Chasing down routers

[AlanYork]

Hi all

I played a game last night and we had a query about hitting routers. Hopefully you can help.

My Ptolemaic xystophoroi routed a unit of Fatimid cavalry, chased them and after a round or two of pursuit the Fatimids got away. Next turn was my Impact Phase so I declared a charge on the routers with the same Xystophoroi unit which was now out of contact with the enemy routers and free to do so, the idea being to finish them off permanently.

So my guys moved into contact, no problem. The rules clearly state that the routers don't get a chance to get away "determined pursuit" and all that. Again, no problem.

My query is; when does my opponent remove his base as casualties for having enemy in contact with routers? Is it at the end of the Impact Phase? Followed in the Joint Action Phase by a dice for rout move distance, a dice for pursuit move distance and another possible casualty base coming off as a result.

OR

Does nothing happen at all in the Impact Phase? We wait until the Joint Action Phase when the Fatimids throw for their rout variable move distance, my guys throw their VMD pursuit dice and I may or may not catch them and take another base off.

To me the former option looks right, my opponent insisted it was the latter. I gave in as he's a friend, very little was going right for him, the dice were not being kind to him at all (he eventually conceded the game) and it wouldn't have affected the eventual outcome. There's no point in being pedantic over what is only a game after all, especially with friends. I'd still like to know the answer though.

[lawrenceg]

Does nothing happen at all in the Impact Phase? We wait until the Joint Action Phase when the Fatimids throw for their rout variable move distance, my guys throw their VMD pursuit dice and I may or may not catch them and take another base off.

This is the correct answer. It has been discussed before on this forum and IIRC is in the FAQs.

It is also the most realistic answer. In reality the rout would be continuous, the troops would not stop and wait to be charged in the rear.

[philqw78]

Chargers contact the routers and nothing happens until the JAP. Both throw a VMD. If the pursuers are still in contact a base is removed

[AlanYork]

Thanks guys.