Hold the hill

[martin goddard]

As weapons have got better it is less advisable to "hold the hill".
At Hastings the higher ground gave an advantage when hand to hand fighting.
In the ACW troops uphill suffered more casualties from those downhill due to the tendency for musketry to go high.
A modern unit would often prefer to be out of sight in a hollow rather than on top of a hill.

A hill is still good for observation purposes.

In which periods would you want to  be on top of the hill?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being  on that hill?


martin

[Moggy]

During the flood would be good or if playing weather rules.

I think any time when battles were resolved by hack and slash this would be beneficial.

However a firm bayonet charge downhill such as 2nd Maine at Gettysberg against a larger enemy force proved a success so I wouldn't write off the hilltop.

In gaming a lot of the advantages of the hilltop position are negated by the mark 1 eyeball in the sky.  In real life having the high ground meant being able to see what was going on and being able to react accordingly or take advantage of what can be seen.

Derek

[Colonel Kilgore]

When I have big rocks to roll down the hill, I'd rather be on top 

Also arrows would presumably have a greater range from on top of the hill, so I could shoot you before you came in range to shoot me. You may even get demoralised before starting to climb up to hit me with your nasty sharp pointy things too.

I think there is also a morale advantage simply in holding the high ground.

Being on a hillside (likely not the very top) in bunkers and with a wide field of might be beneficial in the 20th century with automatic weapons (e.g. some of the still-standing British stop lines' pillboxes). I've just been reading about the Admin Box in Burma in 1944, where being on a hill didn't help much as there was jungle all around and you couldn't see anything. But being well dug in on the side of a hill with good views of the surrounding paddy fields was favoured.

Simon

[martin goddard]

Good discussion.

martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

Good discussion.

martin

Thanks for starting it, Martin 

Simon

[Leman (Andy)]

I like to put artillery on a hill (pre-1900) to be able to support advancing infantry. Particularly useful before howitzers became common.

[martin goddard]

The hills on our tables are fairly generic in order to play a game with clarity/ease.
This is a compromise but works fine (?)
I am happy with it.


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

Practically, if our little soldiers are to climb up them, there is not a lot of choice!

Simon