This was the situation in earlier versions of the rules, but was changed to only testing within 6 MUs of enemy to reduce the seemingly excessive numbers of tests required early in the game.
The proponents of the change feel that the game has speeded up enough that this is no longer an issue, and that forcing undrilled troops to test to wheel at all times will better differentiate between drilled and undrilled troops.
I am opposed to this proposed change for the following reasons.
- 1) The original reasons for removing testing for wheeling outside 6 MUs still apply - to reduce the number of CMTs required early in the game, and to facilitate the armies getting to grips with each other.
2) Despite what some have said, there is already a big difference between drilled and undrilled troops (other than skirmishers and cavalry). This is not apparent in the early stages of the game, but makes a huge difference once the going gets tough later in the game.
3) The effect of making undrilled troops CMT to wheel at any distance from the enemy is huge and:
- a) It probably excessively differentiates between drilled and undrilled troops, bearing in mind that even drilled troops were not usually trained to wheel in this era. Most wargames rules allow more manoeuvre that is strictly historically realistic - however, while restricting armies to lining up and moving straight forward may be realistic for much of our era, it does not make for a very enjoyable game. Historically, drilled armies usually lined up and moved straight forward in the same way as undrilled armies, so if we allow drilled armies to behave otherwise, undrilled should also be able to do so. Also, there is an argument that the initial wheeling outside 6 MUs is part of the lining up process, and that the part of the battle usually reported in historical accounts represents only the part of the game after the armies have lined up.
b) It further increases the advantage of cavalry armies over undrilled foot armies. This will not improve game balance.
c) Making MF that difficult to manoeuvre seems wrong.
d) Skillful opponents can force a CMT already by moving troops within 6 MUs of the undrilled troops.
e) One of the things that has been favourably commented on (in comparison with DBM) is that AoW allows undrilled foot to get to grips with the enemy - the proposed change would work against that.
- a) It probably excessively differentiates between drilled and undrilled troops, bearing in mind that even drilled troops were not usually trained to wheel in this era. Most wargames rules allow more manoeuvre that is strictly historically realistic - however, while restricting armies to lining up and moving straight forward may be realistic for much of our era, it does not make for a very enjoyable game. Historically, drilled armies usually lined up and moved straight forward in the same way as undrilled armies, so if we allow drilled armies to behave otherwise, undrilled should also be able to do so. Also, there is an argument that the initial wheeling outside 6 MUs is part of the lining up process, and that the part of the battle usually reported in historical accounts represents only the part of the game after the armies have lined up.
