Zone of Death (ZoD)

"Zone of Death" is not an official DBM term so don’t bother looking for it in your rules. It refers to an area extending out behind each element when destroyed from combat and is lethal to all friendly elements caught within (exceptions are Ps, WWg, Art & Bg as mentioned below). In addition to the ZoD, all elements supporting the destroyed element in combat are also destroyed.

The lethal area of a ZoD for friendly elements is described under ‘Destroyed Elements’ (page 24) as;

• less than the destroyed element's base depth from the initial position of its rear edge,
• or less than one base width if this is less or their nearest part directly behind the destroyed element is a flank or rear edge or rear corner, are also destroyed unless any of the following apply:

# The front element is of psiloi and the nearest element behind is not.
# The front element or that behind is of war wagons, baggage or naval, or the front element is of artillery.
# The elements behind are separated from that in front by a fortification, or the front element drowned.

The following examples are based on a Blade (O) element being destroyed in combat and illustrate the effect it has on friendly Bd elements to its rear.

Diagrams drawn to 15mm scale, all dimensions in "mm" unless otherwise specified .	Fig A - the Bd element in contact with the Wb is destroyed in combat. Friendly (Bd) elements to it’s rear are effected as follows; X is killed because its within a base depth (15mm). Y is safe because its outside base depth & lined up with its front edge being closest. Z is killed because its within a base width (40mm) and it’s flank is closest.
	Fig B - same example as above except rear elements are slightly rotated; Y is safe because its outside a base depth and its front corner is the closest. Z is killed within a base width (40mm) because it’s rear corner is closest. Note; if Z was rotated the same as Y, it would be safe.

ZoD’s are blocked by intervening fortifications, but not by intervening elements. ZoD’s for Psiloi only effect other Psiloi. Artillery, War Wagons, Naval and Baggage do not exert a ZoD.