Mare Nostrum Update

[Jeff Lewis]

The other day I posted in another thread about Mare Nostrum, and wanted to start a new thread based on that post, and continue posting updates. The old post read as follows:

MN is coming along. It has the most unique art of any module in the system to date, and will have six countersheets, all of a new die that will become the standard for LnL modules (the three in HotP also use the new die). Lots of armor and ATGs in the desert war. That much I can say. It will have at least 16 scenarios and possibly 18. Five maps and a bunch of overlays.

There will be 16 Skill Cards, a mix of old favorites and some new ones.

New Skill Cards include:
Tank Ace
Desert Rat
Battle Cry
Agile
Flexible
Scorpion
Avanti Savoia

Aimed Fire & Stiff Upper Lip, from IDD, are also included.

Old Favorites:
Die-Hard
Leader-Hero
Assaulter
Charismatic
Plough the Row
Friendly Fire
Tank Killer

I'll do my best to keep posting some teasers as we go forward.

-Jeff

 

[Jeff Lewis]

The new Scorpion Skill Card will read as follows:

Scorpion
Leader or Hero
This Leader or Hero (and any units stacked with the Leader or Hero) is a Melee specialist. During any Melee attack in which this Hero or units stacked with this Leader or Hero participates, the player rolls THREE dice (3d6) instead of two and chooses the two dice he wishes to apply.

 

[John Pender]

Nice work Jeff,
Thank you for the update, really looking forward to the Game.

 

[Cottonbaler]

Thank you for the update Jeff!

 

[Stefano G.]

i can not wait for "Avanti Savoia" skill card description

 

[Jeff Lewis]

Here you go, Stefano. Avanti Savoia Skill Card:

Avanti Savoia
Italian Leader or Hero
Single-use Card
Play during the Rally Phase
ALL Italian units, with or without a Leader, Hero, Medic or Chaplain in their hex, can attempt to rally. Eligible units that have already attempted—and failed—to rally during the current Rally Phase can attempt to rally again. Leadership and Terrain Modifiers apply.

It's really the same as La Marseillaise from HotB but for Italians instead of French.

 

[Jeff Lewis]

Also, Lt Flis, a.k.a Cottonbaler, who has posted on this thread, will be leading elements of the Afrika Korp in MN.

 

[Ralph Ferrari]

The Scorpion and Avanti Savoia cards are my two favorite cards in the bunch.

In one playtest, I managed to hold off using the Avanti Savoia card until the final turn. The Scenario was close, with the Italians losing, and only one GO MMC left in play. The Avanti Savoia cheer went up, and the Italians rose to the occasion by having three of the four shaken MMCs rally, and then taking the fight to the Allies. In the end, the a italians were able to turn things around and sqeek out a close victory.

Jeff has done a great job coming up with the new skill cards.

 

[Jeff Lewis]

Credit for Tank Ace and Desert Rat goes to Nicolas Michon.

Here's Tank Ace:

Tank Ace
Armor Leader only
Single-use Card
This Armor Leader is an expert in mobile armored warfare. Once during the scenario he can either activate his vehicle and any two other non-adjacent vehicles (vehicles can be no more than three (3) hexes away) OR activate his own vehicle a second time during a turn (but not twice in the same impulse). The vehicle can be activated a second time to conduct Opportunity Fire if desired.

 

[Jeff Lewis]

Here's the new Flexible Skill Card:

Flexible
Leader only
Single-use Card
This Leader is adept at making tactical decisions. During the Rally Phase, this Leader can split one (and only one) Good Order Squad in to two Half-squads, observing the Squad’s normal Half-squad reduction; thus, if required to roll for Half-squad type during reduction on a casualties result, you roll for each of the two Half-squads.

 

[Stefano G.]

Credit for Tank Ace and Desert Rat goes to Nicolas Michon.

Here's Tank Ace:

Tank Ace
Armor Leader only
Single-use Card
This Armor Leader is an expert in mobile armored warfare. Once during the scenario he can either activate his vehicle and any two other non-adjacent vehicles (vehicles can be no more than three (3) hexes away) OR activate his own vehicle a second time during a turn (but not twice in the same impulse). The vehicle can be activated a second time to conduct Opportunity Fire if desired.

Interesting Skill (first dedicated to Armor leader)...Italian tank crew need it

...but there is one thing i did not well understood:
"OR activate his own vehicle a second time during a turn (but not twice in the same impulse).The vehicle can be activated a second time to conduct Opportunity Fire if desired."

Can vehicle be activated a second time ONLY to conduct OF or can it be activated a second time to perform any desired action ( Movement/Assault Movement/Fire....) ?
Are first-activation markers (Moved/Assault Mov/Fire/Ops.Comp...) left on the vehicle counter at the beginning of its second activation OR are they removed before vehicle second activation?
If during first activation vehicle has moved (Moved/Assault Mov. marker on it) and during its second activation vehicle fires, does it receive "+2" modifier for ToHit table?

 

[Jeff Lewis]

Hi Stefano,

The reason for the "not twice in the same impulse" is to make it clear that the second activation is done during a second/separate impulse; thus, you can't have a "double impulse", which was the question the people who read the skill's primitive text asked about. The final sentence addresses the fact that the Armor Leader may be under a Moved or Fired marker, and the enemy moves, and you may want to use your Tank Ace Skill (single-use, remember) to Opportunity Fire. The second action is a "clean" action; it is not affected by the first, i.e., if you moved in the first impulse, it's not like Assault Moving if you choose not to move but fire in the second.

I hope the revised text below makes it clearer for you:

Tank Ace
Armor Leader only
Single-use Card
This Armor Leader is an expert in mobile armored warfare. Once during the scenario he can either activate his vehicle and any two other non-adjacent vehicles (vehicles can be no more than three (3) hexes away) OR activate his own vehicle a second time during a turn (but not twice in the same impulse). The vehicle's second activation is a fresh activation, as if on a new turn. The vehicle's second activation can also be used to conduct Opportunity Fire if desired.

 

[Jeff Lewis]

Stefano was pleased to see a Skill Card for Armor Leaders. Aimed Fire (from IDD) will also be included in MN and it will be modified to included Armor Leaders.

Aimed Fire
Leader, Hero, Armor Leader or WT
These units are proficient at finding targets to fire at. They can fire at enemy units in an unspotted hex/Location within their LOS and range requirements.
If a Leader possesses this skill, all units stacked with the Leader share the skill.
Armor Leaders possessing this skill can fire at unspotted units only if his vehicle is open. It only applies to the Armor Leader’s vehicle, not any other vehicle in his vehicle’s hex.

 

[Stefano G.]

Hi Stefano,

The reason for the "not twice in the same impulse" is to make it clear that the second activation is done during a second/separate impulse; thus, you can't have a "double impulse", which was the question the people who read the skill's primitive text asked about. The final sentence addresses the fact that the Armor Leader may be under a Moved or Fired marker, and the enemy moves, and you may want to use your Tank Ace Skill (single-use, remember) to Opportunity Fire. The second action is a "clean" action; it is not affected by the first, i.e., if you moved in the first impulse, it's not like Assault Moving if you choose not to move but fire in the second.

I hope the revised text below makes it clearer for you:

Tank Ace
Armor Leader only
Single-use Card
This Armor Leader is an expert in mobile armored warfare. Once during the scenario he can either activate his vehicle and any two other non-adjacent vehicles (vehicles can be no more than three (3) hexes away) OR activate his own vehicle a second time during a turn (but not twice in the same impulse). The vehicle's second activation is a fresh activation, as if on a new turn. The vehicle's second activation can also be used to conduct Opportunity Fire if desired.

Thank you for the clarification ... i take this opportunity to ask you a question about Armor Leadership range (for purpose of adjacent vehicles activation). As i read it in a BGG FAQ, i am used to consider Armor Leader as he had a Leadership range of 1 hex (=> adjacent hexes vehicles activation, following the same rules of Infantry Leader for no-vehicles units) , ...i.e.: an activated Armor Leader can activate all friendly vehicles in his 6 adjacent hexes....is it correct?

Thank you

 

[Jeff Lewis]

i.e.: an activated Armor Leader can activate all friendly vehicles in his 6 adjacent hexes....is it correct?

That is correct. Armor Leaders can't activate adjacent MMCs/SMCs, and a regular Leader cannot activate adjacent vehicles. When you activate a hex containing both types, all can activate; activating the adjacent hexes comes via the Leader's (or Armored Leader's) Leadership Range.

 

[Jeff Lewis]

Another new Skill Card that also includes Armor Leaders: Battle Cry.

Battle Cry
Leader, Armor Leader or Hero
When this Leader is stacked with Assault Movement-capable units (6.1), those units can fire first, subtracting two (–2) from their total FP, and then move up to half of their Movement Factor (MF), including Double-Time movement (6.3). These units can fire and then enter Melee or attempt a Close Assault (17.1).
If a Hero possesses this skill, it only applies to him, but he can fire first and then move with other non-firing units.
An Armor Leader possessing this skill can have his vehicle fire first, observing DFT (–2 to FP) and OFT (+2 to to-hit roll) penalties, and then move up to half of the vehicle’s printed MF; the vehicle can fire and then perform an Overrun (15.3), if eligible.

 

[Stefano G.]

Well... MN is in my dreams! ...speaking as italian LnL player, it would be nice to have some next LOF dealing with Italian units in Russian east front... "Monte Cervino" (Alpini elite unit - my avatar is this unit's hero ) and "Savoia Cavalry" counters could be added to NoSB ones and let play 4-5 new russian scenarios

 

[Jeff Lewis]

There are Alpini in Mare Nostrum in two East Africa scenarios and Horse Cavalry in one East Africa scenario. Both can be used for Line of Fire scenarios.

 

[Jeff Lewis]

Here's the new Agile Skill Card:

Agile
Leader or Hero
This Leader and any Good Order units moving (normal movement, Double-Time or Assault Move) with him are not subject to the +1 DFT penalty when fired on in any terrain-type hex, even in Clear/Sand hexes.
If possessed by a Hero the skill only applies to the Hero and not to any other units he is moving with.

 

[Jeff Lewis]

Last of the new Skill Cards: Desert Rat.

Desert Rat
Leader or Armor Leader
A Leader possessing this skill is adept at leading his men through desert terrain, and thus, if using Double-Time (6.3), the units still add two (2) to their MF even if they enter a Sand or Hammada hex, negating rule 10.7.
An Armor Leader possessing this skill is adept at directing his vehicle’s driver through desert terrain. His vehicle does not have to make a Bog Down Check (10.7) in the first three (3) Sand or Hammada hexes it enters during an impulse.