mixed formations

[DaiSho]

Hi All,

Just a two part question on mixed battle groups.

Lets assume you're a Roman Legionary with supporting Light Infantry within the BG. You're going to advance on some pesky bowmen, so you'd like to 'hedge your bets' and put the skirmishers out front rather than risk losing a legionary to an unlucky dice roll.

1 - is it legal (I can't see why it wouldn't be).
2 - if you end up in a situation where you must charge (impact foot) and fail the roll to hold them, do the skirmishers just 'fall in behind'?

Ian

[richnz]

Yes, you can charge through the skirmishers, but not voluntarily.

I think the more important question is why would you worry? Legionaries will slice and dice bowmen, and you want to get stuck in pronto, therefore keep the charge path nice and clear!

[DaiSho]

Yes, you can charge through the skirmishers, but not voluntarily.

Are you certain about that in a mixed formation? You can't change formation in a charge!!!

[david53]

Hi All,

Just a two part question on mixed battle groups.

Lets assume you're a Roman Legionary with supporting Light Infantry within the BG. You're going to advance on some pesky bowmen, so you'd like to 'hedge your bets' and put the skirmishers out front rather than risk losing a legionary to an unlucky dice roll.

1 - is it legal (I can't see why it wouldn't be).
2 - if you end up in a situation where you must charge (impact foot) and fail the roll to hold them, do the skirmishers just 'fall in behind'?

Ian

Even if it was legal not got rule book here why do it, a LF archer being shot at needs a four to hit were as Heavy/armoured foot require a five to hit. Having LF in front allows you to be hit harder and therefore test easier. Just my thought

[SirGarnet]

Richnz was thinking the LF is a separate BG.

For LF integral to the BG, you can deploy the BG initially with the LF anywhere in the formation, but there are only a few ways to move them around inside the BG -

(A) reforming if you are not in a legal formation or
(B) formation changes, including Orb, Turns, Contractions & Expansions. Contractions can occur in normal movement and also in dropping a file in a charge, evasion, rout, or feeding bases into melee.

It will take effort to get the LF out of the front rank. Turning won't do it since the old front rank bases become the new front rank bases. You could expand out 2 bases to extend the line, and the next turn contract the formation with the LF falling in behind.

If the BG charges uncontrolled with LF in the front rank, they stay in the front rank.

If shot at, the fact the HF are armoured doesn't affect the POAs.

All in all, not a good plan.

[hammy]

Yes, you can charge through the skirmishers, but not voluntarily.

Are you certain about that in a mixed formation? You can't change formation in a charge!!!

Yes, you cannot change formation in a charge.

Also the light foot in a mixed BG are not 'skirmishers' even if they are light foot.

There are no rules to allow part of a BG to interpenetrate another part of the BG, only for one BG to interpenetrate another.

[DaiSho]

Yes, you can charge through the skirmishers, but not voluntarily.

Are you certain about that in a mixed formation? You can't change formation in a charge!!!

Yes, you cannot change formation in a charge.

Also the light foot in a mixed BG are not 'skirmishers' even if they are light foot.

There are no rules to allow part of a BG to interpenetrate another part of the BG, only for one BG to interpenetrate another.

Yup - you and Mike made sense with their posts. Makes more sense to me now - and especially since the lights get to fire as if they are in the front rank (albeit fairly ineffectively) it probably is best just to leave them where they are supposed to be

Ian - who has a new G-mail account - Raven.Banner at Gmail - how's that - getting ready for 'Wolves of the Sea'... which was taken (Wolves of the Sea - Wolf of the Sea - Wolf of Norway - Norwegian Wolf - bloody well everything was taken even Sweyn Forkbeard and other famous vikings were taken! (and this is the longest signature in history)

[philqw78]

Shooters in a mixed BG only get to shoot if not charging

[DaiSho]

Shooters in a mixed BG only get to shoot if not charging

Yes, didn't make myself clear, I just meant 'normal shooting' - I.e. if they are trying to do some damage to enemy skirmishers that are being bothersome or enemy cavalry hovering around being bothersome.

Ian

[Ghaznavid]

Shooters in a mixed BG only get to shoot if not charging

Yes, didn't make myself clear, I just meant 'normal shooting' - I.e. if they are trying to do some damage to enemy skirmishers that are being bothersome or enemy cavalry hovering around being bothersome.

Even that only applies if the shooters are in the 2nd rank, which they usually aren't in a Legion. Not to mention that they, being LF, are unlikely to get enough dice to make any impression on such enemy, even if you place them in the 2nd rank.