The following article shows a brief example of how the Platoon Activation Cycle works in The Last Hundred Yards. Enjoy!
The American player wins the Initiative (i.e., the active player) and selects Able Co., which for this example contains the 1st and 2nd Platoons. His Coordination die roll is 6, and is unsuccessful because it was < 8. As a result, he must activate each platoon sequentially. [Note: If he had been successful in his attempt for Coordinated Activation, he could have conducted actions with any and/or all units of both platoons as well as any eligible ad hoc units before calling for Reaction].
The American player activates the 1st Platoon first and conducts maneuver actions with its 1st and 2nd Squads. He does nothing with the 3rd Squad at this time, in essence holding it reserve. Because the American player did not conduct an action with the 3rd Squad during its platoon activation, the 3rd Squad is now limited to reactions only. He then calls for Reaction from the German player. The German player may react with any of his units that observed actions conducted by units of the American 1st Platoon. Note that there is no platoon Activation required for Reaction.
The German player reacts by conducting a fire action with the German 2nd Squad against the American 1st Squad of the 1st Platoon that maneuvered in its LOS. A 2 SADRM marker [1 for its SAV and 1 for maneuvering target] is placed in the hex occupied by the American 1st Squad. The German player elects not to react with the German 1st Squad, anticipating further actions by the American’s 2nd Platoon, and calls for Reaction from the American player. The American player may react with any of his units, which have not conducted an action that observed actions conducted by units of the German player.
The American player reacts by conducting a fire action with the American 3rd Squad, 1st Platoon that did not conduct and action during its platoon’s activation, against the German 2nd Squad that conducted a fire action in its LOS. Note that the American 3rd Squad of the 1st Platoon could not fire at the German 1st Squad because it did not conduct an action in its LOS. A player can only fire at enemy units that conducted actions in their LOS prior to a call for Reaction. The American 3rd Squad of the 2nd Platoon could also react as it has LOS to the German 2nd Squad as well but decides not to do so and calls for Reaction from the German player. Both players then pass on any further reactions.
Play now returns to Step 1 in the Platoon Activation Cycle. The active player (i.e., American) activates his 2nd Platoon and conducts maneuver actions with all three squads as shown and calls for Reaction from the German player. The German player reacts by conducting a Split Fire action against the American 1st and 2nd Squads of the 2nd Platoon. A 0 SADRM marker [1 for its SAV, 1 for maneuvering target, –2 for Split Fire] is placed in the hex occupied by the American 1st Squad, and a –2 SADRM marker [1 for its SAV, 1 for maneuvering target, –2 for Split Fire, –2 for the wooden building] is placed in the hex occupied by the American 2nd Squad. The German player then calls for Reaction from the American player. The American player passes on any further reaction. As the active (American) player has no further platoons in Able Company to activate, play would proceed to the Fire Resolution Phase.
Author: Mike Denson
Would a naval game about the battle of Tsushima 1905 Russo-Japanese War.
Walter,
The Last Hundred Yards is not a naval game, therefore I am not sure how to respond to you comment.
Really looking forward to playing this game. Wonderful design. Quick question, what is the advantage of coordinated activations?
If you achieve a coordinated activation, you can activate two platoons in single activation as if they are a single platoon.
Thanks for the reply… I guess what I was wondering was how is that advantageous? In a regular activation, the other player has to decide how to react not knowing what your other platoons are going to do. But with a coordinated activation two platoons will activate, move, fire, etc. giving the other player “perfect knowledge” before needing to react. Is this correct? Thanks again.
Chris,
Yes, you are correct in thinking a reacting player might have some advantage because he was able to observe the actions of two activated platoons. But, most of the time from the activating player’s perspective, he has far more to gain when he can activate two platoons and their support weapons. By doing so, it increases his chances of gaining local superiority especially when closing with the enemy. You’ll find with experience, that activating two platoons simultaneously can significantly work in the Activating Player’s favor.