House & Optional Rules by Walt Mulder

Optional Rule: Strategic Battle Plan Review and Reorganization. (use in place of discard rule) Simply this. During your turn you may discard up to ½ your unusable cards (rounded up) and draw as many new cards as discarded in lieu of taking any actions on your turn. NOTES: This may be due to an inability to play any cards, or a total change of your battle plan strategy. It simulates the Army Commander's (you) decision to reevaluate the battle and affect some (limited) changes. Most Civil War battles were only a day or two long, with Gettysburg being one of the longer ones at three days. Granted, the campaigns of the war were longer, but the actual battles were usually decided in a day or two. Battlefield communications were slow to non-existent once the battle began, but changes could and were made during battles. Weaknesses in flanks were exploited when able. Most of the scenarios start both players with 3-6 Command Cards. Allowing the exchange of ½ of your cards seemed reasonable without breaking the rules or shifting the balance too much. This usually results in at least two cards being exchanged, and no more than three (under the current scenario set-ups). It helps simulate the limited control a Commander had over implementing a change of battle plans. It also eliminated one of the major gripes I've read about players being stuck with unplayable cards for too long.

Optional Rule -- Retreats: Use any or all three options if forced to eliminate a unit due to retreat off the edge of the board. They are:

1. Eliminate one figure from the unit for each flag rolled causing you to retreat off the board. This would be along the same rule that allows you to do that if you are forced to retreat and cannot due to any blocking units or impassable terrain. It would also be the easiest.
2. Allow a lateral retreat along the back edge of the board (only), as long as the retreating unit doesn't move any closer to ANY enemy forces located on the board. If blocked by units on either side and unable to retreat laterally due to moving closer to an enemy unit, use rule #1.
3. A unit is lost (eliminated) if forced to retreat off the edge of the board ONLY if they were attacked from an adjacent hex. If the attacking unit is not adjacent, and forces a retreat from the edge of the board, then allow the elimination of figures as in #1 above. This simulates a close range barrage from either gun or cannon, or perhaps a cavalry charge. Your troops are routed if they were forced to retreat off the board edge.

Optional Rule -- Sunken Roads: (use in place of sunken road rule in FAQ) The sunken road provides the die reduction benefits on attacks from any side of the road, including an adjacent (sunken) road hex.

Optional Rule -- Dismounted Cavalry: Cavalry designated as dismounted can move 1 space and conduct a ranged attack (and may not use "Hit and Run" card). It attacks at a range of 3 with die rolls of 3/2/1. Normal terrain restrictions apply. NOTE: This rule is good in certain user created scenarios.

(Buy an extra game, and then use the provided hexes to make the ones below. Convert the rivers into roads and sunken roads by painting them or using paint marker pens to color them brown. Convert rivers into lakes by making the hex all blue. Convert fields into swamps by coloring blue/purple specks onto the hex.)

WARNING: Many of these terrain types are not fully tested and may unbalance certain game scenarios and or gameplay, use them at risk to your own enjoyment.

Movement: Units moving along roads gain one additional hex of movement, as long as their *entire* movement is along the road. This extra hex of movement is optional, but if used it must be used on a road. Units starting in a town/building hex are considered on a road for the sole purpose of starting a move from a road.

Battle: Any infantry, cavalry or artillery unit on a road is attacked with one additional die. Generals are not affected (assume the general and his staff represent a small, fast target compared to a regular unit.) Terrain restrictions apply to battle die rolls. (I have designed road hexes that go through wood and hill terrain. Attacking units on them would negate the extra die bonus. So, for example, attacking an infantry on a forest road hex from an adjacent hex would give you 4 dice; 4 for adjacent, +1 attacking a unit on a road, -1 attacking a unit in woods.)

Line of Sight: Roads do not block line of sight. Roads through terrain such as woods or hills do block line of sight.

Movement: Units moving along a forest road gain one additional hex of movement, as long as their *entire* movement is along any type of road. This extra hex of movement is optional, but if used it must be used on a road.

Battle: Any infantry, cavalry or artillery unit attacked on a forest road (from any direction) is attacked as though it were a clear hex (one less die for forests, one more die for road). Lone Generals are not affected, and are attacked as normal. Units attacking from a forest road hex roll one less die. Units may attack the turn they entered a forest road hex if they used road movement this turn.

Line of Sight: Forest Roads block line of sight

Movement: Units moving along a sunken road gain one additional hex of movement, as long as their *entire* movement is along any type of road. This extra hex of movement is optional, but if used it must be used on a road.

Battle: Any infantry, cavalry or artillery unit attacked on a sunken road (from any direction) is attacked with two less dice. Artillery may not attack from a sunken road. Generals are not affected, and are attacked as normal.

Line of Sight: Sunken Roads do not block line of sight.

Movement: Units moving along a hill road gain one additional hex of movement, as long as their *entire* movement is along any type of road. This extra hex of movement is optional, but if used it must be used on a road.

Battle: Any infantry, cavalry or artillery unit attacked on a hill road (from any direction) is attacked as though it were a clear hex (one less die for forest, one more die for road). Lone Generals are not affected, and are attacked as normal. Units attacking from a hill road hex roll one less die.

Line of Sight: Hill Roads block line of sight

Lakes (Ponds)

Movement: No units may enter or cross a lake terrain hex.

Line of Sight: Lakes/Ponds do not block line of sight.

Movement: Units entering a swamp/marsh hex must end their movement. Artillery may not enter or retreat into a swamp/marsh hex. Units may not attack the turn they enter a swamp/marsh hex.

Battle: Units attacking from a swamp/marsh hex roll one less die. When attacking a unit in a swamp/marsh hex, normal rules apply.

Line of Sight: Swamp/marsh hexes block line of sight. (Much like fields with high grass and reeds)

Railroads

Movement: No special rules

Battle: Any infantry, cavalry or artillery unit attacked on a railroad hex (from any direction except another railroad hex) is attacked with one less die. Generals are not affected, and are attacked as normal.

Line of Sight: Railroads do not block line of sight.

Use fence hexes to represent Walls. The same rules as walls apply.

Notes on Entrenchment tiles: You may not place an entrenchment tile on any type of road, swamp, lake, or railroad hex. Per the rules, you may place them on forest, hills, fences (walls), and even buildings (though no extra benefit is derived from placing them on buildings).

Optional Rule -- Charges: A unit may only charge if it has a general, at least two figures in the unit (not counting the general), and is attacking an enemy unit from an adjacent space. Artillery may not charge. Normal terrain rules apply. Units may not initiate a charge from a field, orchard, stream, or swamp hex. Charges may not be conducted on lone generals. If conducting a charge, determine the number of dice to be used in the attack. You then have the option of replacing two dice with Charge Dice. If three retreat flags are rolled in the attack, the following occur after normal casualties are removed:

1. If attack was on artillery, and one figure remains, you have captured the enemy guns. Take the flag and replace the unit with one of your own artillery figures (not unit) with a flag.
2. If attack was on infantry or cavalry, you may advance into the vacated space following their retreat. If they are destroyed due to retreat rules, you may still advance if desired.
3. If there was an attached enemy general, you may roll one assault die to see if he is killed.
4. Any remaining units must now retreat per the retreat rules.

Optional Rule -- Rear Assault -- If you attack an enemy unit from a position opposite one of your other units (not a lone general), you may opt to roll two "Assault Dice" in place of two regular dice. Note: this simulates chewing up the enemy from the rear with no place to retreat. This is a difficult position to obtain and should also be guarded against. Your other unit opposite the enemy does not have to attack this turn to gain the bonus dice choice.

With two or three sets, I have combined the boards to create a huge battlefield. I scanned the board, and created 13 additional clear hexes to cover the areas where the boards overlap. With all the additional terrain hexes, along with the ones I've made above, you can make one helluva battle.

DISCLAIMER

The optional rules and/or additions to the game are not endorsed by Richard Borg or Avalon Hill. The original intent of the designer and Avalon Hill was to keep the game as simple as possible to reach the widest audience. The inclusion of additional rules may complicate the game. The BattleCry game, rules, and trademark are the property of Hasbro. Any changes presented here are to enhance game play for those who are interested. Thank you. Walt Mulder Modified 20 Feb. 2002