UM016 USEME 6mm Science Fiction example of play by Vic Dobson

The new USEME rules gave us all 6mm science fiction for fast play.  Written by Vic Dobson you can see it HERE and on its page there is a link to three free scenarios on the book page (print and digital download) which you can click on too.  By request and presented here a long play through written by the author to run you through the rules.  Force Rosters are images; click to enlarge.  Lets call in on 'Kirk and Kor' . Enjoy!  GBS

Best friends Kirk and Kor have decided to play a game of USE ME 6mm using their available collection of 6mm miniatures. They decide to play a basic1,500 Points 'Meeting Engagement' type scenario & both then design their respective forces. Kirk designs a force based around a 12 vehicle Paladin Heavy Tank company and a Grenadier Infantry Company embarked on 10 Caisse APC & supported by a Strike/Reconnaissance Company of 5 Grav Speeders and 8 Bikes. A single use of Long Range Artillery off table support rounds out Kirks force – this takes Kirk 4 points over their agreed limit, but Kor says that's fine, it's only 4 points! Kirks Senior Command Unit (SCU) is another Paladin Heavy Tank, and all of Kirks units have Elans of between 3 and 6. 

Meanwhile, Kor designs a force based around two platoons of 3 heavily armoured Tyros Laser Tank Destroyers, each one supported by 2 squads of Phalanx Support Weapon Infantry. Supporting his Tyros Laser Tank Destroyers also has 2 battery's of 4 Devil Frog Light Artillery Guns, towed by 4 Gecko Gun Tractors, with each gun battery led by a single Hunter Medium Tank. Kor then decides he wants a lot of infantry, so he designs a Hoplite Militia Company of 21 squads of basic infantry to bulk out his force. Seeing his points total is somewhat lower than their agreed 1500 limit, Kor opts to take 2 uses of the Long Range Artillery off table support option AND a single use of the Drop troops Insertion off table support. Kors SCU is a single Kourian Super Heavy Tank, and all of Kors units have Elans of between 1 and 4. 

With both forces now designed, Kirk and Kor set-up their playing area – they opt to play on a 90cm x 90cm square area. Having set-up the playing area and placed their available scenery, Kirk and Kor roll 1D6 each to determine who sets up first – Kirk rolls highest, so must set-up first but gets to choose which side of the table he will start on, Kirk getting the opposite edge by default. Having set-up their forces, it's time to play!

1. Initiative (USE ME 6mm Rules, p.5) 

When rolling initiative, each player in the game rolls 1D6 and adds the Elan of his forces Senior Command Unit. This total is then reduced by -1 for each lower ranked Command Unit that the players force has lost, to give a final total. The highest total wins the initiative, with any ties being re-rolled until a winner is established. 

Example 1: It's the Initiative Phase of Turn 1 in Kirk and Kors game. Kirk rolls 1D6, getting a 4, and then adds 5 for the Elan of his SCU, for a total of 9. Kor rolls 1D6, getting a 2, and adds his SCU's Elan of 4, for a total of 6. As neither player has suffered any losses yet, neither player suffers from any modifiers to their total. Kirks total of 9 is the highest, so Kirk wins the Initiative and will activate first during each step of the 'In Play Phase'. 

Example 2: It's the Initiative Phase of Turn 4 in Kirk and Kors game - Kirk and Kor have been playing for 3 turns now, and both sides have suffered some casualties. Kirk rolls 1D6, getting a 3, and adds the Elan 5 of his SCU to the roll, for a total of 8. Kor rolls 1D6 and also gets a 3, and adds his SCU's Elan of 4, for a total of 7. But … Kirk has had 3 of his lower ranked Command Units (the command unit of Paladin tank platoon 1, Grenadier Infantry Platoon 3, and the Company Commander of his Strike/Reconnaissance Company) destroyed, so his total of 8 is modified down by -3 to 5. Kor has also lost a Command Unit (1 of his Tyros Tank Destroyer command units) and so his total of 7 is modified down by -1 to 6. Kors total of 6 is still the highest, so Kor wins the Initiative and will activate first during each step of the 'In Play Phase'. 

Example 3: It's the Initiative Phase of Turn 6 in Kirk and Kors game - Kirk and Kor have been playing for 5 turns now, and Kor has suffered a disaster – his Kourian Super Heavy Tank SCU has been destroyed. Kirk rolls 1D6, getting a 2, and adds the Elan 5 of his SCU to the roll, for a total of 7. Kor rolls 1D6 and gets a 5 … but with his SCU destroyed he can no longer add its Elan to his roll, so his total is just 5. Kirk has had 3 of his lower ranked Command Units (the command unit of Paladin tank platoon 1, Grenadier Infantry Platoon 3, and the Company Commander of his Strike/Reconnaissance Company) destroyed, so his total of 7 is modified down by -3 to 4. Kor has lost another Command Unit (1 of his Hoplite Militia Infantry Command Squads) and so his total of 5 is modified down by -2 to 3. Kirks total of 4 is the highest, so Kirk wins the Initiative and will activate first during each step of the 'In Play Phase'. 

As a force progressively loses it various Command Units it's ability to co-ordinate its actions and tactics is reduced, represented here by the reduction in the forces initiative total during the Initiative Phase. 

Note that the loss of -1 per Command Unit lost does NOT apply to the SCU, as the -1 is 'per lower ranked command unit' and the force SCU is the highest ranked Command Unit in the force. 

2. In Play Phase (USE ME 6mm Rules, p.7)

ELAN Elan and the 'In Play Phase': Elan represents the skills and training available to each unit, and ranges from between 1 and 6. Elan determines in which order units can be activated in 'the 'In Play Phase', with higher Elans getting to act before units with lower Elan. In USE ME 6mm a units Elan is not constant – as Command Units further up the chain of command are destroyed all units lower down the chain of command in the unit suffer a cumulative -1 to teach units Elan – heavy enough losses in a force can reduce a units Elan right down to 1. The loss of a forces Senior Command Unit is even worse – when a forces SCU is destroyed, ALL remaining units in the force (not just individual units like platoons) suffer an additional -2 to their Elan. 

Example 1: During Turn 2, Kirks Paladin Heavy Tank Platoon #1 has its Platoon Command Unit (a Paladin Heavy Tank) knocked out by enemy fire. From this point onwards ALL the remaining Paladin tanks in Platoon #1 will suffer a -1 reduction to their Elan (on the force roster, cross out their original Elan of 5 and replace it with a 4). From now on ALL the Paladin tanks of Platoon #1 have an Elan of 4. 

Example 2: Later in the game, Kirks Paladin Heavy Tank Company has its Company Command Unit (a Paladin Heavy Tank) knocked out by artillery fire. From this point onwards ALL the Paladin tanks in Kirks Paladin Heavy Tank Company – i.e. every single tank left in the tank company – will suffer a -1 reduction to their Elan (on the force roster, cross out their original Elans and replace it with the next lower Elan). This also applies to the remaining tanks in Platoon #1, who currently have an Elan 4 due to their losing their Platoon Command Unit earlier – the loss of their Company Command Unit reduces their Elan again, this time to 3. 

Example 3: Turn 7 sees Kirks forces suffer further losses to Kors artillery fire. One of the casualties is his Senior Command Unit, another Paladin Heavy Tank. The loss of his SCU reduces the Elan of every single unit remaining in his force by -2. This has the effect of reducing the Elan of the tanks in Platoon #1, who currently have an Elan 3, to an Elan of 1. Reductions in Elan represent the increasing difficulties of command and control during a battle – as the chaos and confusion increase alongside a forces casualties, losses within a forces chain of command will begin to reduce the overall efficiency of the force. Destroy enough of an enemy forces chain of command and you can render the force largely ineffective.

ACTIVATIONS & ACTIONS 

1. Fast Move (USE ME 6mm p.8): The 'Fast Move' action allows a unit to move quickly, but at the expense of the opportunity to fire at enemy units. When using a Fast Move, the units speed in CM is increased by 50%, so when a unit with a speed of 12cm is given a 'Fast Move' action its speed is increased by 50% (so 6cm) to 18cm. This total is then modified by both terrain and turning. Excellent terrain (like roads) serves to increase unit speeds - moving 4cm of distance will require 2cm of speed and so on. A unit with 12cm speed could move 24cm in excellent terrain. Difficult terrain, like wooded areas, soft ground, snow, rubble or hills etc, will reduce a units movement - moving 4cm of distance will require 8cm of speed and so on. A unit with 12cm speed could only move 6cm in difficult terrain. Impassable terrain is just that – units cannot enter it. 

Note that some Terrain might be rated as Impassable to some types of unit but not others (a deep swamp might be Impassable to ground vehicle units, but just Difficult terrain to Infantry units, or even excellent terrain to gravity repulsar units (who can simply fly over it). 

Example: Kirks Paladin Heavy Tanks have a speed of 12cm. Fearing that his Paladin tanks cannons are out-ranged by Kors Kourian Super Heavy Tank and its bigger cannon, Kirk decides to give his Paladins 'Fast Move' actions when he activates them during the 'In Play Phase'. This increases their speed to 18cm. Moving across the clear terrain each of the Paladin Heavy Tanks is able to move 18cm – those tanks that have to turn to avoid impassable terrain have their total speed of 18cm reduced by -2cm per one quarter (90º) turn they make. One tank turns towards the road, reducing its speed by -2cm to 16cm, then moves 12cm onto the road, then turns back again (at a cost of -1cm – movement on roads, including turns, costs half as much) and then moves 6cm straight forwards along the road. Another tank turns toward a nearby wooded area, costing -2cm for the turn, then moves 10cm forwards to the edge of the wooded area, then moves 3cm into the wooded area (remaining speed 6cm, reduced by the difficult terrain to 3cm). 

2. Move & Ranged Fire (USE ME 6mm p.8): The 'Move & Ranged Fire' action allows a unit to move & conduct ranged fire against enemy units. The actual ranged attack can be conducted at ANY point in the activated units movement – at the start before moving, in the middle, or at the end after all movement is finished. A units movement is a maximum of its Speed in CM, which is then modified by both terrain and turning. Excellent terrain (like roads) serves to increase a units speed - moving 4cm of distance will require 2cm of speed and so on. A unit with 12cm speed could move 24cm in excellent terrain. Difficult terrain, like wooded areas, soft ground, snow, rubble or hills etc, will reduce a units movement - moving 4cm of distance will require 8cm of speed and so on. A unit with 12cm speed could only move 6cm in difficult terrain. Impassable terrain is just that – units cannot enter it. Note that some Terrain might be rated as Impassable to some types of unit but not others (a deep swamp might be Impassable to ground vehicle units, but just Difficult terrain to Infantry units or even excellent terrain to gravity repulsar units (who can simply fly over it). Ranged Fire can be conducted using any or all of a units weapons, and these may be fired at any combination of enemy units as long as they are in range, but each weapon can only be fired once. All direct fire weapons require a direct Line of Sight, and although friendly infantry do not block line of sight, all vehicles and terrain features will. Indirect fire weapons do NOT require a direct line of sight in order to attack. 

Example 1: Kors Kourian Super Heavy Tank (and Senior Command Unit) can see several of Kirks Paladin Heavy Tanks advancing towards its position at high speed (they are using 'Fast Move' actions in order to get close quickly). Kor decides to use a 'Move & Ranged Fire' action with his Kourian. Selecting the nearest of Kirk Paladin tanks, Kor measures the range at 71cm, easily within the maximum range of the Kourians Super Heavy Vehicle cannon (optimum range 40cm, maximum range 80cm). Kors rolls 1D6 and rolls a 5 for the Kourians cannon shot, and then consults the Ranged Fire Table drives (USE ME 6mm p.9) – the following modifiers are applied to the roll total: 

Firers Weapon is vehicle weapon vs Heavy Vehicle: +1 

Range is beyond Optimum Range: -1 

The total of the applicable modifiers is +0, meaning that the rolls total is 5. Kor refers to the Combat Results Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) and looks at the 'Vehicle Units' column – a total of 5+ on the table results in the 'Knocked Out!' result, and Kirks Paladin Heavy Tank is destroyed by the hit – Kirk removes the miniature from the playing area. Having knocked out the Paladin Kor turns the Kourian slightly (but still costing -2cm) and then moves it 6cm directly towards some nearby buildings in an attempt to block Line of Sight to Kirks other Paladin tanks. 

Example 2: Stung by the Kourians good shooting, Kirk activates one of his Elan 4 Paladins and gives it a 'Move & Ranged Fire' action. Having seen Kor measure the range for his Kourian, Kirk knows the range is around 71cm, so he opts to move the Paladin directly forwards 12cm, reducing the range to 59cm, allowing the Paladins Heavy Vehicle cannon to reach the Kourian. He rolls 1D6, also getting a 5 and consults consults the Ranged Fire Table drives (USE ME 6mm p.9) – the following modifiers are applied to the roll total: 

Firers Weapon is vehicle weapon vs Super Heavy Vehicle: +0 

Range is beyond Optimum Range: -1 

Target Unit is Armoured: -1 

The total of the applicable modifiers is -2, meaning that the rolls total is reduced to 3. Kirk refers to the Combat Results Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) and looks at the 'Vehicle Units' column – a total of 3-4 on the table results in the 'Disabled' result, and Kors Kourian Super Heavy Tank is temporarily disabled by the hit – Kor places a 'Disabled |Unit' token next to the Kourian. 

Example 3: Now Kirks second Paladin moves forwards 12cm, barely managing to reach just under 60cm – but still able to fire at the now disabled Kourian. Again Kirk rolls 1D6, and this time gets a 3. Consulting consults the Ranged Fire Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) Kirk sees the following modifiers are applied to the roll total: 

Firers Weapon is vehicle weapon vs Super Heavy Vehicle: +0 

Range is beyond Optimum Range: -1 

Target Unit is Armoured: -1 

The total of the applicable modifiers is again -2, meaning that the rolls total is reduced to 1. Kirk refers to the Combat Results Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) and looks at the 'Vehicle Units' column – a total of 0-2 on the table results in the 'Ricochet!' result, and the shot from the Paladins cannon bounces clean off the Kourians thick armour … 

Example 4: Elsewhere on the field of battle, a squad of Kors Hoplite Militia is coming under fire from a squad of Kirks Grenadier infantry that is advancing on their position. Kirks troops move forwards their maximum speed of 8cm to a range of just 7cm & then open fire with their small arms – Kirk rolls 1D6, and this time gets a 4. Consulting consults the Ranged Fire Table drives (USE ME 6mm p.9) Kirk sees the following modifiers are applied to the roll total: 

Firing Unit type is Elan Rating 6: +1 

Firers weapons is Infantry Weapons vs Infantry/Light Vehicles: +0 

The total of the applicable modifiers is +1, meaning that the rolls total is increased by 1. Kirk refers to the Combat Results Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) and looks at the 'Infantry Squad Units' column – a total of 5+ on the table results in the 'Killed!' result, and the hail of fire from the Grenadiers kills, wounds or scatters the troops of the Hoplite squad - Kor removes the miniature from the playing area. 

Example 5: Nearby, one of Kirks Caisse APC has just disembarked its Grenadier Infantry when one of Kors Hunter Medium Tanks 'Fast Moves' into some nearby woods to join another squad of Kors Hoplite Militia already in there. Hoping to protect the Grenadier Infantry, Kirk gives the Caisse APC a 'Move & Ranged Fire' action. First he fires the Caisse APC's Light Vehicle Cannon at Kors Hunter tank. Measuring the range he finds its 9cm, just under half optimum range, and rolls 1D6, getting a 3. Consulting consults the Ranged Fire Table drives (USE ME 6mm p.9) Kirk sees the following modifiers are applied to the roll total: 

Firers Weapon is vehicle weapon vs Heavy Vehicle: +1 

Range is HALF optimum or less: +1 

Target is in 'Difficult' terrain: -1 

The total of the applicable modifiers is +1, meaning that the rolls total is increased by 1 to 4. Kirk refers to the Combat Results Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) and looks at the 'Vehicle Units' column – a total of 3-4 on the table results in the 'Disabled' result, and so Kors Hunter Medium Tank is temporarily disabled by the hit – Kor places a 'Disabled Unit' token next to the Hunter. Kirk then fires the Caisse APC's Vehicle Automatic Weapon at the Hoplite Militia Squad. Measuring the range he finds its 10cm, so just over half optimum range. Kirk rolls 1D6 and gets a 4. Consulting consults the Ranged Fire Table drives (USE ME 6mm p.9) Kirk sees the following modifiers are applied to the roll total: 

Firers Weapon is vehicle weapon vs Infantry/Light Vehicle: +2 

Target is in 'Difficult' terrain: -1 

The total of the applicable modifiers is +1, meaning that the rolls total is increased by 1. Kirk refers to the Combat Results Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) and looks at the 'Infantry Squad Units' column – a total of 5+ on the table results in the squad being 'Killed!', and the hail of fire from the Caisse APC's VAW kills, wounds or scatters the troops of the Hoplite squad - Kor removes the miniature from the playing area. 

Example 6: As the battle rages Kor spots a chance to attack Kirks forces with one of his battery's of Devil Frog Light Artillery Guns. Having been dropped off by their Gecko Gun Tractors earlier in the battle, the Devil Frogs are now 'Dug In' and awaiting orders to fire. When its time for Elan 2's to activate, Kor selects the first Devil Frog to fire and, nominating Kirks Paladin Command Tank from Platoon 1, Kor measures the range at 34cm – but as the gun will be firing over a hill, it is indirect fire. Referring to the Indirect Fire rules (USE ME 6mm p.10) Kor places a 1cm radius explosion marker on top of the target Paladin tank and rolls 1D6 – with a roll of 2 the shots deviates, so Kor rolls another 1D6, getting a 5 – the shot deviates left 2D6cm. Kor rolls an 8, so the shot comes down 8cm away from the Paladin & hits nothing but dirt … Continuing with his Elan 2 activations, Kor selects another Devil Frog and repeats the attempt – he places the explosion marker on top of the target again and rolls 1D6. This time he rolls a 5 – the shot lands on target! So Kor rolls 1D6 and rolls a 4 for the Devil Frog, and then he consults the Ranged Fire Table drives (USE ME 6mm p.9) – the following modifiers are applied to the roll total: 

Firers Weapon is vehicle weapon vs Heavy Vehicle: +1 

Range is beyond optimum range: -1 

The total of the applicable modifiers is +0, meaning that the rolls total is unchanged. Kor refers to the Combat Results Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) and looks at the 'Vehicle Units' column – a total of 3-4 on the table results in the 'Disabled' result, and so Kirks Paladin Heavy Tank is temporarily disabled by the hit – Kirk places a 'Disabled Unit' token next to his Paladin. Kor then continues with his Elan 2 activations. He selects the third Devil Frog in the battery and, using indirect fire, places the template on the now disabled Paladin and rolls 1D6. Another roll of 5+ sees the third shot land on the target Paladin, but when Kor rolls a 2 for the Devil Frog, and consults the Ranged Fire Table drives (USE ME 6mm p.9) – he sees the following modifiers are applied to the roll total: 

Firers Weapon is vehicle weapon vs Heavy Vehicle: +1 

Range is beyond optimum range: -1 

The total of the applicable modifiers is +0, meaning that the rolls total is unchanged. Kor refers to the Combat Results Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) and looks at the 'Vehicle Units' column – a total of 0-2 on the table results in the 'results in the 'Ricochet!' result, and so the Devil Frogs shot bounces clean off the Paladins thick armour without effect. Kors final Elan 2 activation is the last Devil Frog gun. Again using indirect fire, Kor places the template on the now disabled Paladin and rolls 1D6. Another roll of 5+ sees the fourth shot land on the target Paladin, and Kor then rolls a 3 for the Devil Frog and consults the Ranged Fire Table drives (USE ME 6mm p.9) – the following modifiers are applied to the roll total: 

Firers Weapon is vehicle weapon vs Heavy Vehicle: +1 

Range is beyond optimum range: -1 

The total of the applicable modifiers is +0, meaning that the rolls total is unchanged. Kor refers to the Combat Results Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) and looks at the 'Vehicle Units' column – a total of 3-4 on the table results in the 'Disabled' result. But ... the Paladin is already disabled, and should any unit suffer a second 'Suppressed/Disabled' result the two are combined, resulting in the Paladin being 'Knocked Out' instead. Ranged Fire is most effective when directed at targets in excellent terrain – so stay off the roads unless you need to go somewhere in a real hurry! Volume of fire – firing at the same target repeatedly, as in Example 6 above – can turn even lighter weapons into effective ones by scoring multiple hits and combining combat results until the target is killed/knocked out. Be aware that the very largest & most heavily armoured vehicles, especially once they are dug in, are very hard to damage, often requiring Infantry assaults in melee to effectively combat them. 

3. Concentrated Fire (USE ME 6mm p.10): The 'Concentrated Fire' action allows a unit to forego any movement in order to direct more accurate, concentrated fire at a target. Using concentrated fire is useful for dug in targets that would otherwise be harder to engage effectively, whilst units that are dug-in or stationary can take advantage of the Concentrated Fire action to defeat an enemy trying to get past them. 

Example: As the battle rages, both Kirks Gryphon Grav Speeders & Kors Phalanx Infantry Squads are Elan 3, and with Kirk having won the initiative Kor waits as Kirks speeders race past his Phalanx Infantry Squads on the edge of a wooded area. As soon as its Kors turn to activate Elan 3 units he selects one of his Phalanx Infantry Squads and gives it a 'Concentrated Fire' action – selecting the nearest of Kirks speeders – at a range of 12cm – he rolls 1D6, getting a 4 – Kor then consults the Ranged Fire Table drives (USE ME 6mm p.9) – the following modifiers are applied to the roll total: 

Firers Weapon is Infantry weapon vs Infantry/Light Vehicle: +0 

Target is Flyer/Gravity Repulsar Drive type: +1 

Firer is using 'Concentrated Fire' action: +1 

Target Unit is Armoured: -1 

The total of the applicable modifiers is +1, meaning that the rolls total is 5. Kor refers to the Combat Results Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) and looks at the 'Vehicle Units' column – a total of 5+ on the table results in the 'Knocked Out!' result, and Kirks Gryphon Grav Speeder is destroyed by the hit – Kirk removes the miniature from the playing area. 

Concentrated Fire is a very useful means of attacking the enemy, but at the price of mobility & reaction. If the enemy has a substantially faster units than your own, the enemy units may well be able to escape or get out of the weapons maximum range before you can react or counter them – if their mission is to raid something your force is meant to protect, concentrated fire can soon become an issue.

4. Move & Melee Combat (USE ME 6mm p.12): The 'Move & Melee Combat' action allows a unit to move into contact with an enemy unit and attack it in melee. Melee combat is brutal and quickly conclusive – the winner survives, whilst the loser is killed/knocked out. Units must have sufficient movement to actually reach physical contact, and terrain effects this movement as normal – which is why placing units in Difficult terrain can be advantageous. Melee combat is one way of rooting out a dugin enemy vehicle unit that is otherwise proving difficult to deal with in ranged combat. 

Example: Kors Tyros Laser Tank Destroyers, having dug-in on the edge of a wooded area, have been taking a heavy toll of Kirks Caisse APC and Paladin Heavy Tanks with their cannons. But, with Kirks Elan 6 Grenadier Infantry now close enough, when its his turn to activate his Elan 6 units, he gives the first Grenadier squad a 'Move & Melee Combat' action – the nearest of Kors Tyros is dug-in 7cm away, so the Grenadier squad is able to reach the Tyros and carry out a melee attack. Kirk rolls 1D6 for his Grenadier squad, rolling a 5, and Kor rolls 1D6 for his Tyros, rolling a 3. Both Kirk & Kor then refer to the Melee Combat Table (USE ME 6mm, p13) and apply all the relevant modifiers to their rolls. 

Kirk Kor Character type is Elan 6: +1 

Character is Armoured: +1 

Character is Infantry/Light Vehicle: +0 

Character type is Heavy Vehicle: +1 

Character is Dug-In: +1 

Kirks total modifier is +1, whilst Kors is +3. After adding their modifiers to their rolls, Kirks final total is 6, as is Kors, resulting in a tie and an immediate re-roll of the combat. This time Kirk rolls a 6 and Kor a 2, and as the same modifiers apply, Kirks final total is 7, and Kors final is 5 … and so Kors Tyros is 'Knocked Out!' Melee combat is brutal, quick and decisive! 5. Dig-In: (USE ME 6mm p.13): 

The 'Dig-In' action is used to provide a better defensive position. Although it is especially useful for lighter and less heavily armoured units, it can only be used as long as the unit remains in place unmoving. However, when a large and heavily armoured unit digs itself in, it can require a large expenditure of resources to defeat! Example: Having barely survived a hit from a second hit by a Paladin Heavy Tank Kors Kourian Super Heavy Tank, having recovered from being disabled, resumes moving until it reaches the buildings, where it stops, before moving forwards to assume a position in the edge of a wooded area – where Kor gives it a 'Dig-In' action. Now dug-in, the Kourian settles down to snipe at Kirks forces … and two of Kirks Paladin tanks approach to trade fire with the dug-in super heavy tank … the first Paladin stops and – using a 'Concentrated Fire' action – fires at the Kourian. Measuring the range at 32cm, Kirk rolls 1D6 and gets a 4 and consults consults the Ranged Fire Table drives (USE ME 6mm p.9) – the following modifiers are applied to the roll total: 

Firers Weapon is vehicle weapon vs Super Heavy Vehicle: +0 

Range is beyond Optimum Range: -1 

Target is a Vehicle Unit type and is Dug-In: -1 

Firer is using 'Concentrated Fire' action: +1 Target Unit is Armoured: -1 

The total of the applicable modifiers is -2, meaning that the rolls total is reduced to 2. Kirk refers to the Combat Results Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) and looks at the 'Vehicle Units' column – a total of 0-2 on the table results in the 'Ricochet!' result, and and the shot from the Paladins cannon bounces clean off the Kourians thick armour … Now the second of Kirks Paladin tanks using a 'Move & Ranged Fire' action – it closes a full 12cm, reducing the range to 20cm and then fires. Kirk rolls 1D6 and gets a 3 and consults consults the Ranged Fire Table drives (USE ME 6mm p.9) – the following modifiers are applied to the roll total: 

Firers Weapon is vehicle weapon vs Super Heavy Vehicle: +0 

Target is a Vehicle Unit type and is Dug-In: -1 

Target Unit is Armoured: -1 

The total of the applicable modifiers is -2, meaning that the rolls total is reduced to 1. Kirk refers to the Combat Results Table (USE ME 6mm p.9) and looks at the 'Vehicle Units' column – a total of 0-2 on the table results in the 'Ricochet!' result, and the second shot from a Paladin cannon is bounced clean off the Kourians thick armour …again … and at a later time in the battle 3 squads of Kirks Grenadier Infantry will swarm in to try & deal with the giant tank. 

6. Special or Unique Actions (USE ME 6mm p.13): 

As explained in the main rules, these actions allow players to carry out actions like recovering items or units, finding 'valuables', demolishing or rebuilding things, or rescuing people or such like, or just about anything that a player might conceive a need for. Although no hard and fast rules have been written for these unusual events, and simple rule of thumb for them is 'roll 1D6, on a 4+ you are successful' … 

Players should co-operate when using such actions to establish the required dice rolls needed for a success. Example: Kors Kourian SCU has been destroyed in melee combat by 3 squads of Kirks Grenadier infantry, and Kirk declares his intention to search the burning wreck for survivors, stating his intention is to capture any 'senior officers' still alive. Kor agrees to this but says a 5+ will be required for success, and so next time the Grenadier infantry are activated, Kirk rolls 1D6 for the active squad and rolls a 3, failing to find anyone alive in the burning wreck. Kirk tries again with the second squad (Kor says OK, but this is the last try – if nobody is found this time, no-one will be found). Kirk rolls 1D6 again, and this time rolls a 6, and so finds a 'senior officer' alive and takes her prisoner. 

Using such 'Special and Unique' actions can lead to further scenario ideas and a more detailed background 'story' and 'history' for the players games – perhaps Kor will attempt a rescue of the captured officer, or Kirks interrogation of the officer will reveal secret plans … with all such ideas leading to further games, battles & fun …

3. Off-Table Support Phase (USE ME 6mm Rules, p.14) 

The use of Off Table Support is entirely optional, but the timely intervention of some off table support can sometime turn a losing battle into a survivable one … or turn a wavering enemy into a broken one. But off table support is both expensive, invariably one use in nature, and only available in limited quantities. 

Example 1: Kor has two uses of the 'Long Range Artillery Support' option available for his force. As Kirks forces advance Kor can only watch as a platoon of Kirks Attack Bikes swarms across the table heading in the direction one of Kors Devil Frog artillery battery's. Kor has no units in line of sight to try and stop the bikes, so in the Off Table Support Phase he decides to use one of his Long Range Artillery Support options to engage the bike. Kor places a single 4cm radius explosion template on the bikes and rolls 1D6, getting a 3 … the Long Range Artillery is inaccurate and deviates. Kor rolls 1D6 on the deviation table (USE ME 6mm Rules, p.11) and getting a 6. The artillery moves backwards, so Kor rolls 2D6 getting a 5. The explosion template moves back towards Kors table edge … and still manages to cover 3 of Kirks bikes. All 3 bikes are automatically hit in the artillery strike, so Kor rolls 1D6 for each bike, adding +3 to each roll. Kor rolls a 3, a 4 and a 6 – with the +3 modifier it means that each of the bikes is 'Knocked Out!' 

Example 2: It is late in the game, and with his Kourian SCU knocked out Kors forces are now suffering from greatly reduced Elan effecting their ability to fight. Now desperate to try and turn the tide, Kor decides now is the time to use his single use of 'Drop Troops Insertion'. Selecting a spot in the table where Kirks Grenadier Infantry have been advancing and destroying all before them, Kor rolls 1D6 for each of 7 'Elite Drop troops' infantry bases. For the first base he rolls a 4, and the Drop Troops land right where he wants them, in the middle of a pack of Kirks infantry. Kor does the same for the rest of the Drop Troops, rolling a 2 (the Drop Troops unit deviates 11cm from its intended landing point … and out of the battle!), a 5 (the Drop Troops land right where he wants them), another 2 (the Drop Troops unit deviates 7cm from its intended landing point … not so far that they can't rejoin the fray!), a 1 (the Drop troops are killed before they can land by flak and/or accidents), a 6 (the Drop Troops land right where he wants them), and finally – for the Command Squad – another 6 (the Drop Troops Command Squad lands right where he wants them). Mow all Kor needs is to win the initiative and get his Elan 6 Drop Troops into action before Kirk can respond … 

The use of Off Table Support is risky in that it's expensive in points, and might not work out as intended, either missing its target (or worse still, hitting the wrong target ... like friendly units!) or sometimes never being used due to lack of time or opportunity. The temptation to avoid 'wasting' it until its 'really' needed means it's often overlooked until too late … 

4. The Consolidation Phase (USE ME 6mm Rules, p.15) 

The Consolidation Phase is all about tidying up the playing area, removing all 'Disabled' and 'Suppressed' markers, and checking to see if scenario victory conditions have been met yet, or if the games 'Turns Limit' has been reached. It is also the time in the Turn when Morale rolls are made. Morale rolls come into effect once a sides numerical strength as a percentage of its original starting numbers falls to 50% or less. When this happens a 1D6 roll is made for EACH remaining unit in the force left on the table. Units fail initially on a 1-2, but when losses reach 75% and another Morale Roll is made, they fail on a roll of 1-3 … 

Example: The hard fought action between Kirk and Kor reaches its conclusion when Kirks force, having lost 30 of his original 57 units, has to make Morale Rolls for each of his remaining units. For each 1D6 roll of 1-2 that unit is removed from play as Infantry scatter & flee, or vehicle crews abandon their vehicles and likewise flee. A further 10 of Kirks units break and flee, reducing him to just 17. Should Kirk lose another 3 or more units he will be forced to make another Morale Roll for reaching 75% losses, failing this roll on a roll of 1-3. 

The end is nigh … 

END