An update to the Update and Clarifications (formerly called Rules Clarifications) came out at the end of this month. We have have made them available at http://wargamingforums.com/downloads/War_at_Sea_Clarifications.pdf (the pdf requires the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the file. You can get Acrobat Reader for FREE HERE).

This update makes two changes to the February 4, 2009 document.  The first is one that we can claim responsibility for.  The second concerns the Hi-Level Bomber special ability.

Even if you have the document from February 4th we strongly urge you to amend it with this new update.  You can either download the complete file using the link above or you can manually make the changes.  We will tell you how at the end of this article.

The first change can be noted on page two section E bullet 1.  The wording from the February 4th document states “When you place an Aircraft in the Air Mission phase, you must announce whether it is Strafing.  To indicate this, place the Aircraft so its base straddles the bow or stern of the ship being strafed, or place some other type of marker.”  There’s a few problems with this, which we debated at length at the Forumini.  What happens if the ship is destroyed before the plane gets to strafe?  Does it lose its strafing attack?  Can it strafe another ship?  Does it have to strafe the ship it is based with?  The intent is that the aircraft can strafe any ship in that sector regardless of where it is based.  But, the rules didn’t say that.  Playing the Devil’s Advocate we said that was poor wording and a member of the Wizards staff, WotC Huscarl, attempted to clarify it resulting in even worse and more ambiguous language.

Wizards’ intent is clear but the rules do not follow their intent.  People settle for less far too often and we didn’t want this to happen with War at Sea.  After much debate Wizards got the message and changed the wording of the appropriate section.  It now reads “When you place an Aircraft in the Air Mission phase, you must announce whether it is Strafing.  To indicate this, place the Aircraft so its base straddles the bow or stern of a ship in the sector or place some other type of marker” (emphasis is mine).  They removed the wording that requires the plane to strafe the ship it is straddling and allows it to straddle any ship in the sector.  Community involvement works!

The other change appears on the last page of the new clarifications.  Previously the Hi-Level Bomber special ability did not show up in this document.  But, the wording on the card contains a typo that significantly changes how the unit works.  The card says “Whether this unit makes a Bomb attack, it only scores hits on a 6…”  Wizards meant to say success not hit because a hit goes right to Hull Points and a success does not.  The wording on the card makes the unit incredibly powerful for its points.

Wizards rectified this when it changed the wording of Hi-Level Bomber to “Whenever this unit makes a Bomb attack, it scores successes on 6s only.  This unit can’t attack Destroyers or Torpedo Boats with Bomb attacks.”  The Halifax still earns two successes for each 6 it rolls but it only scores successes when 6s are rolled.  Once again community involvement and a willingness on Mr. Baker’s part to listen to the community played key roles.

I am very happy with these two changes and am ecstatic that I helped to directly influence a positive change in the rules.  Mr. Baker and the incredible team at Wizards has made the changes in the Update & Clarifications document that the War at Sea community asked for.  Community involvement works!

Lastly, we promised we would tell you how to manually update your February 4th document to comply with the February 27th document.  Go to page 2 of the February 4th document.  Look at Section E bullet 1.  Cross out the sentence “To indicate this, place the Aircraft so its base straddles the bow or stern of the ship being strafed, or place some other type of marker” and replace it with “To indicate this, place the Aircraft so its base straddles the bow or stern of a ship in the sector or place some other type of marker.”

Now go to page 8 of the February 4th document.  Look at the Special Abilities section.  After the Daw the CAP and before the Lay Smoke Screen section insert the following “Hi-Level Bomber: Whenever this unit makes a Bomb attack, it scores successes on 6s only.  This unit can’t attack Destroyers or Torpedo Boats with Bomb attacks.”

Be sure to read, print out, and share the Rules Clarifications. In case you forgot the URL we have made the clarifications available at http://wargamingforums.com/downloads/War_at_Sea_Clarifications.pdf (the pdf requires the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the file. You can get Acrobat Reader for FREE HERE).