Art De La Guerre

[Luddite]

A situation cropped up in our last battle that we couldn’t find a specific reference for in the rules.

..[1][2][3]
[A][B][C] [4]
^ ^ ^ direction of charge
> Direction of conform

Units A-C are Medium Impetuous Swordsmen

Units 1-3 are Medium Spearmen facing the units A-C.
Unit 4 is Medium Spearmen facing along the front of line 1-3 at the flank of C.

Units A-C are in the ZoC of 1-3 offset to the left.
Unit C is also in the ZoC of 4, which faces into C’s flank and is in corner contact with 3.

The units are separated by roughly ½ a base width along the line (and between C and 4).

It is the A-C player’s turn and there are not enough CP to hold the impetuous units, so they choose to charge in (controlled).

So, what happens, specifically to unit C?

As far as we understand, units A-C must charge, and must then conform as a group by sliding right.
In doing so unit C’s right flank moves into contact with the front edge of unit 4.

Does the group have to conform?
If it does, does C lose 1 Cohesion?
What factors does C fight on?
Does something else happen? If so, what?

I’d really appreciate page references where this is explained.

Thanks in advance for your wisdom!



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http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/

[Commodore]

1/ units A-C are in 1-3 ZOCs so must consider them as priority (FAQ p4 1st bullet)
2/they choose to charge, for free PIP instead of uncontrolled (good idea...)
3/ A-C conform to 1-3
4/ C is now fighting with 3 on the front and 4 on the flank - I assume 4 is corner to corner with 3 otherwise the flank contact is not legal (p57 left column 3rd para) and the conformation just cause4 to be pushed back up to the minimum required distance. (p53 last para )
5/ As C was not contacted by an enemy unit in the flank (even by conformation) but contact itself 2 enemies, it will not loose 1 cohesion point (p59 left column,last para, 2nd bullet) but fight at 0 factor.
6/ if the flank contact is not legal (3 and 4 were not corner to corner)and 4 has been pushed back, at its turn, 4 may attack C fighting 3 on the flank, by free conformation, causing 1 cohesion hit.
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"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead"
Cdr Farragut,Mobile 1864

[Luddite]

Hi Commadore,

Thanks for the swift response.

As stated above, units 3 and 4 were indeed in corner contact.

As I understand therefore what should have happened was:

1. the swordsmen charge
2. they conform (into flank contact)
3. unit C does not lose cohesion
4. unit C fights on zero factors

What we actually did, as we couldn't find the rules, was make a decision that they did not have to conform, got on with the game and resolved to check here afterwards.

As it happens, unit C died anyway(6:1 splits will do that!) so the result was likely the same.

It seems that, for future tactics, unit 4 may have been better to stay back a bit and make a subsequent charge to get the free cohesion drop...interesting.


_________________
http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/

[Commodore]