Bolstering Roll Mandatory?

[kal5056]

In a friendly game last night I had an opponent hit a BG of my pike that were Disrupted with a BG of his Light Horse hoping to fragment me. He failed to fragment me and lost a stand on impact. As we were nearing the end of the game and each in need of only 2 or 3 points to win it was to my advantage to not bolster so that he could not break off so that I could keep him in melle to finish him off. in the JAP he did not break off as I was Disrupted. I had ageneral with the BG and the question came up if I was required to make a bloster roll or could I choose not to? The rule states that a general "Can" attempt to bolster not "Must". We played it as a "must" because it just felt right. luckily I failed the roll twice and killed the LH but pursued them right into a flank charge by med foot bow and ended up costing me the game (16-9) It felt strange pulling against myself to make a roll and was wondering if the authors would weight in on if the bolster is mandatory if possible?
Gino
SMAC

[nikgaukroger]

Not an issue - break offs happen in the JAP before bolstering; check the full turn sequence on page 168.

[kal5056]

I understand the first jap is ok what about subsequent ones if the melle continues.

[RobKhan]

Also , given that the LH did not cause a drop in cohesion of the pike, the LH must break off.

Err... or have I missed something in my rush to reply.

RobKhan

[RobKhan]

In a friendly game last night I had an opponent hit a BG of my pike that were Disrupted with a BG of his Light Horse hoping to fragment me. He failed to fragment me .......
Gino
SMAC

Doesn`t this mean that the LH had no choice and had to break off a full move distance from the Pike and face them for fresh charges if so desired by the player?

Or have I missed something here?

RobKhan

PS Leading question here - How do I stop being a peasant?

[hammy]

In a friendly game last night I had an opponent hit a BG of my pike that were Disrupted with a BG of his Light Horse hoping to fragment me. He failed to fragment me .......
Gino
SMAC

Doesn`t this mean that the LH had no choice and had to break off a full move distance from the Pike and face them for fresh charges if so desired by the player?

Or have I missed something here?

RobKhan

PS Leading question here - How do I stop being a peasant?

Mounted only break off from STEADY foot so in this case they had charged disrupted pike and failed to fragment them (which would have been bad for the pike) so as the pike were not steady the light horse remained in combat.

To stop being a peasant just post a few more times and you will be promoted.

[kal5056]

Hammy and / or Nik,

My original question stil remains unanswered.
Does a BG that is eligible to make a bolster roll HAVE to do so or is it a choice?
Thank You
Gino
SMAC

[shall]

Its a choice

Si

[babyshark]

PS Leading question here - How do I stop being a peasant?

First, you must win a tournament.

Truth is, the avatar is related to your post count. As you contribute to the conversation you get "promoted" to more interesting things.

Marc