But since I have no idea how to go about that I'll just carry on here.
The Keil rule is not an exception it's an additional restriction preventing certain shallow Pike formations. The general exceptions are listed on p 34. A 1111111144 formation isn't one of those exceptions and would be even sillier than my original cheese.grahambriggs wrote:I think what you are trying to achieve with Kiels is:
- form deep. Hence 2x4 deep filed of pike and friends.
- able to pop out a base either side of heavy weapons/swords.
But i don't think the rules quite do this:
- the current errata says you must form Kiel. But what is Kiel?
1. The general formation rule says all but back rank equal numbers but special formations are an exception.
2. The Kiel rule (an exception) says 2 files of 4 pikes (or friends).
So, it seems, I could have a 16 base Kiel 10 bases wide: two files of 4 deep and eight files one deep. I don't think this is what you are trying to achieve. I suspect what you'd want is that BG in a 4x4 block, albeit it could pop it's heavy weapons guys out.
1. Except that the rule and diagram about Other Mixed Formations on p 34 seems to allow the Heavy Weapons to pop out.The rules to 'pop out' heavy weapons are a bit broken:
- the rules say different troop types within a mixed BG can form their own rectangles in the BG. But:
1. In the Swiss, the troops type is all determined foot; it's the capabilities that differ. So that actually says you can't pop out the HW guys.
2. The 'each troop type in their own rectangle' wording suggests you can't pop one HW out and not the other (as you'd break their rectangle). Also, it suggests you can't pop one out on either side of the pikes as it again breaks the rectangle but have to do two on one side (which is not what you wanted I think)
2. I think it would be possible to argue you could do both these things based on p 34, but it wouldn't be a strong argument. I'd rather see something written that specified what you can and can't do in these circumstances.
Further questions/thoughts:
a) Can you deploy a Keil with 9 Pike and 1 Heavy Weapon or must both be in even numbers?
b) I like the idea put forward that Keils should automatically reform when casualties cause a loss of the Keil formation. This by analogy with Early Tercios automatically becoming Late Tercios when they can no longer maintain their formation. Though maybe this should only apply to Keils when they aren't in h-t-h combat.
Dave








