A Combat results table or a CRT is used in wargaming to determine the outcome of a clash between individual units within a larger battle.
Dieroll
1-3
1-2
1-1
3-2
2-1
3-1
4-1
5-1
-
AE
AE
AE
3/-
3/-
2/-
2/-
1/-
1
AE
AE
3/-
3/-
2/-
2/-
1/-
1/-
2
AE
3/-
3/-
2/-
2/-
1/-
1/-
[-/1]
3
3/-
3/-
2/-
2/-
1/-
1/-
[-/1]
-/2*
4
3/-
2/-
2/-
1/-
1/-
[-/1]
-/2*
-/3*
5
2/-
2/-
1/-
1/-
[-/1]
-/2*
-/3*
DE
6
2/-
1/-
1/-
[-/1]
-/2*
-/3*
DE
DE
7
1/-
1/-
[-/1]
-/2*
-/3*
DE
DE
DE
8
1/-
[-/1]
-/2
-/3*
DE
DE
DE
DE
+
[-/1]
-/2
-/3
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
The attacker and defender typically compare the relative strengths of the units involved in the clash and reduce these numbers to a ratio, which corresponds to a column on the table (for example 2:1 if the attacker is twice as strong as the defender). Less often, the columns may be based on the difference between the combatants' strengths, rather than the ratio (for example '3', if an attacker with strength 5 attacks a defender with strength 2).
A die roll is then made using one or more dice and the resulting number is then cross-referenced on the table to find the results of the individual clash.
Dice are small throwable objects that can rest in multiple positions, used for generating random numbers. Dice are suitable as gambling devices for games like craps and are also used in non-gambling tabletop games.
Game conditions can influence the strength numbers used to calculate the ratio in the form of doubling or halving each of them, in addition to column shifts that can occur due to terrain, weather or some other factor. Typical results include elimination, advances or retreats, surrender, casualty reduction, or partial losses.
Terrain or relief involves the vertical and horizontal dimensions of land surface. The term bathymetry is used to describe underwater relief, while hypsometry studies terrain relative to sea level. The Latin word terra means "earth."
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, describing for example the degree to which it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the lowest level of the atmosphere, the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate is the term for the averaging of atmospheric conditions over longer periods of time. When used without qualification, "weather" is generally understood to mean the weather of Earth.
Surrender, in military terms, is the relinquishment of control over territory, combatants, fortifications, ships or armament to another power. A surrender may be accomplished peacefully, without fighting, or it may be the result of defeat in battle. A sovereign state may surrender following defeat in a war, usually by signing a peace treaty or capitulation agreement. A battlefield surrender, either by individuals or when ordered by officers, normally results in those surrendering becoming prisoners of war.
For example, the simple Combat Results Table (CRT) included in this article could be interpreted as follows:
AE: Attacking unit(s) completely Eliminated
DE: Defending unit(s) completely Eliminated
Intermediate results (reflected by a slash separating two values): the number to the left of the slash represents the losses suffered by the attacking force, the number to the right of the slash represents the losses the defenders might suffer (losses may result in the dissolution or destruction of sub-units and/or the overall distance a force may retreat). A dash represents no effect to the force indicated.
The brackets seen in the results running diagonally from the lower left hand corner of the chart to the upper right hand corner could indicate some additional outcome such as melee or continuing engagement that involves both sides. The asterisk shown in some results might represent a supplementary outcome that influences only the defender, such as a mandatory retreat. As wargames typically use a standard 6-sided die the addition of numbers below 1 and above 6 in the left hand column would indicate this game uses what are called die roll modifiers to reflect further special conditions, such as defender’s terrain, weather, leadership, training, morale, surprise, experience levels, or supply conditions, etc.
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