Wotw
Wotw
Wotw
The Way of the Warrior (WotW) is a solo system to simulate small tactical war operations. Is not
aimed at a specific period: the base version of the rules is set on WWII but is quite easy to
introduce new periods/themes.
Game components
To play WotW You need:
One blank WotW Log sheet (the last page of this document): on this sheet You will keep track of the attributes
of members of your squad and of the current mission details (aka the [Mission Track]).
Two six-sided dices of different colour.
Note: 1d6 means roll one dice, 2d6 means roll two dices and sum the result, while 1d3 means roll one dice and halve the result
Campaign Setup
Select one of the available nationalities for your units if this is the first mission: German, US, Russian, Italian and
Finland are available for the WWII.
Select one theatre of the operations in the [Theatre of Operations] Table where your nationality is present and use the
other nationality specified in the in the table for the enemy forces.
Game Sequence
The basic flow of the game is the following:
-
Mission Briefing
Description: each mission has a final objective that must be reached; the approach to the objective is made of a series
of steps that must be followed. With the exception of the last step of the mission (the real objective) you will roll for
every step to determine the enemy forces (if any) present: the last step of the mission has always a fixed enemy force.
The Steps are recorded on the Log sheet and represents the terrain of ht current mission.
Target approach: create 3+1D3 mission steps by rolling 2D6 and consult the [Steps Table]. Each row in this table will
list a series of steps that must be crossed over: write each step in the [Mission Track] in the Log Sheet.
Example
Theatre of Operations: Russia 1943
Target approach: create 3+1D3 mission steps by rolling 2D6 in the [Steps Table]
Roll 1d6: result is 2; 2 halved is 1 so 1d3=1.
3+1d3=3+1=4 : You must roll 4 times in the [Steps Table]
Roll # 1: roll 2d6, result is 1 and 6, that is read "16". In the [Steps Table] for Europe 16 gives
Road
Cliff
Hill top
The first 3 steps of your mission are defined.
Roll # 2: roll 2d6, result is 2 and 4 = "24". In the [Steps Table] 24 gives
Wood
Wood
So you have two consecutive Wood steps (4th and 5th), representing a small forest.
Roll #3:
Roll #4:
Objective: after the creation of the steps for the Target Approach phase, roll 2D6 and consult the [Objective Table] to
determine the mission objective. Write the objective steps in the [Mission Track]. In the [Objective Table] you will also
find the Enemy Forces for the last step: write the expected Enemy Forces for your current mission in the last step row
of the [Mission Track]. The last step of the mission, the objective, is always described in the [Objective Table].
Equipment
Description: select your men or re-equip your existing team members.
If this is the first mission then the [Team Table] relative to your nationality will determine how many Command Points
(CP) you have at your disposal. You must select at least three men in the [Team Table] using these CP (unused CP can
be save for later use); the max team size is given in the [Team Table]. Every man is described in terms of Quality, CP
cost and weapon. Every soldier has also 4 grenades.
If you've already played a mission then you have 2 CP available (1 CP if you've aborted the last mission) to select
some reinforcements, plus any saved CP; the max team size is still the one given in the [Team Table]. You can freely
change weapon for Veteran/Private while Green must use their starting weapon.
LMG and Mortar can be equipped by paying the relative costs in CPs: both weapons require that two squad members
are assigned to the weapon fire (they cannot use their individual weapon).
You can give to a new member a Medical expertise (used to treat the wounded soldiers) by adding 1/2CP (depending
on the nationality) to the base cost.
Range
In the Encounter phase you will be acting in one of the three possible ranges: Short, Medium, Long. You can change
the range during the Movement sub-phase: the range level can be incremented/decremented of one level.
Unless specified otherwise you start a new Step at Medium range.
Every weapon provide a Fire Factor depending on the range: the [Weapon List] table specify the Short/Medium/Long
range FF.
Cover
Every step in the [Event Table] include a column when you will find the cover (if any) offered by the relative terrain;
there are two cover types, light and heavy: depending on the cover any force (your team or the enemy) will receive a
bonus in the fire phase, found in the [Fire Table] modifiers list.
The last step of the mission, the objective, is always described in the [Objective Table]: if the terrain of the objective is
not present in the [Event Table] (like the Radio Station) you will find in the [Objective Table] the relative cover (if any)
or a standard terrain to be used to lookup the cover.
Formation
Your team is normally on Column formation (road): when facing the enemy you can choose between Line formation or
Open Order formation.
Line formation make possible the creation of a Fire Group.
Open Order formation gives your men a positive modifier when fired at.
You can change formation during the movement sub-phase.
Mission
Mark in the Mission Track the current position of your Squad: step #1.
The mission is over when the final step is free of enemies or if you abort it: if you abort a mission you won't get any
experience points
Until you've reached and achieved the mission objective follow the sequence
1. Check the weather effects when applicable
2. If youre on the last step if the Mission Track then keep track of the final enemy forces and go to 5
3. Roll 2d6 and consult the Event table corresponding to the terrain of the current position in the Mission
Track: this will determine any random encounter/event and the relative range.
4. If no encounter is selected then go to 11, otherwise determine the enemy patrol composition in the [Patrol
Table] and/or keep track of the enemy forces indicated in the Event Table.
5. Surprise Check: test morale for all men involved (including the enemy forces); Green that fail are pinned,
others that fail suffer a +1 modifier for the fire on the next fire phase and cannot move: surprised units
automatically deploy in Open Order formation.
6. Movement phase: your group can change formation or change range (only if ALL men can move);
alternatively single soldiers can remove the Pinned status. The unit movement could determine a modifier
in the [Fire Table] for both the firer and/or the target.
7. Fire Phase: all eligible soldiers can fire. If on Line formation you can create a Fire Group
8. Enemy Action phase.
9. Route phase: check morale (also for the enemy forces) if the group suffered a Kill result in this turn.
Enemy units that fails will leave the field; any soldier of your team that fails is Pinned. A team member
with Medical experience can treat a Wounded soldier in this phase.
10. If the enemy forces have been defeated go to 11, otherwise return to 6 and start a new turn.
11. Advance your position in the Mission Track moving to next Step and go back to 1.
Weather Effect
Some missions and/or theatre of operation will indicate if a special weather condition is applicable. In this case you
must roll a dice in the [Weather Effect] table and apply the results.
Morale Test
To test the morale roll 1D6:
Green have a morale of 3
Private have a morale of 4
Veteran have a morale of 5
If the roll is <= to the soldier's morale the test is successful.
Fire Phase
In this phase your team can attack the enemy forces.
Pinned soldiers cannot fire, they only recover the Pinned status.
Single soldiers can fire individually or as a group: if the team is in Line formation up to 3 men can create a Fire Group
(please note that some weapons cannot be used on a Fire Group). For a Fire Group add up the Fire Factors of all
involved soldiers, otherwise use the FF of the soldier firing and then select a target.
Roll a D6 and cross reference in the [Fire Table] the dice roll with the FF, considering all the modifiers that apply to the
case. The final result is one of the following:
-
NONE: no effect
P: the target is Pinned. In the next Fire Phase this soldier won't be able to fire (will only recover the
Pinned status).
W: one man is wounded; a wounded soldier that suffers a second wound result is Killed.
K: the target is killed.
Instead of firing a standard grenade you can deploy Smoke (remove one Grenade). Smoke will give some cover for the
next two turns (the smoke modifiers are described in the [Fire Table])
Enemy Action Phase
For each enemy unit execute determine the applicable action(s):
If an enemy soldier is pinned remove this status: this ends his activation.
Roll 1d6 to determine the enemy movement: an enemy Patrol not in cover (light or heavy) will advance toward
your team with a result of 1-2. Enemy units not belonging to a Patrol doesnt move: this include the Target
enemy forces and any weapon emplacement.
If the enemy soldier has a Grenade it will use it as soon as possible.
If the enemy soldier has a Pistol roll 1D6: on a 1-4 result he'll use the weapon for an individual fire, with a result
5-6 he will join a fire group.
Enemy soldiers always form a Fire Group if possible. Select a random target in your Team and roll 1d6. Apply the
modifiers (if any) and determine the result in the Fire Table. In case of a Pinned result the soldier won't be
able to fire in the next phase even if removes the Pinned status in the movement phase: mark this restriction
in the Team roster.
Medical treatment
A soldier with Medical experience can try to first aid a wounded team member; on a result of 1-4 on a D6 the
treatment is successful: the selected character is still wounded (i.e. is Killed if newly wounded) but doesnt suffer the
+2 roll modifier in the fire phase. Only one first aid attempt can be done on a single character. If the treatment is
unsuccessful mark the wound as not curable (no more treatment attempts are possible).
Post-mission debriefing
If youve aborted the mission skip this phase.
Add 1d3 experience points (XP) to your team experience. Keep track of unused XP.
The XP can be used to improve your team:
1XP: promote a Green to Private
2XP: promote a Private to Veteran
Additionally, 2XP can be spent to get one of the following Skills.
Skill Name
Sharpshooter
Camouflage
Quick Shot
Close Combat
Heroic morale
Machine Gun Expert
Mortar Expert
Grenadier
Athletic
Description
-1 dice roll modifier in the Fire Table when firing a
Rifle, Precision Rifle or SMG
+1 dice roll modifier in the Fire Table when fired at
Can fire twice, with a +1 dice roll modifier to each roll
When attacking individually at Close range use the
column 5 in the Fire Table regardless of the actual
weapon
Morale tests are always considered successful
-1 dice roll modifier in the Fire Table when firing a
LMG or HMG
-1 dice roll modifier in the Fire Table when firing a
Mortar
-1 dice roll modifier in the Fire Table when launching a
Grenade; can be equipped with 5 grenades
You can recover from a Pinned status AND fire in the
same turn
Veteran
Private or Veteran
Private or Veteran
Veteran
Any
Theatre
Nationality 1
Nationality 2
Russia 1943
Winter 1942 - Russia
German
German
Russian
Russian
France 1944
Sicily 1943
Finland 1940
German
US
Russian
US
Italian
Finland
Notes
Roll 1D6 at the start of each mission:
1-2: clear weather
3-5: snow
6: blizzard
[Airborne Mission]
Drop Steps*
Event
High Altitude
Low Altitude
1D3
Landing
Regrouping
1**
Beachhead Steps*
Event
Shallow Water
Enemy Beach
1D3+1
Regrouping
2: LC hit Roll one fire attack on the Fire Table on the column 6,
ignoring the Pinned results
3: Sand Bank add 2 additional Shallow Water steps
4: Sand Bank add 1 additional Shallow Water step
11: LC hit Roll 1 fire attack on the Fire Table on the column 4, ignoring
the Pinned results
12: LC sunken Roll 1 fire attack on the Fire Table on the column 3,
ignoring the Pinned results and add 2 additional Shallow Water steps
2: Safe corridor skip next step
10: Near miss - the team stops and wait. Repeat the step
11: Enemy Fire Roll 1D2 Fire attacks on the Fire Table on the column
3. Repeat the step if you get a Pinned result.
12: Enemy Fire Roll 1D2 Fire attacks on the Fire Table on the column
4. Repeat the step if you get a Pinned result.
2: Safe corridor skip next step
3-5: Shell Hole provide Light Cover in the next step
8-9: Enemy position Rifle*(P)
10: Enemy position Rifle*(P) SMG(P)
11: Minefield
12: Enemy position HMG(P) entrenched (Light Cover)
4: patrol - Rifle*(P) SMG(P)
10: patrol - SMG*(P) SMG(G) [Short Range]
Starting CP: 5
Quality CP
Weapon
Weapon
FF
Veteran
Veteran
Veteran
Private
Private
Private
Green
Green
4
4
5
2
2
4
0
1
Rifle
SMG
Assault Rifle
Rifle
SMG
Flame-thrower
Rifle
SMG
Pistol
Precision Rifle
Assault Rifle
Rifle
SMG
LMG
Flame-thrower
Grenade
1/-/1/3/4
3/2/1
2/2/1
4/1/3/2/2
8/1/6/-/-
Green
Green
3
3
HMG
Mortar
Minefield
Infantry Gun
5/4/4
3/3/3
5/-/7/7/1
Notes
No fire group
2 attacks/turn
No fire group, Ignore cover
No fire group; any result of 6 is
to be considered a dud (no
effect)
2 attacks/turn
No fire group
No fire group; fire results effect
1d3 soldiers (not in Short range)
Quality
Starting CP: 4
CP Weapon
Veteran
Veteran
Private
Private
Green
Green
4
4
2
2
0
1
Rifle
SMG
Rifle
SMG
Rifle
SMG
Green
Green
4
3
Weapon
FF
Pistol
Precision Rifle
Rifle
SMG
LMG
Grenade
1/-/1/3/4
2/1/1
3/-/2/2/1
6/-/-
HMG
Mortar
Minefield
Infantry Gun
4/4/3
3/3/3
5/-/7/6/1
Notes
No fire group
2 attacks/turn
No fire group; any result of 6 is
to be considered a dud (no
effect)
2 attacks/turn
No fire group
No fire group; fire results effect
1d3 soldiers (not in Short range)
Quality
Starting CP: 5
Weapon
FF
Veteran
Veteran
Private
Private
Private
Green
Green
CP Weapon
4
4
2
2
4
0
1
Rifle
SMG
Rifle
SMG
Flame-thrower
Rifle
SMG
Pistol
Precision Rifle
Rifle
SMG
LMG
Flame-thrower
Grenade
1/-/1/3/4
2/2/1
3/1/3/2/1
8/1/6/-/-
Green
Green
4
3
HMG
Mortar
Minefield
Infantry Gun
5/4/3
3/3/3
5/-/7/7/1
Notes
No fire group
2 attacks/turn
No fire group, Ignore cover
No fire group; any result of 6 is
to be considered a dud (no
effect)
2 attacks/turn
No fire group
No fire group; fire results effect
1d3 soldiers (not in Short range)
Quality
Starting CP: 5
Weapon
FF
Veteran
Veteran
Private
Private
Private
Green
Green
CP Weapon
5
5
2
2
4
0
1
Rifle
SMG
Rifle
SMG
Flame-thrower
Rifle
SMG
Pistol
Precision Rifle
Rifle
SMG
LMG
Flame-thrower
Grenade
1/-/1/3/4
3/2/2
4/2/3/2/2
8/1/6/-/-
Green
Green
3
3
HMG
Mortar
Minefield
Infantry Gun
6/4/4
3/3/3
6/-/7/7/1
Notes
No fire group
2 attacks/turn
No fire group, Ignore cover
No fire group; any result of 6 is
to be considered a dud (no
effect)
2 attacks/turn
No fire group
No fire group; fire results effect
1d3 soldiers (not in Short range)
Quality
Starting CP: 8
Weapon
FF
Veteran
Veteran
Private
Private
Private
Green
Green
CP Weapon
4
5
2
3
5
0
2
Rifle
SMG
Rifle
SMG
Flame-thrower
Rifle
SMG
Pistol
Precision Rifle
Rifle
SMG
LMG
Flame-thrower
Grenade
1/-/1/3/4
2/1/1
3/2/2/2/2
7/-/5/-/-
Green
Green
5
3
HMG
Mortar
Minefield
Infantry Gun
4/4/3
3/3/3
5/-/6/6/2
Notes
No fire group
2 attacks/turn
No fire group, Ignore cover
No fire group; any result of 6 is
to be considered a dud (no
effect)
2 attacks/turn
No fire group
No fire group; fire results effect
1d3 soldiers (not in Short range)
2d6*
11
Objective
Eliminate Command
post
12-13
Control bridge
14-15
Capture commander
16, 21
22-23
Eliminate Gun
emplacement
Control road
24-26
Control Building
31-33
34-36
Eliminate roadblock
41-43
Eliminate HMG
44-46
Eliminate Sniper
51-53
Eliminate bunker
54-56
Eliminate entrenchment
61-63
64-66
Free Prisoners
Steps
Road
Small Building
Square
Small Building
Road
Bridge
Road
Small Building
Road
Wood wall (Light cover)
Road
Crossing
Road
Road
Small Building
Building
Wheat Field
Slope
Slope
Hill
Road
Block (Light Cover)
Slope
Wood wall (Light cover)
Road
Tower (Building)
Hill
Bunker
Orchard
Entrenchment (Light
cover)
Road
Small Building
Radio Station (Building)
Wheat Field
Small building
Prison (Small Building)
Enemy Forces
Range
LMG(P) Rifle*(V)
SMG*(V) Pistol(P)
Medium
Rifle*(P) SMG(V)
SMG(G)
Pistol (P) SMG*(V)
SMG(P)
Infantry Gun (P)
Rifle*(P)
SMG*(P) Rifle*(P)
Medium
Medium
Long
Medium
SMG*(V) Rifle(G)
Rifle(G)
Medium
Medium
Rifle*(P) Rifle(P)
SMG(P)
HMG(P) Rifle*(P)
Medium
Long
Long
Pistol(P) Rifle(G)
Rifle(G)
Medium
Medium
Medium
Long
*Roll 2 dices and read as tens and units (e.g. 5 and 3 = 53)
[Weather Effect Table]
Weather
Clear
Snow
Blizzard
Effects
No effects
Combat: 1 column shift to left
Roll 2D6
2: the weather is going better - the weather condition is now Clear (no more weather rolls for
the rest of the mission).
11-12: the weather is worsening - the weather condition is now Blizzard
Combat: 2 column shift to left.
+3 modifier to the Patrol roll
For every Wounded Team member roll 2D6: on a result of 2 or 3 the man is killed.
Roll 2D6
2: one random team member suffer a frostbite Wound
10-11: the weather is going better - the weather condition is now Snow
12: The team is lost on the blizzard - move back one step in the Mission track
21-23
24-26
31-33
34-36
41-43
44-46
51-53
54-56
61-63
64-66
Steps
Road
River
Road
Cliff
Hill top
Road
Bridge Control post
Wood
Wood
Road
Hill
Slope
Road
Crossing
Road
Road
<roll 1D3 times in the Village Table>
<roll 2+1D3 times in the Town Table>
Road
Wheat Field
Farm
Wheat Field
Orchard
Hedge
Orchard
Wheat field
Farm
Road
Wood
*Roll 2 dices and read as tens and units (e.g. 5 and 3 = 53)
[Village Table]
1D6
1
2
3
4
5-6
Steps
Village Street
Square
Village Street
Church (Building)
Square
Town Hall (Building)
Village Street
Shop (Small Building)
Shop (Small Building)
House (Small Building)
[Town Table]
1D6
1
2
3
4
5-6
Steps
Town Street
Small Building
Town Street
Factory (Building)
Square
Town Hall (Building)
Town Street
Shop (Small Building)
Shop (Building)
House (Building)
Terrain
Cover
Bridge
Control
Post
Building
Bunker
Cliff
Crossing
Farm
Hedge
Hill
Hill Top
Orchard
River
Road
Slope
Small
Building
Square
Town
Street
Village
Street
Wheat
Field
Wood
Event (2d6)
2: Gun emplacement - Infantry Gun (P) [Long Range]
7-8: Patrol
9: Patrol (-1)
3: Sniper - Precision Rifle (P) [Long Range]
4: Bobby trap (1 minefield attack)
5: Patrol
11: Enemy HQ Pistol(V) SMG*(P) SMG(P) Rifle (P). +1XP at the end of the mission for the
information gathered.
4: Patrol (+1)
2: minefield (2 attacks)
5: Patrol
5: Patrol
11: Hostile civilian - Rifle(G)
4: Patrol
2: LMG emplacement (G)
3: LMG emplacement (P) [Long Range]
11-12: Patrol
4: Patrol
5: Patrol (+1)
4: Patrol
5: Patrol (+1)
4: Patrol
5: Patrol (+1)
10: strong current: repeat step and suffer a -1 modifier if attacked
2: minefield (2 attacks)
3: HMG emplacement (P) [Long Range]
4: Barbed wire: repeat step and suffer a -1 modifier if attacked or change path and add two
extra road steps.
5: Patrol
10: Patrol (-1)
11-12: Shortcut Skip the next step.
2-3: Gun emplacement: Infantry Gun (P) [Long Range]
4-5: Patrol
2: Sniper - Precision Rifle (P) [Long Range]
4: Patrol
10: Patrol (-1)
2: Gun emplacement - Infantry Gun (P) [Long Range]
3: Patrol (-1)
4: Patrol
2: Bad intelligence - move immediately one step back in the Mission Track
4-5: Patrol
11: Local Informer - move immediately one step forward in the Mission Track
12: Patrol (+1)
4: Patrol
11: Local Informer - move immediately one step forward in the Mission Track
2: LMG (G)
4: Mortar(P) [Long Range]
12: Shortcut Skip the next step.
2: Bad intelligence - move immediately one step back in the Mission Track
3: ambush - SMG(V) SMG(P) [Short Range]
5: Ravine Provide heavy cover. Repeat the step.
9: Clearing No more cover. Repeat the step.
10: Patrol
[Fire Table]
DR\FF
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
0
W
P
1
W
W
P
2
K
W
P
P
3
K
W
W
P
P
4
K
K
W
W
P
P
5
K
K
W
W
W
P
P
6
K
K
K
W
W
P
P
7
K
K
K
W
W
W
P
8
2K
K
K
2W
W
W
P
9
2K
K
K
K
W
W
2P
10+
2K
2K
K
K
2W
W
2P
Firer is a Green
Fire Group contains at least one Green, unless a Veteran is also
present
If firer or member of a Fire Group failed the Surprise Check
Target is on light cover
Target is on heavy cover
Firer is moving (changing formation)
Target is moving (changing range or removing the Pinned
marker)
Smoke at Short/Medium Range
Smoke at Long Range
Open Order
Skill modifier
Target is pinned
Firer is wounded
Target has a flame-thrower
Pistol used in single fire
Weather effects
[Patrol Table]
2D6*
2
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13+
Patrol
A small group of veterans
A small group of veterans
A small group lead by a NCO
Two engineers at work
A couple of soldiers
A couple of soldiers
A couple of soldiers
A couple of soldiers
A couple of soldiers
A couple of soldiers
A couple of recruits
An officier with two recruits
None
Weapons
Rifle*(V) SMG(V)* SMG*(V)
Rifle*(V) SMG(V) SMG(p)
Rifle*(V) SMG(P) SMG(G)
FlameThrower(P) SMG(P)
Rifle*(V) SMG(P)
Rifle*(P) SMG(G)
Rifle*(P) Rifle(P)
Rifle(P) SMG*(P)
Rifle(P) Rifle(G)
SMG*(P) SMG(G)
Rifle*(G) SMG(G)
Pistol(P) Rifle*(G) Rifle(G)
Enemy forces are listed as Weapon(Quality). An asterisk near the Weapon means that the enemy has a Grenade.
Replace the Flamethrower with a SMG* if this weapon is not present in the Team table of the enemy forces.
*Weather can influence this roll.
Quality
State
Weapon
FF
Grenades
Mission Track
id
Terrain
Enemy Forces
Notes
Notes