ABLE ARCHER (restructured and revised)
These are the Able Archer rules for Cold War miniatures
company-level wargaming, with a new layout, a new game
scale, and some additional options. Players will also need
the unit data available with these rules. These rules are
best used with 6mm miniatures.
Scale
It is recommended that 1” represent a distance of 33’ (10
m). One turn represents up to 1 minute of real time. Each
vehicle model represents a single vehicle, and a stand of
infantry represents a team of up to 5 soldiers.
Units
The basic unit of maneuver is the platoon, which consists of
2-4 similar vehicles or 2-4 personnel squads. An element is
a single base of infantry or an individual vehicle or weapon
team.
Note: For smaller scale games, use the squad as the basic
unit of maneuver and activate by squad rather than
platoon.
Turn Sequence
 Initiative phase
o Any persistent effects rolls are resolved
and results applied. These may be executed in any
desired order.
o Each player rolls 2d6 for initiative. The
Veteran
player with the higher total is the initiative player Experience
for the turn. d
o Reinforcements may be rolled for if Green
applicable. Civilian
 Activation phase
o Players alternate moving and firing
platoons in the order determined by the initiative
player, who may also choose which side goes first.
o Unit activations alternate between
players until all platoons have acted. If all have
acted on one player’s side, the other may
complete its activations uninterrupted.
 Morale phase
o Companies that have crossed a morale
threshold test and apply results, starting with the
initiative player.
Optional: Activation Roll
Inspired by Bob Cordery’s Portable Wargames
At the beginning of each turn, each player rolls 1d3 for each
available leader unit and another d3 for every 5 available
non-leader units. The result is the number of units that can
activate during that turn. A player with veteran units rolls
twice for each activation roll, taking the higher result.
Able Archer rules by Jan Hayden Juklíček. Rescaling inspired by Mako11 at The Miniatures Page.
Activation Options
Activated platoons perform 1 order each, announced by the
player immediately prior to execution.
Move and fire: Elements may move up to their movement
allowance and fire at any point during movement if desired.
Fast move: Elements must move at least movement
allowance and up to 1.5x allowance and may not fire. A
platoon may not fast move 2 turns in a row.
Intensive fire: All elements of the platoon may fire with a
modifier of -1 to the to-hit number and may not move.
Overwatch: Platoon may move up to half of its movement,
and then the player announces that it will fire during a
future enemy activation. The platoon’s activation is
temporarily suspended and marked accordingly. Platoons
on overwatch may fire at any moving element during an
enemy platoon’s activation. All elements must fire during
the same enemy activation. Firing may be announced any
time up to the completion of an enemy’s activation or
immediately afterward.
Troop Quality
C2 Range, CQ Ratings, Training Dice, and To-Hit
Adjustments
Training C2 Range CQ Training To-hit
Rating die adjustment*
6” 6 d10 -1
4” 7 d8 0
3” 8 d6 +1
2” 9 d5 +2
*When firing at a vehicle.
Command and Control (C2)
Each platoon must keep its elements within a certain
distance (C2 range) of each other. C2 range depends on the
unit’s training. Line of sight (LoS) is not necessary to
maintain C2.
C2 rating affects leadership and/or command modifiers for
crew quality checks. Leadership range for a
command/leader element is equal to 2x the platoon’s C2
range in each C2 rating category.
C2 range must be verified at the beginning of a unit’s
activation and when it attacks an enemy unit. An element
outside C2 range upon activation must move to be within
C2 range of another element of the same platoon or squad
at the end of its activation. If it cannot, it must move its full
available movement allowance toward another element of
the same unit.
Elements outside C2 range add 1 to the to-hit number
when attacking vehicles and use a lower training die type
when attacking infantry.
 ABLE ARCHER (restructured and revised)

An infantry team >1” away from another team in the same Bogging Down
squad may not attack. Vehicles entering dangerous terrain must pass a bogging
down test by rolling 3 or above on a d10. Failure results in
The above restrictions do not apply to:
no movement. Bogged down vehicles may test again at
 Fire support officer (FSO) units next activation. A roll of 1 on the 2nd or later test results in
 An element within C2 range of a command/leader permanent vehicle immobilization.
unit
Cover
 An element that is the last surviving
To be considered in cover, an element’s center point must
element of its platoon
be inside the terrain feature. See above table for cover
Movement provided by each type of terrain.
Movement through friendly elements is allowed.
Elements in light cover add 1 to their to-hit number or
Movement through enemy elements is not allowed, except
defense rating, while those in hard cover add 2.
for overrun attacks.
Friendly or enemy elements do not provide cover.
Movement allowance is affected by terrain depending on
an element’s speed and mobility type. Digging in takes an entire activation and is accomplished on
a 4+ roll on d6. Dug-in units have one cover level better
Open terrain: includes fields and roads
than current (none becomes soft, soft becomes hard).
Difficult terrain: includes woods and hills; fast move not
LoS
allowed
Elements must have LoS to conduct a direct attack (see
Very difficult terrain: includes urban and shallow water; fast artillery rules for indirect attacks).
move not allowed
LoS does not exist through woods. An element within 3” of
Dangerous terrain: includes swamp and marsh; use a wood’s edge may be targeted.
movement allowance for very difficult terrain and add risk
Neither friendly nor enemy elements block LoS.
of bogging down
Movement allowance by speed and terrain category
Movement Allowance Combat
Difficul Very Infantry ranged attacks
Open t difficult One squad attacks one squad or soft vehicle per activation.
Speed terrain terrain terrain Fireteams out of C2 range or engaging a different target
Slow 6” 4” 3” may not participate.
Normal 9” 6” 4”
Fast 12” 8” 6” Range is measured from the firing element furthest from
the closest target element, or from the team closest to a
Very fast 15” 10” 7”
soft vehicle target.
To resolve attacks, roll 1 damage die for each fireteam
Terrain categories and cover levels of specific types of
participating and 1 training die for the squad (see troop
terrain
quality table). Add the highest damage die result to the
by mobility type
training die result. +1 for intensive fire orders. Add the
Mobility Type Cover
target’s defense rating to the range modifier and any cover
Terrain Type Wheeled Tracked Infantry modifiers and subtract the result from the attackers’ result.
Scrub/bush Difficult Normal Difficult Light
Consult the firefight outcomes table to determine the
Light woods,
alleys
Dangerous Difficult Difficult Light outcome (a negative number has no effect).
Heavy woods Impassable Impassable Difficult Hard Defense modifiers
Shallow water Very difficult Very difficult Difficult None Range: +1 for medium, +2 for long, +4 for maximum.
Deep water Impassablea Impassable a Impassable None
Urban Difficult Very difficult Difficult Hard Cover: +1 for soft, +2 for hard. If target squad has fireteams
Problematic Dangerous Dangerous Difficult Depends in different types, use the one providing the lowest defense
Hill Difficult Difficult Normal None modifier.
Cliff Impassable Impassable Impassable b None
a
Consider very difficult for amphibious vehicles. Firer damaged: +3 to defense. If large vehicle has suffered
b
Consider very difficult for units with alpine capabilities. weapons hit, subtract damage modifier from firing unit’s
attack roll.

Able Archer rules by Jan Hayden Juklíček. Rescaling inspired by Mako11 at The Miniatures Page.
ABLE ARCHER (restructured and revised)

Combat outcomes
Firefight outcomes
Missiles: Have a 360° field of fire regardless of element
Differenc Soft type. Only landed air elements may be targeted by anti-
e Infantry Vehicle tank missiles. Anti-air missiles may only be used against air
0 Suppression test Immobile elements while in the air. Guided missiles (ATGM/AAGM)
1 Suppression test +1 Damaged may be used against targets outside LoS (+2 to hit) or within
2 Morale test Destroyed 1” of occupied cover but not those >1” within cover.
3 Morale test +1 Destroyed
Each missile has a to-hit roll. For vehicles firing missiles, if
4 K1 Brewed up
the roll is >3 on-1 1d6, supply is depleted.
5 K2 Brewed up
6 K3 Brewed up Minefield: Elements entering, leaving, or passing through a
7+ K4 Brewed up minefield are attacked using the firefight outcomes table.
Resolve attacks using d6 training die. All vehicles are
Suppression test: Target squad must pass a crew quality test affected as soft targets. Type and strength of attack is
or will be suppressed. Suppression test +1 result adds 1 to scenario-specific. No avoidance test; attack is automatic.
the target number. Gas: Gas has area-of-effect and persistence values. Roll for
Morale test: Squad must take a crew quality test. Pass = removal during initiative phase on a d6 roll of 5 or 6. Attack
suppressed, fail = broken. Morale test +1 result adds 1 to profile is similar to artillery and affects targets on the
squad’s target number. ground and in the air. Affected elements are suppressed on
a failed suppression or morale test. K result automatically
K#: Remove this number of teams and squad takes morale suppresses. Suppressed vehicles operate as though
test using number of teams removed as positive modifier to damaged.
target number.
Crew quality and morale
Weapon types CQ ratings are at company level. Each has a target number
Anti-personnel (AP): Affect personnel and soft vehicles but used in all CQ tests.
not armored vehicles. May be mounted on or carried by
any unit type. Reduce attack die by 1 type against soft Target numbers: Result needed on 2d6 to pass CQ test, with
vehicles. No effect on armored vehicles except in close result equal to or exceeding modified target number to
assault. pass. Modified by conditions specific to each type of test.
Result of 12 always passes, while 2 always fails.
Anti-tank (AT): Effective against armored vehicles using a
damage die roll to the impacted facing of the target’s armor Morale test: Taken at company level during morale phase
to determine penetrating damage. May not attack air by companies with half or less of original elements, and at
elements unless landed. Attacks against personnel have end of any turn in which unit began with less than half and
damage die reduced by 1 type and may not score a result received additional casualties. Failures results in all platoon
>K1. Attacks against unarmored vehicles use to to-hit operating as broken until rallied or destroyed.
damage/training mechanism (not the AFV damage table) Morale test modifiers
with attack die reduced by 1 type. CQ
Anti-air (AA): May target air units. If used against personnel, Each destroyed platoon +2
may not score a result >K1. Reduce attack die by 1 type Each squad losing ≥1/2 elements or all vehicles damaged +1
against armored targets. Each element outside C2 range +1
Weapon type modifiers Each suppressed squad +1
Target type Each command vehicle or leader team in C2 range of any -1
platoon
Weapon Soft
type Infantry armor Armored
Also taken by squads as result on firefight outcomes table
AP Normal -1 die No
unless attached to air units.
type effect
AT -1 die -1 die Normal Squad morale test modifiers
type, type CQ
K1 max Each team destroyed or outside C2 range +1
AA K1 max Normal -1 die Suppressed +1
type All teams in cover -1

Able Archer rules by Jan Hayden Juklíček. Rescaling inspired by Mako11 at The Miniatures Page.
ABLE ARCHER (restructured and revised)
Each command team in C2 range -1
Suppression test: Use morale modifier numbers.
Suppression/morale results
Suppressed: Move up to 1/2 normal movement. May
choose only move/fire orders. Training die reduced by 1
type for all purposes. May not use support weapons or any
attribute that gives a beneficial modifier or reroll for
combat. May not close assault.
A suppressed squad receiving a suppressed result is broken.
Broken: May only choose double time orders. Must move to
increase distance from closest enemy unit without moving
closer to another, or must move to cover >1” inside terrain
feature. Once in cover, stop movement even if less than
allowance. Destroyed if forced to leave table or if cannot
end movement in C2 range.
Broken squads in close combat or overrun are eliminated.
Vehicles in broken company may not make overrun or
missile attacks, only direct fire against elements in front arc.
A broken company is treated as a single platoon for
activation. A broken unit receiving a broken result is routed
and removed.
Rally: Last action of a suppressed/broken unit’s activation.
Must pass CQ morale test with modifiers. Failure has no
effect.
Command and leadership
Command vehicles: Give morale bonus to their company if
all platoons have an element within C2 leadership range,
which is 2x that of normal C2 range. Command vehicles
may share activation with a different platoon each turn.
Leader teams: Are part of any platoon within C2 range. May
not be targeted but may be removed as casualties by
owner’s choice (morale test still required, but do not count
as casualties for morale purposes). Must be removed if a
squad in C2 range is completely eliminated or if all squads
of their platoon or company are eliminated.
Vehicle ranged attacks
Targeting
Each element in a platoon attacks individually and may
target a different element, the same element, or elements
in different platoons. Vehicles with multiple weapons may
fire all at 1 or different elements in 1 activation, as long as
the target is in the vehicle’s firing arc.
Firing and target arcs
Element must be in firing arc to be targeted.
Fixed forward or rear: May fire at target within 90° arc
centered on front or rear of firing element.
Able Archer rules by Jan Hayden Juklíček. Rescaling inspired by Mako11 at The Miniatures Page.
Side: Entire 180° of left or right side of an element, based
on element’s center.
Front/rear arcs: Encompass entire front or rear 180° based
on firing element’s center.
Targeting arcs: Used to determine armor value to use when
resolving attack. Front, rear, left, and right arcs are
measured from the unit’s center to its respective facing.
To-hit number
This number or a higher number must be rolled on 2d6 for
an attack to hit the target vehicle. The target’s signature
(size) value is the base value for the to-hit number. Modify
the signature according to the range and type of cover as
follows:
 RANGE: Medium +1, Long +2, Maximum +4
 COVER: Soft +1, hard +2
Add 3 to the to-hit number if the firing element is damaged.
Example: A tank’s target with signature 3 is in soft cover at
medium range. The to-hit number is 3 +1 for range, +1 for
cover = 5. The attacker need to roll 5 or higher on 2d6 to
make a successful attack.
Multi-weapon attack: If all weapon fire at same target, all
use the same to-hit roll to determine hits, even if the to-hit
number is different for each weapon. Use the maximal
value (see example). If they fire at different targets,
determine separate to-hit numbers for each. Each weapon
may make only 1 to-hit attempt per activation.
Example: A tank targeting a truck with signature 4 in soft
cover is at short range with its main cannon but long range
with its machine gun. An attack with only the main cannon
has a to-hit number of 5 (4 +1 for cover), while an attack
with both weapons uses the to-hit number of the machine
gun, which is 7 (4 +1 for cover, +2 for range).
Damage assessment
Find the armor value corresponding to the target arc (front,
side, rear). If the to-hit roll is odd, use the hull value for that
target arc; if even, use the turret value if applicable. Roll the
firing weapon’s damage die (d6, d8, d10). If result
equals/exceeds the armor value of the target arc, the armor
is penetrated.
Example: A tank with front armor value 5 is hit by a cannon
with d10 damage die. Penetration requires d10 ≥ 5.
If penetrated, roll d10 on the AFV damage table and apply
the result.
AFV damage
d10= Result
1 Immobilized
2-4 Damaged
ABLE ARCHER (restructured and revised)
5-7 Destroyed
8+ Brewed up
Immobilized: May not move for the rest of the game. If
turret is hit, count as not damaged.
Damaged: Movement halved, +3 to to-hit rolls for the rest
of the game. If already damaged, count as destroyed.
Destroyed: Remove from table.
Brewed up: Add smoke marker for the rest of the game.
Any line of fire passing directly through smoke gets +1 to
the to-hit roll.
Weapon characteristics
Dual-mount: -1 to hit, +1 to armor damage, +1 to individual
vehicle damage, +1 to infantry firefight die rolls.
Quad-mount: -2 to hit, +2 to armor damage, +2 to individual
vehicle damage, +2 to infantry firefight die rolls.
Rapid fire: May reroll damage die. Use 2nd result.
Additional Combat Rules
Soft vehicle targets
Same as infantry. See firefight outcomes table for results.
Vehicle-mounted AP attacks
Each vehicle in a platoon may attack a different target.
When firing at the same target, all must be in C2 range,
attacks are combined, and range is measured from the
vehicle farthest from the target squad.
Support weapons
Only one type of weapon may be used by a support
weapons team per activation. Only one fireteam in a squad
may use a particular type of support weapon per activation.
Anti-personnel/tank: Affect personnel, soft/heavy armor,
and landed armored aircraft. Attacks against armored
targets make a to-hit roll. Reduce damage die by 1 die type
when determining penetration.
SAW: Has its own damage die and range. May fire
independent AP attack at separate target or may replace 1
AP damage die of a squad’s AP attack.
Light anti-tank weapons: Anti-tank rifles have their own
damage die and range. Anti-tank missiles operate as
vehicle-mounted ATGM. Anti-aircraft missiles operate as
vehicle-operated AAGM. Each may only be used once per
activation per team. Attacks on vehicles use to-hit
procedure.
Infantry attributes
Able Archer rules by Jan Hayden Juklíček. Rescaling inspired by Mako11 at The Miniatures Page.
Recon: Add rating to defense rating against all
medium/long/maximum range AP fire. May not be targeted
by artillery.
Flamethrowers: Replace damage die of 1 team with d12 for
close combat or close assault. Use only once per game.
Hit and run: May withdraw after any round of close combat,
regardless of which side won. Must move away from unit it
was fighting, up to 1/2 of normal movement.
Rapid fire: Reroll 1 AP damage die per turn.
Smoke grenades: Use as smoke mortars. Single use. Smoke
is removed immediately at end of squad activation (does
not persist).
Combat engineers: Use damage die to attack mine field
when in base-to-base contact. Use firefight outcomes table.
Suppression results have no effect, but morale or better
eliminates the mine field. One clearance attempt per
element per activation at cost of 1/2 movement allowance.
If attack result is lower than mine field’s defense rating,
element is attacked by mine field.
Mortars: Minimum range = 2x area of effect. May fire
artillery, smoke, or gas. My be fired at targets outside LoS if
1 team of squad has LoS.
Tank hunter: Reroll missed to-hit roll of any anti-tank attack
unless a 2 was rolled. +1 to squad’s close assault total.
Sniper: Always receives intensive fire orders unless
suppressed. Targets infantry only. May target any squad
but may only achieve a K result against a leader or other
single-man element. May not participate in close combat
but may be killed by it.
To spot a sniper, the targeting squad must pass a CQ test
and foregoes any firing upon failure. Once spotted, further
spotting attempts are not necessary for any unit.
Close combat
Requires base-to-base contact with at least 1 enemy team.
All teams of 1 squad in C2 range will participate regardless
of contact. Each player rolls and adds highest AP damage
die + training die. +1 for leader team within C2 range. Add
cover modifier during first round only.
If difference is 0 or 1, both sides lose 1 team. >1, losing side
removes 1 team for each complete increment of 2 points
between the totals (1 team for difference of 2, 2 teams for
difference of 4). Leader teams may be casualties. Multiple
rounds are conducted during same activation until only 1 or
no side remains.
Single squads attacked by multiple squads in close combat
in the same activation roll once for each round and
compare to totals of each enemy squad.
Close assault
ABLE ARCHER (restructured and revised)
Requires base-to-base contact of 1 squad with vehicle.
Teams in C2 range may participate. Roll and add damage
die to training die and compare to target’s defense rating.
Add cover modifiers. Use soft vehicle column on the
firefight outcomes table for both soft and armored vehicles.
Vehicle may not return fire until its own activation unless it
has a close defense system or had overwatch orders.
Overrun attacks
May only be conducted as AP attacks against infantry or
soft vehicles in open/clear terrain. Move in base-to-base
contact with ≥1 element and expend additional 2” of
movement allowance. Each vehicle may make one overrun
during its activation (can be separate targets and at
different times). Vehicles may continue movement if
additional movement is available. Overrun may not be
conducted while moving double time.
Vehicles conducting overrun may use any weapons not
already used during same activation. If using multiple
weapons, roll each damage die separately using same
training roll for each. Increase AP damage die type by 1
during overrun. Do not decrease AT damage die type during
overrun.
Overrun results from the firefight outcomes table are
applied immediately. If no result, target may immediately
close assault the overrunning vehicle.
Vehicle statistics
Signature: Represents physical size as well as the heat and
electronic noise. The higher the signature, the smaller its
size and noise factor, and the harder it is to hit.
Movement: Represents mobility and speed.
Defense: Represents ability to withstand close assaults by
infantry.
Weapon stats: Each weapon has statistics for type of die
used to determine damage (d6, d8, or d10) and range
(short, medium, long, or maximum).
Armor stats: Represent ability to withstand weapons fire on
the front, side, and rear of hull and turret if applicable.
Systems: Some vehicles are equipped with single-use
systems such as smoke launchers. Systems statistics are
applied to platoon rather than individual vehicles, so 8
smoke launchers should be distributed among all vehicles in
a platoon.
Vehicle systems and weapons
Advanced armor: Hits by an anti-tank missiles are negated
with a roll of 7 or higher on 2d6.
Advanced fire control: All non-damaged vehicles of a
platoon fire at same enemy element using a single to-hit
roll. Subtract 1 from the to-hit number for each vehicle
Able Archer rules by Jan Hayden Juklíček. Rescaling inspired by Mako11 at The Miniatures Page.
firing after the first vehicle. Each weapon rolls damage
individually.
Amphibious: Vehicle may move through deep water as if
very difficult terrain.
Chaff pod: Add d3 to the to-hit number when firing at
element equipped with chaff pod.
Command vehicle: May call artillery fire and gives morale
bonus to company/battalion to which assigned.
FSO: May call artillery fire. Reduces scatter by half;
increases avoidance test target number by 1.
Radar: Reroll 1 failed to-hit roll against air units.
Recon vehicle: Any enemy element within 12” of the recon
vehicle may be targeted by any friendly element with -1
bonus to hit.
Tank hunter: Reroll missed to-hit roll of any anti-tank attack
unless a 2 was rolled. Add 1 to squad’s close-assault dice
total.
Transport: Can transport the listed number of infantry
teams.
Air units
A command team must pass a CQ test (≥6) to call air units
to the table. May be called once per turn. If successful, air
units arrive next turn. If unsuccessful, may try on
subsequent turns. If roll 12, air units arrive the same turn.
Deployment is on table edge of choice.
CQ adjustment for calling air units
CQ6
Calling unit is a platoon leader +1
Deploying on table edge other than +1
baseline
Calling unit is FSO or battalion commander -1
Airplanes: Must move ≥1/2 available movement each
activation. May not receive intensive fire or overwatch
orders.
Planes move at attack level or cruise level. If targeting a
plane at cruise level, add 1 range band (maximum range
becomes out of range).
Planes switching levels use 1/4 movement allowance.
Planes may turn ≤90° after moving straight 1” for signature
4-6 or 2” for signature 3. Double this distance if the plane is
damaged. Multiple turns per activation are allowed, each
following this straight distance.
Missiles and bombs carried by planes are in limited supply.
Helicopters: May begin deployment on-table at any edge
after all other units have been deployed.
ABLE ARCHER (restructured and revised)
No minimum movement.
May turn ≤90° at any point during movement using 1” of
movement allowance, or ≤180° using 2”. Double the
movement cost if damaged.
May move from attack level to ground or vice versa using
2” of movement.
May use intensive fire or overwatch orders but may not fire
while landed.
Crash test: Taken by individual air elements receiving an
immobilized or damaged result while at attack or cruise
flight levels. Helicopters must test according to the terrain
effects chart. If the air unit is moving at attack level, add 1
to the target number.
Failure at cruise or attack flight level eliminates the
element.
Helicopters at attack level roll d10 on AFV damage table
and subtract 3. Modified roll of 1 or less means no damage.
Helicopters surviving a crash test have landed.
Artillery
Can fire outside LoS. Includes mortars and missile
launchers.
Targeting: Place a target marker where the attack is to be
centered (does not need to be an element). Each artillery
platoon may place a single target per activation. The target
point will scatter 1d6 inches (1d3 if command vehicle has
LoS to target site) in direction 1d12 o’clock.
Avoidance: Each element in the area of effect (AoE) takes
an individual CQ avoidance test. Failing elements are hit
and may be damaged. For each additional undamaged
weapon attacking, the attacker may either add 1 to the CQ
avoidance target number for all elements in the AoE or
increase the AoE by 1/2”, with a limit of 3” total. If an
artillery observer has LoS to the target site, increase the
avoidance target number by 1 and halve the scatter
distance rolled.
Avoidance test: Taken by individual elements in AoE or
artillery strike. Failure results in hit. Target number
modifiers are target-based.
Avoidance test modifiers
DRM
Used intensive fire in activation +2
Infantry unit +1
Each team over 1 in area of effect +1
Under overwatch orders +1
Firer at long range -1
Used double time in activation -1
In soft cover -1
Able Archer rules by Jan Hayden Juklíček. Rescaling inspired by Mako11 at The Miniatures Page.
In hard cover -2
Damage: To determine damage, roll 1 damage and 1
training die for the artillery and add the results, similar to
infantry combat. Apply this value to the firefight outcomes
table. Add 1 for each firing element. Treat armored vehicles
as soft targets, but add 1 to the defense value if a vehicle
has an armor value of 4 or higher on all sides.
Orders: Artillery may receive overwatch orders allowing
them to fire upon enemy artillery that has just fired. There
is no scatter in this case, but no adjustment to AoE or CQ
avoidance target number may be made, and the target
artillery receives -2 to the avoidance test.
Artillery may receive intensive fire orders. These are
treated as normal fire but persist into the following turn.
Any unit moving through the AoE must pass a CQ test to
avoid being hit.
Other munitions: Artillery may fire smoke, FASCAM mines,
or gas. After each fire, roll d10 to check for remaining
ammo. Ammo is depleted if the result is ≥6 for smoke, ≥5
for FASCAM, ≥5 for gas.
Smoke munitions create a smoke area equal to the AoE. +1
to the to-hit or defense value of a target for each inch
(rounding up) of LoS measured through smoke. Roll for
removal during the initiative phase; remove smoke on a d6
roll ≥5.
FASCAM strike places 1 1” minefield for each inch of AoE,
all in contact.
Gas strikes affect units at ground and attack flight level.
Elements in the AoE failing a suppression or morale test or
receiving a K result are suppressed until the end of the turn
in which they leave the AoE or the gas effect expires in
initiative phase similar to smoke. A vehicle suppressed by
gas operates as if damaged.
Transport units
Loading/unloading: Transporting unit may only load or
unload during an activation. Loading elements must have
overwatch orders and may not have fired or activated
during the loading turn. Unloaded elements have
completed their activation for the turn.
Transport must be in contact with ≥1 elements of a loading
squad. Unloading elements must remain in contact with
transport and other unloaded elements during unloading
turn.
Loading/unloading costs 1/4 of transport’s movement
allowance.
Transported elements: May not be targeted separately from
transport. Shares activation with transport. If transport is
ABLE ARCHER (restructured and revised)

damaged or destroyed, check status of transported

elements by rolling d10 for each team on the passenger
casualties table. Survivors are placed in contact with
destroyed vehicle.
Passenger casualties
d10= Team destroyed if
1-3 Transport damaged
1-6 Transport destroyed
1-10 Transport brewed up

Buildings
Movement between floors or in/out of a building takes 1/2
movement.
Hills
Units on a hill >1” from an edge have no LoS to units not on
the hill. Hills do not provide cover.

Able Archer rules by Jan Hayden Juklíček. Rescaling inspired by Mako11 at The Miniatures Page.
 ABLE ARCHER (restructured and revised)

Quick Reference Sheet

C2 Range, CQ Ratings, Training Dice, and To-Hit Adjustments Weapon type modifiers
Training C2 Range CQ Rating Training To-hit Target type
die adjustment* Weapon Soft
Veteran 6” 6 d10 -1 type Infantry armor Armored
Experienced 4” 7 d8 0 AP Normal -1 die No effect
Green 3” 8 d6 +1 type
Civilian 2” 9 d5 +2 AT -1 die -1 die Normal
*When firing at a vehicle. type, K1 type
max
Movement allowance by speed and terrain category AA K1 max Normal -1 die
Movement Allowance type
Very
Open Difficult difficult Morale test modifiers
Speed terrain terrain terrain
CQ
Slow 6” 4” 3”
Each destroyed platoon +2
Normal 9” 6” 4”
Each squad losing ≥1/2 elements or all vehicles damaged +1
Fast 12” 8” 6”
Each element outside C2 range +1
Very fast 15” 10” 7”
Each suppressed squad +1
Each command vehicle or leader team in C2 range of any platoon -1
Terrain categories and cover levels of specific types of terrain
by mobility type Squad morale test modifiers
Mobility Type Cover CQ
Terrain Type Wheeled Tracked Infantry Each team destroyed or outside C2 range +1
Scrub/bush Difficult Normal Difficult Light Suppressed +1
Light woods, All teams in cover -1
Dangerous Difficult Difficult Light Each command team in C2 range -1
alleys
Heavy woods Impassable Impassable Difficult Hard
Shallow water Very difficult Very difficult Difficult None AFV damage
Deep water Impassablea Impassable a Impassable None d10= Result
Urban Difficult Very difficult Difficult Hard 1 Immobilized
Problematic Dangerous Dangerous Difficult Depends 2-4 Damaged
Hill Difficult Difficult Normal None 5-7 Destroyed
Cliff Impassable Impassable Impassable b None 8+ Brewed up
a
Consider very difficult for amphibious vehicles.
b
Consider very difficult for units with alpine capabilities. CQ adjustment for calling air units
CQ6
Calling unit is a platoon leader +1
Firefight outcomes
Deploying on table edge other than baseline +1
Difference Infantry Soft Vehicle Calling unit is FSO or battalion commander -1
0 Suppression test Immobile
1 Suppression test +1 Damaged
2 Morale test Destroyed Avoidance test modifiers
3 Morale test +1 Destroyed DRM
4 K1 Brewed up Used intensive fire in activation +2
5 K2 Brewed up Infantry unit +1
6 K3 Brewed up Each team over 1 in area of effect +1
7+ K4 Brewed up Under overwatch orders +1
Firer at long range -1
Used double time in activation -1
In soft cover -1
In hard cover -2

Passenger casualties
d10= Team destroyed if
1-3 Transport damaged
1-6 Transport destroyed
1-10 Transport brewed up

Able Archer rules by Jan Hayden Juklíček. Rescaling inspired by Mako11 at The Miniatures Page.
ABLE ARCHER (restructured and revised)

Able Archer rules by Jan Hayden Juklíček. Rescaling inspired by Mako11 at The Miniatures Page.