First of all, I would like to thank Troy Thompson for introducing to us all his ideas for PbeM. Thanks to his efforts, we now have a way to play these great games with opponents we may never get the chance to meet. I also must give him credit, along with the other PbeMers, for the development of these rules, as I’ve borrowed liberally from their ideas. Thanks, guys.
Any ideas expressed here may be borrowed, twisted, exploited and/or
changed for anyone’s use. These rules are simply meant as guidelines. I am starting a league, which will be open to anyone who wants to join, and for which I will serve as Moderator. Anyone wishing to join the league need only contact me. This can be done on the the official Chronopia forum, at my email, pipedan@worldnet.att.net, on AOL Instant Messenger as PipeDan or on Yahoo! Messenger as futonrevolutionary. We welcome any comers, and hope to see many.
Good luck, have fun…and roll lots of 1's,
Daniel
As standard the ECL will use all basic game rules as listed in the main Chronopia book, as well as all supplements and the current FAQ. No optional or house-rules will be standard, though any players may agree to use them on a game by game basis. Due to peculiarities in the Chronopia rules, some will be modified for PbeM use, as noted below. (Please Note: These rules are a work in progress. They can, and most likely will, change at any time. I welcome any comments or suggestions for improving them and depend on you, the initial players, to help me get them straightened out for all the future players to come.)
- In order to streamline gameplay, the activating player will make all relevant die rolls. If players are uncomfortable with this, they can request that they and their opponents use the secure die-roller located at http://www.irony.com/igroll.html. It takes a little more time, but keeps the game fair. mIRC not only is a very fast Use of a secure die-roller will not be mandatory at any time. Players will be responsible for coming to their own agreements as to the use of any alternate system.
- In order for a game to be sanctioned by the ECL it must be announced prior to play and turn-end reports must be submitted to the ECL Moderator. All games must have a designated end, be it a turn limit, a time limit or a completed objective other than total annihilation. This is to prevent players from using untouchables (i.e.: flying units against SOK) from drawing the game out to inevitable victory. Players are free to decide this end-point on a game by game basis, but the default is six turns.
- If a player in the process of a game goes incommunicado without prior arrangement with his/her opponent, the opponent has the option to claim victory. The ECL Moderator must be notified on or after the third day of any such absence and the option goes into effect three days later (the 6th day of absence at the earliest). For security, please notify the ECL Moderator of any arrangements made so that the recognized absence will not start until the end of that time.
- ECL standing will depend upon Victory Points. Victory Points are tallied at the end of each turn. Every 50 points of enemy models killed or wounded (Divide the model's total point cost by its number of Wounds. This is how many points each Wound is worth.) counts as 1 Victory Point. Do not round the number. The Victory Points from each turn are added up at the game's end and the player with the most Victory Points is the winner. Your League standing will list the number of games you have played as well as your total number of Victory Points.
- Any player who doesn’t start an ECL sanctioned game within three months of completing one may have their score stricken from league record. This is to both keep the record active and keep a player from maintaining a continuous perfect record by winning their first game and never playing again.
- Anything submitted to the ECL becomes public property to be posted, displayed, recorded, or otherwise used by anyone.
- Once two players have played a sanctioned game, they may not play another sanctioned game against each other until each has played a minimum of three sanctioned games against other opponents.
- Above all, be honest and have fun.
Missile Weapons: In order to balance the advantage of pre-measuring as it applies to missile fire all missile weapons that have a Range Modifier shall suffer an additional -1 at Long Range.
LOS: Unless otherwise stated, all obstructions will block LOS within the height-band they occupy. This will include map features and all models, regardless of size. Woods will be treated as usual, and will extend to three height-bands above the terrain on which they stand.
Cover: In order to determine cover and LOS on a 2-D map we will use a fairly simple mechanic:
1. Draw two lines from the sides of the firing model to the sides of the targetted model's sides. If this 1" wide area has any terrain or other models inside its borders, then the targetted model has cover.
2. If less than half of the area's width is blocked, the targetted model has Soft Cover. If more than half of the area's width is blocked, the targetted model has Hard Cover.
3. For ease of play, all models at the same level will be considered the same height; 2”. Therefore, a Totem will receive the same cover as a Goblin (the size is accounted for in base size, rather than try to assign height to every model).
4. Hills will be considered 1” tall, building levels 3” and trees 7”. Models at the same height will receive cover for any intervening terrain that is on the same level or extends into the same level (a 3” wall that sits 2” lower than the models).
5. If the models are at different heights, 3 qualifications must be met for LOS to occur. The higher of the two models must be; a) higher than any obstacles; b) closer than the lower model to the obstacle; c) closer to the obstacle than it’s height difference from it. If these conditions apply, the two models have LOS. (Note: Remember to add 2” for the model’s height when determining LOS.)
6. For ease of play, models at different heights must be within 1” of an obstacle to gain cover bonuses.
7. Woods will use the standard 3” rule. When determining LOS over woods, use the edge closest to the lower model. If the woods interrupt LOS, treat it as if the models were on the same height (i.e.: 3” of woods between the models either blocks LOS completely or provides no cover at all).
Hail of Arrows: To balance the advantage of pre-measuring with HOA, the leader of the warband, in addition to all other restrictions, must pass a Ld test with a modifier of +1 for each model beyond the first that he can see (max bonus: +4). If the test is failed, the leader’s actions are wasted, but the rest of the warband may act as normal. If the test is passed, the warband fires the HOA as normal.
Interrupt (Chronomancer & Enlightened): Any time an opposing player wishes to have a unit move, or target a unit, within 12” of an un-activated model with the interrupt ability, s/he must announce the intention to the controller of the model and await reply. The model’s controller has that one chance, per activation, to declare an interrupt. If s/he declines to interrupt at this point, s/he cannot use the ability until after the activation is completed. The controlling player may, of course, use the interrupt before, during or after any of his/her own activations as normal, as well as using it to seize the initiative by activating the model first.
Wait: In order to smooth the game out, Wait has been restricted. It can be used by any model, but for only limited reactions. The only actions that will be allowed from Wait will be Counter-charge and Dive For Cover.
1. If a model is on wait and it is Charged, it will automatically Counter-charge. The only exceptions to this are models that cannot Counter-charge, which will still use the action to counter-attack if possible, and models with Brace, who will use that instead. If a model is Charged while already in CC, any models in the same warband that are in range, have LOS and are on Wait, will Counter-charge in that model’s place. Only the closest one will make this Counter-charge, if more than one is available.
2. If a Waiting model falls under the template of any potentially harmful effect it will automatically use the wait action to Dive For Cover. They will simply move by the straightest possible line to the nearest safe point, if possible. The only exceptions to this rule are models that cannot DFC, who will still lose their Wait action.
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