The Commander Series Forum

Last night I did my first game with FAO on both sides (Soviets and West Germans). Somehow we had a discussion about how many units a FAO can activate with one command roll and how penalties are calculated.

(A) I argued that FAO has to make a command roll for each battery (unit). So to call in 3 units of off-board artillery he has to do 3 command rolls.
First unit with his base CV, second unit -1, third unit -2, as stated: "-1 each successive request made by the FAO". When requesting more than 3 units it would be: unit 1 = CV, unit 2 = CV-1, unit 3 = CV-2, unit 4 = CV-3-1, unit 5 = CV-4-1 ...

(B) Opposite opinion was that FAO has to do command rolls for each unit (i.e. 3 rolls for the three off-board units) but with no penalties and only when requesting other 3 units there would be a penalty ("-1 per additional three artillery units requested".

(C) Another (single) opinion was that FAO has to roll ONE command roll for all 3 units.

It was late and it was my first games using FAOs :-(
What's the correct way?

Ralf

C is correct (p26). You can request as many batteries as you like, with a -1 penalty applying for each 3 units above the third.

Wow ...
But what is this "-1 each successive request made by the FAO" for? When do I apply that?

In my opinion, if, after resolving the fire for the current unit or units, you still have unfired arty units, you may still fire them using orders from the same FAO, but with a -1 penalty for each successive roll.

Okay, this makes sense. If you want to hit different targets you have to make two command rolls, that would be a possible situation when you don't want to use all your units in one strike.
Thanks foxbat

OK so if I understand this correctly, you say "I am calling these 3 arty units" and make one roll at the normal odds. Then after that fire is resolved you say "I have 2 more arty units available, now I call them" and make one roll for these at a -1 penalty.

That sound right?

Yep

It helps play if you define the firers, target point, and ammo type (some carry penalties to FAO CV being 'special' ammo types) before rolling the dice!