Art De La Guerre

[Adrian Clarke]

Hi all

Apologies if this has been covered previously, but I can’t find it if it has.

Say a line of four LI is charged directly in the flank by cavalry. They have no choice but to make a free right angle turn away from the charge and evade directly away...

As if that sorry state of affairs was not bad enough for them, their far flank was anchored on a coastal strip.

As they make their initial turn (into a column) should they align on the charged unit or the far one?

There are implications for dragging the further LI units closer to the charge or blocking the entire evade move, whichever is chosen. Also for dragging the charged LI unit further away from the charge during the free turn.

Or can/should they evade as individual units in which case only the far two will be blocked?

I have no sympathy for the LI. Why, Oh Why did they put themselves in that position in the first place?

Cheers

Adrian

[Commodore]

1) Only the cherged unit or any other that could be contacted must evade.
2) as it is a flank charge, the LI have to make a 90° turn, the evade.
3) the LI have to align to the first one
4) if after the 90° turn any osbacle or unit the LI may not cross are within 1 UD and canot be avoid by a 1 MU slide, the evade move is not possible
4) as they may cross freeley the other LI evading, 3rd or 4th may stay were they are.
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"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead"
Cdr Farragut,Mobile 1864

[Ramses II]

Yup, several things here:

• The units in charge range may evade separately or in one or more groups. Each evading unit / group dices separately.
  
• The coastal strip does not count as an obstacle, so potentially several units will be swimming! However, if it was an obstacle (eg Impassable terrain) the unit nearest the obstacle would not be able to evade, while others would be able to.
  
• Where a group evades, the entire group turns and forms up on the furthest unit. In this hypothetical case, it could not be on the fourth unit next to the impassable terrain, as the group would then be unable to evade further though they would have compressed the units into a 2UD space.
  

[Hazelbark]

[Ramses II]

While the coastline is described as “impassable”, that is to prevent flank marches from crossing it. As far as Evading troops are concerned, I thought they treated the coastline as the edge of the table, so become lost when they have to ‘go for a swim’.

Definitely something to get clarity from the technical board.

[Dickstick]

No need
Go to p64
Last paragraph of "river and coastal zone "

It is completely impassable and completely blocks the short edge of the table.

Evaders respond to the impassable as per p38 3 second bullet point initially then as per p39 6 when at one UD if encountered later.
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Player 747 don't call me Jumbo

[Ramses II]

Yup, we agree it is impassable, but does it constitute an”obstacle”?

[Dickstick]

By your own definition above

"Is it an obstacle (eg impassable )"

You know the answer, so what is the problem?
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Player 747 don't call me Jumbo

[Hazelbark]

[Ramses II]

The analogy is a one way mirror, “impassable” in one direction.

I believe the French play this as “impassable” to flank marches, but not to evading troops, though need to get this clarified. Does that make more sense?

[Dickstick]

So if flank marches cannot cross the water to the shore, why can evaders cross it.
Or do you expect the evaders to not be able to return?
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Player 747 don't call me Jumbo

[Ramses II]

No, evaders cannot return. The coast effectively moves the edge of the table 4ud, but also prevents flank marches. That is all.

[lionelrus]

[Hazelbark]

[Commodore]