Column Movements ??

[Blathergut]

Two BGs, side by side, righthand one 4pak MF in column, lefthand one any other BG.

Does the columned BG, if it begins it's move with a wheel to the right, interpenetrate the BG to its left (since if you pivot, the rear left corner moves further to the left momentarily during the move before the base moves forward). Or, do you simply count movement of front left corner of the moveing columned BG from it's start point to end point and not worry about the bit of interpenetration?

Also,

When a columned BG moves (same situation above) by wheeling 90 and then moving forward a bit, are the remaining bases of the BG stretched out behind the first base (so the entire BG is in a column now perpendicular to it's original position), or does it form a bent sort of column where the first base may be facing 90 to the right of it's start position but the last base may still be facing in the original position, with the bases in between partially turned?

Any of this make sense?

The problem facing the Spanish is, if you move the BG up past the Roman front edge, so you count as flank charge, and turn to face, it takes you that turn, plus Roman turn, and NEXT Spanish turn before you can execute the flank charge. By then, the ++/-- has taken its toll on the Spanish trying to hold the Roman heavies!

IF the little 4pak columns can move the first base up past the Roman front line, the MF have enough movement to charge next turn by wheelings about 75 degrees then move forward 1 MU (since it is kept outside the 1MU no-wheel zone). But not sure just how those bases line up or if any interpenetration occurs.

Sertorius is trying to have little 4pak MF move up past Roman heavies and wheel in to flank charges...but am not sure if the columns can fit!

[lawrenceg]

This was not made clear in the rules and there is an extensive thread on wheeling columns on this forum somewhere. The conclusion was it does not count as an interpenetration as long as you are clear of the other BG at the end of the move.

Also, don't forget that you can have a half base shift to avoid clipping friends.

The column will have a bend in it. This is specified in the section on BG formations. You will have one set of bases facing in the new direction and the rear bases, which have not yet reached the point where the front base wheeled, facing in the original direction. You will not have several bases "fanned" around a radiused corner.