COMMAND DECISION/COMBINED ARMS NEW SPOTTING RULES A. Basic Procedure --------------- (i) Calculate a "Range Factor" as follows:- Base Factor + Spotting Modifiers + D10 = Range Factor (ii) Convert the Range Factor to a spotting distance using Table A. (iii) If the range to the target is less than or equal to the spotting distance it is spotted. NB: Range Factors below 1 mean stands must be in contact to spot. Maximum spotting ranges (in clear weather) are 120 for vehicles and 60 for others. Stands moving and firing are automatically spotted at max range. B. Base Factors ------------ Base Typical Code Category of Stand Type Factor Spotting Distance I Stationary under cover Vehicle 8 3"-16" Other 3 1"-7" II Moving under cover OR Vehicle 19 20"-100" Firing from cover OR Other 15 12"-50" Stationary in the open III Moving in the open OR Vehicle 23 40"-120" Firing in the open Other 19 20"-60" C. Spotting Modifiers ------------------ Spotting stand is:- Observed stand is:- AFV spotting to front -3 Patrol or ½ size stand -2 AFV spotting to flank -6 On Cautious Adv/Disengage -2 Recon +1 On Travel March +2 Stationary +2 LOS blocked part of move -2 Green -1 Green +1 Veteran +1 Veteran -1 Elite +2 Elite -2 D. Table A [ Range Factor -> Spotting Distance ] ------- 1 -> 1 6 -> 2 11 -> 5 16 -> 12 21 -> 25 26 -> 60 2 -> 1 7 -> 2 12 -> 6 17 -> 14 22 -> 30 27 -> 70 3 -> 1 8 -> 3 13 -> 7 18 -> 16 23 -> 35 28 -> 80 4 -> 1 9 -> 3 14 -> 8 19 -> 18 24 -> 40 29 -> 100 5 -> 2 10 -> 4 15 -> 10 20 -> 20 25 -> 50 30 -> 120 E. Poor Visibility --------------- Do not use the reduced maximum visibilities given in the rules. Instead use the value to determine a spotting modifier from Table B and apply it to every spotting attempt in the game. Table B [ Max Visibility -> Spotting Modifier ] ------- 45" -> -1 10" -> -10 40" -> -2 8" -> -12 30" -> -4 6" -> -14 20" -> -6 4" -> -16 15" -> -8 2" -> -20 F. Night ----- Use the following Spotting Modifiers at Night:- No night vision aids -> -20 / -16 Passive IR (II) -> -12 / -8 "" IR (v IR Searchlight) -> -2 Active IR -> -8 Light Amplification (LLTV) -> -6 / -2 Thermal Imaging -> +2 (night OR day) Note:- * If the observed stand fires ALL modifiers become +2. * If there are two values use the second for clear moonlit nights. * Thermal Imagers also use their +2 bonus in daylight! * Poor visibility modifiers also apply at night. Design Notes ------------ The original rules are simple to operate but give results which are too regular and easy to predict. In any particular situation spotting occurs at only 2 or 3 fixed ranges, for example, vehicles stationary under cover - 5", 10" or 20". If a unit is just beyond one of these ranges its chance to spot drops sharply (or disappears completely). Worse still, a cunning defender can exploit the system by placing forces just beyond spotting range of attacking units. The treatment of bad visibility or night vision equipment is poor - detection is simply prohibited beyond a particular range but is not degraded below that range. It is not possible to combine the two effects. The new scheme described above is more realistic since the chance of spotting drops off smoothly with increasing range. Any special circumstance or equipment is handled by applying a spotting modifier which affects the chance to spot at all ranges AND increases (or reduces) the maximum spotting range. Any combination of effects can be produced simply by adding modifiers. I have tried hard to keep the system as simply as the original. The spotting modifiers in section C are the same, although they work in a different way, but I have added (in the right-hand column) some extra modifiers associated with the stand which is being spotted. ("Hidden at least ½ of move" means the observed stand was only visible for half of the move or less). Air-to-ground spotting can be determined using this system with the modifiers given in the CD2 rules. I have also made sure the new system produces roughly the same spotting ranges as the original (which I believe gives sensible results). The right-hand column of section B shows the spotting ranges which will result if no modifiers are applied. For those interested in how Table A is calculated, the numbers are based on an exponenial progression where the spotting range doubles every four factors. Special note:- I have been told that the original intention of the GDW designers was to allow units to make spotting attempts during a fire phase ONLY if the stand being observed fired in that phase. This seems a good idea since it will reduce the number of spotting attempts and make spotting more difficult (especially against defending units if they hold fire).