From: Tom B <kaladorn@g...>
Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 16:25:32 -0500
Subject: [SG] Overwatch
> I wrote: > [Tomb] Misquote :) (I only ever called OW a single action and a Adrian responded: Hang on a minute, if your OW requires only a single action, then couldn't I fire and go on overwatch? [Tomb] RTFP (Read the foregoing paragragph I wrote). OW is quite clearly indicated therein as a fire action. If that is the case, then that opens the door to breaking the "weapons can't fire more than once per activation" rule. [Tomb] Were that the case, yes. Note that was not what I suggested. s that what you intend to be the case, or did you have some other kind of limitations on going on overwatch, like: 1. Overwatch is the last action a unit may take in any given activation (if you go on overwatch, your activation ends). [Tomb] This isn't a necessary limitation, but any other action will remove an overwatch counter, so this is usually how you do it. It would be not terribly useful to place it, then do another action. (Now, I might bend this to allow comms while on OW, etc but no squad- style actions - spotting might be appropriate). 2. Overwatch requires only one action. 3. A unit may NOT go on overwatch if it has already fired during the same activation. [Tomb] Explicit in what I said originally, OW is a fire action. Since it is illegal to take two fire activations in one activation, that was covered. So, you couldn't go on overwatch and then move. Nor could you shoot and go on overwatch. You could, however, move and go on overwatch, or go into position and go on overwatch. [Tomb] Here, in a short list, is what I'd allow with OW on: 1. Reorg (you can do it while suppressed) 2. Treat wounded (note, this means the medic isn't also able to fire on OW... every person treating a wounded teammate I would rule out of OW) 3. Spot (This is part of what OW is!) 4. Leader using transfer commands or executing comms. I think that's about it. I think having overwatch cost one action under these circumstances is reasonable. I don't think you should be able to shoot and go on overwatch in the same activation. [Tomb] You never could. :) Otherwise, overwatch should indeed cost two actions - to prevent people shooting and going on overwatch in the same activation... [Tomb] I don't think I'd want it even under that description. 1 fire action per activation per figure period. You might respond "Ok, my rifles fire (action 1), but my SAW goes on overwatch (action 2)". This is too complex - keeping track of which weapon in which squad has fired and which hasn't. I'd rather keep the rule as simple as possible, and say "the squad is on overwatch or it isn't". That way, the squad could use its overwatch action to fire a special weapon (like a GMS/L) if an enemy vehicle came into view, or its smallarms against an enemy squad. [Tomb] Utterly and completely disagree. I can fire support weapons separately, ergo I can go on OW separately. But in the same vein, each costs an action. SAW goes on OW, 1 action. Rifles go on OW, 1 action. Total, 2 actions. Just like firing SAW and Rifles separately. [Tomb] Overwatch should be limited to not allow multiple fires from the same figure in a turn. It should be voided by suppression. It should be voided by MOST other actions. If split up, it should follow a paradigm similar to that of split fire (since you are separately commanding some of the troops, it requires another action to put in place). Adrian, we agree on most of the details. (And if you'd caught the "fire action" part of my original paragraph, you'd have realized that! *grin*). Tomb.