We played the " Battle in the Bocage" scenario from the Normandy expansion booklet yesterday. Though I think it's an interesting and enjoyable ( and judging by one play only; also fairly balanced scenario), what really bugged me is the " Hedge cutters special ability:
The result of this (Sherman tanks may spend two movement points (MPs) to cut a hedge, which turns it into CLEAR TERRAIN??!! is that a single Sherman can cut as many as three hexes in one activiation ( clear weather conditions). This really seems way over the top and unrealistic to me.
I hope some designer will come up with a scenario specific rule along these lines:
A sherman tank may move into a hedgerow hex and cut it using hedge cutters. Its activation is then over. Or alternatively or perhaps additionally:
A hedge then becomes clear terrain for MOVEMENT PURPOSES only. Its cover still remains three except against area attacks (or perhaps cover reduced to 2; but this would seem like unnecessarily complicating things to me). However, the way the rule is now, it's just plain silly. I guess we'll houserule it for the future.
One more thing concerning this scenario: The German Jagdpanzers don't seem to be able to make it to the front. Although they can this destroy the building in their path, they do not have the hedge cutter ability, so there's no way they can move through it. Is this intentional or is there an overlay hex tile missing on the set up map where the hedgerow hex is? ( e.g. wood).