"Day of Battle 4 Morale System" Topic

I know I have a thread going about the release of DoB4 this Fall but I wanted to share with some of you a glimpse of the new morale system. You can find more information on it at dayofbattle.com.

In this edition entire battle lines not inidividual units test morale. Each battle line has a battle line morale value based on the units in it. The procedure is to roll 1d6 for each healthy unit in the battle line with the total score being equal to or higher than the battle line morale. The battle line morale is based on the number of units in it multiplied by their morale grades. There are 4 morale grades in the game and they each give 1, 2, 3 or 4 points depending on how bad they are. Elite units give 1 point while poor units give 4. So right away you can see a high morale value battle line is going to have a low battle line morale value to have to roll for.

For example a battle line made up of 4 poor units would have a battle line morale value of 16 and if all 4 units were healthy would roll 4d6. Another example is a battle line made up of 4 veteran knights. The battle line morale would be 8 and if all 4 units were healthy would roll 4d6.

The battle line morale test results are based on how bad the roll fails. To fail you roll below your battle line morale value. For each point the roll fails by one unit must perform a negative action. Such actions are retire a half a move, become disordered and/or take casualites. A unit may perorm up to two retires, if it has to do a third it breaks and is removed from the game. This is a very basic description but the system is quick and easy tends to have battle lines that are damaged start to slip and retreat and then just fail and melt away.

As I said a more in depth glimpse can be viewed at the website.

Thank you

Chris

Well no comments as of yet. I would really like some impressions on my system. Isn't there any room for a non conformist rule system :)

Chris

I like the battle line morale test so much I may pinch it for my black powder games.

As for the rules, I'll have to wait until they are done and try them. Many times what sounds one way on the page plays another on the table.

Thanks for the comments and pinch away, as they say there are really no new rules just repurposed rules. I do have plans to do a AWI/7 Years version using some of the concepts in Day of Battle. The command system using playing cards is quite uniqe and I also want to carry over the Honor Point System for officers in 18th vcentury armies.

Chris

I'm looking forward to playing at FALL IN at the end of the month. I used to play Knighthood In the Middle Ages- DOB in its infancy- back in the early 80's. It is really amazing how the game has evolved over the years!

See you at the tables!

Thank you Mr. Toy Maker and that takes me way back.

Have had a chance to play DoB 4th edition twice, and it seems to have been a good system to me.