"Rules for dogs?" Topic

I'd like to incorporate some rules concerning dogs for some games. Something along the lines of units with a mascot mascot dog get a plus on moral or such.The dogs cannot be killed unless they attack a foe. IDK.

I have ideas as yet, just more of a notion.

Anybody tried this or have any ideas?

I give a morale bonus if a unit has a pet, dog or otherwise, chaplain, flag bearer, field kitchen, commander, musician,photojournalist, with them at the time. They are subject to getting killed like anyone else. I do this for all armies in all periods.
Obviously a flag bearer in the US Army in WWII would not last long, so as in real life such activity was rare. They are particularly helpful in recovering units that have lost morale and fleeing the field.

So if a unit is retreating in disarray, and they encounter a chaplain, with a field kitchen, and a dog, with a flag bearer, they are pretty likely to stop, say grace, and have a bite to eat and then return to combat. Circumstances permitting of course.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek
Bunker Talk blog

Larry always said that TSATF could cover just about anything, so however you want to handle the colonel's pet pooch should be just fine.

Let us know what you decide to do and how well (or not) it worked.

Just remember that the firing player gets to choose the figure hit on a face card. So that could do your dog in unless you modify that particular rule.

Jim

One of my TSATF units is fictional – The Fore and Fit
Princess Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen-Anspach's Merther-
Tydfilshire Own Royal Loyal Light Infantry

This is the infantry unit from Kipling's 'The Drums
of the Fore and Aft.'

The unit is 22 figures, the extra 2 being Jakin and
Lew, the drummers. If the unit suffers casualties,
Jakin and Lew are NOT candidates, unless the rest of
the unit has withdrawn or otherwise retreated. In that
case they may be targeted. 'Key figure' rules apply
to determine hits even if those are the only targets.

Should the unit suffer a morale penalty of any sort,
the bulk of the unit will withdraw 1/2 move, morale
shaken.

Jakin and Lew will REMAIN at the unit's position.

So long as the drummers remain, the unit's ability
to recover morale is enhanced. If the drummers are
taken or killed. the unit IMMEDIATELY recovers its
morale to the highest level and will charge the
enemy unit responsible for the demise of the drummers
meleeing with a +2 per figure.

Ive been floating the idea around for awhile, so I'm trying to remember snippets of ideas.

I think they "no kill" notion was doubled with having a random generated roll that could have the dog run off to the nearest friendly unit. Therefore no particular unit could perpetually maintain the morale boost. The dog would act as a random morale booster

Another idea was, when "his" unit came into close contact,the dog would harry/attack an enemy just as any other figure. In that instance death is possible. Result?

"The s killed Roscoe! Run!"
"The s killed Roscoe ! Charge!"

I have a lot of ideas but I'm not sure the best way to develop mechanics. Probably the easiest would be die rolls and a simple chart. Sort of the "if/then" idea.

Ed, Merthyr Tydfil is indeed its own county these days. A brilliant name !

All of my English, Welsh and Indian units are 21 figures, I added a musician (drummer boy or bugler to each unit. Scottish and Irish units are 22 with drummer and piper added. I have a full company of the Royal Strathclyde Fusiliers, who are accompanied by the regimental mascot "Benachee" and the Pony Major (a 10mm horse makes a good 15mm pony) and the company commanders dog