P58 - troops charging without orders

[miffedofreading]

There is a note that if the target could evade add 2MU to distance. I don't understand what this means.

Example. If 4MU knights were up to 6MU distance from a target that could evade are we saying they MUST charge unless pass CMT, even though the target at 6MU is bound to evade, must move back at least some MU's and any movement will put them out of reach of the knights.

In other words do the knights have to charge even when it is impossible for them to reach the target, as above.

OR

Have I completely misunderstood the point of this note??

Andy

[hammy]

There is a note that if the target could evade add 2MU to distance. I don't understand what this means.

Example. If 4MU knights were up to 6MU distance from a target that could evade are we saying they MUST charge unless pass CMT, even though the target at 6MU is bound to evade, must move back at least some MU's and any movement will put them out of reach of the knights.

In other words do the knights have to charge even when it is impossible for them to reach the target, as above.

OR

Have I completely misunderstood the point of this note??

Andy

Slightly I think.

The note is at the end of the section on ways you might not have to charge despite being in charge reach.

Consider a BG of knights with a BG of enemy cavalry in single rank within 4MU and a BG of elephants just under 6MU from the knights. If the knights charge and the cavalry evade and the knights roll a maximum VMD then the knights would contact the elephants so in this case the knights are allowed to think ahead and not make the charge.

Alternatively a BG of medium foot are in a piece of terrain and there are enemy light foot pelting them with javelins. The MF will not be forced to charge if a charge of their move plus 2 MU would end up with them running out of the terrain or contacting enemy mounted.

Essentially there are three stages to the shock troop rule

First the simple one,

Then one for if the only targets in range could evade

and finally one for if the only way you can charge is by bursting through friends.

For a while I thought that skirmishers would not force a charge by shock troops but they do unless the only way the shock troops can get at them is by bursting through friends.

[rbodleyscott]

Have I completely misunderstood the point of this note??

I think so.

The extra 2MU qualifies the situations where the shock troops might not have to test because it would take them into (for example) unsuitable terrain. If their target evaded, charging troops might have to move an extra 2 MUs more than their normal charge distance so might enter such terrain. If so they don't have to test not to charge.

[miffedofreading]

Richard and Hammy,

Thanks, I did indeed miss the point entirely. My reading seemed slightly odd, your correct interpretation seems perfectly reasonable to me

Ta

Andy