REQUEST FOR A FAQ - Contracting in the Restricted Area

[petedalby]

I'm not a fan of FAQs but this issue does appear to need one.

Please see the thread - viewtopic.php?t=9911 and similar discussions.

Can we get this one answered once and for all please gentlemen?

Thanks very much

Pete

[nikgaukroger]

I concur. Like Pete I like to keep FAQ minimal to non-existant, however, this does seem to need something.

[shall]

Thought we had done this one. We discussed it as authors but then I think we lost it in that crash that lost a few weeks of stuff.

So here it is from memory as best I can, and this is how I play it. I am sure Terry and RBS will correct me if I have forgotten. Maybe this can stand in until proper FAQ.

The RA section of the rules is specific in that it sayws what you CAN do, and only these things are possible.

So inside 2MU you can

• Advance directly towards = move towards in current formation. If you expand and move you need to start outside 2MU so the expansion is allowed. Thi is becuase an advance is a defined section of the CMT table that does not include turns, contractions etc.
  
  Wheel to get parallel or as close as you can - trying to line up parallel to enemy.
  
  Remain in place (expand turn but not contract) - can from Orb is already 2 wide but if wider as can't contract. Can make a wider line, Can't shorten it as people falling back would be hugely at risk.
  
  Move further away somehow - get further away staying partly in front, any formation changes allowed as long as otherwise legal if it fit the main criteria). This becuase it isn't a specific CMT line item. Any of those moves might result in getting away from enemy.
  
  Conform to an overlap - join a combat

Basically my view is that formation changes that close are not do-able unless part of running away or expanding ont he spot to widen a line.

Hope that helps

Si

[petedalby]

Thanks Si - I think most of us understand and play it that way - but there is a persistent minority that don't.

Dan - I think your understanding is the same as Si's - hope this will stand at the IWF?

Cheers

Pete

[SirGarnet]

Still need to address if and how "directly" limits wheels as you move towards enemy.

[petedalby]

Still need to address if and how "directly" limits wheels as you move towards enemy.

Surely Si has covered this in his answer above?

'Advance directly' is moving forwards in the current formation with no wheeling.

'Wheeling' is only permitted until the BGs are parallel - once parallel no further wheeling is allowed.

What bit are you still uncomfortable with?

Pete

[marioslaz]

So inside 2MU you can

• Advance directly towards = move towards in current formation. If you expand and move you need to start outside 2MU so the expansion is allowed. Thi is becuase an advance is a defined section of the CMT table that does not include turns, contractions etc.
• Wheel to get parallel or as close as you can - trying to line up parallel to enemy.
• Remain in place (expand turn but not contract) - can from Orb is already 2 wide but if wider as can't contract. Can make a wider line, Can't shorten it as people falling back would be hugely at risk.
• Move further away somehow - get further away staying partly in front, any formation changes allowed as long as otherwise legal if it fit the main criteria). This becuase it isn't a specific CMT line item. Any of those moves might result in getting away from enemy.
• Conform to an overlap - join a combat

I agree with you in near all points. I remain with some doubts about expansion. To explain my doubt, I simplify the question. I say you treat pinned BG as in a sort of pre-melee status. In melee you can feed bases (a sort of expansion) and turn if flank charged, but you cannot reduce voluntary the number of bases involved (no contraction). I would treat pinned BG instead in a sort of pre-charge status, because impact its a very crucial moment of a melee and your BG would can lose momentum with a formation change. In charge you cannot change formation (ok, you can drop a file to avoid friend, but you can think to this as a manoeuvre you start when you are safely far from impact point) so I would go with this rule and I would forbid expansions too.

[petedalby]

I remain with some doubts about expansion.

Fair enough - but an expansion within the restricted area is permitted provided the BG is otherwise stationery.

Pete

[marioslaz]

I remain with some doubts about expansion.

Fair enough - but an expansion within the restricted area is permitted provided the BG is otherwise stationery.

Pete

Yes, I know. And in fact with my post I explained why I don't agree about.

[SirGarnet]

'Advance directly' is moving forwards in the current formation with no wheeling.

Without the benefit of presuppositions, "advance directly towards" would to many people mean wheeling to achieve the most direct path towards the enemy or wheeling to face the enemy and then move towards them. So if attention is devoted to clarifying this then communicating "straight ahead" is needed if that is the intent.

[shall]

Not straight ahead. Can include a wheel as this is includedin the ADVANCE section of the CMT table. But CANNOT wheel away which is the important bit.

I thinkw e could have drafted this bit better for sure. Sadly we did debate it a fair bit but lost it in the crash. I will see if I can prompt a tighter version from us to make it all clear.

Si