Terrain Set up - A wild idea!

[pikey]

I had a discussion a while ago with Richard BS about a method of deploying terrain that may not be visible at the time of troop deployment. The general concept was that on occassion, the location of a terrain feature might be known to one army and not to the other and that this knowledge could be exploited at deployment.

Well, how about this for an idea.

Any piece of terrain that is removed by the opposition during normal terrain set up can be 'saved' and replaced after troop deployment by the player who chose it.

If successfully saved, the piece would be placed >10 mu from any edge. If it is a terrain piece with a low height profile (eg brush, marsh, fields etc) then it is simply re-placed on the table. If it is a terrain piece with a higher height profile (eg plantation, wood, slope etc) it is swapped and replaced by a gully of similar size and going.

The saving mechanism would be roll 1D6:
To save a 1 selection piece of terrain roll 5 or 6
To save a 2 selection piece of terrain roll a 6

This will make players think twice about removing terrain. Broken ground appearing in front of a Phalanx or Light horse finding they have wandered into a marsh during deployment would not be ideal for an army that wants to advance rapidly. Or, a once easy target of MF in open terrain could suddenly be behind an area of brush, now not so easy to ride down. This also claws back some of the advantage open terrain troops undoubtedly gain over medium weight foot when terrain is kept off the table through interference from open spaces, terrain piece congestion or player removal.

I think that this would add an interesting flavour to the battle, What do you think?

Damian

[plewis66]

Personally, I think this would be too much of a gamey and random thing.

Also it's hard to imagine how any general could inspect a battle field, muster his troops, organise and then enact deployment, and then go 'Aw shucks, I didn't spot those hedges'.

Just my 2 pennerth.