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INTRODUCTION
Welcome to ACTION FRONT!, an exciting series of wargames detailing tactical combat during the Second World War! ACTION FRONT! games are designed to be fast and fun. The average scenario typically lasts less than an hour and still provides the players with the feel of command on the front lines of WWII.
Youll also need a standard, 52-card deck of playing cards to play this game. Remove any jokers from the deck before playing. The deck is used in lieu of the dice that are used in most games. Shuffle the deck at the end of each turn.
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Either player may shuffle the deck at ANY TIME during play.
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Name: The scenario name.
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Flavor: A brief, historical description of the circumstances leading up to the battle.
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Map: The map(s) on which the game is played and its/their orientation. This section also defines where the players should sit in relation to the map and the order in which they set up and move.
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Units: The unit counters each player gets in the game. Some units may start on the map while others may have an assigned entry turn.
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Support: The off-map fire support available to each side. This support may include ships, aircraft, or artillery located off the map.
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Special Rules: Any special rules that apply to the scenario.
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Victory Conditions: Requirements for winning the scenario.
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Duration: How long the scenario lasts. (This is also referred to as the Turn Record Track.)
The Maps
The maps depict the area in which the scenario takes place. Theyre designed to reflect the similarities to the terrain on which the actual battle was fought. The maps are divided into hexagons, or hexes. The hexes regulate the way units move and fight on the map. Each hex has a small mark at its center; theyre used when the rules call for something to be measured from the hex center. Each hex has six hexsides, and each hexside is shared between two hexes. Any time a hexside is crossed, a new hex is entered. (This becomes important when measuring ranges and determining Lines of Sight later.) Note that the partial hexes around the sides of the map count as hexes; you MAY play in them as if they were complete hexes. Some scenarios use more than one map. When this happens, the hexes where the maps meet count as part of the map on which the hex number is located.
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Rate of Fire: This indicates that the unit draws X extra cards when firing. If theres no number, you draw no extra cards. Steps: This is the strength of the unit as a percentage of its original strength; it indicates how many cards the unit draws when firing. As the unit suffers step losses, rotate the counter so that the appropriate number of dots is on the side facing your opponent. (Fewer dots represent a smaller force that has taken casualties.) Units with one step that suffer a step loss are eliminated and removed from play. Silhouette: A representative picture of the unit. The color of the silhouette indicates the units movement class. See the Player Aid Card. Hard Attack/Soft Attack: The effectiveness of the units weapons against armored and unarmored targets, respectively. Armored targets have an armor value printed inside their silhouettes; all other units are considered unarmored. Units which have these values printed in red may fire during either the Indirect Fire Phase OR the Action Phase. Range: The maximum range at which this unit can attack enemy units. Training: Many things can affect how well a unit performs in combat: combat experience, training, special skills and morale. Each units Training value takes all these human factors into consideration. The Training value determines how easily the unit can be suppressed by enemy fire, as well as how it performs in Assaults (hand-to-hand combat). Unit Name: The main type of equipment or troops of which the unit is made up. Transport: A T in this space indicates that the unit may carry one other unit. Only Leg and Towed class units may be carried. Armor: Indicates the thickness of the units armor protection. Only Armored Units have this number.
LEADERS
Leaders are a special type of unit which confers bonuses on other units. Leader counters show the leader silhouette, the name of the leader, the step strength, and the leaders training bonus.
The Markers
There are two kinds of markers used in ACTION FRONT!: These have white, black, or brown backgrounds and indicate units that have modified statistics or combat results.
Status Markers
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Some status markers may apply only to one nations units and have backgrounds matching those units.
These indicate hexes that are under attack by indirect fire or air support. They have backgrounds matching the colors of the owning nation.
A Note on Scale
Many wargames are built to a specific scale (each counter represents a certain unit size and each hex is a specific distance). ACTION FRONT! is not built to any particular scale. Rather, each scenario is designed to recreate a small-unit action and present the players with the choices and consequences faced by the actual ground commanders. In general, each counter represents anywhere from a platoon to a company of troops or vehicles, or a section or battery of guns.
EnD oF GAME tuRn PhASE The Phases of the Player Turns thE inDiREct FiRE PhASE
During your indirect fire phase, you may do the following:
1. Fire any of your units on the map that are capable of indirect fire. (Their Hard and Soft Attack ratings are printed in RED.) Units may fire in any order that the player desires. 2. Fire ONE off-map Artillery or Naval Fire Support mission. (Place one ARTILLERY marker--if you have any.) 3. Use ONE Air Support mission. (Place one AIR SUPPORT marker--if you have any.)
1. Take an Artillery Marker from your Fire Support section on the Scenario Card. If you dont have any Artillery Markers left on the Scenario Card, you cant use off-map artillery support.
On-Map Artillery
If youre firing a unit located on the map, you can use an Artillery Marker thats not in play. On-map units can always fire as long as theyre not suppressed. Note that the procedure for resolving indirect fire for on-map units is identical to that for resolving offmap artillery attacks.
2. Place the marker in the hex you wish to attack. One of your units MUST have a line of sight to this hex. (See Line of Sight on page 19.) Note that indirect fire is used to attack a hex, NOT an individual unit. Any units within the hex in which the artillery lands will be attacked equally. You may even choose to attack an empty hex with artillery. 3. Draw ONE card and compare it to the Indirect Fire Table on the Combat Results Tables Card. This tells you whether the artillery attack hits the hex you designated, or misses that hex entirely and lands in another hex. 4. If the card draw results in a Short or Over result, move the Artillery Marker to the new hex indicated. Short Result: Place the Artillery Marker in a hex closer to YOUR edge of the map. The number behind the result indicates how many hexes to move the marker. Over Result: Place the Artillery Marker in a hex closer to YOUR OPPONENTS edge of the map. The number behind the result indicates how many hexes to move the marker. If you could move the marker equally different hexes, draw a card. If the or a spade, move the marker into the your LEFT. If the card is a heart or move the marker into the hex more to well into two card is a club hex more to a diamond, your RIGHT.
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EXAMPLE
Bill chooses to fire during the Indirect Fire Phase and elects to use a marker from his Scenario Card representing a 5-inch naval gun. He places the Artillery Marker from the Scenario Card in a hex to which one of his units has a line of sight and draws the Queen of Diamonds. He looks on the Indirect Fire Table and sees that a diamond face card gives a result of Over 2. He moves the Artillery Marker two hexes closer to his opponents side of the map. Note that while a line of sight must exist to the original hex, NO line of sight is needed to the hex in which the artillery counter is finally placed.
5. Once youve determined the hex in which the artillery attack occurs, determine the effects of the attack on each of the units in that hex. Draw three cards for EACH unit in the hex. Note that the result is determined separately for each card; cards drawn may not be added together or divided. (If youre attacking with a unit located on the map, draw a number of cards equal to the units current step strength.) The Scenario Card shows each attacks Hard Attack/Soft Attack ratings just as theyre listed on unit counters. (If youre attacking with a unit on the map, use the Hard/Soft Attack values shown on the counter.)
For each armored unit in the hex: Add the Hard Attack value of the artillery unit to the value of the card (face cards are automatic misses). If the result is HIGHER THAN OR EQUAL TO the armor value of the unit attacked, the unit suffers one step loss. Rotate the counter so the next lower step value is oriented toward that unit owners opponent. If the total is lower, its a miss. For each unarmored unit in the hex: Compare the card value to the Soft Attack value of the attacking unit. If the card is a face card, or if the cards value is higher than the Soft Attack value, the attack misses (has no effect). If the cards value is EQUAL TO OR LOWER THAN the Soft Attack value, the unit attacked suffers one step loss. Rotate that counter so that the next lower step value is facing the unit owners opponent. Suppression: Each attack that inflicts a step loss may also suppress the target unit. Compare the suit (heart, diamond, club, or spade) of each card that inflicts a hit on the target units training value, using the Suppression Table on the Combat Results Tables Card. If the suit is shown, place a suppressed marker on the unit.
1. Select a hex within the line of sight of any of your units and place one of your Air Support markers from the Scenario Card into that hex. If you dont have any Air Support markers left, you cant use Air Support. 2. Select any hex that is: a) along the map edge, and b) in a straight line of hexes from the hex containing your Air Support marker. This is the Entry Hex for the air strike. 3. Draw one card and compare it to the Air Support column on the Indirect Fire Table. This tells you whether the air strike hit the target hex. If not, it indicates where the air strike actually lands. 4. If the card draw results in a Short or Over result, move the Air Support marker to the new hex indicated. Short Result: Place the Air Support Marker in a hex CLOSER TO the Entry Hex, in the line of hexes between the marker and the entry hex. The number behind the result tells you how many hexes to move the marker. Over Result: Place the Air marker in a hex FARTHER FROM the Entry Hex. The number behind the result tells you how many hexes to move the marker. Again, move it in a direct line from the Entry Hex. 5. Resolve the results of the attack against any units in the hex. The same procedure is followed as for artillery attacks with the exception that only two cards are drawn for combat resolution in air strikes. (See Step 5 in Resolving Artillery and Naval Fire on page 10.)
Artillery Support
Its the American players Indirect Fire Phase. He decides to perform Indirect Fire with the M2A2 105mm Howitzer located in hex 0403. The USMC Engineer unit has a clear line of sight to the IJA infantry unit in hex 0602, so the US player takes an Artillery marker from the unused markers and places it in the hex. He draws one card to determine the accuracy of the shot; its the 8 of clubs. This gives a result of Over 1 on the Indirect Fire Table. The marker must be moved 1 hex toward the Japanese players side of the map, which could place it in either hex 0902 or 0903. The US player draws a card to determine which hex: the King of Diamonds (Red suit = Right). The marker is moved into hex 0903. The artillery unit attacks the USMC Raider unit in the hex. The artillery unit has two steps, so the US player draws two cards to resolve the attack. The Jack of Spades is an automatic miss, but the Five of Hearts inflicts one step loss. Since it had only one step remaining, the USMC Raider is eliminated.
Air Support
Next, the US player takes one Air Support marker from the Scenario Card and places it in hex 0803. He designates hex 0805 as the entry hex. One card is drawn to determine the accuracy of the attack: the Jack of Diamonds. This indicates a hit according to the Air column of the Indirect Fire Table. The Attack values of the air strike are -2/6 (Hard Attack = -2, Soft Attack = 6). The US player draws two cards to resolve the attack. The 10 of Hearts is a miss, but the 3 of Diamonds is a hit! The IJA Infantry is rotated to indicate a single step loss. According to the Suppression Table, a Diamond also suppresses the target, so a Suppressed Marker is placed on that unit as well.
MOVE: Each troop unit may move from one hex to another hex. Units use Movement Points (MPs) to measure the distance they may move. The MPs available to each type of unit are determined by its movement class and may be found on the Player Aid Card. Units may be moved in any order the controlling player desires and may move THROUGH other hexes containing friendly units as long as they dont end in a hex with a friendly unit. A unit must have sufficient MPs remaining to enter any hex. For example, a Tracked class unit with only 1 MP remaining may not enter a hex that requires it to cross a river hexside. Units which are Dug In immediately lose that status if they move. Simply remove the marker. In general, a unit may not enter a hex containing another unit, nor may a hex contain more than one unit. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Leaders: Leaders may freely enter hexes containing friendly units. A leader in the same hex as an enemy unit is eliminated unless there is also a friendly unit in that hex. Transport: A transport-capable unit may enter a hex containing a friendly Leg or Towed class unit. If a transport-capable unit and a Leg or Towed class unit begin the Action Phase together in the same hex, the transport unit may carry the transported unit (move the two units together) while it performs its normal move. A Leg or Towed class unit that has been carried may not act in the Action Phase. A leader may act, however. Assault: Infantry units (See the Player Aid Card for units with the infantry symbol) may enter hexes containing enemy units. However, no more than one troop unit from each side may occupy the hex at any time. Tracked Class Units: Only Tracked class units may enter hexes containing Artillery markers (friendly or enemy).
FIRE: A unit may fire on one enemy unit in range to which it has a line of sight. If a unit attacks another unit at any range greater than three hexes during the Action Phase, subtract 1 from the appropriate attack strength. Indirect fire units on the map may fire during the Action Phase, if they did not fire during the Indirect Fire Phase; they are treated like any other unit when firing in the Action Phase. Again, they may fire in any order the player chooses, so long as none fire twice during the same phase.
FIRE EXAMPLE
An M2 HMG attacking at a range of four hexes would have effective attack strengths of -6/4.
To resolve fire, draw a number of cards equal to the firing units step strength. For each armored unit in the hex: Add the Hard Attack value of the attacking unit to the value of the card (face cards are automatic misses). If the result is HIGHER THAN OR EQUAL TO the armor value of the unit attacked, the unit suffers one step loss. Rotate the counter so the next lower step value is oriented toward that unit owners opponent. If the total is lower, its a miss. For each unarmored unit in the hex: Compare the card value to the soft attack value of the attacking unit. If the card is a face card, or if the cards value is higher than the soft attack value, the attack misses (has no effect). If the cards value is EQUAL TO OR LOWER THAN the soft attack value, the unit attacked suffers one step loss. Suppression: Each attack that inflicts a step loss may also suppress the target unit. Compare the suit (heart, diamond, club, or spade) of each card that inflicts a hit on the target units training value, using the Suppression Table on the Combat Results Tables Card. If the suit is shown, place a suppressed marker on the unit. Leg and Towed class units in the same hex as a transport unit may not fire; however, the transport unit itself may fire.
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Note that the terrain in which a target unit is located can affect the combat results; consult the Terrain Effects Chart on the Player Aid Card.
Like other units, Leaders may perform Actions during the Action Phase. Leaders may move, but they may not fire. In addition to moving, a leader may perform one of the following actions. RALLY: A leader may attempt to rally one suppressed unit in the same, or an adjacent, hex. To determine the result of the rally attempt, draw one card and compare its suit to the units training value using the Rally table on the Combat Results Tables Card. If the rally attempt is successful, remove the Suppressed Marker from the unit. It may now act in the current Action Phase. DIG IN: A leader may direct a Leg class unit in the same, or an adjacent, hex to attempt to dig in. draw one card to determine the success of the attempt; compare it to the units Training Value (including the leaders training bonus if applicable). If the cards value is equal to or lower than the units modified training value, the attempt succeeds. Place a Dug In Marker on the unit. Units which dig in may not perform other actions in the same Action Phase.
Leader Actions
Resolving Assaults
GAME
CONCEPTS
Line Of Sight
Many of the operations in ACTION FRONT! require that a line of sight be established between a unit and a distant hex. In general, the existence of a line of sight means that the unit can see the target hex (and any enemy unit in that hex). Lines of sight are measured in a straight line from the center of the units hex to the center of the target hex. (As previously mentioned, the dot at the center of the hex should be used for this measuring stage.) A line of sight is blocked if:
It passes through two hexsides of the same hill. It passes through any portion of a hex containing a building or an Artillery Marker. Hexes containing an Air Support Marker do not block lines of sight unless they contain other blocking terrain. It passes through any portion of a forest or jungle hex.
Note that lines of sight extend INTO building, forest, and jungle hexes, but they do not extend BEYOND them. Hex edges do NOT block lines of sight that pass exactly along them.
Leaders
Leaders in ACTION FRONT! represent single individuals who have an impact on the performance of other units. They have modifier effects in ACTION FRONT! and can be utilized to boost nearby units.
A unit which STARTS the Action Phase in the same hex as, or adjacent to, one of your Leaders may perform TWO actions. However, that unit may not perform the same action twice. That unit may move and fire in the same Action Phase, but may never move twice or fire twice in the same phase. A unit in the same hex as a Leader, or an adjacent hex, adds the Leaders training bonus to its training rating for all purposes.
Note that Leaders are units with a step strength of 1; they suffer the effects of fire in the same way as any other unit. A Leader which finds itself alone in the same hex as an enemy unit is immediately eliminated. Leaders do not directly participate in Assaults; they provide their training bonus to friendly units in the same hex. Leaders may be carried by any Track or Wheel class unit in the same way that transport units carry Leg and Towed units.
positions which partially protect them from the effects of hostile fire. Dug In units ignore the first step loss suffered in each attack and also draw an extra card when involved in an assault. Only Leg and Towed class units may dig in. If a unit with a Dug In Marker moves, it immediately loses that status and any benefits.
OPTIONAL RULES
Artillery Registration
During WWII, the use of artillery on-the-fly was terribly inaccurate. It required firing several rounds to refine the aim of the cannon before firing for effect. Frequently, the targets were able to move before the bombardment could be fired. To combat this, commanders would select areas that had a high potential for enemy presence and set up fire missions where the settings for the guns had been established in advance. The field officers could call for the preset fire mission and the bombardment could begin without ranging.
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To replicate the effects of pre-registered artillery fire, add the following rule: Each player that has off-map artillery available may write down two hexes (before either side places any units on the map) for which his or her artillery is registered. If that player places an Artillery Marker (from either an off-map artillery attack OR an on-map artillery unit) in that hex during his or her Indirect Fire Phase, no accuracy card is drawn. Rather, the artillery attack automatically lands in the desired hex. Note that this applies to artillery attacks ONLY, not naval or air support attacks.
Friendly Fire
Commanders in WWII went to great lengths to avoid exposing their own troops to friendly fire. Nevertheless, thousands of soldiers were killed or injured by their own side. Use the following rule to show the effects of friendly fire in ACTION FRONT! Draw a card whenever a unit is located in a hex along the line of sight from which a friendly unit is attacking during the Action Phase. If the card is a Spade, the unit suffers one step loss.
Pick A MAP
Select one or more ACTION FRONT! maps on which to play the scenario. At this time, you should also determine the orientation of the map and assign a side to each player. One way to do this is to have one player decide on the scenario type and player roles while the other selects the map and orientation.
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POINT DEFENSE: The defender sets up his or her forces first and can use any hex farther than four hexes from the attackers map edge. The attacker may then place up to five of his units. The remaining units arrive as reinforcements in the order desired by the attacker. No more than five units should enter per turn. The attacker moves first. MEETING ENGAGEMENT: Select one player to move first. The other player then sets up five of their units within three hexes of his or her map edge. The player who moves first then sets up five or her units within three hexes of their map Each player then selects up to five units to as reinforcements in each game turn until no are left. of his edge. enter units
CREDITS
Design & Development
Geoff Bohrer
Editor
Christian Sumner
Graphic Design
Christian Sumner
Fact Checker
Greg Moore
Playtesters
Shawn Low Alpha Mastrano, Mark Ballinger, , Greg Moore, Heidi Custer, William Ballinger, Dan Anstaett, Gary Custer, Mike Leonardi, Dave Pasquantonio, Richard Soper, & David W. Bauer
The two-dimensional works of art depicted in the images within this manual are in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 00 years. The photographs of the works are also in the public domain in the United States (see Bridgeman Art Library v. Corel Corp.).
SEQUENCE OF PLAY
First Player Turn 1. Indirect Fire Phase 2. Action Phase 3. Assault Phase 4. Marker Phase Second Player Turn 1. Indirect Fire Phase 2. Action Phase 3. Assault Phase 4. Marker Phase End of Game Turn Phase
UNIT COUNTERS
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Rate of Fire: This indicates that the unit draws X extra cards when firing. If theres no number, you draw no extra cards. Steps: This is the strength of the unit as a percentage of its original strength; it indicates how many cards the unit draws when firing. As the unit suffers step losses, rotate the counter so that the appropriate number of dots is on the side facing your opponent. (Fewer dots represent a smaller force that has taken casualties.) Units with one step that suffer a step loss are eliminated and removed from play. Silhouette: A representative picture of the unit. The color of the silhouette indicates the units movement class. See the Player Aid Card. Hard Attack/Soft Attack: The effectiveness of the units weapons against armored and unarmored targets, respectively. Armored targets have an armor value printed inside their silhouettes; all other units are considered unarmored. Units which have these values printed in red may fire during either the Indirect Fire Phase OR the Action Phase. Range: The maximum range at which this unit can attack enemy units. Training: Many things can affect how well a unit performs in combat: combat experience, training, special skills and morale. Each units Training value takes all these human factors into consideration. The Training value determines how easily the unit can be suppressed by enemy fire, as well as how it performs in Assaults (hand-tohand combat). Unit Name: The main type of equipment or troops of which the unit is made up. Transport: A T in this space indicates that the unit may carry one other unit. Only Leg and Towed class units may be carried. Armor: Indicates the thickness of the units armor protection. Only Armored Units have this number.