Falling Force Morale has no effect until it reaches 4 or less. To reflect a loss in command due to a serious reduction of your force’s morale, we remove Command Cards from the Game Deck when certain key points are reached.
The following table indicates the impact a falling morale level has on your force.
T
ABLEN
INETEENF
ORCEM
ORALEE
FFECTMorale
Effect
5+ No effect 4 Command Cards reduced by one 3 Command Cards reduced by two 2 Command Cards reduced by three 1 Command Cards reduced by four 0 Rout or SurrenderT
ABLEE
IGHTEENB
ADT
HINGSH
APPENSetback No effect ‐1 point ‐2 points ‐3 points
Group obliged to withdraw 1 2 3 4 5 6 Group breaks 1 2 3 4 5 6 Group wiped out 1 2 3 4 5 6 Formation broken by fire or Fisticuffs 1 2 3 4 5 6 Status I Leader wounded 1 2 3 4 5 6 Status I Leader killed 1 2 3 4 5 6 Status I Leader Routs from table 1 2 3 4 5 6 Status II Leader wounded 1 2 3 4 5 6 Status II Leader killed 1 2 3 4 5 6 Status II Leader Routs from table 1 2 3 4 5 6 Status III or IV Leader wounded 1 2 3 4 5 6 Status III or IV Leader killed 1 2 3 4 5 6 Status III or IV Leader Routs from table 1 2 3 4 5 6 Loss of Support Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 Loss of Primary Deployment point 1 2 3 4 5 6 Loss of Face 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cowardly Act 1 2 3 4 5 6
Sharp Practice is designed with a strong narrative element to the game. Playing Sharp Practice is like settling down with a good book and following the adventures of your favourite characters
These characters will often emerge as the story unfolds during a game, but you can also develop your own. This section allows you to discover more about your Leaders and the minor characters they may bump into.
9.1
L
EADERS:
O
FFICERS&
G
ENTLEMENLeaders in Sharp Practice are divided into Officers & Gentlemen and Non‐ Commissioned Officers. Most Status I Leaders will be NCOs or very junior officers, while Status II will be mainly officers with the occasional very senior NCO. Status III and IV Leaders are exclusively officers. You should give your Leaders ranks you feel are appropriate for their characters and role.
Mass troops may have gentlemen Leaders, as long as they own at least one pair of tailored trousers and dress for dinner. Tribal Troops and Wallahs are never considered gentlemen by Europeans or their descendants in the New World.
The following sections are exclusively for officers.
Breeding
An officer’s background can have a significant impact on his career. Roll 2D6 and consult the Officer’s Breeding Table
Character Table A
Officer’s Breeding
Roll
Result
2 Risen from the ranks 3 Risen from the ranks4 New money but personally impoverished
5 New money with extravagant wealth 6 Former Gentleman ranker
7 Military family but poverty stricken 8 Military family with wealth and
influence
9 Illegitimate offspring of Nobility 10 Nobility with influence but no money 11 Nobility with wealth and influence 12 Minor royalty, extravagant wealth,
great influence
Three factors are of importance in play; wealth, influence and whether the officer is a gentleman or merely an officer. The lighter shaded results indicate that the officer concerned was not born a gentleman and is only treated as one due to his rank.
Personality
A Leader’s personality can influence play, depending on what attributes they have. Roll 2D6 and consult the Officer’s Personality Table.
Character Table B
Personality
Roll
Result
2 Prig 3 Rotter 4 Honourable 5 Honourable 6 Honourable 7 Honourable 8 Honourable 9 Honourable 10 Honourable 11 Cad or Bounder 12 Rake What does this mean? PrigA Prig is a self‐righteous individual who attempts to behave as though morally superior to others. Being a prig reduces his popularity rating and the likelihood of his men risking life and limb to save him.
A Prig may never offer bribes. He is persuasive with peasants and civilians of the lower orders who he browbeats mercilessly.
A Prig will always attempt to assist a Lady in distress. Females from the lower orders are of no concern to him.
Rotter
A Rotter is a ne’er‐do‐well character with insufficient intelligence or courage to seek out life’s pleasures, but who will attempt to supplement his purse at any opportunity.
When a Rotter is in a building or is accompanying an enemy wagon or character captured by his troops, his men will take an Uncontrolled Troops roll with a ‐1. If he is on his own he will take the same test as though Regular troops. If he fails, he will spend the Turn seeking wealth.
A Rotter may offer bribes if he is wealthy, but feels no obligation to assist damsels in distress.
Honourable
A man largely without faults and with a sense of propriety and honour. He will behave correctly in all circumstances.
An Honourable man can never offer a bribe and must always attempt to assist a damsel in distress.
Cad or Bounder
If the character is a gentleman, he will be a Cad. The cad is fully aware of how a gentleman should behave, but is not always capable of living up to that ideal.
A Cad must always attempt to court any Lady character in the game. If he comes within 6” of any attractive female Minor Character, he must take an Uncontrolled Troops test each time he is activated, rolling as though Regular troops. If he fails he will spend that Turn attempting to woo the lady concerned.
A Cad may offer bribes if he is wealthy and, due to his breeding, is persuasive. He will always attempt to assist a Lady in distress. He may, if he wishes, assist other females. If the character is not a gentleman, he will be a Bounder. A Bounder comes from the lower orders of society with ideas above his station and who uses his uniform in order to achieve them. He will never attempt to woo a Lady, as his pretensions would be immediately
exposed. However, If he comes into contact
with any attractive female Minor Character, he must take an Uncontrolled Troops test each time he is activated, rolling as though Regular troops. If he fails he will spend that Turn attempting to woo the female concerned.
A Bounder may offer bribes if he is wealthy and is persuasive with anyone not a gentleman. He feels no obligation to assist damsels in distress.
Rake
A rake is a debauched individual who has no moral compass. He devotes as much of his time as possible to witty debate, drink and ladies of ill‐repute.
A Rake must always attempt to woo any Lady character in the game. If he moves to within 6” of any female Minor Character, he must take an Uncontrolled Troops test each time he is activated, rolling as though Conscript & Volunteer troops. If he fails he will spend that Turn attempting to woo the Lady, or creature, concerned.
A Rake may offer bribes if he is wealthy and, due to his wit, is persuasive. He feels no obligation to assist damsels in distress, but may do so although most likely with dubious motives.
Skills
Some officers may be noted for specific skills. Roll 1D6. On a roll of 1 to 5 he has no particular skill. On a roll of 6, roll again on the Skills Table.Character Table C
Skills
Roll
Result
1 Flashing Blade 2 View Halloo 3 Stunning Linguist 4 Impressive Weapon 5 Master of Disguise 6 Sporting Life Flashing BladeA Leader with a Flashing Blade is a deft swordsman. In a duel he may use an additional swordsmanship dice in the first and any one subsequent round of combat.
View Halloo
A fine horseman who may re‐roll if he pulls up when crossing an obstacle while mounted.
Stunning Linguist
A master of languages. He may add +1 to the dice roll when rolling for success when speaking to any foreign minor characters.
Impressive Weapon
His weapon of choice is a powerful sword with plenty of weight behind it. In a duel he has a greater chance of inflicting damage on his opponent.
Master of Disguise
This Leader has an impressive flair for disguise, and gains a +1 when attempting to pass himself off as someone else.
Sporting Life
An athlete of considerable accomplishment. He gains an advantage when attempting Tasks requiring physical strength or prowess.
Other Attributes
The following attributes are common to all Leader of whatever rank or Status.