Zone of control

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In board wargames, zones of control represent the tiles adjacent to tiles occupied by objects. For example, in hexagonal tiled maps, the six hexagons adjacent to the hexagon occupied by a unit would be considered to be in its "zone of control."

Zones of control commonly are used to represent the portion of the map over which a military ground formation has a direct influence. Game rules often include specific effects associated with a zone of control. Typical effects include one or more of the following:

• Destruction of retreating enemy units.
• Enemy units must be attacked.
• Increased movement cost.
• Interdiction of enemy supply lines.
• Partly negate enemy zone of control.
• Prevent further movement.
• Reveal hidden enemy units.

Strategy computer games, such as the Civilization series, commonly use zones of control as a method to balance combat and grant extra strength to units in pairs.