Myself and some fellow gamers were recently using the Designer Series scenario "The Neck of the Gap", to study the German tactic of combining medium tanks around a single heavy tank. The scenario is based on the German Army's fighting retreat from the Falaise Pocket during the US breakout from the Normandy peninsula (Operation Cobra). It is a remarkable scenario both for its historical accuracy and for the designer's use of the game system. During the sessions we came across an issue with German objectives for earning victory points.

One of the ways the Germans earn victory points is to exit tanks and vehicle/squad combinations (half-tracks and trucks transporting squads) from the game board. The game board graphically shows four blue shaded hexes along the eastern edge of board section 6A. The scenario objective for the Germans states: "Germans earn VP for these units that exit the game board..." and then goes on to define the units. The obectives do not specify that the units must exit from the blue shaded hexes, however, the designer notes, scenario notes, background, mapboard graphics and requirement to use one MP to exit from the blue shaded hexes all inferred that the Germans must exit the units specifically from the blue shaded hexes in order to claim VPs.

FFG responded to a query regarding the issue by confirming two points:

1. The Germans can only earn "exiting unit" VPs for units exiting from the blue shaded hexes on map board 6A, and

2. If any but the easternmost blue hexes are used, the Americans score a VP per German vehicle (see the bullet under American objectives).