Unrealistic missile results

There have been several times that during missile fire, a unit will get totally wiped out from missile fire. This happens even if the unit has no previous vbu losses and seems a bit unrealistic. Any ideas about how to tweak the system to make it more believable?

Could you provide an example? I first want to make sure you are applying the correct mechanics, and all of the modifiers for shooting and the cohesion tests.

A unit of Hebrew Tribal Foot (javelins, vbu 5) shoots at a unit of Aramean Militia Spearmen (FP, vbu 4). The Hebrew Tribal Foot roll 5 dice and get 3 sixes and 2 fives for a total of 4 damage. The critical number for the spearmen is 1 because of the FP modifier of +1. The spearmen then do a cohesion test and roll a 5 and are then eliminated.

I believe you forgot the other +1 modifier for shooting a javelin at short range. Therefore, the militia should not have been eliminated.

That being said, it is possible for a unit with a VBU of 4 or less to be eliminated in your situation, had you rolled a six for the cohesion test. However, according to the internet AI that I consulted, the odds of rolling 5 dice and getting 3 sixes and 2 fives is only about 1%. Couple that with the 17% chance of rolling a six during the cohesion test, and such a result would be pretty extreme.

If you are not satisfied with the potential for the elimination of a fresh, well-ordered VBU 4 unit from shooting, you could purchase up to three TC5 - Faith tactical cards, which allow you to reroll a cohesion test.

Another option is to use a house rule. For example, in one house rule, some players roll multiple dice for the cohesion test result, rather than only one, and apply 1 loss for each die roll higher than the critical number. In your example, there would be four cohesion test rolls. For every cohesion test result of a six, the militia would take one permanent loss. The militia could still be eliminated, but you would have to roll 4 sixes, the odds of which are very slim.

As another house rule, if you prefer to roll only one die, you could modify the die results for the cohesion test. For example, instead of the usual results of 1 to 6, you could change the die results to 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, for example, or whatever you deem more appropriate.

I don’t see anywhere in the rules that state that FP units benefit from being shot at from close range from javelin volleys, nor do i see where javelins would suffer a -1 for shooting at close range. And in fact javelins can only shoot from close range. I’m using the Impetus II rules so I don’t know if this is something that has changed from 1st edition to 2nd edition.