RPT208 Coordinating Instruction 5

[Robin Reeve]

Hi,
RPT208 The Erft Effort, Coordinating Instruction 5 says : "After the first RPh, the German player may place up three +3 Smoke counters in hexes that do not contain any American units."

I interpret that such a placement is restricted to Turn 1, just before the German PFPh.

Someone suggested that those Smoke counters could be placed anytime during the scenario.

What do you think?

 

[Philippe D.]

I don't see how one can honestly read "after the first RPh" as meaning "at any point after the first RPh". I definitely understand this as meaning "immediately after the first RPh".

 

[clubby]

I don't see how one can honestly read "after the first RPh" as meaning "at any point after the first RPh". I definitely understand this as meaning "immediately after the first RPh".

Agreed

 

[ibncalb]

It can be interpreted both way. This should have been picked up by a good tester.

 

[Robin Reeve]

It can be interpreted both way. This should have been picked up by a good tester.

If the smoke could be placed anytime, it would be strange to place it full strength during the US MPh or to place it in the way of a moving/advancing unit to increase a hex's entry cost...
Seems even more "magical" than placing smoke just before the PFPh of Turn 1 regardless of LOS.

As I am recording a playthrough video, I ruled out that the smoke is placed just after Turn 1 RPh.

 

[Philippe D.]

I agree that the wording should have been made clearer, but as Robin says, allowing the Smoke to be placed at any time would be such a wide departure from usual practice that even a loose-worded designer would have thought of making such intent explicit.

Plus, "any time" placement would have to be somewhat quantified. Can I place the magical smoke between the opponent announcing a shot and checking LOS?

 

[ibncalb]

I agree with Robin and Phil. But the fact this thread exists is testimony to poor testing.

 

[JR Brackin]

If you look at J253 (Melting Pot) the SSR is very clear as to when - The Allied player many place < four 3 Smoke coutners anywhere on map at the start of the Allied player Turn 1 PFPh.

 

[Robin Reeve]

If you look at J253 (Melting Pot) the SSR is very clear as to when - The Allied player many place < four 3 Smoke coutners anywhere on map at the start of the Allied player Turn 1 PFPh.

By analogy (same TPP), I would play it that way.

 

[Stewart]

"After the first turn, the German may enter 3 tanks on the West edge."

When can you enter the tanks?

And it's a SSR, placement at full strength in DFPh would be allowed as it's not being fired from normal rules procedures.