AFV markers for Chain of Command

I wrote an earlier post on my new game markers for Chain of Command v2, which was focussed mainly on pieces for infantry and support units. This one covers markers specifically for vehicles. As with the infantry markers, I've tried to find things that fit with the models and blend in with the table. That said, they must always serve their primary function as markers. No point crafting a beautiful looking marker that blends in so well with the table it doesn't stand out.

Once again, I've raided the spares box for various odds and ends. These include bits from various model kits as well as markers from other rule sets like What a Tanker. 

The most obvious use for a piece of spare track is to mark a tracked vehicle that has become immobilised.

The spanner can perform a similar function.

Alternatively, the spanner could be placed on the engine deck to mark Engine Damage. 

Although, I think I prefer a small plume of smoke in that role. 

The plumes of smoke have multiple uses and could easily work to represent an immobilised vehicle.

The target/gun sight marker works to record a vehicle that has already been targeted.

Rather than have it sit on the target vehicle, I also think it can work just as well to mark the gun that has the vehicle in its sights. 

I included my idea for Overwatch markers in my earlier post, but I'll include them here to be complete. I'm still debating where best to place them, as there are a few options. My original intention is they are placed on the ground, facing the direction covered by the overwatch.

A few people have commented that it looks a bit odd with half a torso appearing to emerge from the earth (perhaps that's more suited to a zombie game). As I've painted the base to match the colour of each nationality's camouflage schemes it doesn't look too out of place on the turret.

Alternatively, if that's a bit too much, perhaps on the rear engine deck?

I suspect I just need to be flexible. Much depends on the size of the vehicle and the turret.

To mark a tank commander who has been stunned, I am using the same casualty figure I use for stunned senior leaders.

Once again, there are options for where you might place it. I try to keep in mind it's key function is as a game marker, if it blends in too well with the model it may fail to achieve its purpose as a visual aid.

I find it helpful to mark an AFV that has moved flat out. As the move often occurs in a previous phase, it's easy to forget to take that into account when working out the modifiers to hit. 

I thought a plume of dust would be a great way to do that. Polyester cushion stuffing is ideal for this job as it is rigid and makes a better shape than cotton wool. To help it stay in position I glued it down to an MDF base to give it some weight.

All it needed was an earth colour to make it look more like dust. I used my airbrush and gave each of them a misting of Tamiya Flat Earth.

Not sure if I've overdone the size of the dust plume, it's probably more suited to the desert. Although having said that I know the summer in Normandy 1944 was hot and dry, making dust a major issue. So perhaps it's not too wide of the mark.

They certainly add a sense of movement to the table. More importantly, they are a good reminder that the AFV moved flat out in their last active phase.

Previously, I've used the exact same mini-dice that I use to mark shock on infantry units. However, you only ever need to record up to three points of shock on an AFV. Once it exceeds that amount the crew bail out and the markers are no longer required. In that sense a D6 is overkill, so I gave thought to how I could record up to three points of shock and came up with the idea of jerry cans. The spares box is full of far more of these than I'll ever need and so it was easy enough to paint up ten or so. I've opted for red to make them stand out, especially as I can often have jerry cans as stowage on the tank models themselves, so these need to stand out as different. 

Again, there are options for where they can best be placed.

There is certainly no requirement in the rules to represent a tank crew when it bails out. They simply vanish from the table. So this is more an indulgence and excuse to paint figures. 

That said, I do find using a few appropriate figures when photographing our games can go a long way to help tell the story. In this case, I've used figures from the excellent AB Figures range. More about that project can be found in this post.

In a slightly similar way, I can always find a use for a wreck, particularly when we are playing a pint sized campaign and refighting a scenario where tanks were destroyed in the previous game. In that instance the wreck model becomes more than a reminder of what happened earlier, it is a new piece of terrain, with potential for cover or to block line of sight.