Age of Rifles FAQ #7 Unit Frontage and Fire Strengths. First a few definitions... Formation frontage places limits on the proportion of a unit's weapons that can be brought to bear, based upon the geometry of particular formations. Formation frontage (ff): formation ff defensive order available troops line available troops supported line available troops/2 attack column available troops/4 square available troops/2 other available troops/8 skirmishing skirmisher frontage Parade ground frontage (pgf) and skirmisher frontage (sf) vary with the scenario scale: scale pgf sf 100 y 250 troops 100 troops 200 y 500 troops 200 troops 400 y 1000 troops 400 troops Parade ground frontage is the absolute maximum number of troops that are free to fire their weapons in any particular direction (actually an arc). The number is based upon a rather generous assumption that densely packed troops deployed in two lines can direct as many as 5 rifles out of a 2 yard span. Skirmisher frontage is similar, but applies to units with skirmishers deployed regardless of formation. Reflecting increased spacing of skirmishing troops, the number is based upon an assumption that troops scattered in a loose skirmish "line" can direct only one rifle out of a 1 yard span. Skirmishers are assumed to be deployed in front of any other troops in the unit, so they block fire from any troops behind them. Additionally, dismounted cavalry (any unit with mounts, but not equipped with crew served weapons) have their frontage reduced by 20% - the number of troops assumed to be watching mounts. If a unit shares a hex with another unit, these numbers are halved, effectively dividing available frontage up between the two units in the hex. The actual number of troops who can fire their weapons is the lesser of formation frontage or parade ground frontage. Naval units are not subject to frontage calculations when determining fire strengths. Examples: (based on 200 yard scale) An infantry unit with 700 troops, deployed in line: Skirmishers not deployed:lesser of (700) or (500) = 500 may fire. Skirmishers deployed: 200 may fire. The same infantry unit with 700 troops, deployed in supported line: Skirmishers not deployed:lesser of (700/2) or (500) = 350 may fire. Skirmishers deployed: 200 may fire. A cavalry unit with 600 troops, deployed in attack column: Skirmishers not deployed:lesser of (600/4)x0.8 or (500) = 120 may fire. Skirmishers deployed: 200 may fire. A disordered infantry unit with 900 troops: Lesser of (900/8) or (500) = 112 may fire. An artillery unit with 400 troops, unlimbered (line formation), sharing a hex with another unit: Lesser of (400) or (250) = 250 may fire. The number of crew served weapons that can fire is limited by the troops allowed to fire. If this unit were armed with 6 x 24 pounder ML howitzers (crew=20) all guns could fire. Note that in most cases, the number of troops allowed to fire will be limited by skirmisher frontage if skirmishers are deployed, regardless of formation. Now the formulae... melee strength=lesser of (pgf or available troops) * unit capability * formation modifier * special modifiers. The formation modifier varies from 1.0 (defensive order) to 0.20 (march column). Special modifiers include things like mount status, terrain modifiers, etc. fire strength=lesser of (pgf or ff) * unit capability * special modifiers * weapon lethality at range / crewmen required to operate the weapon. Special modifiers include things like lighting and precipitation, mount status, etc. Note that this formula effectively limits the number of crewed weapons that can fire by assigning available frontage based upon the crew size required to operate the weapon. A weapon with a crew of 30 would require the same available frontage as 30 rifles. The long versions of these formulae go on for several pages. Norm Koger 2.0 November 2nd, 1996.