Spent cavalry markers - single line

[nigelemsen]

When light cavalry become spent and they started that phase in single/skirmish line. Do you need to add a blank spent base, otherwise the unit foot print would change. Something that is not an issue in tactical.

This came up in my game with lance and I can see the point so we played it as needing a spent base. Looking at page 69 in the main rules, it does not give a specific statement.

Thanks

[BrettPT]

Page 69:

"A Spent unit in Tactical, Square or 2 deep Skirmish formation still takes up the same physical space that it would if the base [had] not been removed."

Pretty clear to me that single deep skirmishers have been deliberately excluded from the above.
So extended lines of spent troops (whether these be skirmishing cavalry or other troops) do not utilise a blank spent base - their frontage shrinks.

I vaguely recall this coming up in playtesting.
I think the justification for reducing the frontage for spent extended lines may have something to do with files having to close up gaps as the unit takes casualties.

Extended lines have less guys stepping forwards from rear ranks and more stepping sideways to fill gaps in the line, so the unit frontage for troops in extended lines is more likely to shrink with casualties.

Cheers
Brett

[Philip]

I'm not sure if that is a deliberate exception. Maybe it's an oversight that needs correcting. Perhaps it would be better if the words "in Tactical, Square or 2 deep Skirmish formation" were removed?

From which end of a single deep line do you remove the base? A player who is predisposed to exploit the rules to the fullest might find it convenient to remove a base that takes a unit out of range of an enemy on the flank

Spent march columns are also shorter, but can't think of any cheesy moves to exploit that!

[gibby]

I'm pretty sure I heard Terry explain to someone at the weekend that it was deliberate and a spent unit in tactical retains the footprint but if it changed to line it would reduce its frontage by 1.

I guess to stop any cheesiness it could be treated as reforming and the middle spot of the unit remains the same so effectively its a half base off either end. Although to be honest I think no big deal if the owning player gets to choose.

cheers
Jim

[Philip]

OK, so not an oversight then!
And yes, not a big deal. But an interesting point in the rules to keep in mind.

[LeslieMitchell]

I'm pretty sure I heard Terry explain to someone at the weekend that it was deliberate and a spent unit in tactical retains the footprint but if it changed to line it would reduce its frontage by 1.

I guess to stop any cheesiness it could be treated as reforming and the middle spot of the unit remains the same so effectively its a half base off either end. Although to be honest I think no big deal if the owning player gets to choose.

cheers
Jim

I was that person and Terry did say it frontage is reduced by 1.

Leslie

[terrys]

I was that person and Terry did say it frontage is reduced by 1.

I remember that.
Allowing players to select which end of the line to remove isn't a big issue - consider it compensation for having your unit going spent.