Intercept by troops in disordering terrain

[Polkovnik]

This came up in a game yesterday.

If a BG has part of the rear rank bases in terrain that Disorders it (but it's front is not in terrain), can it intercept ? It seems the rules are a bit ambiguous, as it says the intecept path cannot go through disordering terrain. Apparently (from discussion about it yesterday) most people play it that the BG can intercept. However, what if it is cavalry (say) partly in difficult terrain. The normal move for the BG is 1 MU, but they can still intercept up to 4 MU. That seems rather strange.

[hazelbark]

p 62.

Intercept comes from the front of the BG. So if the front is clear of the terrain....

[peteratjet]

The intercept zone may be 4MU, but cavalry in difficult terrain, even partially, will still only move 1MU

[Polkovnik]

The intercept zone may be 4MU, but cavalry in difficult terrain, even partially, will still only move 1MU

I disagree. If they can intercept at all they can move 4MU. The interception rules make no mention of movement rates in terrain (which is why I uspect the intention was that a BG starting partly in terrain cannot intercept, regardless of what the rules actually say). The rules state that the Interception can be up to the limit of the Zone of Interception, which is 4MU / 2MU, with no mention of any reduction.

[zoltan]

I disagree. If they can intercept at all they can move 4MU. The interception rules make no mention of movement rates in terrain (which is why I uspect the intention was that a BG starting partly in terrain cannot intercept, regardless of what the rules actually say). The rules state that the Interception can be up to the limit of the Zone of Interception, which is 4MU / 2MU, with no mention of any reduction.

I disagree with you

The introductory paragraph at the top of page 40 says (somewhat obtusely) that the Movement Rules on the following pages generally apply throughout the rule book, albeit with some exceptions and variations mentioned in specific sections.

The Zone of Interception (page 62) describes an area in front of a battle group (somewhat akin to the good old "cone of fire" devices used in ye olde Charles Grant et. al. rules); it does not describe movement made by a battle group. Thus, the general movement rules apply when a battle group seeks to move through its ZOI.

Where the general movement rules dictate that a cavalry BG moves less than 4 MUs (i.e. 3 MUs for rough or 1 MU for difficult going), then it can not exceed the 3/1 MU when making an interception charge (note that cavalry in uneven terrain are disordered but can still move 4 MUs).

A move of less than 4 MUs (for cavalry) is anticipated by the Interception Charge rules on page 63 where it states that an interception charge "...can be up to the limit of the battle group's ZOI". This reduced move could be either because terrain has slowed the cavalry or the player has chosen to move less than the maximum available to the BG in its particular circumstances.

Gawd, I'm begining to sound like Lawrence!

[grahambriggs]

The first sentence of the Movement rules is "This chapter covers all of the movement rules that are not phase specific". Interception moves are specific to the Impact phase. Therefore they are not affected by the general movement rules. So if cavalry can intercept, they have a 4MU ZOI, even if their normal move would be 3MU.

If you play it the other way, would you also say that charging cavalry can only step forward if the total move does not exceed 5MU?

[Polkovnik]

the Interception Charge rules on page 63 where it states that an interception charge "...can be up to the limit of the battle group's ZOI".

And that is the part that contradicts the rest of your assertion. The interception move can be up to the limit of the ZOI, which is 4MU or 2MU. No mention of this limit being reduced for terrain, so it is a maximum limit.
If the intention was that troops could intercept from terrain with a reduced move, the the rules would say something like :" The ZOI is the the normal move in the terrain the BG is in, up to a maximum of 4MU for mounted and 2MU for foot."

You are making the mistake of reading into the rules what you think should be the case, rather than what they actually say.

[zoltan]

You are making the mistake of reading into the rules what you think should be the case, rather than what they actually say.

Oh no I'm not......

I'm applying the page 40 RAW which says "these general movement rules apply throughout unless explicitly altered/excluded in other sections". In determining how far into its ZOI a BG can move, reference needs to be made to these general movement rules.

I say again, the definition of a ZOI is not a movement rule. It describes a piece of real estate in front of a BG. In order to determine how much of that real estate the BG can pass over, you need to apply the movement rules from page 40ff.

[philqw78]

This has been discussed on here before. Perhaps one day the authors may see fit to grace us with their prescience again

[zoltan]

This has been discussed on here before. Perhaps one day the authors may see fit to grace us with their prescience again

Prescience - knowledge of things BEFORE they occur.

Err, maybe you mean the authors' presents (gifts) to us in the form of new rules?

[philqw78]

Prescience - knowledge of things BEFORE they occur.

Well I was hoping for V2 that they have pre-empted the problems

[johno]

Here's a recent example of this discussion

I also thought that terrain should affect the distance moved, since Interception is clearly labelled an Intercept Charge

However, the text says up to the limits of the Zone of Interception, so overrides the default set out in the General Movement rules

Johno

[Polkovnik]

A recent example ? 2.5 years ago ! ?

[johno]

Perhaps recent was a bit inexact.

The only one I'd saved a link to is possibly more accurate...