Art De La Guerre

[Dazedmw]

Hi all,

Say there are 4 impetuous cav in a line (ABCD), one end of the line is facing an enemy at 2 UD (E1). There is another enemy slightly offset (not directly in front) at the other end of the line (E2).

Can the line of cav charge for straight ahead for 1 Command Point even though the cav at one end could contact enemy but doesn't?

Attempt at a diagram below;

.......ABCD

E2.......E1

'A' could hit E2 (who is within charge range) but will end up fighting nobody if they line charges straight ahead.

On one hand it seems strange to me that A could charge for 1 CP and not end in combat, but on the other reading the rules it seems like I'm allowed to do that for 1 CP.

Thoughts?

[madaxeman]

[Ramses II]

The question seems to be asking whether impetuous unit A can choose which enemy to charge, given that  

• there are two valid enemy targets, 
  
• A is part of a group that is in charge range of E1 (actually contacted by D), while A is only in charge range of E2.

As Madaxman says, the short answer is “yes”, for 1CP A can form part of the group charging E1, even though it is in charge range of E2 and even if E2 is actually closer. As he says, A is making a “charge” even if it does not actually end up in contact.
Note, being impetuous means that units that do not make contact (A & B) would continue their charge up to their maximum movement allowance (see P43). 

Alternatively, A could be left behind without any orders. In this case, once all other moves are completed, A would make an Uncontrolled charge against it’s nearest target (E2) (see P45).

[Longtooth]

[Ramses II]

My bad; you are of course correct that Impetuous units do not have to continue charging unless they can reach a new target.

However, I was assuming that D was moving into contact with E1, which would result in only C ending up in support; A&B would be thus out of contact so potentially required to continue if there was something else in range, unless contacting this secondary target would be contrary to the "Exceptions to uncontrolled charges" (p 46).

[Dazedmw]

Thanks all for the replies.

It seems counter-intuitive to me that a imp unit in range of an enemy can 'charge' and not end up in contact, and still be in a group with other friendly units that do end up in combat, all for 1 CP.

But so be it. Might be a trick I can pull on others!

[Longtooth]

......I didn't believe it at first either.

[fdunadan]

Page 45, on "uncontroled charge" and page 46 on "exceptions" states that impetuous units must contact or provide support to a combat, else the uncontroled charge applies.

So C contact, B and D support, and A can't be part of the group since it has an enemy at range and won't come in contact or support on another enemy. A must charge E1, either for 1 CP or uncontroled, or be restrained for 3 CP.
_________________
Audentes fortuna iuvat.

[Ramses II]

[fdunadan]

And in this case the A cav end not in contact with an enemy nor in support, but it was at charging distance of E1.
So you need 3 CP for this maneuver.
The others are all in melee, and the fact that A is alongside them is not a sufficient enough reason to except A from the uncontrolled charge.
_________________
Audentes fortuna iuvat.

[Za Otlichiye]

Even a single unit might charge but not end up in melee, if the target evades. An impetuous uniit which charges avoids the penalty. It is not required to melee.

[lionelrus]

[KevinD]

Thanks for posting the clarification/ruling!

It would be great if these were collected into a FAQ or similar…

[fdunadan]

[Hazelbark]