Slitherine

Page 146, part of 'Deploying Battle Groups'.

"Battle groups in ambush... are omitted, and the next battle groups in the order of march must be depoyed instead. Thus the correct number of battle groups must be deployed in each batch, until all visible on-table battle groups have been deployed. As a result, there may be no battle groups left to deploy in the last batch."

I read this as meaning that if an army has 15 BG, and the BG listed 4th in the deployment order is deployed in ambush, the batches become 4-4-4-2, rather than 4-4-3-3. My opponent read it differently. He read it that the order is 4-4-3-3, the only exception being if 3 BG were in ambush it would be 4-4-4-0. His rationale is that the 4-4-4-2 batches clearly indicate an ambush (or flank march).

Opinion from my learned friends would be most welcome.

I believe your opponent is correct. The number to be deployed in each quarter stays constant and thus the possibility of the last quarter having no troops to actually be deployed as the rule mentions.

Chris

Your opponent was 100% wrong - you were doing it right before he tried to convince you otherwise

timmy1 wrote:His rationale is that the 4-4-4-2 batches clearly indicate an ambush (or flank march).

Yes, that appears rational. But is wrong, as apparently it leads to cheesy BG numbers and play.

You were correct Tim - flank marches and ambushes are meant to be transparent.