Defining Upslope

Determining whether an element has an 'uphill' advantage in combat is usually apparent to players without having to refer to the rule book. However, the DBM definition doesn't assist in adjudicating the few close calls that occur. The "upslope" definition on page 12 reads; "Hill or gully slopes give an advantage in close combat to an element with at least part of its front edge upslope of all the opposing element."

Diagrams drawn to 15mm scale, all dimensions in "mm" unless otherwise specified.	Fig. A - three examples are shown of elements in combat on the side of a hill at various angles to the slope. Contours of the hill are shaded. The red line indicates the direction of slope which is perpendicular (90 degrees) to the hill contours. Pair "X" - both elements engaged with their front edges aligned down slope so neither would received any advantage for being upslope in combat. Pair "Y" - clearly the Bd element is upslope to the Wb element in contact. Pair "Z" has both elements with their front edges slightly angled (eg. 10 degrees) to the direction of the slope. This would be considered an extreme example and a close call (usually dismissed in games as neither having any combat advantage.) r, DBM however doesn’t define any demarcation between this and pair "X" so one element can claim to be upslope if the rule is taken to the letter.
	Fig.B - an enlargement of Pair "Z". The DBM definition for upslope relies on determining which element has its front edge upslope. It doesn’t help resolve the problem because both front edges occupy the same line between them (theoretically anyway.) Consider the following suggestions for resolving this: - Draw a line from the top of the hill (or ridge line) to the closest front corners of each element. The element whose base is crossed by this line is facing upslope (the Wb element in this example). Bd element receives the uphill combat advantage. -Measure down from the top of the hill to the nearest rear corners of the opposing elements, which ever corner is closest to the top must be facing down slope partially, the other facing upslope.
Both these suggestions rely on picking a point on top of the hill to measure down from. Hills with easily definable slopes, crest lines or peaks are needed. It is recommended to clearly define the hills with your oppenent before a game. Flat top hills should be treated as ridge lines as modelled or mutually agree on a crest line or peak (few hills have a single point from which all its slopes decend from, unless you possess conical shaped hills.)