Modern Rules
For a more modern or near future setting, there are some assumptions that Dirtside make which don't quite fit. Technically, everything could have HVC weapons as the main tank gun, but that doesn't give much differentiation between modern day forces.
Some of these are taken from/based on some WW2 rules for Dirtside.
Movement
- Very Slow Tracked 5“
- Medium Tracked 10”
- Half Tracked 8“
Armour
Composite Armour
Denoted as /C on the armour profile. All the benefits of Reactive armour, plus can be up to one level higher than the size class of the vehicle. Maybe ignore first 'special' chit type against it?
Weapons
Light Tank Cannon (LTC)
The Light Tank Cannon is for WW2 era tanks. Shorter range and less effective killing power than later tank guns, it is only ever used with BASIC fire control systems.
Also: If move more than half movement, fire control is dropped two levels (so can only shoot at Close Range at D4). If moving up to half movement, fire control is dropped one level (D4 at Medium, D6 at Close).
| Weapon System | Class | Close Range | Medium Range | Long Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Tank Cannon | 1 | 6” | 9“ | 12” |
| Light Tank Cannon | 2 | 8“ | 12” | 16“ |
| Light Tank Cannon | 3 | 10” | 15“ | 20” |
| Light Tank Cannon | 4 | 12“ | 18” | 24“ |
| Light Tank Cannon | 5 | 14” | 21“ | 28” |
Close: Red and Yellow, Medium: Red, Long: Green. Infantry: Yellow
Heavy Rifled Gun (HRG)
Rifled tank gun, good accuracy at range. Used mostly by British guns.
| Weapon System | Class | Close Range | Medium Range | Long Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Rifled Gun | 3 | 16“ | 24” | 32“ |
| Heavy Rifled Gun | 4 | 18” | 27“ | 36” |
| Heavy Rifled Gun | 5 | 20“ | 30” | 40“ |
Close: R&Y; Medium: R; Long: G; Infantry: Y
Main Tank Cannon (MTC)
Smoothbore cannon used by most tank designs. Designed for heavy hitting power.
| Weapon System | Class | Close Range | Medium Range | Long Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Tank Cannon | 3 | 12” | 18“ | 24” |
| Main Tank Cannon | 4 | 14“ | 21” | 28“ |
| Main Tank Cannon | 5 | 16” | 24“ | 32” |
Close: ALL; Medium: R&Y; Long: R; Infantry: G
The MTC isn't well suited against soft targets. Against any vehicles with less than 2 armour, hits are Y only at all ranges.
FireCon Stability
Under standard rules, a vehicle can half move without penalty, or full move with a negative die shift to shooting.
Thinking of bring in special rules for :
- No stability: Cannot fire and move.
- Basic stability: Can fire if move up to half, -1 die shift.
- Enhanced stability: Can half move without penalty, full move -1 die shift (standard rules)
- Superior stability: Full move without penalty.
Stealth
- Advanced camouflage schemes which include digital and thermal camouflage count as Stealth 1.
Night Operations
Dirtside assumes that all forces have high quality night vision. This isn't true today, and definitely wasn't true for much of the 20th century.
| Night Sensors | Short | Medium | Long | Max Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | -2 Die | -2 Die | -2 Die | 15“ |
| Basic* | -1 Die | -1 Die | -1 Die | 30” |
| Enhanced | N/A | -1 Die | -1 Die | 45“ |
| Superior | N/A | N/A | -1 Die | 60” |
The standard is assumed to be Basic sensors.
The typical standard during the Cold war was Basic, and during WW2 it would be None.