Favourite rule

[fsn]

Many moons ago, I added a rule to my set. This was the "Hollywood Shot" rule. The Hollywood Shot allows for an impossible shot/charge/heroic act to be undertaken. The Holywood Shot (HS) mimics that time in a film when the hero/anti hero/best friend pulls of the shot/kills the enemy champion/etc. Only one side may deploy the HS, and it can be only be used to "turn the tide" of a battle. For example, the hero steps forth to take on the Goblin King who has is rolling up the militia; the best friend rallies the cavalry to attack the guns and so save the day; the plucky infantryman takes control of the 6pdr and takes out that nasty Tiger; someone has to blow that bridge ... that pillbox is holding up the attack ... 

There are however some preconditions:

    1) The HS can only be used by one side - AKA"goodies".
    2) The HS can only be used in a time of crisis.
    3) No fire directed at a unit deploying a HS will be effective enough to destroy the unit before the HS is effected. After that, they unit may "die" . ("Did I get him, Jim?" "Sure, Bob. That Hun tank is just a pile of wreckage now. You got him good." "Tell Maisie I love her." "Bob! Bob! Goddamn it Bob! You stay with me! MEDIC... MEDIC ...."
    4) The HS has a 50% chance of success.
    5) If unsuccessful, the unit attempting the HS is destroyed.

As a solo gamer, the HS can be fun. The difficulty comes in the definition, and I find I can usually negotiate successfully with myself. In a multiplayer game, it may be something an umpire could decide.   

Anyone else got any favourite rules?

[Last Hussar]

In the Wars of the Roses campaign rules I wrote, to create WM scenarios.

Rule 1)  Open a bottle of beer.

Sunjester likes this rule.  Also Subsection a) Open another beer.

[FierceKitty]

Can't play colonials unless you enjoy the jammed Gatling rule.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I always liked the two Peter Pig AK47 victory point rules +1 if lucky/+1 if honest and the great +1 if called 'xxxx'!

[petercooman]

I always enjoyed the random attack rule for giants in warhammer (heresy i know)

There's just something about picking up the enemy general and stuffing him down your undies that says 'don't mess with me' 

[paulr]

In General Quarters I & II each time a battery (basically mains or secondaries) you roll 3 dice. If you roll 6 6 6 your battery has just suffered a turret explosion 

I have come close on one one occasion 6 6 5  while using main guns on the Dunkerque to pick on a destroyer at long range. Have only seen it happen once, so far.

[Hertsblue]

Many years ago, when I could still run, I took part in several paintball games in woodland up near Hertford. During one game a patrol of a dozen or so of us set off to find the enemy's base. After ten minutes of walking through trackless woodland I stopped and looked around and the only person still with me was my mate. Everyone else had vanished without trace. Furthermore, we hadn't the faintest idea of which way to go to our objective and the only way we found our way out was to march towards the sound of firing and yelling.

The day after, I wrote into my horse and musket set a rule that any unit entering a dense wood should dice every move to see if it became inextricably lost. I still believe it's valid.   

[petercooman]

Many years ago, when I could still run, I took part in several paintball games in woodland up near Hertford. During one game a patrol of a dozen or so of us set off to find the enemy's base. After ten minutes of walking through trackless woodland I stopped and looked around and the only person still with me was my mate. Everyone else had vanished without trace. Furthermore, we hadn't the faintest idea of which way to go to our objective and the only way we found our way out was to march towards the sound of firing and yelling.

The day after, I wrote into my horse and musket set a rule that any unit entering a dense wood should dice every move to see if it became inextricably lost. I still believe it's valid.   

That's a nice rule! Straigth out of real life!

[kipt]

I had a similar rule to being lost in the woods for a Napoleonic campaign game (Empire Campaign System), but it was for an attack at night.  One of the players wanted to continue the battle after night fell.  He was advancing a line of battalions in line, so I made him roll each turn to see if the advance could continue straight: 1,2 deviate 45 degrees to left, 3,4 continue straight and 5,6 deviate 45 degrees to the right.  Sighting was under musket range and if a contact was made, roll to see if the unit fires.  After firing into his own troops, he hastily called off the attack.

[nikharwood]

In the Wars of the Roses campaign rules I wrote, to create WM scenarios.

Rule 1)  Open a bottle of beer.

Sunjester likes this rule.  Also Subsection a) Open another beer.

I also like this rule. Much. 

[Dave Fielder]

Rule 13: 123 - You lose; 456 - I win. 

[Orcs]

In the Wars of the Roses campaign rules I wrote, to create WM scenarios.

Rule 1)  Open a bottle of beer.

Sunjester likes this rule.  Also Subsection a) Open another beer.

Sunjester has an unfair advantage with this rule, as he does not drive!!

[Maenoferren]

Can't play colonials unless you enjoy the jammed Gatling rule.

yep that and you cant close the back face of the square because someone put all the camels in the way....

[Ithoriel]

    "The sand of the desert is sodden red,—
    Red with the wreck of a square that broke;—
    The Gatling's jammed and the Colonel dead,
    And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.
    The river of death has brimmed his banks,
    And England's far, and Honour a name,
    But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks:
    "Play up! play up! and play the game!"

[Subedai]

Back in the Mists of Time (1970's) there was a board game called The Battle of the Five Armies based on the Hobbit. There were a number of scenarios including one with the dwarves taking on Smaug the dragon. The rule said 'Smaug can only be killed by bowfire. The dwarves do not carry bows'. With such unplayable rule logic such as this I flogged it at the next show I went to.