Up to now in my design work I have used the following wording for a Ski Capable special ability:
Ski Capable - In snow this unit has speed 2 in the movement phase.
I have decided to rework this so that the second move is not automatic. So the wording would now become this:
Ski Capable - In your movement phase, this unit gets +1 speed if the first hex it enters is a snow hex. A successful movement roll is required.
So if the first hex it moves into is not snow covered (river terrain for example), then no movement bonus. If it is snow covered, the second move requires a successful movement roll. In play test games, ski capable units appeared to be moving way to fast. This change still allows these units to move quickly if you roll well.
What do you think? Is the wording clear? Could it be worded better? Or is it good as is?
It makes sense to me, and I agree that the “speed bump” seems to be warranted in this case.
Thank you for your input.
Now here is something that came up during play testing. A ski capable unit is moving in the movement phase and advances into a snow hex. The unit wishes to make a second move, but there is a stream along the hex side between the first and second hex. Should this unit have to make 1 or 2 movement rolls? One for crossing the Stream and a second one for the ski capable requirement. Since the unit has to already make a movement roll already for the SA, should that be enough? My first reaction was to say you need to do both movement rolls. But now I'm having second thoughts. What do you think?
I think just one. Isn’t the stream frozen anyway? Logically it would also be snow covered?
Whether or not the stream, river or lake is frozen depends on the time period of the scenario. For those occurring in April of 1940 there is a good chance the water would be frozen. Ocean hexes would not freeze over. When you get into May and June a lot of that freshwater snow and ice melts away. And then it would become an obstacle. I read some historical accounts saying German and British forces took a chance and tried to cross a river or lake that was partly frozen and succeeded. Both the Allied and Axis side even tried to land aircraft on frozen lakes. In some cases it worked and in others the aircraft broke through the ice and sank into the water.
Even so, probably one movement roll should be enough.