Rules: The Action Phase (Ver. 0.52)

Here's the Action Phase update. With suppression removed and relocated to the Reaction Phase that follows it.

The Action Phase

Unlike other games, that divide the moving and shooting activities of your units into discrete phases, WarStrike allows you to move and shoot your units all at once. This happens in a combined Action Phase.

Action Phase Sequence

1. Select A Unit
2. Select A Unit Action
3. Perform The Action
4. Select The Next Unit


First, you will select a unit. One which has not yet moved or shot during this turn's Action Phase.

You will then select an action for the unit to perform. Either moving, shooting at the enemy, or even both at once. Depending on the particular action that you have chosen.

After the first unit has performed its action, you will move on to the next unit and repeat this process until every one of your units has either performed an action, or fallen back.

Selecting A Unit Action

There are 4 possible actions that a unit may perform:

1. Open Fire!
2. Advance!
3. At The Double!
4. Get Down!


Action: Open Fire!

An Open Fire action is quite simple. Your unit doesn't move, but simply points its guns at the enemy and shoots!

A unit performing an Open Fire action may not move. But may fire any of its weapons using their normal Awareness (Aw) and their weapons' full Rate of Fire (RoF).

Since they're not moving, the unit may also be able to observe enemy activity that would normally go unnoticed. But they'll have to take the time to look before firing!

As an alternative to firing normally, any models in the unit may choose to Snap Fire their weapons instead; in exchange for doubling their Awareness (Aw). This doubling of their Aw is only for targeting purposes, and will not affect their normal Aw range after their current action is over.

Action: Advance!

Your units can't just sit around shooting up the enemy all day. Eventually they will have to go somewhere. Usually, this will be done using an Advance action.

Units performing an Advance action may move their models up to their normal Movement (Mv) value. Either before or after firing their weapons at the enemy.

Note that the entire unit must fire at once. It is not permitted for some models in the unit to fire before the unit moves, and others to do so after they move.

All weapons fired by an Advancing unit will use the Snap Fire rules.

Snap Fire

When a unit is standing still, it's easy for them to carefully pop off shot after shot at the enemy. But moving troops have to spend some of their time... well, moving! So their RoF will necessarily suffer.

A unit may also be required to Snap Fire for other reasons. Such as being flanked by an enemy, or in Defensive Fire against assaulting troops. Where there simply isn't enough time for them to carefully level their weapons, aim, and then fire at full effect.

A unit which is Snap-Firing at the enemy may only do so at half of their weapons' normal Rate of Fire (RoF), rounded down.

Action: At The Double!

If a unit needs to get somewhere fast, it has to run. Which is represented by the At The Double action.

A unit performing an At The Double action may move its models up to double that unit's normal Mv value. However, the unit may not fire its weapons during this action.

Action: Get Down!

Sometimes, it makes less sense to shoot at an enemy, than it does to hug some dirt and stay safe. Either because you can't do much with your shooting, or because your unit's morale is shaky, and you need a breather to rally the troops a bit.

A unit performing a Get Down action may not move or fire. But will be considered to be Gone To Ground (GtG) until the beginning of it's following Action Phase.

In addition, a unit performing a Get Down action may remove one Suppression Nerve Marker.

(The following has been moved to the reaction phase where it belongs)

Officers

Officers aren't just there to look cool. They're also expected to... gulp... lead the troops! Especially when they're being disobedient. They do this by issuing Orders.

Officers & Orders

If your squad's morale is a bit shaky, then ignoring the orders of your sergeant to get up and move towards the enemy is one thing. But when your Lieutenant, or (even worse, the Colonel) starts barking at you, then you'd best listen up!

Once per Action Phase, an Officer model may issue a single order to any friendly unit, within 6" of its position, which has not yet performed an action. That unit may then use the Officer's Ld for their suppression test instead of its own.

Issuing an order in this way does not prevent the Officer from performing an action. Either before or after the order has been given.