Bolt Action Basics - medics and snipers

Hello everyone and welcome back to the channel and the ninth video in the Bolt Action Basics series. In this video, we are going to be looking at movement and how you go about the basic rules for using medics and snipers in games of Bolt Action.
Medics and snipers fulfil very unique roles in your Bolt Action armies and have very different abilities that they can use in game. In the video, we will take a look at how these units are used in two different scenarios.
As with the rest of the Bolt Action Basics series, the videos are intended to be a very basic overview rather than a detailed analysis. I would always recommend picking up a copy of the main Bolt Action rulebook as this will expand on the areas of the game covered by this video and the rest of the Bolt Action basics series.
Bolt Action Basics;
Building a Bolt Action army - • Bolt Action Basics - B...
Unit quality and issuing orders - • Bolt Action Basics - U...
Combat - • Bolt Action Basics - C...
Pinning and morale - • Bolt Action Basics - P...
HQ units and snap to action - • Bolt Action Basics - H...
Transports and tanks - • Bolt Action Basics - t...
Ambush - • Bolt Action Basics - A...
Troop and vehicle movement - • Bolt Action Basics - t...
If you are new to Bolt Action or you are thinking about taking the plunge and starting to play the game, I hope that you will find this video series of videos helpful or interesting. They are intended to be a very brief outline of the basic aspects of the game that will help you at the beginning of your Bolt Action journey.
If you have any comments or questions, just pop them below and I will certainly respond to all questions and comments. If you enjoyed the video, please give it a like and consider subscribing to the channel for more gaming goodness!
I'm also on;
Instagram: on_point@hq
Twitter: @point_hq
You can also join our Facebook group - / onpointhq
Credits; Gently, onwards - ELPHNT
Happy gaming and may your dice roll well!

[@stevenbuerkle9329]

Thank you for the Bolt Action basics videos, it’s always good to get a re-fresher course on the rules. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@OnPointHQ]

No worries Steven and I certainly agree with you! Due to the current situation it's been difficult to game this year so these videos have been helpful to me also in catching up on the rules 😊

[@8bitkefka]

thank you for this series it was very helpful for me and my son!

[@OnPointHQ]

That's brilliant, I'm really glad that you found the videos helpful! When I first decided to make the series, I saw it as being a reference for new players or people thinking about getting into playing Bolt Action. I didn't want them to be long or complex but more of a snapshot of the core rules. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment, it's much appreciated 😀

[@paulspaintshed3511]

Another great video in the series mate.

[@OnPointHQ]

Thanks Paul! Hopefully the series is proving to be helpful for either new or aspiring players. It's certainly been helpful for me as a bit of a rules refresher 😊

[@TheGreatMim]

Thanks again, great series👍🏻

[@OnPointHQ]

Thanks Chris, glad you have been finding the series helpful mate. The videos have been really interesting to make and have acted as a nice way to revisit the rules ☺

[@bieryroland]

Thank you for this. I am just starting, and this is simple and to the point

[@OnPointHQ]

That's great, thank you! When I first started the videos, I didn't want to go into too much detail, just very short videos that explain the core mechanics. Glad that you have found them helpful 😀

[@theenigmaticgamer]

So that's why it's worth paying points for a medic! Luckily my early War French have one. They also have a sniper team...now I know how to use them😂. Another gem Ste.

[@OnPointHQ]

I often find that including medics in an army is really thematic even if they don't actually manage to save any lives, I just always like the idea of them being in the thick of things. That's awesome, thank you :)

[@dragon121978]

Hi great videos , I’m new to bolt action and find these videos very helpful. Could you do a series more in depth , like tanks firing at tanks and running in to buildings etc

[@OnPointHQ]

Cheers mate, really glad you have found the videos helpful!
Sure thing, I'm planning to make a video about buildings next in the series but I'm pretty sure that a tank v tank video could be pretty useful. Leave it with me 😊

[@dragon121978]

@@OnPointHQ awesome thanks

[@roperhodson2580]

Hey great video I'm currently putting together a Marine Corps Army and was wondering how many of them I should make medics

[@OnPointHQ]

Thanks Roper! When I run my USMC I tend to include a medic where I can. You can only take one medic per platoon but if you are running multiple platoons you'll be able to take more than one medic 😀

[@roperhodson2580]

@@OnPointHQ thank you I've been trying to figure this out for days now love you videos by the way

[@WoofyMcDoodle]

I know this is an older video, but do you perhaps know if Snipers also ignore the house bonus on damage rolls? So if a regular unit is inside a house does the sniper kills on a 4+ or 5+?

[@andraslibal]

I like your sniper miniature with the little fake helmet raised, very clever.
The sniper seems like a strong piece on the board while the medic seems rather weak.
What is your game play experience, is it worth investing in snipers and medics?

[@OnPointHQ]

It was a last minute addition that I wasn't planning to do but I'm glad I did. I'm very happy with how this came out.
Game wise I'm more inclined to take a sniper over a medic. A well placed sniper can lock down different areas of the battlefield and can often make your opponent very wary of where they move high value targets such as HQ units, other snipers, spotters etc. If I have the points available I'll include a medic but from a tactical perspective I'd always choose a sniper 😊

[@smoothbrush4722]

Sniper is deadlyer, can take out nco,mg, panzerfaust. Nice video.

[@OnPointHQ]

I always try and take a sniper where I can and I have the points. I remember one game against my friend's IJA, my sniper took out his major and then occupied a third of the table with the amount of firepower being directed at him. Definitely worth the points cost that day 😊

[@BrushQuill]

Thanks for the guide. How are snipers in BA? I've used them in other systems and found them either OP or underwhelming.

[@OnPointHQ]

No worries Cal! Snipers for me have often been hit or miss. I've had games where they've done nothing and just ended up being a points sink and other games where they have been a pivotal unit in the game. One that springs to mind was taking out an IJA major in the first turn and then causing havoc in one third of the table top for the rest of the game 😊

[@markhamilton3363]

What is the purpose of the 2nd model in the 2 man sniper team? Is he there to take off as a casualty if the sniper gets hit?
Does the sniper still suffer -1 penalty to shooting if the 2nd model dies?

[@OnPointHQ]

Hey Mark, thanks for the question and apologies for the delay in responding. The second model represents a spotter, so he will be using binoculars to identify targets for the sniper, providing information about range etc. As the sniper team has the Team Weapon rule it suffers from the -1 penalty should it be reduced to one man as per the rule on page 73 of the rulebook. Hope that helps 😀

[@walterfelscher8070]

Does BA have a rule say,governing a field hospital for more serious injuries??

[@OnPointHQ]

Hey Walter, thanks for the question. Not really no, if you have a medic, they can attempt to save casualties from small arms fire but that's as far as medics work in Bolt Action. Although I imagine that if you were running a campaign and rolled for casualties between games, a field hospital could certainly be house ruled 🙂👍

[@jacobrichards5141]

Love bolt action, I play in 1/32 and 1/35 as the 28mm figures are expensive and I can't afford to switch

[@granttiller3360]

expensive! try 40k-thats expensive, BA is cheap.

[@jacobrichards5141]

@@granttiller3360 yeah I know it's not too bad compared to others it's just for someone in college like me it's a lot of money to spend, especially when I have loads of 1/32 stuff

[@damuses1452]

@@granttiller3360 Actually, BA is cheap but not as cheap as if played in 1/48th scale models or even 1/35th scale. A 1/48th scale tank only costs $20.00 USD. Guess how much a single 1/56th scale tank costs for Bolt Action? More than $20.00 USD that is for sure.

[@jacobrichards5141]

@@damuses1452 yeah the 1/35 kits are cheaper and the soldiers are much cheaper too

[@OnPointHQ]

I think the Bolt Action rules adapt to many scales. Currently I'm painting two 15mm armies, German and US Airborne, mainly for Chain of Command but I plan to use them in games of Bolt Action at this scale. I think having a solid rule set allows you to play the game in any scale that you want to ☺

[@unit0033]

so sniper hits on a 3 plus, does anything modify it?

[@OnPointHQ]

Yes, that's correct. The only exceptions are pins and if the sniper's assistant has been killed. For example, if the sniper team has one pin, they would be hitting on a 4+. If the assistant has been killed, it is a permanent -1 modifier so all shots would be 4+. All successful shots are considered exceptional so they can choose what target is hit. Hope that helps 😀👍

[@MrPauljohnhughes]

Can Command, Medics and observers stay in a vehicles and still perform there actions?

[@OnPointHQ]

Hey Paul, thanks for the question. In response I would say probably not no although there is no reason why you couldn't house rule it if you feel it could improve the game 😀

[@recording_closet9100]

Your hiding behind a wall? Tell that to my Kar98k

[@OnPointHQ]

I probably should have used that as the title of the video to be honest, it's still lot more accurate 😄