Art De La Guerre

[Mark G Fry]

We've been having a discussion around what is supposed to happen when a unit destroys its opposing enemy unit and then pursues into the flank of an otherwise unengaged enemy unit.

We may have been playing this wrong, but we thought it worked out as follows.

1. The pursuing unit hits the enemy flank.
2. The two units are now locked in melee
3. In the melee phase of the next turn, the melee is fought with the pursuing unit fighting on the opposing units flank (so it fights at a +1 for fighting to the flank & the unit fighting to the flank fights on a '0')

However, somebody recently stated this is wrong.

What actually happens is that the pursuing unit hits the enemy flank it its turn. In the next turn the phasing player just turns the flanked unit to face the unit in its flank (as a free move) so it now fights the melee with no penalty for having been hit in the flank.

Surely, there must be some disadvantage to the unit which has been pursued into & that it has been hit in the flank by an enemy?

I'd be interested to get a clarification.
Thank you
Mark

[SteveR]

There is a big disadvantage if the unit which is contacted is already in melee.

if not, well, assume that they were far enough away to allow them to respond adequately to meet the pursuit.

One can rationalize any mechanism one wants as a justification. But the rules are clear.

[Mark G Fry]

Absolutely Steve - if the enemy unit which is flanked is already in melee to its front - that makes a big difference.

But what you are saying is that if it is not in melee to its front, it turns (for free?) and then fights at no disadvantage.

If that is the way this works (officially) that is fine (no need for any historical justification - it is a rules mechanism - I get that) - I/we just wanted a clarification - as there appears to be nothing in the rules that states that the unit can turn to face its attacker (immediately) or can do this for free (unless we are misreading something somewhere).

Cheers
Mark

[madaxeman]

[Mark G Fry]

[ALEXANDER]

There is another difference to a normal charge.

The pursuit is not considered as a "charge"
(...or recieving a "charge")

There is will be no impact, furious charge, javelin, pike or longspear bonus, polearm and missle support
But...
Medium cavalry still do get the 1 bonus for 1st round against LMi or Medium swordmen.
2HW bonus will be added too

[KevinD]

Alexander, I think you are right above except that the Cav vs MI and LMI does not apply unless it is a charge. You do not get this bonus after a pursuit or conforming into contact. There was a discussion about this on this forum last year where this point was clearly explained/clarified.

[madaxeman]

[Ramses II]

While the Pursuit is not considered to be a charge (and is limited to 1UD), the new enemy that has been contacted may evade if it is able.

And, unless it is already in melee with another unit, this new enemy is not otherwise disadvantaged by being contacted (though there may be other situational factors). 

See P69, contacting new enemies