Contraction before Impact, then expand?

[Primarch]

Quick question.


A tactic that has recently come up when facing a better troop type in the impact phase, is to contract into a column, then charge/be charged. Then, when the melee phase occurs, you expand to match the enemy frontage because your troops have a better POA in melee.


Its funny to watch a column slam into a line, to prevent the line from rolling more dice, then expand to gain a competitive edge in the melee phase. Was this the intent?



Thanks,

Clay

[lawrenceg]

Quick question.


A tactic that has recently come up when facing a better troop type in the impact phase, is to contract into a column, then charge/be charged. Then, when the melee phase occurs, you expand to match the enemy frontage because your troops have a better POA in melee.


Its funny to watch a column slam into a line, to prevent the line from rolling more dice, then expand to gain a competitive edge in the melee phase. Was this the intent?



Thanks,

Clay

This tactic was noted in play testing. I suspect it is an unintended side effect of the combat system, which is a fundamental aspect of the game and couldn't be changed.

Note that a BG in column only counts the first three ranks towards 1HP3B, so if it does lose the impact it is certain to get an extra -1 on its CT for this. Also you can only expand by one file in melee. This means the tactic is of limited benefit, except for BGs of 4 bases, which have other disadvantages.

[flameberge]

It is an interesting tactic that I never thought of.

[lawrenceg]

It is an interesting tactic that I never thought of.

In general if you are fighting at a disadvantage it is best to minimise the number of bases fighting. Not only does this reduce the hits on you, so making the death roll more survivable, it also decreases the probability of your losing the combat and increases the probability of your winning.

[hammy]

As pointed out earlier there are several issues with this 'tactic'

You pretty much have to be in the column the turn before you charge making you much omre vulnerable to shooting.
In the impact where you have a dissadvantage you will if you lose be at a -1 for HP3B
You can only expand one file so unless you have multiple such columns charging or are facing a 2 wide BG you will be overlapped in the melee.

Hammy

[domblas]

it looks like when asterix village men charges roman lines after drinking magic potion

so its historically true