[Mass Combat] Cutting supply lines

Michael Thayne · 08-28-2020, 09:24 PM

While Mass Combat mentions that land logistics troops require that "a clear supply line can be traced back to home base", it is a little unclear what this means. Movement speeds are mostly given in increments of 5 miles per day, so it's tempting to assume a map with 5 mile hexes and that a single element can render a hex unusable for purposes of tracing supply lines. It also seems like if supply lines can't be cut by enemy units, there's little point in using air logistics troops, unless you're supplying troops that have been paradropped into Mordor or something.

On the other hand, maybe cutting supply lines is meant to be outside the scope of Mass Combat, because it's unclear what the game effects would be. It's not actually true that all military forces everywhere suffer dramatic breakdowns in effectiveness after going a month without resupply—many would, but there are tons of historical exceptions from (the Mongols, ocean going ships in the age of sail, Sherman's march to the sea, etc.) So maybe this is just totally outside the scope of the system.

Thoughts?

08-28-2020, 09:24 PM	#1
Michael Thayne Join Date: May 2010	[Mass Combat] Cutting supply lines While *Mass Combat* mentions that land logistics troops require that "a clear supply line can be traced back to home base", it is a little unclear what this means. Movement speeds are mostly given in increments of 5 miles per day, so it's tempting to assume a map with 5 mile hexes and that a single element can render a hex unusable for purposes of tracing supply lines. It also seems like if supply lines can't be cut by enemy units, there's little point in using air logistics troops, unless you're supplying troops that have been paradropped into Mordor or something. On the other hand, maybe cutting supply lines is meant to be outside the scope of *Mass Combat*, because it's unclear what the game effects would be. It's not actually true that all military forces everywhere suffer dramatic breakdowns in effectiveness after going a month without resupply—many would, but there are tons of historical exceptions from (the Mongols, ocean going ships in the age of sail, Sherman's march to the sea, etc.) So maybe this is just totally outside the scope of the system. Thoughts?