Out of Action Tests
When one of your units is destroyed during a battle, it takes an Out of Action test in the post-battle report. This article covers what the test does, the four outcomes Echelon accepts, and how to record each one.
The most important thing to know first: going Out of Action does not mean your unit is scarred. The test is passed on a 2+, so most destroyed units come back untouched.
You will need a battle with a recorded result, and at least one unit marked Out of Action during play.
Key Concepts
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Out of Action | A unit was destroyed during the battle. Echelon marks this live from the Live Battle Companion, so you do not tick it manually. |
| Out of Action test | One D6 rolled per destroyed unit at the end of the battle. Passed on a 2+. |
| Battle Scar | A permanent injury from the D6 scars table. Worth −1 Crusade Point. Maximum 3 per unit. |
| Devastating Blow | The unit loses one existing Battle Honour instead of taking a scar. |
| Destroyed | Permanent removal from your Order of Battle. |
The four outcomes
Echelon asks you to record one of four results for every unit that went Out of Action.
| Result | When to pick it | What Echelon does |
|---|---|---|
| Passed, no scar (2+) | You rolled 2 or higher. | Nothing changes on the Crusade Card. The unit still earns its XP for the battle. |
| Battle Scar (1) | You rolled a 1 and chose to take the injury. | Appends the scar you name to the Crusade Card and reduces Crusade Points by 1. |
| Devastating Blow (1) | You rolled a 1 and chose to lose an upgrade instead. | Strips the Battle Honour you name, along with the Crusade Points it was worth. |
| Destroyed | The unit is permanently gone. | Marks the unit destroyed and removes it from active play. |
The odds are on your side
A failed test is a one in six chance. Over a campaign, your veterans will go Out of Action many times and walk away clean nearly every time.
Step 1: Open the post-battle report
- Open the battle from your campaign once the result has been recorded.
- Scroll to Post-Battle Sequence.
- Units that went Out of Action during the game carry an OOA badge showing the round they fell, and each one shows its own Out of Action test control.
Units that survived need no action here. They simply collect their XP.
Step 2: Roll the dice and record the result
Echelon does not roll for you. The dice stay on the table with the rest of your game.
- Roll one D6 for each unit showing an Out of Action test.
- Select the matching result on that unit's card:
- Passed, no scar (2+) for any roll of 2 or higher.
- Battle Scar (1) or Devastating Blow (1) for a roll of 1.
- If you chose Battle Scar, pick the scar from the dropdown. Scars the unit already carries are not listed, because a unit can never have the same scar twice.
- If you chose Devastating Blow, pick which Battle Honour the unit loses.
You must record a result for every Out of Action unit
Submit Post-Battle stays disabled until every Out of Action unit has a result, and until any scar or honour choice has been named. This is deliberate: an unresolved test would silently cost the unit nothing.
Step 3: Submit the report
Choose your Marked for Greatness unit (the one unit earning +3 XP), then click Submit Post-Battle. On submission Echelon:
- awards XP to every participating unit,
- applies the scar or honour loss you recorded,
- recalculates Crusade Points,
- updates each unit's battle tally,
- and completes the battle once every player has filed.
Edge Cases & Rules
A unit that already has 3 Battle Scars
The Battle Scar option is disabled. A unit cannot carry a fourth scar, so a failed test must be resolved as a Devastating Blow.
A unit with no Battle Honours
The Devastating Blow option is disabled, because there is nothing to strip. A failed test must be resolved as a Battle Scar.
A unit with 3 Battle Scars and no Battle Honours
Both losing options are disabled. Under the Crusade rules this unit is permanently removed from your Order of Battle: select Destroyed.
Destroyed is permanent
A unit marked Destroyed is removed from active play and cannot be restored from the post-battle screen. Only use it for genuine permanent removal. A unit that was merely destroyed during the game is not lost and should take its test normally.
Units that automatically pass
Epic Heroes, Fortifications, Swarms, and units summoned during the battle automatically pass their Out of Action test. Record Passed, no scar for them without rolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does going Out of Action always cost my unit something?
No. The test is passed on a 2+, so five results in six leave the unit completely unharmed. Only a roll of 1 costs it anything.
Why can't I select Battle Scar for one of my units?
That unit already carries the maximum of 3 Battle Scars. Resolve the failed test as a Devastating Blow instead.
Why can't I select Devastating Blow?
That unit has no Battle Honours to lose. Resolve the failed test as a Battle Scar instead.
Should I take the scar or the blow?
It depends on what the unit is carrying. A unit with no useful upgrades takes the scar. A decorated veteran is often better off dropping its least useful Battle Honour than carrying a permanent stat penalty, especially against a scar like Crippling Damage or Deep Scars.
Can I undo an Out of Action result after submitting?
Not from the post-battle screen; a submitted report is final for that battle. You can edit a unit's Battle Scars and Battle Honours directly on its Crusade Card if you need to correct a mistake.
How do I remove a Battle Scar later?
Spend the Repair and Recuperate Requisition in the post-battle step. It costs 1 RP plus 1 RP per Battle Honour the unit has, up to 5 RP, and removes one scar.
My unit's Crusade Points didn't drop when it took a scar. Why?
Crusade Points are floored at zero. A unit whose scars already outnumber its honours is sitting at 0 and cannot go lower.