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Looking to get some feedback on a proposed house rule for IG voxes for use in a casual campaign:

I understandng the voxes are in some ways simply a loudspeaker system to amplify orders to nearby units, but they would be cool if they had a mode to function like a more traditional squad portable radio.

In the campaign I am playing with my sons (see my sig if interested) I am proposing to house rule voxes to be more like this.

The idea would be that they can be used as described in the codex but also at longer range (assumed they have a long range burst transmission mode and frequency control, etc.) but with less reliability.

The idea would be a -1 to the LD test every time you double or triple your command radius, etc. (round up)

In addition no rerolls to the LD (from the vox) may be taken at ranges beyond an officers base command radius.

So for example a company commander (command radius 12") attempting to give orders via a vox to a squad 36" away would force a check at -2 LD, etc.

A platoon commander (command radius 6") giving the same order would do so at -5

etc.

The longer you go the more unlikely the order wil be received, but the rules give the feel of true military radios a bit more ( we are picturing a soldier saying "come again, over..." as static hisses from his headset,etc. which we like).

This is a friendly family campaign, so again casual story-based play is the focus.

Thoughts?

Personally, I don't like scaling rules like this where you get -1 if you double, -2 if you triple, etc. So while I like the idea, I'm not a huge fan of the implementation.

My suggestion would be to allow them to give order anywhere outside their command radius, but the unit must test Ld on 3 dice instead of 2. Maybe allow a re-roll for Company Commanders (due to superior technology). Also, as another way to represent this, allow units with voxes to take orders even while inside of vehicles. Obviously some simply wouldn't work (Incoming and MMM, respectively), but BiD and FOMT would both be nice to send out to Mech Vets, even if they were much more likely to fail it.

Your way requires less calculation which is nice(especially as my boys are young and in many ways are still learning/mastering the game).

So it would be a straight check on 3d6?

Would you still deny the reroll outside the officers command radius or allow it for?

I kind of like this idea as well, and agree with Magister on the 3D6 leadership test. Following his idea, I would not allow the re-roll (Commissars can't help it if the radio sucks).

I kind of disagree letting it work for units in vehicles, I think the range benefit (and potential) is enough. Lord Commissars could still have them take it on LD10 in their radius, to represent the fact that they, as above, simply have better gear, and perhaps hear all orders from the commanders, and once they hear it, just order the men themselves, just in case. The same goes for normal commissars in a unit.

I envisioned it like this

CCS - Gives orders within 12": 2d6 with Reroll
Gives orders outside 12": 3d6 with Reroll

PCS - Gives orders withing 6": 2d6 with Reroll
Gives orders outside 6": 3d6 no Reroll

Would use Commissar leadership if the unit has a commissar.

Magister187 wrote:I envisioned it like this

CCS - Gives orders within 12": 2d6 with Reroll
Gives orders outside 12": 3d6 with Reroll

PCS - Gives orders withing 6": 2d6 with Reroll
Gives orders outside 6": 3d6 no Reroll

Would use Commissar leadership if the unit has a commissar.

Im gonna give tis a try in our next game.

Thanks.

I have always thought a Voxbox to be a short wave radio/mega phone. Ranges on use should be tossed as a rule in 40k as range for radio is usless, unless being jammed.