Slitherine

ilpars wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 11:02 am Rolled 1 for battle map type.
As Etruscan army intercepted, Etruscans are the attackers.
Battle map terrain is the terrain in attacker's hex which is Mediterranean Plain.
Armies are 1550 pts, map is wide.

I setup the battle. Password is Vulci

We played like this from the very first battle in the campaign as you can see it from quote.

But this doesn't actually make any sense. This first engagement sees a fresh army that has not taken any damage. If it is considered 50 points penalty is too low for an army going to a second battle, then we can make it 100 points with no problem, but nothing should be taken from an army that hasn't fought.
If the argument would go that the second army is already reinforcing the first one, then battle settings should be 1650-1600. And then in the second battle, that second army should also get just 1550p if they choose to reinforce.
And why is the wording like that anyway? Why is it armies at plural? What affliction hit the sabines?

I think that the rules are clear for the one battle situation, and I hope and expect that this situation will provoke some rules discussion at the end of this year.

We can change it at the end of year. We really did not think about it when we first read the rules.

I also thought the -50FP would happen after the first battle, and have an incremental reduction of -50FP for each battle the same army does (that would be very limited).
However the rules are ambiguous about it, and it could well be an army force penalty for getting "surrounded" or having to leave a garrison behind to watch the second army.

We definitely need to clarify it.

If you want we can only change the "1600 FP" to "1650 FP" in the rulebook right after this battle.
It is a simple change which will make all strong armies first battle in an operation at 1600 unless they are crossing a river.