Break test for closing fire from artillery

[grecian1959]

noooooo please no more confusion now is the FAQ right or Ricks newest reply??????

[Big Al]

noooooo please no more confusion now is the FAQ right or Ricks newest reply??????

Sorry, but I have based my answers on what was already published out there both in the rules themselves and in support of them.

[HobbitMiles]

Ah ha, I was looking at the older FAQ, so for the avoidance of doubt then the full wording of the latest is:

The Quick Reference Sheet (QRS) states that a break test is required for units suffering artillery casualties
from closing fire (b. Test if Shaken or suffering artillery casualties from closing fire). Because the best
result that cavalry can get from such a test is ‘retire’ this makes it practically impossible for cavalry to
charge home onto artillery (they would have to suffer zero casualties from 3 shots per cannon requiring 3+
to hit and -2 saves).
This is a case of a rule being added a little late in the day and not quite being explained properly. Originally we had things
arranged so that only Shaken units tested – and this works well enough. After a while we felt that units taking artillery
casualties on the way in – but not being Shaken – should also have to test their resolve to see if they charged home. What we
failed to make clear is that this test should be taken using the Shooting results on the Break Test, and not the Hand-to-Hand
results as you would for a Shaken unit. As the testing unit would have charged into position at the point the test is made, a
result of ‘unit holds its ground’ means that the charge is successfully completed and the charger and artillery are engaged in
combat. With the usual -1 modifier for artillery casualties this means a test score of 7 or better will see the unit charge home
successfully.
Some players do prefer to use more artillery that we typically might – and the relatively narrow frontage of artillery pieces
does make closing fire from massed guns even more effective than reality would suggest. Where a unit charges onto multiple
guns we’d recommend allowing only a single gun to shoot closing fire – this is plenty dangerous enough without making such
attacks suicidal.

I think that it is now perfectly clear!!!

[Alan Charlesworth]

So to summarise the usual interpretation that I have seen used by most of the players I have met is:

1. A unit that is Shaken by Closing Fire, must take a test using the Hand-to-Hand result.

2. A unit that takes Casualties from artillery, but is not Shaken by Closing Fire, must take a test using the Shooting result.

Simples

That means a non-Shaken cavalry unit that takes a hit has a 58.33% chance of passing the test and fighting the melee. At which point the gunners are toast. Seems like a reasonable balance of odds.

[King Tiger]

There is a very simple, effective realistic way to avoid artillery fire...don't charge into there firing arc.

[Jammers]

There is a very simple, effective realistic way to avoid artillery fire...don't charge into there firing arc.

Well, unless you start in its flank/rear and wish to charge ...

[Grossi]

Thankyous