Art De La Guerre

KevinD

Can charging groups voluntarily break up when charging?

1. Suppose a mixed group of non-impetuous foot and elephants charges and all targets evade. The elephants must go 2 UD. Can the foot choose to go only 1 UD and thus no longer be in a group with the elephants?

2. Suppose the charging group was all non-impetuous foot? Can some voluntarily stop at 1 UD while others continue on?

3. Suppose the charging group was a mix of impetuous and non impetuous troops? Can (some of) the non-impetuous troops stop after 1-2 UDs while the impetuous troops continue on?

Why? Often one might want to drop a flanking element back to better cover the flank while the rest press on.

Ramses II · Post� le: Mer Juil 23, 2025 12:35 am Sujet du message:

Broadly speaking, the group must stay together during the move (p10).
The one exception is where the units in the group have different movement allowances (p43, step 6, 2nd bp), in which case they dice separately for their variable movement. So:-

An elephant and HI would dice separately, but otherwise the group would stay together.
HI and MI would dice separately, otherwise the group must stay together.
Impetuous and regular troops would only dice separately where their movement was different.

Mark G Fry · Post� le: Mer Juil 23, 2025 12:45 pm Sujet du message:

Ramses II · Post� le: Mer Juil 23, 2025 3:34 pm Sujet du message:

KevinD · Post� le: Mer Juil 23, 2025 4:47 pm Sujet du message:

So, suppose your charging group consists of both impetuous and non-impetuous troops and all targets evade. Say HKn Impetuous and HC Impact charge LC and fail to catch them. Both types (HC and HKn) roll a 3-4 so can move their standard distance (3 or 4 UD respectively).

So… the HKn Impetuous must go 3 UD (points 6 and 8 on p 43).

But what about the HC Impact? What are their options?

Can they go 2 UD and then stop? (P 43 #6 5th bullet “Non-impetuous units should advance if possible at least… 2 UD for mounted. They may then stop...” and #8 2nd bullet “Continuing a charge is optional for non-impetuous units”)

Can they go 3 UD and remain a group with the Impetuous knights? Does P 43 #6 5th bullet “up to their maximum adjusted charge distance” mean they can choose a distance between 2UD and their “maximum adjusted charge distance” - 4 UD in this case?

Can they go 4 UD? (P 43 #6 5th bullet “They may … continue the charge up to their maximum adjusted charge distance.”)

FYI P 43 #6 5th bullet reads “Non-impetuous units should advance if possible at least… 2 UD for mounted. They may then stop or continue the charge up to their maximum adjusted charge distance.”)

Ramses II · Post� le: Mer Juil 23, 2025 5:47 pm Sujet du message:

As above, each unit or group with a different movement rate will dice separately. Consider an extreme case where 3x impetuous HKn alternating with 3x impact HC units, declare a charge as a group on some enemy LC. The target must be within 3UD to allow all the units to charge as a group.

When the target evades the chargers dice for their adjusted charge distance. Because each unit has a different movement rate from its neighbours, each unit will roll separately.

The impetuous units must move the full adjusted distance, while the ‘standard’ units may choose to halt early.

Given the different movement rates, this would probably result in the group fracturing completely - obviously something to be avoided.

Moral; group like type and speed units together.

Note, if the group contained some impetuous HC and some impact HC, then the entire group would use a single adjusted move dice, and the impact HC would be compelled to move the full distance with the impetuous HC to maintain the group.

KevinD · Post� le: Mer Juil 23, 2025 10:38 pm Sujet du message:

It seems odd that HC Impact w HKn Impetuous can choose to move short (or long or the same distance) but HC Impact w HC Impetuous or HKn Impact w HKn Impetuous can’t.

What if the HC Impact roll a 1 and the HKn Impetuous roll a 3? Can the HC still choose to move only 2 UD?

Ramses II · Post� le: Mer Juil 23, 2025 11:11 pm Sujet du message:

I am not sure I understand your problem.

The rules on the movement of groups are clear, (P10)

Mike Bennett · Post� le: Jeu Juil 24, 2025 7:07 am Sujet du message:

Ramses II · Post� le: Jeu Juil 24, 2025 8:41 am Sujet du message:

Sort of Mike.
What I am saying relates to those units that have not contacted those enemy units comprising the initial target.

If all these units have the same movement rate, then I think they all must move together as a group - the rules on groups p10 do not permit the player to break a group voluntarily.

If some units in this group are impetuous then I think the entire group must follow the rules for impetuous units, so must move their full amount.