Pursuit and formation/reform.

[ravenflight]

Just confirming that I have the rules correct.

I am a 6 base 4 shot 2 pike P&S formation who has lost 1 pike base in melee.

I break my opponent, and in pursuit must adopt an illegal formation by dropping 2 of my shot bases behind my pike bases to avoid friends, however at the same time I break contact with the enemy routers.

In the next manoeuver phase I must (if I can) reform (correct?) at the start of the phase. I (for free) put the bases back into a standard P&S formation.

Firstly, is all of this correct?

Secondly, this is 'for free' so you can go off merrily manoeuvring after the reform as if nothing had happened correct?

If so, do you have to reform if in doing so you would open yourself up to be elegible for a flank charge?

[rbodleyscott]

Just confirming that I have the rules correct.

I am a 6 base 4 shot 2 pike P&S formation who has lost 1 pike base in melee.

I break my opponent, and in pursuit must adopt an illegal formation by dropping 2 of my shot bases behind my pike bases to avoid friends, however at the same time I break contact with the enemy routers.

In the next manoeuver phase I must (if I can) reform (correct?) at the start of the phase. I (for free) put the bases back into a standard P&S formation.

Firstly, is all of this correct?

Yes. Except that you only have to reform if you are going to move.

Secondly, this is 'for free' so you can go off merrily manoeuvring after the reform as if nothing had happened correct?

Yes

If so, do you have to reform if in doing so you would open yourself up to be elegible for a flank charge?

You don't have to reform unless you are going to make a move (which would include turning). Unlike conforming, there is no exemption from the reforming rule for a threatened flank charge.
However, the "final position and formation of the reformed battle group must be as close to its position and formation prior to reforming." In this case, you would appear to have the option of forming line or column, as those are both equally close to the formation prior to reforming. (Only 2 bases need to be moved to reform in each case). After reforming as a column, you could turn to face the flank - into your normal formation, even though the pike are at the front of the column.

[ravenflight]

There is nothing in the rules that I can think of that would allow you not to do so. However, after reforming, you could turn to face the flank - not ideal if the enemy are mounted - or form square (which needs a passed CMT).

Thanks Richard

[rbodleyscott]

I have amended the last part of my answer a bit.

[ravenflight]

I have amended the last part of my answer a bit.

I see what you mean. I'd always read it as attempting to reform in a formation as close to what it was before the illegal formation was formed, but I see that's not RAW.

Another point though, let's say you were like this:

Formation before contraction:




Formation after contraction:





So, I see the reformation being:




but IS it legal to do this:




In other words - effectively shifted over 1 base

Where:
=spacer
musketeer
pike

Oh, and another question - I reform no matter whose turn it is - correct? If it's 'his' turn, I still reform if it's necessary?

[rbodleyscott]

I have amended the last part of my answer a bit.

I see what you mean. I'd always read it as attempting to reform in a formation as close to what it was before the illegal formation was formed, but I see that's not RAW.

Another point though, let's say you were like this:

Formation before contraction:




Formation after contraction:

Formation after reforming:

either




or







The latter formation could then turn 90 degrees to:





"If, however, foot battle troops are already in a single base wide column, mixed foot battle groups turn into their normal formation"

[rbodleyscott]

I have amended the last part of my answer a bit.

I see what you mean. I'd always read it as attempting to reform in a formation as close to what it was before the illegal formation was formed, but I see that's not RAW.

Another point though, let's say you were like this:

Formation before contraction:




Formation after contraction:





So, I see the reformation being:




but IS it legal to do this:




In other words - effectively shifted over 1 base

No, because that entails moving 4 bases rather than 2 so cannot be considered as close to the unreformed formation as the first version.

Oh, and another question - I reform no matter whose turn it is - correct? If it's 'his' turn, I still reform if it's necessary?

You have the option to do so, but you don't have to. (You are not going to move in his turn)