Interesting video. We played this wrong at first. The rules state the ambush must be 16" away from any enemy unit unless the ambushers are concealed in which case it can be 4" or over. We took concealed to mean completely concealed (e.g. behind terrain that completely blocks LOS such as a building or a hill) but after reading what was clear in black and white the first time the rule says CONCEALED not "having no LOS". So springing an ambush on the edge of wood 6" from an enemy is OK, it doesn't have to be sprung from 3" within the wood (which would require the unit to then move to get a LOS and thus lose the point totally, apart from positioning, a move that would also, in the case of a wood, need a cross check too.
Thanks for the video.. lots of tactics covered here … a a new player it is much appreciated… Love ❤️ those Dice 🎲 … I use that Icon on all my American 🇺🇸 Tanks in Flames and Team Yankee along with American flags and White stars and numbers … it adds a splash of color in a very drab model … I know it’s not historically accurate but in my opinion it certainly looks cool
Very cool. I like that Recon units can deny an ambush area. If I am using infantry can I blitz them 4" and then assault with them? I know I would have to take defensive fire.
Well explained but I believe earlier systems were much better for recce and ambush and this meant more skill and thought was required methinks. The new system is a tad too light on tactics for many and with limited smoke in this system it is worth reflecting that most modern warfare is all about ambush and countering this with recce or smoke as you said but it is a game and not a wargame so I suppose it really is horses for courses so to speak. I like fast play because it is very effective in creating pressure for pressure testing but I think a good system should give you more doctrinal options because recce is critical and they are far from a throw away unit . Also overwatch is not in this system but is easy to employ in this type of game and makes the game far more challenging and prevents rather ludicrous situations with vehicles running out crossing the enemy front without fire and outflanking units.. however, it is very much what you want and what you enjoy.
thanks for the always thoughtful comments. I think every version had it's pros and cons. I did enjoy previous versions of FOW with Recce being able to push back ambushes further, test to fall back and so on but not too many people miss the American Tank Destroyer special rules with warping tanks.
I don't think a low stone wall counts as concealment for tanks. You can see more than 50% of the front of the tank. I would've used the farm field or forest as an example for the tanks, and the stone wall for the infantry. Also something to consider are the rules for heavy gun teams, as you can't use them to ambush enemy units within 40cm, even when concealed. Speaking of underperforming ambushes... five Marders vs five Shermans. I ambushed from concealment, killed one Sherman and bailed another. The return fire killed four of my Marders 😑
That sounds like one of my ambushes! As far as terrain in v4 it's either, flat, low or high and you always get concealment with them. The only 50%rule that I remember is with buildings. Maybe hills?
The Marder vs Sherman example bring up another issue in the ranges of units in Ambush. I've found that it's more effective to put into Ambush a short range unit which protects them from fire until the enemy is within range. Ambushing with a long range unit might give you a shot that might otherwise have been avoided, but those units are fairly effective as deterrent setting up normally. Having units of equal range to your enemy, such as a Marder vs a Sherman is the worst case as it always leaves you vulnerable to counter fire. At that point you are relying on your Shoot and Scoot roll for survival.
Thanks for the video! I like v4 but have not gotten a lot of games in so these videos help a lot!
Interesting video. We played this wrong at first. The rules state the ambush must be 16" away from any enemy unit unless the ambushers are concealed in which case it can be 4" or over. We took concealed to mean completely concealed (e.g. behind terrain that completely blocks LOS such as a building or a hill) but after reading what was clear in black and white the first time the rule says CONCEALED not "having no LOS". So springing an ambush on the edge of wood 6" from an enemy is OK, it doesn't have to be sprung from 3" within the wood (which would require the unit to then move to get a LOS and thus lose the point totally, apart from positioning, a move that would also, in the case of a wood, need a cross check too.
I liked the tip on using scouts
Thanks for the video.. lots of tactics covered here … a a new player it is much appreciated… Love ❤️ those Dice 🎲 … I use that Icon on all my American 🇺🇸 Tanks in Flames and Team Yankee along with American flags and White stars and numbers … it adds a splash of color in a very drab model … I know it’s not historically accurate but in my opinion it certainly looks cool
Very cool. I like that Recon units can deny an ambush area. If I am using infantry can I blitz them 4" and then assault with them? I know I would have to take defensive fire.
Well explained but I believe earlier systems were much better for recce and ambush and this meant more skill and thought was required methinks. The new system is a tad too light on tactics for many and with limited smoke in this system it is worth reflecting that most modern warfare is all about ambush and countering this with recce or smoke as you said but it is a game and not a wargame so I suppose it really is horses for courses so to speak. I like fast play because it is very effective in creating pressure for pressure testing but I think a good system should give you more doctrinal options because recce is critical and they are far from a throw away unit . Also overwatch is not in this system but is easy to employ in this type of game and makes the game far more challenging and prevents rather ludicrous situations with vehicles running out crossing the enemy front without fire and outflanking units.. however, it is very much what you want and what you enjoy.
thanks for the always thoughtful comments. I think every version had it's pros and cons. I did enjoy previous versions of FOW with Recce being able to push back ambushes further, test to fall back and so on but not too many people miss the American Tank Destroyer special rules with warping tanks.
I don't think a low stone wall counts as concealment for tanks. You can see more than 50% of the front of the tank. I would've used the farm field or forest as an example for the tanks, and the stone wall for the infantry.
Also something to consider are the rules for heavy gun teams, as you can't use them to ambush enemy units within 40cm, even when concealed.
Speaking of underperforming ambushes... five Marders vs five Shermans. I ambushed from concealment, killed one Sherman and bailed another. The return fire killed four of my Marders 😑
That sounds like one of my ambushes! As far as terrain in v4 it's either, flat, low or high and you always get concealment with them. The only 50%rule that I remember is with buildings. Maybe hills?
@@AllMiniaturesGreatandSmall Yes, page 53 of the rulebook, "Concealed by tall or short terrain".
The Marder vs Sherman example bring up another issue in the ranges of units in Ambush. I've found that it's more effective to put into Ambush a short range unit which protects them from fire until the enemy is within range. Ambushing with a long range unit might give you a shot that might otherwise have been avoided, but those units are fairly effective as deterrent setting up normally. Having units of equal range to your enemy, such as a Marder vs a Sherman is the worst case as it always leaves you vulnerable to counter fire. At that point you are relying on your Shoot and Scoot roll for survival.
@@matttheyak For real? Man, I've been using the wrong rules then. Thanks for the heads-up!
@@Hedgehobbit That's actually very good advice, I'll try that in my next game!