Spotting & detection

Targets in the open or moving within line of sight are acquired. Defenders in primary or alternate positions cannot be acquired until marked by their own firing signature or within the observation range for the terrain (e.g. 3000m/1000m in open, 500m/150m forest, 250m/150m town). Firing tanks and ATGMs are marked with cotton before range is measured and remain acquired for a full bound.

The defender’s vehicles or weapons cannot be acquired in their primary or alternate positions until marked by their own firing signature or until they are within the distances in this table.

Each country has a Strategic Intelligence rating of (d6+1)x10%, modified by ruler grade (+10 A to -10 E/Barbarian) and +10% across a common border; it is rolled whenever an action is taken against the country. Scouting percentage is intelligence plus general ability, +/-5% per cavalry/light chariot element advantage (light cavalry double) and +10% at home; it is subtracted from a d100 roll and any positive remainder is the percentage by which enemy strength is misreported, understated 33% or overstated 67%.

If the result is negative, scouting reports are accurate. Any positive value represents the amount by which the estimates of the enemy force will be mis-stated.

Each player adds his irregular cavalry squadrons and light infantry battalions to 2d6; the higher total may examine one enemy counter per point of excess, with the owner naming the real units. When two forces move down the same road, the side with more irregular cavalry and light infantry pushes the other back.

Players add the number of irregular cavalry squadrons and light infantry battalions they have and throw 2d6. The player with the higher total gets to examine one counter for each point total in excess

Each unit type has a spotting distance (recon 9", others 6"). If any unit of a Division spots an enemy, the whole Division can see it; Divisions do not spot for each other. Hilltops add 3" to spotting and reduce enemy spotting onto them by 3"; Dug-in units spot 3" further.

If one unit of a Division can Spot an enemy unit, the entire Division is assumed to see it. Divisions do not spot for other Divisions.

Attacks on stands in concealing terrain apply the terrain's cohesion modifier to the 'to fire' roll unless the target has already fired this turn or is adjacent; CRT terrain modifiers always apply. A stand that has fired counts as in clear terrain for spotting for the rest of the turn. In hedgerows, a target can only be spotted by adjacent stands unless it has fired. Units on higher ground gain 5" of sighting per level.

A stand is always considered to be in clear terrain for spotting and line-of-sight purposes in any phase of the current turn after it has fired.

Clear daylight sighting 10 miles, moonlit night about 5 miles, dark nights 1,000 yards or less. Torpedo boats at full speed are visible at 2,500 yards on clear nights, 1,500 on dark, with even chances of not being sighted 500 yards nearer. Searchlights have 3,000-yard range; observers gauge a lit ship's distance by a d6 error table.

Both ships and boats shall always have even chances of not sighting for 500 yards nearer than the ranges mentioned.

Ninja are spotted in the open on 2+, in cover on 4+; -1 if on different height, -1 more if over 12" away; hiding/crawling gives a further -1; a disguise raises it to 5+ until the Ninja runs, fights or is spotted; smoke means only spotted on 6+. NPCs have a 90-degree arc and roll if the Ninja is within 24" in that arc. A spotted Ninja must break line of sight to shake pursuit.

Ninjas are spotted in the open on a 2+, in cover on a 4+.

Units in cover that have not fired are hidden. An activated unit may try to spot one hidden enemy unit in line of sight by passing an Expertise roll; this does not use its action.

Units in cover that have not fired are "hidden." Activated Units may attempt to spot one hidden enemy Unit within line of sight by passing an Expertise roll.

In the MTB Attack scenario each German torpedo boat rolls a d3 at the end of each movement phase and spots British flotillas within that many spaces; until spotted Germans may not fire and must steam straight ahead.

Each German torpedo boat rolls a d3 and will spot British flotillas that many spaces away.

Table I gives distances at which ship types are visible and recognisable in clear weather; smoke of a single ship is visible 15 miles by day and 1 mile at night, larger squadrons further. When forces sight each other the umpire sends them written information and may shorten moves to 15 minutes.

The umpire then determines by inspection whether any of the forces sight each other or not.

The umpire gives moving units a spotting chance before they run into hidden Mahdists; small patrols not under a player's command may simply vanish.

the umpire will give them a chance to spot the peril before they run into a ravine full of angry locals.