Bouncing canon ball

[William Bath 2]

For war gaming purposes could a canon ball bounce or ricochet up a hill.

[Admiral Alder]

I'd probably say no, if only because by making allowances to ground scale, where a single "model" might represent 10/20 actual men, the single polystyrene hill represents a series of different complex gradients and rises etc.

I think it would be possible to fire a cannon ball up hill and have it bounce, but only if the muzzle was aligned to the same gradient as the "hill", and ball would bounce if it landed on the summit.

I think for wargaming purposes being as battles rarely take place on golf course fairways it fair to abandon realism for the general feel or effect, being on an elevated and exposed position would make formed infantry easier targets for artillery, so maybe keep the "bounce" effect from the rules set even if that's not what's actually happening...

[vtsaogames]

I'd say no. Also, any kind of stone wall or other solid obstacle or soft/boggy ground would also stop ricochet shots.

[William Bath 2]

Thanks for the replies, the rules just say that the next unit behind the targeted unit gets hit. I recently played a game and the next unit behind the target was on a hill so it was hit.

[flags_of_war]

Thanks for the replies, the rules just say that the next unit behind the targeted unit gets hit. I recently played a game and the next unit behind the target was on a hill so it was hit.

In these situations i always say trust in the dice gods. 1-3 it smashing into the hill, 4-6 it skims the ground right into the next target.

[Dan55]

I'd also say no.  A bouncing cannon ball needs to ricochet in order to bounce, and this would probably be very difficult to accomplish when firing at a hill.  It would more likely bury itself into the hill.

[Billchuck]

I expect it requires the right circumstances to happen, but Mythbusters did (accidentally) prove that a cannonball can ricochet up a hill (and into a house beyond the hill). 

https://mythbusters.fandom.com/wiki/Cannonball_accident

[Elk101]

Shot bouncing uphill is referenced in 'Edgehill the Battle Reinterpreted' by Alan, Turton and von Arni. Pages 81 - 82. You can see those pages online as samples in Google Books.

[vtsaogames]

I expect it requires the right circumstances to happen, but Mythbusters did (accidentally) prove that a cannonball can ricochet up a hill (and into a house beyond the hill). 

https://mythbusters.fandom.com/wiki/Cannonball_accident

Wow! Are they lucky no one got hurt!

[William Bath 2]

One canon ball from the Mythbusters and one canon ball at Edgehill. But what about the any subsequent fire, my first choice for next game is a no and then if there is no agreement it will be as Flags posted 1-3 yes 4-6 no.