measuring range

[terrys]

The rule is quite clear that if even one dice is at close range then the unit reacts as if fired at from close range.
With units on this scale we have to make a decision on what constitutes close range. In reality firing a unit at 1.9MU or 2.1MU isn't going to make much difference to the actual number of casualties caused, but we had to make a single and relatively straighforward definition.
If the distance the grenadiers were stepped forwards is changed does it make a difference. If it had10mm would you feel better (or 20mm or 50mm - or 6mm ?). The problem lies in that we absolutely MUST have deferent ranges for firing. Because we do other definitions follow and this is one of them.

It's interesting to consider the move before all this occured ....

The Grenadiers were slighty in front of the guns and wavering (at the end of the firing phase).
There are now 3 attempts that could be made to fix this problem:
1) The Guns pass a CMT to prlong forwards either into 2MU or level with the grenadiers.
2) The Grenadiers pass a CMT to move backwards, either level with the guns, or 2MU back and out of the way entirely.
3) The grenadiers pass a CT to recover to disrupted.
As long as you can forsee the action likely to be taken by your opponent it's not a problem. If all 3 of the above tests fail then it's unlucky, but dice gods have spoken and the grenadiers deserve their fate.

[shadowdragon]

Any less cheated than being shot at by 100% of your enemy that is only 1% to your front and 99% out of arc and range??
Think we will give it a shot with the other measure and see how it works.

I have no problem with the rule as is since we have to keep in mind that the "unit" represents the footprint of a regiment / brigade. While your unit might look like a battalion, shoulder-to-shoulder, it's not. All we know is that the constituent battalions are somewhere in that footprint. Similarly the firing doesn't necessarily represent all soldiers in the regiment / brigade firing in a single volley against all soldiers of a target brigade. It may very well represent just one battalion in an advantageous position that fires on one part of one enemy battalion that causes that battalion and subsequently the enemy regiment / brigade to "hesitate". It makes sense that a regiment / brigade would manoeuvre its battalions against the closest, most threatening enemy and not one further out....unfortunately, as noted above, discrete definitions of "close" and "further out" can mean that one enemy is "close" while another is "further out" by only a nudge. Absent a sophisticated computer algorithm to measure and calculate infinitesimal gradations of distance and the effect of firing we must live with that. Sometimes someone is just barely "in" and sometimes they're just barely "out". C'est la vie.

In any event, this horse seems well and truly dead, but that's never before stopped a wargamer from beating one. Occupational hazard I guess.

[deadtorius]

We Austrians have to keep trying

[shadowdragon]

We Austrians have to keep trying

And here I thought the Austrians are known for their fine cavalry.

[deadtorius]

We were hoping to be known for getting in the last word
Our cavalry is fine, its the dice gods that we have problems with

[shadowdragon]

We were hoping to be known for getting in the last word
Our cavalry is fine, its the dice gods that we have problems with

On the first point....not a chance.

On the second point....not a chance.

[deadtorius]

Curses foiled twice... you must be at least part Francais vile fiend!!

[shadowdragon]

Curses foiled twice... you must be at least part Francais vile fiend!!

Bien sûr, monsieur.

[SirGarnet]

I think it works well as is to minimize geometric oddities. The grenadiers got all the fire because they were advanced 40 feet ahead of the guns and invited the French to concentrate against them.