Combat Ratio Differential Codes
To determine which is the appropriate Combat Results Table
column to use in resolving a combat, cross-index the defender’s strength
with the attacker’s strength to arrive at a letter code. These codes (A
through L, excluding I) correspond to the 11 ratio/differential columns on the
Combat Results Table. Once a column has been determined, refer to the Combat
Results Table and apply any applicable column shift modifiers. For instance,
if an attacking strength of 4 were to attack a defending force of 3, the letter
code on the Combat Ratio/Differential Determination Chart would be F {the +1,
+2 column}; if the defender occupied a forest hex, he would receive a one-column
shift to the left, and the combat would be resolved on the E column (0). The
code (-) indicates that if the attacker makes the attack his force will be eliminated,
and the defender will be completely unaffected. The codes (L2, L3, L4) indicate
the number of defensive shifts (to the left) that are required to reduce the
ratio to less than 4 to 1 {the L column, on the far right of the CRT}. For instance,
if 21 SP’s attack 4 SP’s occupying a swamp hex, the result from
the Combat Ratio/Differential Determination Chart is L2, which indicates that
the L column (4 to 1) will be used unless the defender receives at least two
column shifts. The column shift for swamp is 2; therefore, the combat is resolved
on the K column (3 to 1). If the attacker had crossed an un-navigable river
hexside, the column shift would have been 3, and the combat would have been
resolved on the J column (2 to 1). The code (o) indicates that no matter how
many shifts are applied, the attack will be an overrun. The codes (o1, o2, o3,
o4) indicate the number of column shifts necessary to prevent an overrun from
occurring. If the shifts are available, then the combat is resolved on the L
column (4 to 1). For instance, 9 SP’s attack 1 SP; the result from the
above table is (o2). Thus, if the 1 SP occupies a swamp hex (2 shifts), the
combat is resolved on the L column. If at least 2 shifts are not available,
then the combat is resolved as an overrun.