Battle Lines, what is the point of them?

[burnsibub]

Hi, After just reading the rules, I am not sure I get the point of brigading units into Battle Lines if all BG's can move anyway? Im sure its obvious and I am missing something. Many thanks for patience and anticipated response. Lee

[Robert241167]

Hi Lee

Battle lines are useful for double moving:

- A TC can double move 2 BG's
- An FC can double move 4 BG's
- An IC can double move 6 BG's

All assuming the BG's are troops that can be double moved together.

Rob

[burnsibub]

Thanks Rob, that was going to be my next question concerning the double move and how it comes into play.

[ravenflight]

Thanks Rob, that was going to be my next question concerning the double move and how it comes into play.

Essentially a second move can be any advance, but must be done immediately after the first move. With battle lines, basically both moves must be simple advances (so turns etc), but with a BG on its own with a general, it can turn etc, then simple advance as a second move.

NB - Simple advance DOESN'T mean straight forward. They can wheel etc, they just cant be doing turns etc as a second move.

[gozerius]

Being able to move as a battle line is especially helpful when wheeling, because you maintain frontal integrity. If you were to have to wheel individual BGs you would find it difficult to maintain a solid front as each BG wheels on its own corner.

[grahambriggs]

Battle lines are really only a movement benefit, but that comes in a number of forms:

In the early moves, the "second move" rules allow any unit in a battle line to move twice (some restirctions but basically it's go forward, no fancy moves). So, let's say you're Romans and you've lost the initiative. You deploy two BGs of velites up front and four BGs of legionaries behind. On the first move a troop commander moves the LF forward 10MU, then a field commander moves the HF forward 6MU. Next move, enemy skirmishers will probably stop the velites from doubling again but there's a fair chance of the legions getting in another 6MU. To do that without a battle line would need 6 generals, not 2.

Then there's another benefit for some undrilled troops when close to the enemy. The problem for them is it's a complex move to move short if you don't have a general with you. So let's say you have four heavy foot warband battle groups - undrilled impact foot and a single filed commander. For some reason, you want to move them about half a move. This is a "simple" move if there is a general, a "complex" without. If the BGs are separate, you can put the general with one and that will behave. The other three will need a complex move test. Chances are at least one will fail and then you can either not move at all or move full distance. So you end up ragged and subject to defeat in detail. However, of they are in a battle line, they all count as having the FC with, so can all move short.

As has been said elsewhere, battle lines can help in a wheel to keep the line level - though the guys on the inside of the wheel will not move too far.

[philqw78]

Being able to move as a battle line is especially helpful when wheeling, because you maintain frontal integrity. If you were to have to wheel individual BGs you would find it difficult to maintain a solid front as each BG wheels on its own corner.

Does a battle line need to have a general?

[burnsibub]

Thanks to all, I understand now.

[petedalby]

Does a battle line need to have a general?

I believe so - yes. Page 30, 3rd sentence.

[philqw78]

So as Gozerius states, wheeling a a number of BG in line is virtually impossible then.

[grahambriggs]

So as Gozerius states, wheeling a a number of BG in line is virtually impossible then.

Without a general you mean? Well not necessarily. Since you're allowed a shift of up to a base width to avoid friends you can usually do it well enough if you're drilled. The problem is that undrilled troops with enemy nearby have to pass CMTs to wheel and one failure can muck up a pretty wheel.

[zoltan]

So as Gozerius states, wheeling a a number of BG in line is virtually impossible then.

Without a general you mean? Well not necessarily. Since you're allowed a shift of up to a base width to avoid friends you can usually do it well enough if you're drilled. The problem is that drilled troops with enemy nearby have to pass CMTs to wheel and one failure can muck up a pretty wheel.

Undrilled troops with enemy nearby....?

[evernight]

I did'nt mean to be a digger, but I have a doubt about this topic.

A Battle Line can not charge, right? But it can be charged at, right?

Imagine a BL with 2 BG, both 4 base wide and 2 bases deep, one behind another. If the front BG looses 2 bases during the game, does the BG behind it have to conform bases filling the lack left by the first BG or stay the same?

[Base][Base][Base][Base]
__________ [Base][Base]
[Base][Base][Base][Base]
[Base][Base][Base][Base]

or
[Base][Base][Base][Base]
[Base][Base][Base][Base]
[Base][Base][Base][Base]
[Base][Base]

[marshalney2000]

The battle group in the rear does not fill in as it is not even in the fight. The fact that it was moving as a battle line is irrelevant in the melee situation. Each battle group fights individually.

[grahambriggs]

filling to replace lost bases is a battle group activity, not battle line