Basic Information
The leaflet shell is a round of (normally high calibre) ammunition that serves to disperse propaganda materials (traditionally leaflets) into enemy lines in the hope of affecting morale.
In the modern era, such propaganda materials tend to be dropped by air, but previous conflicts have seen leaflet shells fired by all manner of devices from artillery down to rifle grenades.
Generally these rounds require mass printing by the user and mass literacy amongst the enemy (although a lot can be achieved with cartoons) and are of debatable effectiveness - sometimes only serving to provide the enemy with an additional supply of toilet paper.
Messages can vary widely from ideological exhortations and attacks on the integrity of the target's war aims to instructions on how to surrender safely1.
Sources
Game and Story Use
- In the right circumstances, these may be fired into a position that the PCs are defending - unlikely to be a problem for them, but auxilaries, allies or conscripts attached to their unit may waver as a result of the propaganda.
