ED. NOTE: This column will appear in each issue. In it, the author of a popular set of wargame rules will answer the questions most asked of his rules. Your help is solicited in keeping this column going. Send me questions that you have asked of rules authors and their answers. Also, send me questions you would like answered, name the rules and the author and I will endeavor to have them answered and listed here.
This is the second in a 3 part series of the WRG Ancient Rules. These questions concern melees. The last part will concern formations.
1. Q: Does a unit pushed back by mounted troops that charged in a period, remain disorganized in the period of the pushback?
- A: In the period after the charge -- yes. If they then hold the cavalry in that period they regain their order for the next (3rd).
2. Q: May a unit that declares a charge against a hostile unit halt to avoid being countercharged in the flank?
-
A: It must test reaction for being charged. As this test is later than the test charge, its results override. The unit can then respond by counter-charging, evading or holding against the new opponents. As it probably has attack orders, it normally wheels to countercharge the
countercharges.
3. Q: May a unit that has declared a charge turn disengaged figures to meet a countercharge after it has contacted the body that it charged (in the same period)?
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A: No. Such a situation is in any case unlikely to arise. It can occur only if its own charge cannot be aimed at the two charging or countercharging opponents.
4. Q: A unit is charged in the rear. It is also engaged to the front. It does not receive one casualty per figure. However, the unit to the rear causes five casualties for every figure that it is in contact with. What is the result?
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A: The five casualties per figure engaged overrides the rest. The unit being charged is
pushed back.
5. Q: Does a unit turning figures to face a charge in the flank when it is also engaged to the front count the turn as a formation change or as a movement penalty for turning.
- A: It counts as a movement penalty.
6. Q: Must a general fighting in the first rank of a unit persue? May a general fighting in the front rank voluntarily break off?
- A: Yes. No.
7. Q: A routed unit flees through a foe. The foe's flank is to the pursuers. May the foe change facing before being contacted?
- A: Yes, if there is time using 1/4 turn simultaneous increments.
8. Q: A unit breaks one hostile unit and is pushed back by a second. Does it get a free hit?
- A: No.
9. Q: A unit is struck in the rear or flank before it can turn. May it continue to turn disorganized this turn? May it turn next turn to the rear? To the flank? Is it still disorganized next turn?
- A: It completes turning and fights disordered. It will become ordered next turn unless pushed back or routed.
10. Q: May a unit continue executing a formation change with figures not in contact, after it is contacted by a charging enemy. It is obviously disordered by doing so.
- A: No. All movement is frozen at moment of contact. Except that figures turning complete the turn disordered.
11. Q: May a unit continue to move once it is struck by a charge in the rear? In the flank?
- A: No. Except non-engaged figures may move forward provided all are in base contact.
12. Q: A unit that is ordered to advance to the rear is charged from the front. It does not have skirmish orders. May it move to the rear and so avoid the charge?
- A:No -- it must check and react to the charge.
13. Q: A cavalry unit charges for less than a quarter period thus getting no increment. It pushes back its foe. Is the foe disorganized?
- A: Yes.
14. Q: Do disorganized units still get their charge bonus tactical factor?
- A: Yes.
15. Q: Which is the correct rout path? A & B are on one side, Z on the other and Z breaks A. Does A move directly toward the gap or does it rout directly away from the cause of the rout, hit its friendly unit and then look for a gap 2" wide 5" away?
- A: Path #1 is correct.
16. Q: A is nominated as the target of the charge of B. C is skirmishing troops in the way of B. As I read the orders, since B is charging A and not C and C only has to evade if charged, then C doesn't have to evade, but can move out of the way. If C's commander options to move out of B's way, and is not successful (if B lets C), can they go back to the beginning and allow C to evade?
- A: No. It must evade. See top of P24 of the rules.
17. Q: Must a unit that is charging and being charged test twice?
- A: If being charged by a different opponent, yes. In this case, the response to charge test, being taken later, overrides the attempt to charge test result.
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