Fria Ligans forum

So, I was looking through the modifiers for the different terrains and I came across something that confused me a bit.

So, on the battlemaps, Forest is indicated by sparsely populated trees while Foliage is indicated by densely populated trees.

While this makes some sense, since Forest only gives you -1 to ranged attacks and movement but +1 to infiltration and a maximum visibility of 3 and Foliage gives you -2 to ranged, -3 to movement, +2 to infiltration and a maximum visibility of 1, there is an issue with solid cover.

In Forest hexes, you can get into solid cover.
But in Foliage hexes, you cannot.

I interpret Foliage hexes as just denser Forest, so why can't you get into hard cover there?

Yeah. Super good question. I went back to read to find the answer …. and I can’t find one that makes sense. UNLESS, foliage is dense shrubs vs trees.

But, I think the real answer may be that visibility is 1 and cover doesn’t count in the same hex. Maybe

Yeah. Super good question. I went back to read to find the answer …. and I can’t find one that makes sense. UNLESS, foliage is dense shrubs V2 trees.

But, I think the real answer may be that visibility is 1 and cover doesn’t count in the same hex. Maybe

I always interpreted visibility 1 as you being able to see 1 hex away from your own, not as not being able to see outside your own hex.

Mainly because if that's the case, standing at the edge of a large forest (ie. foliage hex) looking out, you wouldn't be able to see anything.

Yes. That would make sense. So, the obvious thought is that this is an oversight

The term "foliage" basically means leaves. It derives from the Middle-French word "foille", which means "leaf". Foil, as in tin or aluminum foil also derives from this French word.

Once you understand how the word foliage is derived, the differences between forest and foliage hexes in the game make more sense. However it looks on the battle maps, I would interpret it as being very little actual cover but a lot of leafy concealment. It could be thin saplings, bushes, etc.

[EDIT] The modern French word for leaf is "feuille", which still shows obvious similarities to the word "foliage".

UNLESS, foliage is dense shrubs vs trees.

I agree.

This might make sense in the context of specifically Polish forest. Many forests of Poland are birch or sosna pine -- tall, thin, featureless stick farms, essentially. Like so:



You can see how this doesn't offer as much concealment as even a patch of bushes might. But it does offer intermittent hard cover (and obstructs vehicles).

This might make sense in the context of specifically Polish forest. Many forests of Poland are birch or sosna pine -- tall, thin, featureless stick farms, essentially. Like so:



You can see how this doesn't offer as much concealment as even a patch of bushes might. But it does offer intermittent hard cover (and obstructs vehicles).

Yes, but Foliage would be just this but with more foliage on the ground, then.

Also, this is also largely what large parts of Sweden is like. Only with a bit more rocks and moss on the ground.

There are certainly smaller trees, bushes, ground clutter, etc in Poland -- ie, "foliage." Especially along river banks and so on. But when you talk about "forest" it mostly tends to be these stick parades that grow tall and leafy/needley, but don't offer much at ground level.

Like I said, this is the only justification I can think of for this. Generally when *I* think of forest I think of it being denser and more concealing than "foliage." But in this particular setting the opposite might very well be true (and as you mention, in Sweden as well).

forrest/foliage confused me too, but I agree with the foliage is the shrubs+ trees.

I defaulted in my head to old Battletech. Light woods (forrest), heavy woods (foliage).