Intercept Question

miffedofreading · Post by **miffedofreading** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:19 pm

Say you have a HF BG with another HF BG to it's side and say 1 inch behind it. If anything charged the flank of the first BG it would be intercepted by the 2nd inf BG as long as it passed within 2 inches.

The interceptors move first and intercept the charging unit where it started it's charge (I believe)

Say in the example above the chargers were a light cavalry unit 6 inches from the side of the 1st BG. They are within charge range, but how can the interceptors intercept, they would have to move 6 inches or more to go to the starting position of the LC charge???

Anyone know what you do in this circumstance

Ta

Andy

pbrandon · Post by **pbrandon** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:44 pm

You can only contact the flank in an interception charge if you could have made a legal flank charge as a normal charge, which I don't think is the case in what you are describing. If the interceptors moving first would mean they end up being charged in the flank by the later moving chargers (which could happen in your example) then the interceptors wheel. Note that the interception does not need to be a full ZOI. I think it works ok, though if the interceptor doesn't realise it is a possibility, there is a chance of the two charging BGs passing each other, which could work out as a bit bizarre.

See page 63.

Paul

miffedofreading · Post by **miffedofreading** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:50 pm

Sorry Paul I think I have confused you slightly.

I was not suggesting that the interceptors charged anyone in the flank.

The light cavalry charge the heavy infantry in the flank from 6" away. The heavy infantry are covered by a 2nd heavy infantry BG which could intercept charge the light cavalry.

Problem is the interceptors move first (I think) and do not have enough movement to meet the chargers until the chargers have moved????/

Andy

rbodleyscott · Post by **rbodleyscott** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:03 pm

miffedofreading wrote:Sorry Paul I think I have confused you slightly.

I was not suggesting that the interceptors charged anyone in the flank.

The light cavalry charge the heavy infantry in the flank from 6" away. The heavy infantry are covered by a 2nd heavy infantry BG which could intercept charge the light cavalry.

Problem is the interceptors move first (I think) and do not have enough movement to meet the chargers until the chargers have moved????/

Andy

There is no requirement for interceptors to meet the chargers before the chargers move. In fact they aren't allowed to contact them at all (see the FAQ).

All they have to do is at least partly obstruct the path of the charge.

miffedofreading · Post by **miffedofreading** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:19 pm

Thanks for the reply Richard. I just re read the FAQ and am now even more confused sorry

Let's take probably the most common case, a lightish unit is parralel to a HF BG but slightly echeloned back so that they are "covering" the HF flank. This is largely the example I am using above.

An enemy unit does indeed get into position to hit the flank of the HF BG (for arguements sake we can say it counts as a frontal charge or flank charge it doesn't matter) the important thing is the charge will pass the intercept zone of the supporting unit....

I think the FAQ says "move the supporting unit as far as is neccessary to get in the way of the charger? not sure what get in the way means? they then stop and then the original chargers complete their charge?"

I am misreading this to say that the supporting unit would move forward to cover the flank of the friendly BG being charged in the flank, and then the initial chargers would charge into the flank of the interceptors???

I believe the example in the rules book and the FAQ makes perfect sense when an enemy unit is charging almost straight towards the front of the friendly BG and just passes the zone of intercept of the supporting unit.

OK, see if I am getting closer now..... the supporting unit in my example above "wheels" towards the charging cavalry and then moves forwards their full movement distance until they are in the path of the chargers. Then you move the chargers in, they will hit the front of the interceptors, and could in theory step forward. Is that how it works. I have that in my head now and it seems sensible

Andy

pbrandon · Post by **pbrandon** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:24 pm

I think I understood you correctly. It is a discussion that would be easier with figures or beer mats mind you.

I've not tried this before, but if the situation is this:

Code: Select all

AAAABBBB                            
AAAA                             LHLH
AAAA                             LHLH 
AAAA

Where A and B are the two friendly HF BGs and LH is the enemy light horse BG, then if the interceptors move first, depending on how far they go they woul be contacted in the flank by the later moving LH, so to avoid that they wheel.

The entertaining move is where B intercepts past the front of A and the LH charge into A behind them.

If the "art" comes out correctly, you can hopefully correct my misundertanding of the situation if that is what I have done.

Paul

miffedofreading · Post by **miffedofreading** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:30 pm

Paul your art is pretty good. B is shielding A from the LH.

I now think B would wheel towards the LH and move their max distance and then the LH would crash into them....

Andy

rbodleyscott · Post by **rbodleyscott** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:42 pm

miffedofreading wrote:OK, see if I am getting closer now..... the supporting unit in my example above "wheels" towards the charging cavalry and then moves forwards their full movement distance until they are in the path of the chargers. Then you move the chargers in, they will hit the front of the interceptors, and could in theory step forward. Is that how it works. I have that in my head now and it seems sensible

That's about it, though they don't have to move their full move distance.