Advance to Contact

Small Unit Skirmish Rules

by Bill Rutherford

Advance to Contact is a 20 page digest-sized set of small unit action rules. No scales are given, but the troop scale is obviously one to one, the distance scale seems to be in the order of a centimeter representing a couple of yards, and a turn representing a very short time. A player controls 10 12 troops. Players write orders for each of their troops each turn - the game doesn't detail this at all; I recommend using any of the many interactive-sequential mechanisms used by numerous of the other squad-level games on the market. It will significantly speed your play and will do a better job of simulating a squad brawl.

There are five troop skill levels which govern performance in assaults and fire combat. Additionally, the skill level determines, with some variation, the troop's strength how many hit points the troop has. Movement is standard troops possess fixed number of movement points per turn, paying given numbers of points to enter various types of terrain a bit of a boardgame feel here, but it works.

To attack, a troop needs to spot the target. Spotting is resolved using a modified range dependent die roll. Fire is ranged and simultaneous. The firer must exceed a given value with a die roll, based on range, varied by weapon, and modifiers. Hits inflict variable amounts of damage against the target's strength. As a troop's strength drops, performance and morale suffer. Assault/melee takes place when two troops are near one another and works as would a charge. The troops involved cast dice to try to capture or kill one another. Those with higher skill go first, weighting combat heavily in their favor. Mines, jammed weapons, ammo, and some very simple vehicle rules are included.

Advance to Contact games squad level combat; it abstracts everything not directly related, which helps maintain its focus. These rules are a bargain at $4 and should be available from your local game store. If not, contact the Historical Products Company, c/o Patrick Condray, 8234 Kings Arm Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308.

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