ON TO RICHMOND RULES ADDITIONS &

CLARIFICATIONS
BY PAUL KOCH
Since publishing OTR many gamers have written to me asking to settle this or
that rule dispute or explain what I mean by something in the rules. While I am
happy to do this at any time, our beloved editor has for a very long time tried to
prevail upon me to consider the most frequently asked questions in an article.
At the same time we thought we should consider some ideas that gamers have
come up with across the country to add to the rules. First to the questions:
ARTILLERY ELEVATION AND FIRING
TERRAIN DISORDER
There is no such thing! If a unit does not pass the rough terrain check it moves Vi
distance — there is no additional penalty. All references to disorder in the rule
book mean that the unit gets a morale marker and will have to pass a morale
check.
OPTIONAL RULES FROM THE READERS Cumulative Morale
David Koch of Loma Linda, CA

In the rules this is discussed in a single brief sentence that sometimes confuses. A unit may collect any number of morale chips. When morale is checked, 5 is
“Artillery located on a higher terrain than the target subtracts 4" from the range deducted from the roll for each chip over 1. Thus a unit with 3 chips would roll at
to the target.” What is meant is that if up one contour from your target you add -10 on the chart.
4" to the range. Smoothbores then would fire 34" at longest range. This addition
does not count for the 10" canister range (except as a local optional rule). If the Artillery Morale
target is on the same elevation then no bonus is given. A 4" penalty is similarly Richard Hassenauer of Silver Springs, MD
ascribed for firing uphill.
Richard has devised a separate Artillery morale table for guns when taking Morale
FIRING OVER YOUR OWN TROOPS hits. Both sides use the same chart.

By and large the rules allow for firing by anything over friendly troops if it fires ROLL RESULT
from a higher elevation. As a local rule we do not permit canister fire over 00-19 Limber up & retire 1 full column move
friendly troops, as this would seem to be a highly dangerous procedure and was 20-39 Stand silenced or limber up& retire 1 full column move
not done in history either. Aside from that, fire away! 40-49 Stand silenced
50-99 NE
CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY FORCED BY MORALE CHART RESULT
Modifiers are as the regular chart with a kill counting as a base lost.
Veterans of OTR know that the Morale Chart may produce unwanted, even
disastrous, movements of your own troops. Many gamers have asked me what
happens if troops blunder into the enemy as a result. The answer is quite
simple. A melee procedure is followed as per any normal attack except the You too can be an ADMIRAL
attacker does not have to roll to close. The enemy may fire his defensive volley, Build yourself a NAVY - CONFEDERATE or
and alterations to the Melee Chart are as for a usual melee. If the blundering UNION.
move lucks onto a flank then great! All of these refer to moves other than
REVENGE rolls which players of the game know all too well already. Speaking of
REVENGE rolls, at times a truly unfortunate route column rolls a REVENGE roll
and attacks an enemy unit. Now even the REVENGE modifier of 1.5 times CP still
will equal 0. If this happens you can basically kiss the brigade goodbye.
Above: USS PURITIAN-Monitor $2.95 Other ships:
UNITS RETREATING FROM MELEE
IS-2 CSS VIRGINIA, IS-23 USS KEARSAGE - screw
Questions concerning this topic come almost weekly. In OTR, units receive what sloop-of-war, IS-23 CSS GEORGIA-floating battery,
we call Morale Chips. These chips designate disorder. Consequently when units IS-29 USS BENTON & ESSEX-ironclad Gunboats.
are disordered, they stay IN THE FORMATION THEY ARE PRESENTLY IN. That is, a Catalog $1.00, refunded on first order
line is a disordered line or a column a disordered column. They have a front,
flanks and rear, same as if formed. LYZARD’S GRIN P.O BOX 14522
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. 73113
INTERPENETRATION

The rules state that line may pass line. Upon review of literature sparked by
Paddy Griffith’s new book, “Battle in the Civil War”, I have been forced to
change my mind. Stand by for a new rule: ANY UNIT INTERPENETRATING WITH
ANOTHER RESULTS IN A MORALE CHIP FOR BOTH UNITS!

ARTILLERY IN MELEE

Artillery in melee counts as one stand and "one stand lost” eliminates it even
though it normally requires 2 artillery or musketry hits to eliminate it. Speaking
of artillery, remember too that the 2 dice fire of smoothbore guns is a single fire
(representing the awful effect of close canister) and not 2 shots. Artillery also
may destroy works just as they do buildings.
Most works should be leveled with between 3 and 6 hits depending on their
strength. The breach should be 2 stands in width. This too is a rules addition.

CAVALRY COUNTER CHARGE

Cavalry that has not moved may countercharge if attacked by cavalry by rolling
under their CP=2, just as they do to charge home in melee. A commander may
also designate that his cavalry will “charge if charged” during his move. If he
does so then cavalry will do so automatically without any roll.

INTERPENETRATING CAVALRY

The rule that says that cavalry may not interpenetrate means that they disorder
any unit they pass through.

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