Change in direction after Pass through

[alextorg]

I've noticed this question has been asked several times without anything that looks like an official answer. There is gentlemenly disagreement on this in our circle.

Can a pass through move change direction? The relevant rules:

On page 66 Under Pass through, last sentence "The distanced moved is D6+2 MU directly ahead and is treated as a Pursuit move in all other respects"
On page 31 under Evade moves "If the target of an assualt or pursuit moves out of range, then the moving unit may wheel towards the next nearest target which was within of 2MU of the original target before it moved"

I don't think they can but I am happy to be corrected: I think the key lines are "directly ahead" (i.e. no change in direction) and in the second rule "if the target of an assault or pursuit moved out of rage, then..." by definition in a pass through the target doesn't move.

[terrys]

The unit making a pass-through move can wheel towards the nearest target within 2MU.

Since it is treated as a pursuit move, and the target of the pursuit is no longer in range (there being none), the unit can make the 2MU wheel.

[pugsville]

Is that with 2MU at the start of the pass through move or can the passing through unit follow the straight through path for say 5mu and deviate to a unit with in 2MU at the point (assuming it was moving 7MU or more in this case)?

[terrys]

Is that with 2MU at the start of the pass through move or can the passing through unit follow the straight through path for say 5mu and deviate to a unit with in 2MU at the point (assuming it was moving 7MU or more in this case)?

The 2MU is measured at any point of the units passing through move. The unit could then be contacted if the passing through unit has the move distance to reach.

[babyshark]

Just to be clear: does "within 2 MU" mean that the desired new target must be:

(1) within 2 MU of the charge path at the start of the charge move;
(2) within 2 MU of straight ahead (the charge path, in essence) after the pass through is completed;
(3) within 2 MU of the passing through BG, regardless of whether or not it is near the charge path;
(4) none of the above?

This situation came up at Cold Wars tho past weekend. A BG of light cav passed through my large square (which completely flailed shooting at them; uggh) at an angle. I had another BG--not in square--next the the passed-through square. The desired new target was within 2 MU of the Cav as the crow flies, but not within a 2 MU wheel. The Cav needed a 90 wheel, approx 4.5 MU, to hit the desired new target. What outcome?

Marc

[deadtorius]

I think the answer is 1. I believe the rule wording is within 2 MU of the charge path, or pursuit path whichever it was.

[terrys]

A pursuit move is treated as a charge move.
If it cannot contact an enemy by moving straight ahead, it behaves as if it's target evaded out of range.
This means that it can wheel towards an enemy unit withing 2MU of the path of its pass through move.

The pursuing cavalry may wheel up to 90deg but not more than half its normal move.
(which would be 90deg for Light cav, and just short of 90deg for Hvy Cav).

I don't think they can but I am happy to be corrected: I think the key lines are "directly ahead" (i.e. no change in direction) and in the second rule "if the target of an assault or pursuit moved out of rage, then..." by definition in a pass through the target doesn't move.

PG 66 - The distance moved is always D6+2MU directly ahead and is treated as a pursuit move in other respects.
An assault OR pursuit move may wheel towards the next nearest target within 2MU

Currently any unit that was within 2mu of the start position of the pursuit move drops a cohesion immediately.
Given that the rule for contacting flank or rear declares the start position of the pursuit to be the position at the end of combat, I'm considering also making this the start position for the purposes of auto-drop of cohesion.