I'm confused by TW Errata 4.2.
On page 13, regarding the facing changes (TW page 84):
“Before it can make a facing change on the low-altitude map, a unit must move in a straight line at least the number of hexes shown on the Straight Movement Table below. When moving on the ground map, multiply the minimum number of hexes required by eight. In both cases, this movement may be split across two turns.”
So up till velocity 6, ASFs can make 1 facing change for every 8 hexes on the ground map. In which case, what is the STRAIGHT MOVEMENT ON
GROUND MAPS TABLE (AERODYNE CRAFT ONLY) table on page 92 of TW for? The minimum straight movement costs there contradict the TW errata. Does the TW errata render this table defunct?
Page 92 of TW :
"Aerodyne units also use the facing changes rules for low-altitude movement, except that the straight movement required before making a facing change has a greater eff ect at this scale. See the column appropriate for the unit’s class on the Straight Movement on Ground Maps Table, below, for the minimum number of ground map hexes a unit must move in a straight line between one-hexside facing changes."
What's even more confusing is that page 84 of TW starts by talking about free facing changes :
"While operating in a atmosphere hex, fighters, aerodyne DropShips and aerodyne small craft need not spend Thrust Points to change facing. Instead, they use control surfaces built into their wings to change facing and altitude. These surfaces allow the unit to make a number of free facing changes, depending on unit type and velocity. The faster a unit moves, the fewer free facing changes it receives."
How does the free facing thing work now? I thought the straight movement table on page 84 was the number of hexes the unit must move before it gets a free facing change, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.
The TW errata (page 2) also says :
"However, they may not do so if they have already changed facing in that hex or if this is the first hex of their movement on the low-altitude map. On the ground map, each such change must be preceded by at least eight hexes of movement, which may be split across two turns."
This is for additional facing changes, but ASFs on the ground map need to move at least 8 hexes before making ANY facing changes anyway....
Assuming page 92 is talking strictly about the minimum number of hexes ASFs can move before making facing changes on the ground map, then at velocity 2, a ASF would need to move 12 hexes before making ANY facing change. But this wouldn't really make sense because page 84 would allow the ASF to make free facing changes after every 8 hexes at velocity 2.