Number of bases in a BG

[Polkovnik]

I assume BGs are required to have an even number of bases, so that the normal formation they start the game in is rectangular, and so that odd size BGs are not deliberately taken to take advantage of the rounding mechanisms when dice are lost or for HPB.
However, given that it seems accepted practice to take spearmen (and maybe protected or unprotected IF) 3 ranks deep, would it not make sense to allow BGs of 9 ?
It could be done as a simple list update - any infantry that can currently be in BGs of maximum size 8, can now go up to 9.

[hazelbark]

To what value?

[Saurocet]

I never really understood the requirement that BGs start with an even number of stands.

Let's say I start with an 8-stand battle group. And then lose one stand to missile fire, but cohesion remains the same. For the rest of the game, there is no difference for this BG if I had started with 7 stands.

Some of you will say the difference is that it's half way to hitting its 25% losses. But that is a percentage which can be calculated from 7 stands just as easily.

Seriously, why not re-write the rule that "every rank in a BG must have the same number of stands except the last rank, which cannot have a greater number of stands."

4 stands. 5 stands. 6 stands. Your choice as a player.

[hammy]

I never really understood the requirement that BGs start with an even number of stands.

The primary reason is that BG's of 3 and 5 are significantly better than BGs of 2 and 4.

A BG of 5 has loads of advantages over one of 4. One base is not 25% casualties, a single base loss does not stop the BG being fully effective in 2 ranks in melee and the autobreak is better for all but elites. The only downside of a BG of five compared to a BG of six is that you can't fight 3 wide and 2 deep yet price wise a BG of five is 16.6% cheaper than one of 6. If they were allowed they would be widely used and that would make things look rather silly.

[Saurocet]

Ah. Now I understand.

[gozerius]

And yet...
Certain troop types that only count front rank bases in melee might benefit from such a change.
I always thought that the rear rank having fewer bases is really just an arbitrary construct forced on us by the requirement to have x bases in a battlegroup. In reality the frontage would be set with the excess troops filling out the rear ranks evenly.