Rear Support

[dave_r]

To qualify for rear support then the Battle Group behind has to be directly behind the unit, within 8 or 12 MU's (amongst other things), however no mention is given of the facing of the unit behind - i.e. it could be at 90 degrees or even pointing in completely the opposite direction, but would still count as support.

Is this intended? if so then might be worth a sentence to say so.

[hammy]

To qualify for rear support then the Battle Group behind has to be directly behind the unit, within 8 or 12 MU's (amongst other things), however no mention is given of the facing of the unit behind - i.e. it could be at 90 degrees or even pointing in completely the opposite direction, but would still count as support.

Is this intended? if so then might be worth a sentence to say so.

That is the way I have always played it including the games I have played with Simon.

[shall]

We are considering changing this in some way so that the unit must be in a position to support - Terry had the thought to say that the supporting unit must have the suppoorted unit to front. I quite liked it.

Si

[dave_r]

I can see whereby the unit in front might receive support from a unit to the rear if at different angles - i.e. the dog-leg or crochet (sp?), however facing 180 degrees the other way just seems wrong.

This might be difficult to word/explain and the solution from Terry might be easiest.

[rogerg]

If a surrounded army formed a circle, then arguably the supporting troops would be facing the other way. I remember reading an account of one of Alexander's battles that suggested his second line would about face if the vastly superior numbers of Persians surrounded the Macedonians.

This might be a different type of rear support, but it would still be a morale booster. The added benefit is that no more needs adding to the rules.

Roger

[neilhammond]

Hmm, tricky one. In the game against Alan Montgomery's Republican Romans we ended up with non-linear battle lines. We allowed units to count support even if not facing. It was okay. Otherwise you get a unit in support who turns to face off a flank attack suddenly isn't counted as supporting (even though it's doing a good job of countering a flanking move) and you get a unit facing in the same direction, about to get attacked in the flank, classed as providing "good" support.

Neil