[Mass Combat] Defensive Bonus in Ambush

[Figleaf23]

Hello All,

On page MC34, it says that in an Ambush:

The ambushers’ commander may select any strategy but a defense strategy on the first round... ambushers receive defensive bonuses, which are normally only allowed for defenses.

However, on MC32 under the Heading Defence Bonus, it says:

A Defense Bonus is a conditional modifier that applies only
during a round of battle on which the side possessing it
chooses a defense strategy (e.g., All-Out Defense). Who gets
this bonus depends on the type of battle:
• In a pitched battle, the side with initiative receives a
Defense Bonus, based on using favorable terrain to anchor
their defense.
• In an encounter battle, a side receives a Defense Bonus
only if they were encamped and hunkered down prior to the
battle (even if they’re confused).

So my question is, based on this information, what Defense Bonus does a successful Ambusher get?

[Crakkerjakk]

For the first turn of the ambush only, they get the same defense bonus someone would normally get were they fighting a pitched battle on the same terrain.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Crakkerjakk

For the first turn of the ambush only, they get the same defense bonus someone would normally get were they fighting a pitched battle on the same terrain.

Ah! Thanks.

[Crakkerjakk]

Now that I said that, I may be misremembering and it may not just be for the first turn. But that's how me and my friends ran it in the playtest. Helped model the initial "oomph" from an ambush, and usually ended up in a landslide after that.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Crakkerjakk

Now that I said that, I may be misremembering and it may not just be for the first turn. But that's how me and my friends ran it in the playtest. Helped model the initial "oomph" from an ambush, and usually ended up in a landslide after that.

I think you're right. The rule could be spelled out more clearly, but your way does make sense of it.

[Crakkerjakk]

Yeah, actually on re-reading it I think you get the bonus for the whole battle. Which makes ambushes even nastier.

As I was told in the Corps, "Ambushes are murder, and murder is fun!"

[Figleaf23]

Hmm. It would be good to have this question Krommified or Pulverized.

[Crakkerjakk]

I think it's fairly clear (IMO) I just misread the rules. The way the deadliness of an ambush is modeled in Mass Combat is by giving an attacker the bonus an entrenched defender would normally get for that terrain.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Crakkerjakk

I think it's fairly clear (IMO) I just misread the rules. The way the deadliness of an ambush is modeled in Mass Combat is by giving an attacker the bonus an entrenched defender would normally get for that terrain.

Keeping the bonuses in later rounds, as the ambushers quite likely press the attack, seems a bit strange. Though I agree that that's what the text looks like. The death spiral effect means that a first-turn defense bonus plus the enemy starting out confused is likely to set the tone of the entire battle.

[Crakkerjakk]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

Keeping the bonuses in later rounds, as the ambushers quite likely press the attack, seems a bit strange. Though I agree that that's what the text looks like. The death spiral effect means that a first-turn defense bonus plus the enemy starting out confused is likely to set the tone of the entire battle.

Yeah, I think I'd house-rule that the bonus only last for the first round. That makes it deadly but not unavoidably so.