times solo and once head-to-head against my son. Here is a long list of questions I have.

1) LMGs cannot fast move and shoot. Does this rule apply to the BAR?

2) How does one arm themselves for melee combat? I assume the target doesn't have time, but are the chargers considered armed with their knives/bayonets automatically or does it take an activation for the chargers to fix their bayonets?

3) I assume units can move up to 8". Likewise, fast movement passing 2d6 can move up to 16" and no one is required to move the full length. If true, does the same apply to PEFs or would they always move their full movement even if it means they're not in cover?

4) PEFs are considered Reputation 4. What about after they resolve as an NP Enemy?

5) And finally, what do you do with a PEF that only passes 1d6 when resolving it multiple times? I had a PEF right on top of my squad, but every time I rolled to resolve it (with 3d6 even), it only ever passed 1d6. If there's no rule that addresses this, what would you suggest I do? I would think it should resolve one way or the other if it's out in the open coming straight at me rather than in melee combat.

Thanks!

[stryderg]

1) No. The LMG takes time to setup (tripod/bipod, belt feed, etc), the BAR is point and shoot.

2) I've always played that the troops swap weapons as needed or use their rifle butts. There is not a set time frame for each activation, it's more of a 'how much time do they need to accomplish this task' kind of thing.

3) Correct. I always try to keep PEFs in cover. Makes more sense to me.

4) After they resolve, use the REP of what they resolved to.

5) Not sure, I've always resolved them when I get into line of sight.

Someone will be along shortly to correct anything I got wrong.

[Ed the Two Hour Wargames Guy]

5) And finally, what do you do with a PEF that only passes 1d6 when resolving it multiple times? I had a PEF right on top of my squad, but every time I rolled to resolve it (with 3d6 even), it only ever passed 1d6. If there's no rule that addresses this, what would you suggest I do? I would think it should resolve one way or the other if it's out in the open coming straight at me rather than in melee combat.

You only resolve a PEF once. So if you keep getting pass 1d6 for the other PEFs, when you reach the last one it's a real nemey.

Answers 1 - 4 were spot on. Thanks!

[atomicfloozy]

Would the answer about the BAR apply to all magazine fed LMGs?

[k07]

Oh I see. 1d6 passed means that PEF was a false alarm and all other PEF resolutions are rolled at 3d6.

Thanks both for the answers.

[Ed the Two Hour Wargames Guy]

Mar 7, 2020 19:31:20 GMT atomicfloozy said:

Would the answer about the BAR apply to all magazine fed LMGs?

As long as there's no loader required, yes.

[Ed the Two Hour Wargames Guy]

Mar 7, 2020 19:41:58 GMT k07 said:

Oh I see. 1d6 passed means that PEF was a false alarm and all other PEF resolutions are rolled at 3d6.

Thanks both for the answers.

Correct and you always resolve at  least 1 PEF no matter what.

[atomicfloozy]

I was thinking about the Hotchkiss LMG used by the Spanish Nationalists. The LMG team consisted of a Corporal, the gunner & 4 riflemen with one or two of the riflemen assigned to carry extra ammo for the LMG. Some LMGs were belt fed & in that case one of the riflemen served as loader.

On the other hand, militias on both sides had some surplus Chauchats. While magazine fed, it was notorious for jamming so the ammo carrier was almost like a loader helping to change magazines & clear jams.

[Ed the Two Hour Wargames Guy]

Your call in that case.

[stryderg]

From the incredibly brief research I just did, it looks like the Hotchkiss would need a loader and would probably be fired from a bipod or tripod.
The Chauchat probably wouldn't need a loader, but also looks like it was fired from a bipod or tripod.
Neither of these look like they were designed to be fired while standing, unlike the BAR.
So I would say both could not fast move and shoot in the same activation. Your mileage may vary.

[atomicfloozy]

I have to disagree a little. The Hotchkiss M22 could be strip fed or fed with a box magazine. The British & the Spanish were the only countries where there is evidence & photos of the box magazine. The models from Minairons have the LMG gunners advancing with the gun at their hip.


According to the Forgotten Weapons site, the following countries used the Hotchkiss M22 - Greece (strip fed 6.5mm); China (strip fed 8mm); Czechoslovakia (strip fed 8mm); Spain (magazine fed 7mm); Turkey (strip fed 8mm); UK (strip fed & magazine fed .303); France (strip fed 7.5mm).

The strip fed guns' ammunition was in 15 round metal strips.  The gunner could load them himself, but having a loader meant he could put more rounds down range faster.

[stryderg]

I did say it was "incredibly brief" research. That bad boy looks like it would be a bear to shoot from the hip, but you do what you have to.
You may want to give it some special rules to capture it's flavor:

May move and shoot during the same activation, but firing is at -1 Rep (shooting from the hip instead of aiming so less accurate) and subject to out of ammo (I can't see reloading while standing).
May move or shoot during an activation, no penalties to Rep (going prone, putting more accurate fire on target) and ignore the first out of ammo roll (if there's a loader). I don't remember the specifics of running out of ammo with/without a loader.

[atomicfloozy]

According to military doctrine, the BAR was supposed to be fired from the hip when advancing. Also, having a bipod does not indicate the need for a loader. BARs issued after 1938 were issued with bipods. There was even an anti-aircraft version of the BAR that was mounted either on tripod or with a really large bipod.

The BAR, the British BREN & the Spanish M22 all fired the same caliber of round. The magazine on the BREN was a vertical magazine just like on the Spanish M22. On an episode of Lock and Load, R. Lee Emory compared the BREN & BAR & the vertical magazine on the BREN was easier to change than the BAR. So, I don't see where the M22 couldn't be reloaded while standing. Of course I'm not saying the M22 was as good as the BREN or BAR, but it may have been used the same.

If firing from the hip is a -1 to Rep, then the -1 should also apply to the BAR when fired while advancing.

[stryderg]

Thanks for the vid (I like the gunny).
I was right, those do look like a bear to shoot from the hip!
And you're probably right, the design and doctrine are probably similar enough that they can be treated the same in game terms:
Can move and shoot in same activation with no penalties.