Template Rules

Templates

 "Hmmm.  Did I hit that guy or not?"

Some weapons fire a template, which will be noted in their rules.  In order to fire a template, the controller of the shooting unit must nominate a target model in range and line of site.  Place the center of the template over the target model.

Templates must normally be placed with their longest dimension on a line perpendicular to the direction of fire.  (Any exceptions will be noted in the weapon's rules.)  This is of course irrelevant for circular templates, which have no particular direction of orientation.

If the firing unit contains of multiple template weapons, each template may be placed on different models.
Alternatively, a battery of identical weapons in the target unit may fire together. If fired in this manner, all the templates must be placed touching or overlapping so that both templates lie along a line running perpendicular to the direction of fire and crossing the target model. The longest dimension of all templates must align centrally with the same line.  The target model must be in the approximate center of the line of templates. (This sounds complicated but it basically means make a T.  The target model is the cross of the T, and the top is the two templates.) 

Count the number of models from each unit under each template or templates (friend or foe).  A model is under a template if any portion of its base (or hull) is under the template, but not if the template only covers a protruding arm or a gun barrel or some such.  If a model is under more than one template, then it is counted multiple times -- once for each template that covers it.

Then roll to hit for any units, using an RoF equal to the total number of models covered in it, based on this count.  Use normal modifiers.  The owner of any units struck assigns hits normally, with the exception that all hits must be assigned only to models under the template or templates.

If the template covers friendly models, then the firing unit must immediately roll Leadership.  If they fail, they become Supressed, as they try to correct whatever error led to friendly fire.

Geek Notes

I have tried to design rules that are simple, sensible, and do not make major exceptions to the normal firing sequence.  Many games use rules that scatter templates.  Frankly, I find the pain in the ass associated with such rules outweighs any momentary joy I gain from seeing a template land on the wrong unit.

Another common question is whether a player can deliberately target a friendly unit or piece of ground.  There are a number of play advantages to such a strategy -- foe example, by locking any enemy unit into place with cheap troops and then bombarding the crap out of them.  Most games disallow such friendly fire, as the troops involved would (presumably) recoil from such bloodthirsty orders.  On the other hand, accidental friendly fire seems entirely likely.  I'm hoping my rules will penalize such tactics without disallowing them altogether.

Astute readers will notice that in this system, templates do not automatically pin a target.  This is because templates might be used to represent things besides artillery or mortars.  Any extra suppressive effect will therefore be covered by rules associated with the weapon, not templates per se.  Likewise, many weapons (like mortars or artillery) are too clumsy to fire in the Firefight phase.  This too will be addressed in weapon rules, and not in the Template rules.