Tactical Command
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Scouts and ZoC exploit
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=31549		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  kmino [ Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:02 am ]
Post subject:  Scouts and ZoC exploit
Hello people,
I came up with a potential exploit of the rules that may end up being a practical tactic.

So, rules are all focused on you not entering an enemy's zone of control but, it seems to me, the opposite (you forcing your enemy into your ZoC) is never covered.
This probably only applies to scouts, and the trick would be about moving scouts (or even more vicious, teleporting them) within 5 to 10 cm from an enemy unit, in order to cover it with your wide ZoC.

Applications?
When the enemy will have to activate the "carpeted" formation, he will be forced, by the Zoc rules, to move it, either engaging your formation, or perhaps having to move or even double for shooting at your BTS; and of course, an indirect fire unit could have its turn wasted.

I could not find a reference to this in the forums, but I would be surprised if nobody ever thought about and tried this; so I would like to know what do you guys think about it.
Is it legal? Is there some FAQ or line in the rulebook I am missing? Or is it the dumbest of things?
Author:  Steve54 [ Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Scouts and ZoC exploit
It's a pretty common, and very effective, tactic.
Author:  ffoley [ Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Scouts and ZoC exploit
It is a well known tactic amongst experienced players. It can be effective e.g. preventing artillery from fiiring - but the obvious response is to break the scouts with another formation - though forcing your opponent to take such action might prevent it achieving something more useful.
Author:  Ginger [ Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Scouts and ZoC exploit
+1 to the above.

About the only thing that this prevents is Sustaining, which obviously affects artillery and 'shooty' formations more than the rest, and even these can single out of the ZoC and then shoot.

The other approach is to make scouts the majority of the army to cover as much of the table as possible. This forces the opponent to destroy formations just to get out of his half of the table, and if not successfully countered, would automatically give you 2-0 for DtF and TSNP - though in practice that would be hard to actually achieve ;) :D
Author:  ffoley [ Thu Aug 25, 2016 12:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Scouts and ZoC exploit
If you e.g. play steel legion you could put enemy formation/s in the ZoC of sentinels/rough riders whilst keeping your commisar unit well back and hidden (utilising that 20cm scout coherency). If the enemy breaks your scouts by shooting or engaging you have the option of running your surviving broken but fearless commissar forward to within 10cm of the same formation/s keeping it in ZoC
Author:  kmino [ Thu Aug 25, 2016 1:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Scouts and ZoC exploit
Thanks guys!

I agree with Ginger that the trick is only guaranteed to prevent sustaining (plus overwatch and marshal & shoot, to be pedant); all of the other scenarios depend on the way formations are spread out, their range and, conclusively, on the course the game has taken.
Author:  Kyrt [ Tue Aug 30, 2016 2:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Scouts and ZoC exploit
You might see the tactic referred to her as "zoc'ing", as in, the verb "to zoc".
Author:  Kyrt [ Tue Aug 30, 2016 2:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Scouts and ZoC exploit
Oh and I wouldn't call it an exploit, far from it. Scouts exert a wide exclusion zone that the enemy steers clear of, that's kinda their thing.
Author:  kmino [ Tue Aug 30, 2016 8:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Scouts and ZoC exploit
@ Kirt:
You know, I have never seen it played, so when I came up with the idea I wondered if my gaming buddies would have accepted it as a legal move. Also I never met the "zoc'ing" term (or never noticed that).
Now I've got some "tactical command sez that" to quell any protest.

Thanks again!
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