"Bolt action observation" Topic

Does anyone use any house rules for observation in Bolt action? I'm getting tired of approaching houses with my infantry section only to find the windows are crammed with automatic weapons toting enemy troops who then open up on my hapless men. I can't try and observe the house from a distance or use suppressing fire (unless we are missing the rule within the Bolt action rule book). The only way appears to be to march someone up to the house in the open and get them shot to pieces. Even for green troops that doesn't seem very historical!

Can you send out a lone scout? Bolt Action AARs often cite lone FOOs or medics doing insanely brave things. Why not "Hey Kozlowski, go check that house for krauts"?

Why don't you know they are there. Unless I'm missing something in the rules there is no hidden deployment. If the models aren't in the house, then they're not in the house. The rules state that the models may be deployed in the hidden state but they must still be placed on the table. Page 117 under hidden set up. Unless you are house-ruling that hidden unit are left off of the table, they should be in placed on the table. In addition, any infantry unit moving within 12 inches discovers the hidden unit and negates the hidden modifiers. I would house rule that they have to actually have line of sight to them though.

Also, "hidden" is a cover modifier, which snipers ignore.

What Vtsaogames said. We simply allow you to shoot at them only thing would be they get the -2 to hit due to hard cover.

Drop some smoke in front of the house.

Only two models can shoot out of a window.

Move something up to remove hidden and pile on some pins (you only need to hit, not kill).

as Mooseheadd said !

We have also discussed this in the Shed.

We typically mark hidden units on a map. These are automatically placed on Ambush fire. If the defending player wants to move them they become visible and the dice is added to the pot at the end of the next round.

The attacker does NOT see the hidden unit until he enters effective rifle range – ie 12 inches. At wich point one of two things happens – the ambush takes place or the figures are placed on the table.

Hidden vehicles are also spotted at 12 inches unless stated otherwise.

hope this helps

Thanks for everyones views/feedback on this. Eric, your solution seems closest to what we are after. Failing that we may need to re consider our WW2 rules which would be a shame as Bolt Action have some good mechanics going for them. The pin system and the random activation for instance. Anyway, thanks everyone.

Gerard
Barely Legal Wargamers – In your face since 2010

You can add the random activation to any rule set out there. I do it to a degree with Flames of War. Works just fine. There are a few wonky bits to BA that turned me off of them so haven't played in a while….