Creating Crossfire Crests

[Grey Panda]

Terrain is handled a little differently in Crossfire than in many of the other WW2 Rule Systems I've played. Due to the non-measuring nature of movement in Crossfire terrain features cleverly act as Zones where the active units move to in single bounds as long as they maintain the Initiative.

In this way terrain features become a type of "Game Board Square" where the units or pieces are shifted around the tabletop.
This can be a marvellous way of allowing both players to concentrate on the tactical challenges of the battle rather than continuously measuring out their slow crawl across a wheat field.

This unique movement mechanic does present some challenges to how certain types of terrain on the table should be represented. One of these represented terrain types are hill "crests." Crests as terrain features in Crossfire are not mentioned in the main rules but in the later Scenario Supplement "Hit The Dirt." If like me you've ever walked through the European countryside you might have noticed that even the plainest open field will often have low and high points that can offer the alert solider many natural positions of cover. In a small skirmish game if I was so inclined to place these features I would normally elevate the cloth of the table by placing batting or cotton wool beneath. But with the terrain representations of Crossfire these crests should be modelled in a way that highlights their placement and position.

If you're interested to see how I got on please check out my blog:

http://warpanda.blogspot.ca