Clarification on restricted area

[hammy]

The moral of this thread could be don't leave gaps in your line......

Of course once said LF get through the gap I am not too sure what they are going to do.

[davem]

The moral of this thread could be don't leave gaps in your line......

Of course once said LF get through the gap I am not too sure what they are going to do.

In Martin's original post he said he wanted the LF to charge a routed BG. I believe I've seen that often quoted as a sound reason for LF to get involved in HtH.

Regards

Dave M

[shall]

I often use LF/LH to wipe out broken nemy os they cannot rally - a historically sound use of skirmishers

Si

[davem]

I often use LF/LH to wipe out broken nemy os they cannot rally - a historically sound use of skirmishers

Si

That's fine Si, but the point is Martin's skirmishers pass through the gap in edge to edge contact with enemy. Surely they must take part in the ensuing combat? Is it the intention the skirmishers can just pass through without a bye-your-leave?

Regards

Dave M

[WhiteKnight]

I think if the gap is one base wide or more, those skirmishers can pass on through without being caught up in the combats either side of their route! Not just skirmishers, either, I think any troops can pass through such a gap.

Martin

[davem]

I think if the gap is one base wide or more, those skirmishers can pass on through without being caught up in the combats either side of their route! Not just skirmishers, either, I think any troops can pass through such a gap.

Martin

In Martin's original post he stated the gap was "one base width" thus I believe contact will occur on both edges of the skirmishers base.
No offense, but "I think" needs to be backed up by the rules.
Can they pass through freely, or must they partake in the combat as they are in side edge contact which my reading of the rules indicates they are in combat?

Regards

Dave M

[WhiteKnight]

There is nowhere I can find in the rules that says you have to stop moving when you reach an ovelap position. In fact, p 50 says if you are in an overlap position and fighting in a melee, you may charge, evade, stay put or move (in the manouvre phase) normally as appropriate.
If you leave a gap of 50-100m in your line, there must be a chance enemy will pour through?

Martin

[davem]

I've bumped this one after having spoke to Simon who would like to read this with a view to a response.

Dave M

[shall]

Thanks Dave - made it easy to find. My original comments wer about RAs but this has evolved into a discussion of a 1 base width gap....

First this is not likely to matter much in practice as its pretty unlikely to happen and the implications are not huge. But that said...

Page 75 "Battle Groups can only move into contact with enmy battle groups inthe movement phase, but only to join to an existing melee in an overlap position."

The principle of the rules is that contact is any touching of enemy bases and that these are only legal as a charge or as above or if moving into an enemy camp. It is not that is says you have to stop, but rather that you have to end up as such an overlap. A BG that is only in corner to corner contact is entitled to move away from that overlap position as you say.

So for my money...

a) you can't move through a gap like that as either:
1. It creates an overlap to an existing melee and you must stop to ebcome that or
2. It is an illegal contact full stop

b) if the gap is voer 1 base width you can

c) if you were there already in column and end up with such a gap between you it might be arguable to move through it as moving away.

Granted it may benefit from an FAQ and I will add it to the list for us to agree for the next one

Si