Ageod WW1 Manual Cover.qxd

the sub-battles gives a bonus (for flanking attack) on the remaining
resolution of the other sub-battle. When the Fire-Power doctrine is in
vigour, a Large battle takes place whenever at least the Attacker has
4+ corps.
11.1.2 Rounds
During each round of a battle, you choose which one of your corps you will
engage in combat, among those you have present in your stack. The
enemy does the same, but you have no idea of which corps it will engage.
This choice is made for each one of the sub-battles in the case of large
battles.
● The attacker uses his attack value, the defender the defence value
(+ modifications for terrain and weather). The difference between
those two values determine the column used on the Combat Table.
● Each player may engage one artillery (as a support unit), if one is
present, and to do so must use 1 Munitions (MUN). This gives an
increase to the combat value. If both players use artillery, the
respective bonuses cancel each other out. Beware; the MUN stock
is limited.
● If the defender is in an area with a friendly fortress, the latter can be
used as an artillery during 3 combat rounds without expanding any
MUN, and in addition the defence value of the fortress is added to the
defence value of the player.
Combat is then solved by random rolls, but each roll in each round can be
influenced by 2 important modifiers:
1 – Generals: a general often has stars (0 to 2) for Attack - (0 to 2) for
Defence. During the battle, the stars of both sides generals are compared
(one in attack, the other in defence). The difference gives a bonus/penalty
during the combat roll. Remark: if an HQ has no historical general, a
random one is drawn just for the purpose of that battle (removed after
combat).
2 – Fire values: each corps also possesses a fire value (+0 to +3). This
simulates its strength in machine guns, field artillery, grenades and other
equipment). During the battle, the respective fire values are compared. It
also gives a bonus/penalty to the combat roll (range is -3 to +3).
Important: both the general and firepower bonus / penalties are cumulative,
and the maximum is limited to +2/-2.
Combat Results
Both corps engage in battle and the results inform the player about their
fate. They can suffer between 0 and 2 hits (losses) each, and may be
forced to undergo a morale check.
● 1 Hit: the corps becomes wounded, and its combat values are
reduced. You can see it visually, as a white stripe is displayed on the
unit counter. If the corps was already wounded, it must undergo a
Morale check (see below).
● Morale Check: the corps suffers 1 hit and makes a Morale check
(whatever its original status).
● 2 Hits: the corps is wounded and must make a Morale check. If it was
already wounded, the Morale check is undertaken with an additional
penalty.
Historical Note: the French in August 1914 will suffer higher losses
than their opponents (because of their red/blue uniforms and their shock
tactics).
11.1.3 The Morale Check
Each corps concerned must first spend 1 RP (recruit point), unless he has
an Exploit (combat result) If no RP are available, the corps is wounded. If
already wounded, it is eliminated.
Each corps has a morale level (or category); usually on par with its combat
values (best units usually have best morale!). There are 5 different levels:
Elite (rare, excellent), Veteran (good), Active (average), Reservist (bad),
Mobilised (worst).
The Morale check is done with essentially two modifiers: the morale level
of the unit and the country’s National Will (NW) bonus. In August and
September 1914, the NW levels of most countries are very high, therefore
granting almost always a +2 bonus to the morale test. Corps should
usually pass their tests, but this will change later in the war when the NW
drops.
The Results of the Morale check indicates the fate of the wounded corps.
There are 5 possible outcomes:
Repulsed: the corps cannot be engaged in the next combat
round (later rounds are still possible)
Disorganized: the corps cannot be engaged anymore during
this battle (it will be operational again after the battle is over).
Out of Combat: the corps is removed till the end of the turn and
will reappear as a reinforcement in the following turn (unless it
was unsupplied and/or isolated at the time of the battle, in
which case it is eliminated
Eliminated: the corps is destroyed.
Panic: the corps is destroyed and the battle is lost! Two other
corps in the same area must make a Morale check
immediately.
Exploit: the opposite of panic, the corps has no damage or suffers no effect.
Historical Note: the French in August 1914 have an extra +1 Morale check
bonus, due to their shock tactics (balanced by heavier losses, see above).
World War One: La Grande Guerre 1914-1918 41