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Brom Geste
Rules for the
French Foreign Legion

 Brom Geste!
  or: A Hot Day in the Palms
Rules For The French Foreign Legion
(North Africa, circa 1890)

INTRODUCTION
As can be seen by anyone familiar with Volley Fire!, this rule set, developed in the mid-Eighties, was the precursor of that 1:1 ratio game concept. The major difference was the use of "Order Chips" as defined below. Only three games--Foreign Legion vs. Bedouins--were ever played. The group I was in at the time did not like the "Chip" technique so we abandoned the whole project. Interestingly, I wrote these rules over a long weekend (started Friday evening and they were ready for a game at 1:00 pm Sunday), so be kind with your barbed arrows regarding the lack of a lot of detail herein.

I made the "Chips" using small red and green Bingo discs painted black on one side so you couldnít see the colors when they were face down on the table. They could just as easily be colored card-board squares, old poker chips, or the like.

At any rate, here they are. Some of you might have some fun with this approach if you can handle the full table being in range. Most contemporary gamers canít. Show me Iím wrong!

CAVALRY

1. It takes an ACTION Chip to Mount or Dismount in place.
2. Must leave 1-in-4 figures as dismounted horse holders. They cannot Fire and must Meleeís as infantry.
3. Dismounted cavalry that lose a Melee have a 50% chance of taking their horses back with them (4, 5, 6 on a D6). If not, the horses are gone for the rest of the game.
4. Dismounted horsemen Move, Fire, and Melee as infantrymen (see Tables).

RIFLE FIRE

1. The whole table is in range (the rules were tested on a 6í x 12í table).
2. All Fire is by unit, straight line-of-sight, in a 90í arc to a figures facing direction.
3. A deployed double line in the open can fire both ranks. Figures lining Rough Terrain only Fire one rank. Only the front ranks of Mass formations can Fire.
4. Full figures must be in view to be considered targets in the open (a toy periscope is ideal in determining this issue).
5. To Fire overhead the firer or target must be elevated and the target must be further from intervening troops or terrain then the firer.
6. Fire is always directed at the closest threatening enemy target. Fire can be split at multiple threatening targets. The target Player decides which figures are hit (except leaders, which the dice roll determines).
7. Target units moving into, out-of, or through a Fire zone are elligible targets.
8. Targets going Prone at instant of Fire roll a D6. A 4, 5, 6 they are hit as "upright- moving" targets. A 1, 2, 3 and they are hit as "Prone" targets.
9. Prone figures can only Fire one rank deep.

MACHINE GUNS

1. Point out target unit(s) within a 90 degree arc to its front and roll 12 D20. (See Firing Table.) Each gun has 12 "belts" of ammunition per game. Record each "belt" fired.
2. Two unwounded figures are required to Move or Fire a gun--but it can be crewed by anyone.
3. Replacement crew members can fire on the Phase they arrive at the gun if there is an unplayed FIRE Chip in place there.
4. To re-crew and Move a gun, move to the gun on one ACTION chip and stay in place. On any subsequent ACTION Chip the Gun and crew may move.
5. To destroy a gun--just prior to the melee--roll any number but a "6" on a D6.
6. If gun and crew are attached to a unit treat as Mounted Leaders, item 2, regarding casualties. If not attached, and are a designated target, treat as Mounted Leaders, item 3.

MELEE

1. Attacking unit declares "Charge!", points out target, and then rolls Movement dice for distance. Each elligible figure that makes contact will fight in the ensuing Melee. The Defending unit is pinned in place and all take part in the fight. Any other defenders within 3" of those attacked can also participate. (Units in structures cannot move out to support such.)
2. If attacker does not make contact, he moves forward the distance he rolled, and goes Prone if infantry. Cavalry are disordered. (Mark such units, as it will take an ACTION Chip to re-form).
3. Combat is figure-versus-figure with the highest modified die-roll winning that individual combat. The loser is killed with a "1" on the die. Other numbers and the loser temporarily falls to the rear of the fight. Fight enlisted men first, unit Leaders next, and Mounted Leaders last. The unit that has all itís participants killed or driven back is the loser and is demoralized. The winner holds the ground and can reform and reface in place.
4. Fight multi-unit melees in the sequence in which they made contact.
5. Both winning and losing "fall-back" figures rejoin their units after the Melee is resolved.
6. Mounted cavalry cannot engage in Melee against figures in structures.

FLANK OR REAR ATTACKS

DEMORALIZED UNITS

1. Immediately mark the unit accordingly (a ring, marker, etc.)
2. The unit must immediately procede on its next ACTION Chip to a safe area (where they cannot receive enemy fire). They will move at Charge speed (no heat casualties), taking no terrain penalties,and go directly towards their objective.
3. These units cannot Fire and can initiate no Melees.
4. Cannot be regrouped until they are in the safe area and expend 1 action chip.
5. If attacked involved in a melee the attacker gets a plus 2 combat modifier.
6. If any unit accumulates three demoralized markers, it instantly routs from the table.

FIRING TABLE Roll 1 D20 for each firer. Current Order Chip defines posture. (Pistols and Carbines have a 5'[60"] range)
Target Description
Weapons	Standing Upright In Open	Moving Upright In Open	Prone, Mtd. Leaders In Open	In Cover
Dismounted Rifles	1-7	1-6	1-5	1-4
Dismounted Carbines	1-6	1-5	1-4	1-3
Pistols & Mtd. Carbines	1-4	1-3	1,2	1
Mounted Rifles	1-5	1-4	1-3	1,2
Bedouin Spear (12" max range)	1-4	1-3	1,2	1
Machine Guns	1-8	1-7	1-6	1-5

MELEE TABLE
Troop Type	Melee Dice Modifiers
Chasseur D'Afrique, Bedouin Horse, Mtd. Leaders	Die Roll, +1, Win Ties
Legion Infantry, Bedouin Foot Swordsmen, & Spahis	Die Roll, +1
Bedouin Foot Spearmen, All Machine Gunners	Die Roll, Win Ties
Bedouin Foot Riflemen	Die Roll
Add The Above To The Following Status & Posture Modifiers
STATUS & POSTURE (Current Chip Defines "Standing" or "Moving".)	MODIFIERS
Charging Infantry vs. Standing Infantry In The Open	Die Roll +1
Charging Cavalry Vs. Standing Cavalry In The Open	Die Roll +1
Charging Cavalry vs. Infantry In The Open	Die Roll +2
Defending Structures & Rough Terrain Against Infantry	Die Roll +1
Defending Rough Terrain Against Cavalry	Die Roll +2
Charging Flank, Rear Or Demoralized Troops	Die Roll +2
Charging Prone, Mounting/Dismounting or Disordered Troops	Die Roll +1
Infantry Squares Vs. Infantry	Die Roll +1
Infantry Squares Vs. Cavalry	Die Roll +1, Infantry Wins Ties
Dismounted Cavalry In All Situations	Die Roll

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