Critical Hits of the Infantry (Target) Type
(ASL Rules Illustrated)

This is possibly the first part of what is hoped to be a sort of illustrated guide to some of the tougher rules in the ASL Rulebook. The Rulebook itself is wonderfully illustrated, but it is my opinion that if there is one thing that can never be too over-abundant it is an illustrated example for a particular rule. This page is an attempt to explain the rules for Critical Hits for the Infantry Target Type with several graphic examples. If desired, a downloadable version of this page in PDF format is available here.

Rule C3.7 describes Critical Hits (CH) as "a hit so well placed that it increases the chance of causing damage on the resulting IFT Effects or TK DR." These can occur with any ordnance target type. They occur on an original TH DR of 2 for attacks using the Vehicular or Area Target Types. The subsequent resolution of these is given in sections 3.71 thru 3.76. A tougher situation occurs with use of the Infantry Target Type (ITT). According to 3.7, CH occurs in two circumstances:

     1) If the Final TH DR is < half the Modified TH#
     2) If the original TH DR is 2, followed by a dr of 1 or <= half of the Modified TH#

Note the words listed in bold. It is important to remember that the first case is based on the final DR, ie, the original DR plus/minus any DRM. Likewise, both cases depend on the modified TH#, ie, the original TH# plus/minus any modifications under rule section C4. Thus, if a hit is obtained, one would check to see if the first case above applies (eg, for a modified TH# of 8, a hit would occur with a final DR <= 8, and a CH would occur with a final DR <= 3). If not, then if an original 2 (snake-eyes) has been rolled, make a dr and apply to the second case above (eg, with the modified TH# of 8, an original 2 would be a CH with a subsequent dr <= 4). Note that this applies for the ITT even if a hit would have occurred only on an original 2 (in contrast to VTT and ATT where a CH would occur only with a subsequent dr of 1).

The rules also give one other case where a CH is possible in C3.6, Improbable Hits. If no hit is possible due (usually) to high DRM, even with an original 2 (eg, modified TH# of 8 with DRM of +7 or greater), a hit is still possible when an original 2 is rolled. Make a dr. A 1 results in a CH, while a 2 or 3 result in normal (IFT) hits. A 4, 5 or 6 would still be a miss.

The difference between the last paragraph and the previous case is important. Remember, Improbable Hits only apply when no hit is possible. If  a hit is possible, even if only with the lowest possible DR (ie, a 2), then the conditions of C3.7 apply.

Thus, using the ITT, a hit occurs if the final (modified) TH DR is <= the modified TH#. A CH occurs if the final DR is < half of the modified TH#. Otherwise, a CH occurs with snake-eyes depending on a subsequent dr. This is fairly straightforward if one is careful to apply the Final TH DR and the Modified TH# to the above definitions. To summarize in a sort of algorithm (can't help my CompSci background):
 

INFANTRY TARGET TYPE RESOLUTION (stop when any result achieved)
----------------------------------------------
1) If Final DR > Modified TH# (a "miss") then

   A) If Original DR of 2 then make dr (ie, a hit wasn't possible even with the lowest DR, C3.6, Improbable Hit)

      a) dr of 1 = CRITICAL HIT
      b) dr of 2 or 3 = NORMAL HIT
      c) dr of 4-6 = MISS

   B) Any other result is a MISS

2) If Final DR <= Modified TH# (a "hit") then

   A) If Final DR < half of Modified TH# then CRITICAL HIT

   B) If Original DR of 2 then make dr

      a) dr of 1 = CRITICAL HIT
      b) dr <= half of Modified TH# then CRITICAL HIT
      c) Any other result is NORMAL HIT

   C) Any other result is NORMAL HIT
 

Example 1

PFPh, PZIII will fire MA at Russian squads in H6
Modified TH# of 8 (Base TH# of 8 with no modifiers)
Total DRM of +1 (+1 for woods TEM)
Hit with original DR <= 7 (final DR <= 8)
CH with original DR of 2 (DRM of +1 yields final DR of 3 which is < half of 8), otherwise normal hit
 
 

Example 2

PFPh, German 75L fires at acquired British units in G7 at 13 hex range
Modified TH# of 7 (Base TH# of 6, +1 for L gun at 13 hexes)
Total DRM of 0 (+2 for grain hindrance, -2 for acquisition)
Hit with original DR <= 7
CH with original DR of 2 or 3
 
 

Example 3

German MPh, the German squad with LMG is moving in open ground in Q8. The T-34 will fire its MA at the squad at range of 5 hexes
Modified TH# of 8 (Base TH# of 8 with no modifiers)
Total DRM of -1 (-2 for FFMO/FFNAM and +1 for BU status)
Hit with original DR <= 9 (final DR <= 8)
CH with original DR <= 4 (final DR <= 3)
 
 

Example 4

AFPh, Gyrostabilized Sherman firing at concealed German squad in R8 after having moved during the preceeding MPh
Modified TH# of 8 (Base TH# of 8 with no modifiers at range of 4 hexes)
Total DRM of +6 (+3 for stabilized gun firing in AFPh after moving, +2 for concealment, +1 for woods TEM)
Hit only with original DR of 2 (final DR of 8), thus make a subsequent dr
CH with dr <= 4, otherwise normal hit
 
 

Example 5

Italian MPh, Cromwell in J6 (CA I7/J7) fires at Italian squad dashing thru N4
Modified TH# of 8 (Base TH# of 8 with no modifiers)
Total DRM of +5 (+2 for dashing target, +2 for 2 hexspine TCA change, +1 for BU status)
Hit with original DR <= 3 (final DR <= 8)
CH if original DR of 2 with subsequent dr <= 4, otherwise normal hit
 
 

Example 6

This occurred in a SASL game of mine on board 17. The American crew has just gained possession of the captured German AT gun and wishes to prep fire against the squad in the S6 stone building. The original TH# is 8 on the ITT. The shot requires a 3 hexspine change in covered arc (DRM of +5) in addition to a +3 TEM for the building and a +2 for captured use for a total DRM of 10 (Why take the shot, especially since the breakdown number is reduced by 2 for captured use? Acquisition, and to get the CA change out of the way for future shots). Thus:
Modified TH# of 8 (base of 8, +1 for 50mm, -1 for L gun)
Total DRM of +10 (thus no hit possible, 3.6, Improbable Hits)
If original DR of 2, make a subsequent dr, otherwise miss
dr of 1 yields CH, 2 or 3 yields a normal hit, otherwise miss
 
 

Example 7
(sorry, picture not done yet)

PFPh, Russian 37L gun firing at acquired (-1) German squad in open ground at 25 hex range (ie, board 19 with grain out of season)
Modified TH# of 1 (Base TH# of 3, +1 for L gun, -2 for size <= 57mm, -1 for size <= 40mm)
Total DRM of -1 (-1 for acquisition)
Hit only with original DR of 2, thus make a subsequent dr
CH with dr of 1 (always, regardless of modified TH#), otherwise normal hit
 
 
 

 

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