Detection and Reconnaissance Phase

When battling for control of a world, knowing where to find the enemy is not always an indicator to being able to force them into combat. As with Strategic BattleForce, devoting attention to locating and identifying your opponent can mean the difference between sending an infantry regiment into the guns of an artillery barrage and catching your opponents commander with your assault ’Mech regiment.

### STEP 1: DETECTION

In Abstract Combat Ground Formations default to being visible and start play with their Blip Counter on the Planetary Combat Map. The exception to this are Formations being transported by an Aerospace Formation, or Formations that have successfully hidden themselves using the Hidden Formations rules. All Aerospace Formations begin play hidden and must be detected before their Blip Counters are placed on the Star-System Radar. If the aerospace Formation begins play in a ground airbase, then it must either be detected by discovering its airfield or when it conducts an Aerospace Ground Support Mission. In the latter case, only the Aerospace Formation is detected and not its airbase, which must be detected normally.

#### Visual and Sensor Detection

At the Abstract Combat scale, even the best battlefield sensors are little more than a drop in a bucket. In Abstract Combat sensors, recon abilities and dedicated recon Formations provide bonuses to detection in hexes where a Formation is located. This is part of the value of a Recon Formation as it deploys across multiple hexes, giving it a larger area over which it can attempt to detect and identify enemy forces.

#### Detecting Hostile Forces

These rules follow the Strategic BattleForce rules, including the optional Simple Detection rules, with the following changes.

#### Detection Range:

Ground Formations must be in the same hex as the forces it is attempting to detect. Aerospace performing Aerial Recon may detect Formations in its hex and all surrounding hexes. Aerospace in the Peripheral or Outer sectors of the Star-System Radar may only detect Formations in their same sector. In the Middle Sector they may detect Formations in any adjacent Middle or Inner zone sector. In the Inner Sector they may detect a Formation in any Inner Zone sector or adjacent Medium zone sector.

#### Detection Results:

Unless a Formation is hidden, then a Formation defaults to Solid Lock. A roll may still be made, if the detecting player wishes to attempt to gain more information. Sensor Detection Modifiers: Use the Detection column of the Master Modifier Table for Abstract Combat modifiers.

#### Hidden Formations:

Hidden Formations remain hidden unless a successful detection roll is made. If the roll fails or no roll is made, the Formation remains hidden. Aerospace Formations on Aerial Recon may not detect hidden Formations.

#### Detection Cost:

It costs Combat Formations 1 MP to make a detection roll. Recon Formations may make detection rolls at no cost.

### STEP 2: RECONNAISSANCE

While the location of hostile forces is better known in Abstract Combat, determining the composition of the hostile Formation still requires a concerted scouting effort. While sensors aid in this, the speed, skill and distance covered by a Formation are the best tools to determining what is behind that hostile Blip Counter. Except as noted below, these rules follow the Strategic BattleForce rules for Reconnaissance.

#### Detection Range:

Same as for Detecting Hostile Forces, above.

#### Sensor Detection Modifiers:

Use the Detection column of the Master Modifier Table for Abstract Combat modifiers.

#### Hidden Formations:

Unless a Formation has already been detected, a recon attempt may not be made.

#### Reconnaissance Cost:

It costs a Combat Formation 2 MP per recon scan. Recon Formations get two free Recon Scans and pay 1 MP for each additional Recon Scan.