Slitherine

Okay:

I have read the battle reports and the founding principles of AoW, but I still cannot get a handle on what role a battle line plays in AoW. Are they basically the same as a group in DBM terms? That is to say a temporary agglomeration of--possibly otherwise unrelated--elements (battle groups) for movement and/or combat purposes? Or is there something more?

Marc

Well the only thing i can think up of for an answer (Dont take my word on this) is that they would be used to mark battle deplyment lines.
thats all i can think up of.
hope it helps

~coldknight

A battle line is a temporary grouping of battle groups which must include a general. A battle line can move as a single entity which allows for easier movement when a long way from the enemy and means that if a complex move test is required one roll will determine if the whole group can make that complex move or not which means that lines do not risk splitting up.

Hope that makes sense.

Hammy

babyshark wrote:Okay:

I have read the battle reports and the founding principles of AoW, but I still cannot get a handle on what role a battle line plays in AoW. Are they basically the same as a group in DBM terms? That is to say a temporary agglomeration of--possibly otherwise unrelated--elements (battle groups) for movement and/or combat purposes? Or is there something more?

Marc

That is pretty much it. The main effect is on manoeuvre in the early parts of the battle. Troops outside 6 MUs (6"/150mm) of the enemy can make double moves forwards, but only if they have a general with them. If several battle groups are grouped together as a battle line, the general can count as with all of them for this purpose.

This is an incentive to encourage historical linear deployments, in addition to the obvious incentive of secure flanks and mutual support.

I would stress, however, that fast troops like cavalry and light horse can operate perfectly well as individual battle groups, as is historically realistic for most cavalry armies.

rbodleyscott wrote:That is pretty much it. The main effect is on manoeuvre in the early parts of the battle. Troops outside 6 MUs (6"/150mm) of the enemy can make double moves forwards, but only if they have a general with them. If several battle groups are grouped together as a battle line, the general can count as with all of them for this purpose.

Thanks, Richard. Do I understand correctly from your answer that march moves, a la DBM, are not a part of AoW? That, even with a general attached, the maximum number of moves a BG can make in a turn is two?

Marc

babyshark wrote: Thanks, Richard. Do I understand correctly from your answer that march moves, a la DBM, are not a part of AoW? That, even with a general attached, the maximum number of moves a BG can make in a turn is two?

Marc

That's correct.

babyshark wrote:Thanks, Richard. Do I understand correctly from your answer that march moves, a la DBM, are not a part of AoW? That, even with a general attached, the maximum number of moves a BG can make in a turn is two?

Correct, but bear in mind that the 15mm scale moves are all at least 1MU (12/25mm) longer than in DBM. Also there is no hanging around waiting for PiPs. Troops tend to get to grips a lot quicker in AoW than in DBM.

So if I think of Battle Group as a mechanism to implement a medieval "Battle" will I be far off?

lentulus wrote:So if I think of Battle Group as a mechanism to implement a medieval "Battle" will I be far off?

You would not be far off if you think of a "Battle Line" as equivalent to a Medieval "Battle".

A "Battle Group" is smaller - you might have 12 of these in a typical army.