"Questions for the group mind." Topic

I've recently played or GMed a couple of Boxer Rebellion games using TSATF and some questions came up.
1. In one instance, an allied unit was being charged by Boxers. I advised both players that the unit was backed up by another unit within 3 inches and that the 2nd unit could join the melee. The Boxer player launched a 2nd Boxer unit directly behind the first. I let it play out, but question my decision. Should that 2nd Boxer unit have been permitted to join the melee?
2. Passage of units through another? I've been playing it such that if the unit being passed through is in open order, it's OK. Am I right?
3. Bigger guns? Most of the field pieces run around 3", but how do you play the bigger guns, say 155mm? Bigger crews / more dice or more dice per crewman? I haven't play tested this yet, just thinking ahead, but leaning toward saying 3 dice per crewman with crews of 6 figures.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts! Bob

I won't comment on #1, I agree with how you handled #2, as to #3, I think artillery of that size is way beyond the level of play TSATF was meant for.

Thanks, Nick. I've taken the rules to 1900, so Long Toms and 4.7 inch naval rifles are on the battlefield. Now I'm thinking maybe I should do a blast radius gauge so one shot at a unit in open order won't totally devastate it.

Looking forward to comments on the big guns. I also have the models. My thoughts are that they should take longer to load. Perhaps only fire on a royal card and then require another royal card to reload. We could also allow them to bypass cover for hitting. I'm likely to keep the same crew ratio.

I've given a little thought to slow loading, too. I flag units that have fired with "smoke". I thought I would move the smoke away from the gun on the next fire phase, then remove it to show the gun was loaded.

For question 1, what was the frontage? If there was room for a second unit it should join in – but not if the area was constricted

For question 2, yes

For question 3, I like the idea of the extra crew/dice but would limit firing to every other turn related to the thoughtful comments provided above

I had one other idea. No range limit, it can target anything with in LOS on the table.
I still hold to no crew increase, however, with range not a factor only one range band would be needed. Perhaps just use the close range rolls for all targeting.

As above no cover bonus. So target troops are rated as either open or close order.