Hordes of the Things (HOTT) for moderns is an adaptation of the much-liked fantasy DBA variant. It was written by Bruce McFarlane of the Canadian Wargamers Group and now exists only on the Wayback Machine. In the interests of preservation, I have reproduced it below. No challenge to Mr. McFarlane’s copyright is intended.

Modern DBA/HOTT

Bruce McFarlane of the
Canadian Wargamers Group has produced this HOTT-based rule set for Modern
divisional scale games. The text is all Bruce’s.

The following is an adaptation of HOTT to Modern rules while retaining the
simplicity and spirit of the original rules.

HOTT for Modern Armour

Troop Types

Main Battle Tank – Top of the line; recent generation AFVs,
equipped with the most recent electronics and weaponry.Most often used by
major powers; M1A1s, Challengers,Cheiftains, Leapard IIs, T-86s and T-82s.

Secondary Battle Tanks – Front line AFVs from the 1960�s and 70�s.
Often used as the Main Battle Tank of medium powers; M-60s, T-72s, T-62s and
Leapard Is.

Obsolete Battle Tanks – 1st-post WWII generation AFVs.Little or no
electronic targeting, stablizing,etc. Still often used by minor powers
Super-Shermans, Pattons, Centurions, and T-55s.

Armoured Personnel Carrier -All manner of armoured vehicles
primarily used for the transport of infantry; M2s, M113s, BMPs, BTRs, and
BMDs.

APC / ATGM -Armoured vehicles used in an anti-tank role rather than
for transport.Armed with anti-tank Missles; M-901s, BRDM/ATGM.

Recon -All manner of vehicles which utilize stealth and speed to
seek out and identify enemy positions, rather than meet and defeat the
enemy; M3s, Luchs, and BRDM-2.

Infantry – Most assault-rifle armed foot soldiers currently used by
modern armies.

Engineers – Troops especially trained and equipped for battlefield
construction and demolition.

Truck -All manner of soft-skinned, wheeled vehicles, used to
transport men and materiel.

Towed Artillery -Long-range , unarmoured cannon towed into battle
by Vehicles; 105Hs and 130mm M-46. Counts as "Foot".

Self-Propelled Artillery – Long-range, cannon mounted on its own
chassis and armoured.May fire on the opponent�s turn, even if it has moved
in the previous turn; M-109, M-110s, MRLSs, SAU-122s, SAU-152s, and BM-21s.
Counts as "Foot".

Towed SAM -All Surface-to-Air Anti-Aircraft weapons including FLAK,
Multi-barreled cannon and guided missiles, in prepared positions or towed
into battle by vehicles.Costs 2 PIPS to fire (unless using optional �artillery�
rule); Hawks, Patriots, and ZU-23s.Counts as "Foot".

Self-Propelled SAM -All Surface-to-Air Anti-Aircraft weapons
including FLAK, Multi-barreled cannon and guided missiles, mounted on its
own chassis and usually armoured. Costs 2 PIPS to fire (unless using
optional  �artillery� rule); Chaparelles, Roland, M-163s, Gepards,
SA-4s,SA-6s, SA-9s, SA-11s, and ZSU-23s.Counts as "Foot".

B-52 Bomber – All high-level aircraft used to bombard large areas,
indiscriminately; B-52s, B-29 Superfortress, and Tu-95 Bears.

Fighter Bomber -All aircraft that use precision point attacks to
destroy specific enemy units and positions.Typically, these are one or two
engine jet-fighter planes; F-86s, F-4s, F-15s, F-16s, F-18s, Mirages, and
all sorts of MiGs.

Attack Helicopters -all vehicle-lift aircraft – both fixed wing and
rotary-blade- who�s primary role is ground-support or anti-tank fire;
Cobra, Apache and Hind helicopters, as well as, Harrier jump-jet and other
VTOL aircraft. 

Transport Helicopters – all vehicle-lift aircraft – both fixed wing
and rotary-blade – who�s primary role is either the transportation of men
and material or to be used as a gun platform or ground-support fire; Various
and sundry Hueys, Chinooks, Sea Kings, Sikorsky and Hinds.

Special Forces – Infantry, especially trained and equipped for
covert actions and infiltration against the enemy; Commando, Ranger, Green
Beret, and Spetsnaz troops.

Mines – All passive anti-personnel and anti-vehicle ground
weapons.These are deployed, secretly before the game and take up an area of
6� by 2�. Friendly troops may pass through these mine fields without
suffering harm or revealing the field�s existence.

Combat

*HQs add 1 to the die roll when the element it is attached to is in combat.
HQs can move 10" and attach to another element in its command for a cost of
1 PIP.

If the element an HQ is attached to is destroyed roll a d6 for the effect on
the HQ:

1,2,3 = no effect HQ moves to closest element in its command.
4,5 = HQ disrupted remove from table for d6 turns, after which it returns to
any element in its command. All actions take 2 PIPS in HQ’s absence.

6=HQ destroyed remove from table permanently. All actions take 2 PIPS in HQ’s
absence.

Since the Regiments, Brigades, Divisions of the various nationalities vary so
much in size we cannot use a d6 as the command roll for all of them. Instead we
use a d2 (head=1; tails =2), d4, d6, d8, d10 or d12, depending on the size of
the formation, (excluding transport elements – trucks, APCs, helicopters, etc.)
as listed:

formations of 1-6 elements use a d2;
formations of 7-10 elements use a d4;
formations of 11- 14 elements use a d6;
formations of 15-18 elements use a d8;

formations of over 18 elements use a d10.

In addition we can now rate the commanders; Poor commanders use a die one
level lower than called for [i.e. a d6 becomes a d4]; average commanders use the
die, as listed; superior commanders use a die one level greater than called for
[i.e. a d10 becomes a d12].

Movement and Factors

Tactical Factors

+1 If the element is with a general and in Close Combat or shot at

+1 If in close combat and either up hill or defending a riverbank

+2 Target being shot at in cover

+2 Infantry in close combat, with Engineers in rear support

+2 Infantry with tank in rear support, in Close Combat against target in
open

-1 For each flank overlapped, and/or each enemy element in contact with
flank or rear, or for each 2nd and 3rd element aiding in shooting

Combat Outcome

Optional Rule

(Highly Recommended)

Limited Recoils

Each element is only allowed a limited number of recoils. Once that limit is
reached the element is removed from the table.
Conscript = 2 recoils;
Regulars = 3 recoils;
Veteran = 4 recoils;
Elite are removed upon their 5th recoil.

Points Values

For points values multiply the base AP value by the number of recoils allowed
(i.e. Elite Infantry would be 2 elements x 5 recoils = 10)

Organizations

Warsaw Pact

• Guard Airbourne Reg’t — HQ + 2xInfantry + 2xAPC or 2x Trans Helicopter =
  (8AP)
• Airbourne Regiment– HQ + 2xInfantry + 2x Trans.Helicopter = (8AP)
• SAM Brigade — HQ + 4xtowed SAM + 4xtrucks = (12AP)
• Artillery Division– HQ + 3x towed Artillery + 1x SP.SAM + 3xtrucks =
  (13AP)
• Guard Tank Division –HQ + 1x Attack Helc.+ 1xAPC/ATGM + 1xEngineer + 2x
  SP. Art. + 2x SP.SAM + 2xInfantry + 2xAPC + 1xtruck + 4x MBT (or SBT or OT)
  + 1xRecon =52AP (or 52AP or 44SP)
• Motorized Rifle Division — HQ + 1xAttack Helc. + 1xAPC/ATGM + 1x Engineer
  + 2xSP.Art. + 2xSP.SAM + 5xInfantry + 5xAPC +1 trucks  + 2x MBT (or SBT
  or OT) + 1x Recon = 56AP (or 56APor 52AP)
• Tank Division–HQ + 1xHind + 1xAPC/ATGM + 1xEngineer  + 2xSP.Art +
  2xSP.SAM + 2xInfantry+ 2x APC   +1x trucks + 5x MBT (or SBT or OT)
  + 1 Recon  = 52AP (or 52AP or 42AP)

NATO Organization

• US Armored Cavalry Reg’t — HQ + 1x SP.Art + 2xAttack Helc. + 1xMBT or SBT
  + 2x Infantry + 2x APCor2x Trans.Helc. = 22AP
• US Artillery Group– HQ + 2xSP.Art. + 1x towed SAM + 1x truck =11AP 
• US Air Defence Group — HQ + 6x towed SAM + 6x trucks = 18AP
• US Armored Division — HQ + 1xRecon + 1x Engineers + 1xAttack Helc. +1x
  APC/ATGM + 1xSP.SAM + 2xSP.Art.  + 3xMBT or SBT or OT + 3xInfantry +
  3xAPC  + 1 truck  = 50AP (or 50AP or 44AP)
• US Mechanized Infantry Division –HQ + 1xRecon + 1xAttack Helc. + 1x ASPC/ATGM
  + 2x Sp.Art. + 1xSp.SAM + 3xInfantry + 3x APC + 3xMBT or STB or OT =45 AP
  (or 45 AP or 39 AP)
• West German Airbourne Brigade — HQ + towed. Art+ 2 x Infantry  + 3x
  Trans.Helicopter= (12 AP) 
• West German J�ger Division — HQ + 2x SP.Art + 1x SP.SAM +1 Recon + 3xMBT
  or SBT or OT + 2xInfantry +2x APC = 42 AP (or 42 AP or 36 AP)
• West German Panzer Division — HQ + 1x SP.Art + 1x SP.SAM + 1x Recon 
  + 3xMBT or SBT or OT + 2xInfantry  + 2x APC  = 38 AP (or 38AP or
  32 AP)

Egyptian 

• Armored DivisionHQ + 7x SBT or OT + 3x Infantry + 3x APC +1x BDRM/ATGM +
  3x towed artillery +1x towed SAM + 4x truck = 56 AP (or 42 AP)
• Infantry Division HQ + 9x Infantry+ 2x OT+ 2x towed Art. + 11 trucks = 37
  AP
• Mechanized DivisionsHQ + 6x Infantry + 6x APC + 3x OT + 3x towed Art. +
  1xtowedSAM + 4 trucks = 42 AP

Syrian

• Infantry Division – HQ + 3 Infantry + 2 Infantry + 2 APC + 5x OT + 3x
  SP.Art.+ 1xtowedSAM + 4 trucks + 1x BDRM/ATGM = 54 AP

Jordanian 1967 & 1973

• Infantry Brigade- HQ + 3x Infantry + 1x towed Art. + 4x truck = 12 AP
  Armored Brigade – HQ + 2x 0T + 1x Infantry +1x APC  + 1x towed Art. + 1
  truck = 15 AP

Israeli

• Parachute Brigade- HQ + 3x Infantry = 6 AP
• Mechanized Brigade – HQ + 2x Infantry+ 1x SBT or OT +1x SP.Art  + 2x
  trucks  = 14 AP (or 12 AP)
• Armored Brigade- HQ + 2x SBT or OT + 1 Infantry + 1x truck  + 1
  SP.Art  = 13 AP (or 9 AP)
• Armored Division  – HQ + 6x SBT + 1x Recon + 3x SP.Art = 38 AP

Bruce McFarlane, Canadian
Wargamers Group

Home Page: http://www.agt.net/public/cwgroup/cwghome.html