clarify intercept charge

[deadtorius]

Once again from our last game, I attempted an intercept but it appears it would not work out.
here is the situation. I had an Austrian foot unit in tactical within 2 MU of a French cavalry unit. the previous turn I had attempted to charge them with my own cav but they were forced back by defensive fire from another unit so they were within about 3 1/2 Mu of the front of my own infantry unit. When the French declared their charge I declared an intercept.
looking at the rules it says mounted can intercept up to 4mu, however it goes on to say that the interceptors only move 1/2 move if they are not going to contact the chargers flank or rear, then the chargers charge. so what do the interceptors do now? They just stand about watching it all go down? Do they now continue to close into combat? Why give a 4MU intercept range if they cant actually intercept at 4 MU?

did we do that right or did we miss something, the rules seem pretty vague after it talks about a half move intercept.

[Jason_Langlois]

it goes on to say that the interceptors only move 1/2 move if they are not going to contact the chargers flank or rear

It says if you're not going to contact the flank or rear, you have to move a minimum of 2 MU if cavalry, or 1/2 way towards if less. The assaulting unit then moves into contact with the interceptors.

The interception still works, you just don't move very far.

[Blathergut]

The situation was:

French Cavalry about 1/2MU from the Austrian infantry target that was in front of the French right-hand base.

Austrian cavalry were about 3 1/2 MU back from the line extending the front of the Austrian infantry.

The question was: Does the Austrian cavalry get to move the entire 3 1/2MU into contact with the French cavalry while the French cavalry moves not at all? This would have prevented the French from hitting/charging the Austrian foot. But it didn't seem right that the French, so close to the Austrian foot, wouldn't be able to hit it, while the Austrian cavalry came from further back. Wouldn't both horse units move at the same speed, therefore, the French would hit the Austrian foot before the two horse units would connect halfway between the two?

[deadtorius]

Actually the intercept would have stopped just short of the French cavalry, but still would have stopped them from hitting the infantry. 4MU put me in between the two of them

[Jason_Langlois]

Note, it's a minimum of 2MU (not a maximum) they have to move... they can, and in this case would have to, move more than that.

[deadtorius]

they did 2 MU move then the Froggies closed in for the kill, with the Austrians still out behind the infantry and then they just stood there and watched. If they could have done the full 4 MU they would have stopped the French just short of the infantry. Since they had to stop at 2 Mu should they not just go ahead and join the melee?

[deadtorius]

Question still stands, if you are not contacting the intercept target in the flank or rear do you still make the full intercept move? Might need an author on this one as intercepts seem different than in the other FOG rules where you just make the full intercept and then the charger moves and sees what he hits.

[Jason_Langlois]

My understanding is that they move a minimum of 2 MU (or half the distance between them and the target). Minimum, not maximum. So since the French start 3.5MU away, the interceptors would have to move a minimum of 1.75MU... but as you say, that doesn't bring them in the way of the French. So they continue moving until they are just in the way of the French. The French are then moved into contact with the interceptors.

[BrettPT]

I agree with Jason

The word 'minimum' is important.

If you intercept a charging unit that is 4+ MU away, your intercept move is between 2 & 4MU (your choice).
If you intercept a charging unit that is, say 3MU away, then the intercept move is between 1.5MU and 3MU (not enough space to go 4MU).

So if your Austrian cavalry started their intercept move 3.5MU from the French, they must intercept at least 1.75MU, and can intercept the full
3.5MU into contact if desired.

Your best choice is to effectively cancel the French charge by intercepting 3.5MU into conatct with the French (in which case the Austrian infantry is no longer deemed to have been assaulted and does not need to react).

Alternatively you could, in theory, try to intercept your Austrian cavalry forward 3MU to line up continguously with the infantry. The French cavalry would then advance the remaining 0.5MU into contact with both Austrian units. In this case the Austrian infantry would still be the target of an assault and have to take any required CTs. They could not however shoot (2nd bullet point, RH column page 32).

- note you would only be able to take the second option of lining up if the Austrian cavalry placed themselves in a position where the French cavalry would have to contact them - so the French cavalry would need to overlap the Austrian infantry line. The French cavalry could also try to make an slight wheel before their charge so they contact on one of their corners. They could probably avoid contacting one or other of the Austrian units by doing this.

Cheers
Brett

[SirGarnet]

And just to avoid doubt, the overriding rule is that you can't make an Intercept Move UNLESS it puts the interceptors where they will be contacted by the assaulters (p32).

[Blathergut]

k...that's one for the dead

[deadtorius]

As it was the Austrian cav would have ended up right beside the Austrian infantry, directly in contact with 1 base of French cav and just in front of the front of the Austrian infantry, so they could have jeered away to their hearts content as the cavalry should have saved the day.

[terrys]

An intercept move by cavalry is a minimum of 2MU and a maximum of 4MU. (although the minimum is reduced if the distance to the assaulting unit is less then 4MU).
The intercepting unit must end in a position where it will be contacted by the charging unit.

In the example given the Austrian Cavalry can intercept and will stop the charge on the infantry - who will now become spectators to the cavalry combat about to occur.

The risk here is that if the Austrian cavalry lose the combat, the French are likely to pursue into the infantry, and fight a 2nd combat immediately - with the infantry not being able to fire or form square, and taking an immediate cohesion loss for being charged from within 2MU......Sometimes it's better to stand back and watch!

[deadtorius]

The French were poor Dragoons who did not fare so well against the Austrians in the end anyway, they had to retire spent after losing the combat. The Austrians dropped cohesion for the close charge but passed the second test and formed square. I think the Chevaux Leger could have taken the dragoons easily enough. Now if that had been cuirassier.... then the infantry is on their own for the first part.

[deadtorius]

just be clear, if the Austrian cav had been 1 1/2 Mu away from contacting the French frontally, then they could not have intercepted?

Your reference to a 2 MU minimum, just want to make sure I got it all right.

[shadowdragon]

just be clear, if the Austrian cav had been 1 1/2 Mu away from contacting the French frontally, then they could not have intercepted?

Your reference to a 2 MU minimum, just want to make sure I got it all right.

Note: "An intercept move by cavalry is a minimum of 2MU and a maximum of 4MU. (although the minimum is reduced if the distance to the assaulting unit is less then 4MU)"

You have to move at least 2 MU or halfway if this is less. From page 32:

"...the interceptors must move a minimum of 1 MU if infantry or 2 MU if cavalry, or halfway towards the assaulting unit if this is less".

So if the Austrian cavalry had been 1.5 MU away they would have to move at least halfway (0.75 MU).

[deadtorius]

so they can still do it then. All this half move minimum stuff is making my head hurt

[terrys]

Sorry for the complication.
We wanted to make sure that a unit couldn't choose to intercept by moving a tiny amount and gain some advantage of flank or rear support by doing so. the same goes for counter charging.

[deadtorius]

ok
Having played all the other FOGS as well, the mandatory move of 4MU for mounted 2 MU for foot unless it puts you in a flank charge position seems a whole lot simpler. Thanks for sorting it out.