Thursday, July 28, 2011

Correcting the Close Combat Rules.

After speaking with a couple of the guys last night I feel we need to tweak the close combat rules.

First some reasoning as to the change.
There is a gap in the conversion when going from Hexes to inches.  The 1" Hexbase the mini is on does not expand with the conversion.  So the mini is taking up a lot less space on the hexless tabletop than it was on the Hexmap.  Which means mechs have been having to move father on a hexless map to get into Base to base and perform physicals.

Example:  On a hex map the Nightsky needs to move 6 hexes to get next to the Hunchback IIC to use it's hatchet attack.  Convert that to a hexless tabletop and the Nightsky now has to move 13" to get into base to base, or use 7 of his MP rather than just 6 he would have had to use on a hexed map.  So on a hex map the Nightsky could walk or jump into position, but on a hexless map he now has to Run..

Here is how we will correct this issue.

For Punch, Kicks, Pushes, and Weapon attacks you will only have to get within 1" of the edge of your targets Hexbase to make an attack.  Of course facing still maters. So if there is 1" or less between the edges of your two hexbases and you are facing the correct way, you may make one of those attacks. Yes I know, to follow path of logic all the way through, it should be 2" (an extra inch for each hex base).  The 1" will work fine, and I really don't want to deal with intervening mechs between physicals.

For Charges and Death From Above attacks you will need to be able move to the center of the target mechs Hexbase (Not just into base to base).
Meaning you have to move 1/2" further now that you did than the way we were playing.  This is due to the rule that you must be able to move into the target mechs hex when doing these attacks.


Preemptive Editorial Response:
But what about shooting? Shouldn't that get the extra inch too?  No and here is why.  Shooting on the hex map is just like Charges and DFA's.  Your weapons range have to reach the target hex (meaning the center of the hex) on a hex map, not go to the edge of the target hex.  So measuring from Hexbase edge to hexbase edge will give you the same "Range" after conversion that you would have had on a Hexmap.
Example: A Blackjack wants to shoot it's Med laser at a Spider.  The max Range of 9 Hexes is just that on a hex map if there are 8 empty hexes between the Two mechs, the Black jack is in range and can hit.  Now that 8 hexes converts to 16 inches on the hexless tabletop.  Likewise, There should be 18" center to center between the Blackjack and Spider when you convert their location (9 hexes apart) to a hexless tabletop.  So measuring from hexedge to hex edge between the two mechs will give you 17" or within range for the Med Laser to hit.  You actually get a little extra range from your weapons with the conversion, but it is easier to measure edge to edge the center to center.  So Edge to edge, just like we have been playing.   

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