Slitherine

Hi

this is probably blindingly obvious, but I can't find it so -

Can the archers who make up 1/3 of a battle group (i.e. Vikings) be used in the front rank as missile troops ?

If they are, can they pass through their 'supporting' HF as part of the movement phase ?

If they can is a CMT required ?

Cheers,

Pete

guthroth wrote:Hi

this is probably blindingly obvious, but I can't find it so -

Can the archers who make up 1/3 of a battle group (i.e. Vikings) be used in the front rank as missile troops ?

If you really want to but it is a bad idea (see later anwers)

If they are, can they pass through their 'supporting' HF as part of the movement phase ?

No

If they can is a CMT required ?

Sadly they can't. The only way to get LF from the front rank to another rank would be by expanding the formation so some of the front rank was not LF then contracting again to get the LF into a rear rank. Suffice to say this is a non trivial evolution and the main effect of putting the LF in the front rank would be to get your infantry slaughtered by whatever charges them as LF really don't fight well and LF in mixed formations are not skirmishers so can't evade.

You could always have some of the LF on the front rank in a flank position in order to shoot , but you will have to contract to avoid a risky melee .

Still it might be usefull if your HI unit is just next to a rought or difficult terrain . It might resist other LF assaults

Can't they shoot from the 2nd rank?

Thanks for the replies so far, it does confirm what I thought.

The idea of putting two Superior LF archers in the bad going to cover the Huscarls flank hadn't occured to me before now ...

Yes bahdahbum they could shoot from the second rank but the BG is normally 6 x HF Sup Arm HW plus 3 Sup LF Bow so the LF would be the meat in a heavy sandwhich and probably wouldn't improve things.

That being said, to re-phrase the question, is there any mechanism by which the 2nd and 3rd ranks of a BG can exchange places ?

Pete

guthroth wrote:That being said, to re-phrase the question, is there any mechanism by which the 2nd and 3rd ranks of a BG can exchange places ?

Only by expanding and contracting.

I didn't think LF could shoot from a rear rank of a non-skirmish BG except in the impact

I didn't think LF could shoot from a rear rank of a non-skirmish BG except in the impact

Only in Manchester.

LF in the 3rd rank can't shoot from a non-skirmish BG unless at impact - no reason they can't shoot from the 1st or 2nd ranks though?

petedalby wrote:no reason they can't shoot from the 1st or 2nd ranks though?

Except that it would normally have no effect. You are right tho Pete. Only in Manchester.

There was I thinking that FoG:AM was an abbreviation for FoG: Ancient and Medieval, little realising that it stood for FoG:A la Manchester... :)

Biggest advantage is sticking two LF bows in a 4pak of superior HF...plus when 1 front rank dies, the LF that moves up into 2nd rank still fights full effect...forget ever trying to shoot them (once in a blue Vesuvius you get an extra die in impact when charged by mounted, but it's usually at a -- )

Couple of questions.

Can LF shoot from the second rank of a mixed BG? I thought the rules said they could only shoot in impact?

Would a unit with the HF def spear in front rank, LF bow in second rank and HF def spear in third rank still be considered '2 ranks of spear' for POA's

fatismo wrote:Couple of questions.

Can LF shoot from the second rank of a mixed BG? I thought the rules said they could only shoot in impact?

see Pete Dalby's answer above, but apparently yes

fatismo wrote: Would a unit with the HF def spear in front rank, LF bow in second rank and HF def spear in third rank still be considered '2 ranks of spear' for POA's

No

Why no, still 2 ranks, can't find in rules where it says they must be 1st and 2nd ranks

Because only the first and second rank fight. ? But then with pike the other ranks provide POAs. Good point.

p94, last bullet item

peterrjohnston wrote:p94, last bullet item

Outstanding find Peter. So many times I just go with common belief.