Okay, so if you're at all like me, you skim the rules, do a walkthrough game, read the rules and start playing. Then, after a couple of weeks, you get some downtime where you can go through the rules with a fairly good grasp of them, then, "Bam!" you find a simple but important rule or concept you missed. Well, this is the thread to put those, "Doh! How did I miss that?" moments!

For me, it was the Command Phase section, last sentence of the first paragraph, "Each player may issue a number of Orders equal to the number of ø he rolled in the Initiative phase (with a minimum of one)."

Its the last parenthetical phrase we haven't been playing. We've been playing if you rolled all blanks for initiative, your commanders were all sitting on their thumbs unable to make a decision, and no orders were issued. Guess even Analysis Paralysis battlefield commanders can at least get out a single, "Hey you! Go do something over there!" order in the Command Phase.

What have been your, "Aha!" moments on your second, more thorough read-through of the rules?

yep, that minimum of 1 rule we caught first game, but after a few turns.

So far the hardest rule to teach people has been reactions curiously. Many seem to get confused about any unit being able to react if an enemy unit moves within 12, yet forget only a unit being attacked can react with an attack or move action.

Shadow4ce said:

We did that and keep forgetting to roll away on supression markers ….LOL

I think formatting can help here. Don't bury rules (especially those with a number attached) in a paragraph, put them in bullet form after the paragraph. Perhaps.

Plus, if you have a command squad you can issue an additional order in the command phase.

where does it say that ranger? i must of missed that one

caecitas said:

This doesn't sound right to me. You mean a unit has to be attacked to react?

Poe said:

Sort of. In order for a unit to react to an enemy attack , they have to be the recipient of said attack. However, any of your units within 12" of an enemy's movement may react to said movement.

CrayolaSmoker said:

Yes, that sounds correct. I think it was just the way Caecitas phrased it that threw me off.

caecitas said:

I just saw that one my self. it's listed under special rules for units. There is an entry for command squads and it states something to the order of, "you get an extra command order for each command squad".

CombatRanger said:

i tthink thats a rule that did not make the final cut!

Oh wait sorry, there it is on pg 54

Thanks to the PDF, exact wording for you all:

page 54

Command Squad
A unit with this ability is an experienced unit, trained to lead
other units in battle. A force that includes one or more units
with the Command Squad special ability in play may issue
one additional order in the Command phase.

PG 54 "COMMAND SQUAD A unit with this ability is an experienced unit, trained to lead other units in battle. A force that includes one or more units with the Command Squad special ability in play may issue one additional order in the Command phase ."

These forums are a fantastic resource……..a living breathing FAQ

ninjaray said:

So, just to clarify for my own sake, if you add page 54 to page 30 any Axis or Allied Platoon led by it's default Command Unit (all of which have "Command Squad") should get a minimum of two orders per turn?

pg. 30 - "Each player may issue a number of Orders equal to the number of [hits] he rolled in the Initiative phase (with a minimum of one)."

And any force led by a Hero taken as a Leader and rolls blanks for initiative would default to a single order.

Good to know. Makes me want to reevaluate my high-point lists where platoons are led by Heroes. I initially did it 'cause it seemed fitting to the fluff and because it shaved points (15 point Hero vs. 25 point Command Squad), but the ability to count on 3 orders minimum at 200-300 points is awfully tempting.

i did not know that. How odd - i always presumed that the command squad ability was simply that that particular squad can lead that particular platoon.

well spotted chaps

Not adding to the fray, just saying thanks to all for this thread. I, too, missed the bit on command squads and their special rule. Thanks awefully!

This has been a useful read. Thanks all.

Just to throw in the mix, there is some additional info.

Page 88/114:

" Special Orders : The officers of each platoon have acces to a special Order based on the platoon the are leading. The Command Section of each platoon may issue these Orders in addition to any other orders types avaiable to the unit.

Unless specificaly noted, a Hero serving as the Unit's Command section may issue this special order. Heroes leading a unique platoon through their leadership ability, such as Markus, do not have acces to these special orders."

For the Axis these special orders are: Blitzkrieg / Take charge / Wiederbelebungsserum failsafe,

For the Allies these special orders are: Fire for effect / An army of one / Smoke screen.

With all the info combined the number of orders that can be given are dependend on the Command Squad / Hero / Platoon used.

For the Axis this means:

* Kommandotrupp / Heavy Kommandotrupp / Sturmpioniere leading a Platoon:

• Free special order (page 118)
• 1 additional order for being a Command Squad" (page 54)
• may issue a number of orders equal to the number of HITS rolled in the Initiave phase (with a minimum of one) (page 30)

* Sigrid von Thaler / Lara / Stefan or Manfred leading a Platoon:

• Free special order: "Blitzkrieg" (page 118)
• may issue a number of orders equal to the number of HITS rolled in the Initiave phase (with a minimum of one) (page 30)

* Markus / Totenmeister leading a Platoon:

• may issue a number of orders equal to the number of HITS rolled in the Initiave phase (with a minimum of one) (page 30)

At least this is how I read this.

Morning Smeer.

The special orders granted by special command squads are not free, they still cost an order. Im not sure if you are implying their acsess to this particular order is free, or performing said order is free.

Hi Caecitas,

I read "The Command Section of each platoon may issue these Orders in addition or any other order types available to the unit" as this was a additional free action.

But after rereading i guess it means, it is an additional option.

Just wanted to point out a few mistakes with what you wrote about the command things. Each command and/or Hero unit has access to one of three special orders, and thats depending on the type of platoon they command ie. for Lara and the Heavy Kommandotrupp have access to the Take Charge order. each hero says which type of platoon it can control so each will have different page number.

Its worth noting too that some of the special order can be issued more than once, some can not.

CrayolaSmoker said:

The way I read it, you only get one extra order no matter how many command squads you have.