Some comments recently came up about the advantages/disadvantages of using the Fire and Flee, or Feigned Flight rule in both AW and MW. Let me give you my take on this.

I've never been able to use this rule with a great deal of success except with skirmish cavalry. Other cavalry, such as HC with javelins invariably are in trouble if they roll low for their movement. In one awful situation, I had a unit of HC with javelins roll their F&F die and came up with a total movement of 10". Since I started my move (foolishly) 6" away from the target, I had to spend 3" moving up into range to shoot and then only could 'flee' 7". Of course the UI archer unit I was trying this against proceeded to move his normal 8" and shot then during the missile fire phase, hit me in the back at close range....ouch.

It's better to use skirmish cavalry as they have 12" plus a d6 of total movement. Even the javelin-armed SC are effective if they are close enough to the enemy.

Okay, so why would you attempt this in the first place? It's a great way to get off a 'free' shot at an enemy unit. You move up to preferably close range, shoot and run away. If you planned your distance out correctly, the enemy will be too far away to fire back at you effectively during the missile fire phase.

It's also a good tactic to use when facing heavier enemy cavalry. The enemy cavalry are required to take an immediate morale test when fired at by a F&F unit. This is a a simple d10 roll with the only modifiers being if Trained +1 and for each figure casualty lost to the F&F fire -1. If the enemy cavalry unit fails its morale test, it has to make a frenzied charge against the F&F unit. If you planned it well, he will not be able to catch you (although this does happen...good luck!). If he can't catch you, he has charged without making contact and is disordered...and still frenzied! Unless receiving Recover orders next turn, he will have to charge again.

Not bad. The rule simulates the feigned flight tactics of numerous horse archer armies as well as the Bretons and Normans. Not for the faint (feint?) hearted, though...sorry, that was bad!