Re: Force Morale

You wrote: 
>
>An idea for force morale:

Good starting point!

>Force morale tests should be made when 
>- the first unit is routed or destroyed

Depends on unit wiped out.  Routed, always.  But if you loose a pair of 
your scouts, it should be less severe than if you just had a platoon of 
MBTs ripped apart by DFFG fire.

>- First contact with an alien force or units that cause terror

Only if they don't expect it, obviously. . . 

>- Force history (a tight knit unit that works together and/or
>has a string of victories will probably have higher force morale
>than a force that is newly assembled or has taken a series
>of defeats)

Also include Esprit d' corps.  A historically elite force with a 
tradition of never saying die (Surrender is not a Ranger word) will 
have a higher elan than regular line troops.

Also have a negative modifier for units leaving behind dead/wounded, if 
such units have strong tradition of not doing so (Israeli, US come to 
mind.  Israelis launch major military operations to recover the remains 
of a single soldier.)

>If a Force Morale check is failed, and Force command exists, force 
>must begin to withdraw. If a Morale check is badly failed, and force 
>command exists, force must retreat rapidly or surrender units which 
>cannot retreat. If a Morale check is failed and Force command DNE, 
>then each unit must roll vs quality or withdraw or surrender 
>(depending on situation). Ones that succeed may (at the controlling 
>players option) withdraw or continue to follow their last known 
>orders.

Some forces may, instead, launch suicidal attacks, driving straight up 
the middle of the board in clear terrain firing almost randomly.  This 
is especially apropriate for Japanese (Player _must_ scream BANZAI when 
he fails the morale check) and certain religious fanatics.  :)	Other 
forces will not surrender facing certain opponents (Israelis aren't 
going to surrender to Muslims unless unconcious. . . )

John M. Atkinson