Preparatory bombardment

Artillery units can opt to open fire in the Movement phase, laying down a preparatory bombardment which will 'soften up' the foe before an attack is launched or disrupt an enemy assault before it moves forward.

To undertake a preparatory bombardment, place a marker dice to show the 'special orders' or "!" face by the detachment at the start of the Movement phase, before initiative is drawn. This shows that the artillery units in the detachment can fire a preparatory barrage in the Movement phase instead of moving.

The preparatory bombardment can be fired at the start or end of the opposing player's movement. Work out the attack using the normal Shooting rules, but only the artillery units in the detachment will fire.

Note that if the artillery from a detachment fires a preparatory bombardment, then the artillery units can't move. Any other units from the same detachment may move up to 5cm. After the bombardment has been fired you can put the entire detachment on Overwatch if you wish, but the artillery units may not fire again that turn. Units firing a preparatory bombardment are not actually on Overwatch orders and so get no re-roll for their firing.