Art De La Guerre

SteveR · Prétorien Inscrit le: 21 Mar 2018 Messages: 287

I have searched the forum but have not found the answer to this.

May a unit of Bow place stakes while in a melee?

For example, a unit of Cavalry charge them and they do not have their stakes placed. They survive the combat and so in their turn wish to place stakes.

A unit in melee may perform a group extension so some moves in melee are allowed.

However stakes are much like a War Wagon becoming Combat Ready. And War Wagons are specifically excluded from being able to become Combat Ready while fighting. Page 14. However they are not exactly like War Wagons, for example a War Wagon may remove combat ready status and move in the same turn. A unit with stakes cannot.

KevinD · Post� le: Lun D�c 27, 2021 9:27 pm Sujet du message:

SteveR · Prétorien Inscrit le: 21 Mar 2018 Messages: 287

No need to try to bring history into it. It's too easy to rationalize whatever answer one wishes.

For example, how many minutes is each turn? There are periodic lulls in fighting. Put them in then.

Or, in the case that arose today, let some of the camels that were somehow unnoticed by the cavalry when they charged up through the lines. And carefully take cover behind them.

It might leave gaps in the line but heck - my Midianite archers are just anticipating a manipular Roman checkerboard formation if there are any gaps. Gaps never hurt a Roman.

Anyway, it is indeed a rules question and will probably be answered based on balance and such.

Za Otlichiye · Post� le: Lun D�c 27, 2021 11:52 pm Sujet du message:

I think the second paragraph page 60 implies the only things you can do is continue melee or disengage. And rallying I guess.

lionelrus · Post� le: Mar D�c 28, 2021 8:24 pm Sujet du message:

SteveR · Prétorien Inscrit le: 21 Mar 2018 Messages: 287

Also as I said earlier a group extension move is also allowed as explicitly specified on page 33.

I'm not seeing page 60 as intending on covering this circumstance.

Za Otlichiye · Post� le: Mar D�c 28, 2021 9:32 pm Sujet du message:

True, but the units doing the "extending" are coming from a rear rank and not in melee themselves.

It looks like units in simple support can waltz off how they will, so I imagine they can deploy stakes as well. [Although Black Prince makes a good point below.]

Black Prince · Prétorien Inscrit le: 17 Oct 2016 Messages: 290

Ramses II · Post� le: Jeu D�c 30, 2021 2:25 am Sujet du message:

SteveR · Prétorien Inscrit le: 21 Mar 2018 Messages: 287

I agree with the conclusion, it is after all why I posted.

But find using a linguistic interpretation of the verbiage on page 60 as justification to be a slender reed indeed.

It does not even mention movement, seems to be addressing a different topic (how a melee ends) and I already cited an example of a case where a group movement in melee is allowed.