Slitherine

Can a unit expand a base to an overlap position when so doing the base will contact an enemy BG that is not fighting?

Contact how?

You could do it if you expanded to say corner to corner contact but you cannot expand into frontal contact with enemy that are not already fighting you as an overlap. At least that is what I think without reading the rules.

We have this case in our last battle. A BG of Gendarmes 2x3 was fighting with two bases against an Italian Men-at-arms BG that is also fighting a second BG of Gendarmes to the right of the first. A second Men-at-arms Italian BG in column is half a base away to the right of the first Italian BG so if the BG of Gendarmes expands a base to his left it will contact frontally that BG. We ruled it can’t be done. Then the Italian BG moves forward placing himself in a position to attack the flank of the gendarmes. The entire thing looks then strange. The Gendarmes have 4 uncommitted bases but can’t do anything to defend themselves against that Italian move.

I think you were right.

What the gendarmes should have tried to do would have been to charge with a wheel so that they hit one base against each BG of men at arms.

It was the Italians that charged. In the end the whole thing becomes inconclusive because the Gendarmes rout the Italian BG fighting them before the second one could charge. But the doubt arouses so thanks for the answer.

Sounds like the Gendarmes should have been in a wider formation to start with

Those (dammed ) Gendarmes are giving me a hard time on our last battles. So please don’t give them ideas.

Rekila wrote:Those (dammed ) Gendarmes are giving me a hard time on our last battles. So please don’t give them ideas.

hammy wrote:Sounds like the Gendarmes should have been in a wider formation to start with

Exactly. The risk of being in column is that the opponent can put bases in the way to stop you expanding.