Sorry to have been absent for 9 pages ...
Yes a bit of a dog that one if you really want to abuse it - and yep legal in RAW although not really in spirit to gain that much by doing it.
There were several thoughts as we wrote the rules
1. The rules don't represent time but rather phases of activity - so generally the view being if in reality you could make it through then so be it and we are not too wedded to speeds and distances within reason.
2. It needs to work in different directions - so for cleanliness really what you want is to pass all the way through a long column of LF if getting away from enemy; but not if its some sort of funnay advantage near to the hot zone. This matcahes (1) as when running away you would get through to safety; but near enemy a different matter.
3. Passing all the way though is the issue as that is affected by base sizes when in reality the troops are perhaps 5mm deep - its an abstraction created by our use of pretty figures. An 8 base LF column is probably 40mm deep in reality!
4. Abuse potential was there but would it really be material was the question we asked at the time - I guess 18 months in maybe someone has figured out it can be. But I would still ask the question "If its rare and looks odd but matters little do we care that much? - I am hearing a yes"
Will mull it over on my travels this week and recommend something to RBS/TS ... which might be as simple as stamp on foot of abuser .. or a rule change.
Would a simple maximum extension of move 2 base depths suffice - so max Cavalry would be 5MU plus 2 x 30mm = 7.2MU say. Neutral to base sizes in terms fo what you can do although of course added "speed" is more for chariots and least for LF. This would be a rule addition.
Being able to reach front to interpenetrate has some merits too - need to think about side effects. What happens if funny angles etc. too. Is itone bit fo the base or all. At a funny angle distance gain could still be huge.
If I were redrafting I might be tempted to leave rules as is, but have troops who extend move disordered for a bound to reflect them having to rush the job - now that would make it exciting! Longer term what do you think of that idea?
Other thoughts most welcome ... but I think this is the first "material legal rule abuse" that will need a permanent fix ...
... contract put out on Phil last night
Si
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