"Minefield question " Topic

this has come up several times. Page 223 says you must cross a minefield by the most direct route. If I put a minefield at the end of a bridge making a T. What becomes the most direct route for a unit on the left side of the Bridge. 1/2 inch to go left and loop around the edge of the bridge but be under heavy fire. Go 2 inches straight across the bridge into heavy fire or go right around a wreck and 1 1/2 inches to a sage area. Going left or right defeats the minefield because you can easily go around it.

If you leave enough of a gap or a path around the minefield(s) for the enemy teams to go through/around then they don't have to cross. P. 224 covers gaps and how they can make obstacles less useful.

Also recommend this for a good read:
link

Somebody else pointed out that movement around gaps is covered on P. 42 (and referenced on P. 224). Infantry only need a 1/4" opening to pass through a gap.

There is no gap. But the bridge passes the edge of the river by a couple of inches. I would post a picture but can not figure out how.

So the minefield (can't be more than 2" wide) that's on the bridge covers the entire surface area of the bridge?

If your opponent has infantry, he can also potentially avoid your minefields by swimming the river (p.56). He's at greater risk for getting shot up but if he's got grunts and you've completely covered the bride with not even a quarter inch along either edge of the bridge it may be preferable for him.

My question is more about the phrase the most direct route phrase of the rule. Does it force you to go straight accross or can I go left or right and then exit on the same side of the minefield. In short can a unit make a U around the bridges wall to be beside the bridge.

Minefield are not just about blowing up the enemy. They are used in real life and the game to channel movement. If moving left or right allows you space enough to avoid the minefield, then it can be easily defeated. That's where placing your guns to cover that spot with maximum firepower is useful.

Without a picture (you can post it on another site and link here---an option) I'm not understanding your U around question esp. the part about coming out on the same side of the minefield. Almost sounds like you're saying go in and then come back out, but I know that's not what you're asking. Sorry.

link

Above is a picture of the situation on Facebook.

The rule states a team must cross a minefield by the most direct route. page 223.

The vehicle on the left of the bridge has 3 options.

#1 The green area above the river to the left of the bridge.
#2 The green area to the right of the bridge.
#3 The green area above the minefield.

Are they all legal based on having to use the MOST DIRECT ROUTE.

Picture isn't viewable. Guessing your Facebook friends can see it but others can't.

Changed to public. This is a lot of work to see if this is common sense (how we played it) or a true rule of MOST DIRECT. Lol

Can see it now. Agree this is a lot of work.

First, the sides of the bridge would be something I and probably most players would allow infantry to climb up. Some players might think it should be treated as impassible; they may suggest that only teams specially equipped/trained like Rangers could make it. Anybody's guess about vehicle movement but tracked might be considered possible to make it.

Important before game to define terrain effects as much as possible. Whatever you and your opponent agree or roll off dice to. Sometimes you can't foresee every possible question that'll come up.

Assuming you can negotiate the sides and there is only a single minefield like in the picture, then teams can skirt around and avoid the minefield.

P. 224 covers assaults and obstacles like minefields

Using the vehicle on the left. He passes his motivation to enter the minefield. Then is not hit by the minefield.

Does the rule requiring the most direct route force you to go straight through the minefield? Or can you go into the minefield and exit beside the bridge.

I read the rule as Direct meaning straight accross. A friend read direct as shortest so to the left of the bridge. Personally after reflection I think direct should be the shortest line between where you are and where you want to be.

"Most direct route" means the shortest distance between where you start and where you finish. You are allowed to skirt around terrain that could bog you or worse. If you wanted to end up to the left of the bridge then the most direct route would be to enter the minefield where it touches the road on the bridge and exit it on the same side of the minefield to the left of the bridge.

I finally get what you're asking thanks to Leadgend.

I presume the rule is written to prevent meta gaming or to tame the beardy rules lawyers at the tournaments. As a realist, I'll ask "where did the tank want to go in the first place?" Either he doesn't know the minefield is there, or he does and has to hold his breath and just get to where he needs to be regardless. The tank wouldn't go straight across if it was going to put him in the path of a known shooter (emphasis on KNOWN), just as he wouldn't skirt the bridge & take cover behind the abutment to hide from an enemy that he doesn't know is there.

Totally OT to the original question, but where do that bridge and river come from? They look familiar to me. Maybe an old set of cardstock D&D terrain?

You guys covered this one well, but I wanted to add.. stuff like this happens all of the time in my games and friends games and even people I don't know games…

The thing really boils down to this… WYSIWYG… having a talk before the game is very important…

For example, in this case….
Looking at the picture… I am sure the INTENT was to place the minefield "around" the end of the bridge and the bridge, I am sure, woudl end at the edge of the river bank like most bridges do…. so the whoel situation is being created because of the WYSIWYG rule…. I would try to clarify this kind of stuff before the game begins as I am sure the intent was….

The minefield covered the end of the bridge.. meaning if you cross the bridge, unless you swim it, you have to cross the minefield to get off of the bridge.

Ah, the age old problem of fixed and rigid wargames models vs the fluidity of the real world. Here we have a bridge and minefield neither of which were construcrpted by 15mm engineers, across a river that is a flat sheet flush with the table top, being crossed by tanks which do not move the way real tanks do.

No amount of discussion about intent and WYSIWYG will completely prevent these issues, even if every game board is built as ancustom scale model.

Wargames tables are abstractions of reality.

Having just given the rules on minefields, obstacles, etc a quick reread, I think the intent of the rule is to keep models from unrealistically hanging about in mined areas. Thus the tank could move straight across the minefield or hook into and then out again to take cover on the right side of the bridge, but should not be allowed to move into the minefield and then turn left or right and move down the length of the minefield. The tank should instead cross the minefield and then make the litteral move in the clear ground beyond.

Of course, in the spirit of fair play, if my opponent really wanted to make a slow going move down the length of a minefield quite possibly requiring two or more turns of rolling to avoid the mines who am I to say "no"?

In short, don't let the rules get in the way of a fun game. Invoke Janes Rule: Let nothing be done on the tabletop contrary to what could be done in real war.

Well said Dave!

First thanks guys. I was asked where the bridge came from. That would be paperterrain.com. Second I was asked about the river in came from eBay
Russlevy at CGRPainters.