Impact combat POA clarification

[mceochaidh]

My understanding of impact combat is that 1) POA are derived for both attacker and defender and 2) supporting battle groups do not count for impact combat.

For example, a charging ordered pike unit on level terrain above 50% strength gets +1 if not fragmented. If charging impact foot, even though the impact foot are receiving the charge, the impact foot receive +2 POA.

The impact foot receive +1 against any mounted, unless charging or receiving mounted shock troops.

Is this correct?

[CheerfullyInsane]

That's how I understand it, too.
Except the impact foot get +1 when receiving charging mounted, shock troops or not.
They only lose the POA if they decide to charge shock mounted.

All of which can make Impact Inf a right bastard to deal with, as I've learned much to my chagrin.

CheerfullyInsane

[deadtorius]

Putting it into the long form, both attacker and defender get POA's. Each + that the the attacker gets will cancel a + from the opposing troops. If one side ends up with a net + the other side gets an auto -. The final score will determine what die score is needed to score a hit. The best you can do regardless of final POA's is ++ --.

So in your above example Pikes get a + the impact foot get ++. Final result is + for the impact foot. Pikes need to score a 5 to hit the impact foot need 5.


Part of the design philosophy is that in fact before both sides hit each other the impact foot will make a short counter charge and then launch their javelins, pilums etc before they actually hit each other. That is why impact foot get the ++ either when charged or if they are charged. Yes they are tough little buggers

[TheGrayMouser]

Is that correct Dead?? I dont think impact troops get a POA when impacting (or being impacted) by pikes
Impact get +2
Pikes +1 (for either charging foot, or they dont get that but get +1 for receiving) AND they get a +1 for being over 75% ( I believe as dont have the rules in front of me)

so in impact they net out (unless the pikes are below strength fragged etc)


****
Question....... Never really thought about this before but what "weapon" are units using(to determine POAs) in the impact phase when they actually dont have an impact weapon in that slot??

examples would be sword only or sword and bow cavalry, also sword armed medium bows....
there are likly others as well........

[deadtorius]

Yes you are right about that, I was using the TT rules quick reference which is slightly different from the PC game when it comes to pikes. They would equal out, Pike: + for charging foot + for being over 75%.

The example I was giving was specifically impact foot either charging or receiving a charge as some people find it odd that regardless of whether they are the chargers or receiving the charge the POA's are the same. Not all troops get a POA for impact, swords being a perfect example they go in with nothing so if their target gets a + they go in at a - or in the case of impact foot --.
I imagine the target unit with no impact POA's braces themselves as best they can for the sudden blocking of the sun by the enemies missiles then after that they get into melee. Bow troops get to shoot with more dice on impact, I think thats the panic shoot as fast as you can before you die mode. Other foot troops are perhaps hiding behind their shields waiting till the thumping of thrown weapons of death has subsided and then get ready to meet the weight of the charge. I think that is why you see impact foot troops often over running their opponents.
Its possible that even though its not shown at all that some troops might panic and even flee from the impact foot charge, could be counted in as part of the casualties I would guess since they are not there to fight any more.
Defensive spear are one of the hardest troops to fight with I find since they only get a POA if they charge other defensive spear or if they are standing to receive a charge. Kind of hard to tempt your enemy to charge them I find and they will suffer badly if they have to charge.