VMD roll and evading off table

[DavidT]

I don't have my rukes with me to check, so I was hoping to get an answer from the knowledgable members of the discussion group.

In the impact phase, when a BG which is close to a side or enemy table edge, and which can evade, is charged and opts to evade, at what point does the owning player decide whether he wants to evade off table or turn to go along the table edge?
Is it before VMD dice are rolled, or after (i.e. does he wait to see if a bad roll will get him caught in the rear and trounced and then just opt to go off table, only losing 1AP rather than 2 or does he have to take a risk and declare his intentions first)?

[philqw78]

IIRC the evader must decide direction before the roll, I would assume this includes going off table. But I'm at work too.

[dave_r]

Nope - don't think so.

The decision is taken at the point that the BG hits the table edge - i.e. after the VMD rolls have been made.

[spikemesq]

The evade must be decided (including direction) and carried out before the VMD and charge. Remember that the charger rolls a VMD only if all targets have evaded, so the evader cannot hold his decision to see what the VMD will be.

Spike

[dave_r]

Nope - don't think so.

The decision is taken at the point that the BG hits the table edge - i.e. after the VMD rolls have been made.

[rbodleyscott]

In the impact phase, when a BG which is close to a side or enemy table edge, and which can evade, is charged and opts to evade, at what point does the owning player decide whether he wants to evade off table or turn to go along the table edge?

After it makes its VMD roll, but before the chargers make theirs.

[nikgaukroger]

Richard and Dave are saying the same thing as Dave is talking about the evaders VMD (I hope). Due to the order things are done in this will be before the charger rolls his VMD.

[dave_r]

Yeah - that is what I meant.

You can work out where you would be before deciding whether to accept the 1 AP for running away like a girl.

[rbodleyscott]

 The evading troops then have two choices:
o They can evade in the direction of the charge. If charged by two or more enemy battle groups, bisect the angle between the enemy charge directions.
o Unless charged in flank or rear they can evade directly to their own rear.

then

 After choosing which of the above two options to adopt, the evader makes a variable move distance roll.

then

o If the evading battle group meets a side table edge or the opponent’s rear table edge, it can choose to turn 90 degrees and wheel to move parallel to the table edge in whichever direction is closest to directly away from the chargers; otherwise it leaves the table if any base even partly crosses the table edge. It cannot turn to avoid leaving its own rear table edge. Troops that evade off the table take no further part in the game and count as 1 attrition point towards army rout.

then

 The chargers now move their charge move, adjusting the move distance by a VMD roll if all their charge targets evaded. If all target battle groups evade out of the original path of the charge, the chargers can wheel in an attempt to catch them. A charging battle group whose move would take any part of it off the table edge instead halts its move at the table edge.

[nikgaukroger]

I assume we are now all waiting for Spike to come up with some bizzare idea as to why this is not easy to follow?

[spikemesq]

Not at all, Nik.

You will see that I chimed in on this earlier.

This part is pretty easy.

Mix in some routs and interceptions, then we'd have something to chew on.

Spike

[DavidT]

Thanks for the answer. This at least makes it a little bit more dicey for the evaders, which is good.

[rbodleyscott]

I assume we are now all waiting for Spike to come up with some bizzare idea as to why this is not easy to follow?

I certainly was.