Slitherine

Hi All,

First, I am liking what I see as I work through the rules. I want to be sure I understand the Outcome Moves table (p. 61). On the left it lists 4 types of units, Infantry, cavalry, etc. Then it lists "situation,", and, for each such unit type the last option is "Otherwise." I am not sure that I understand this correctly. Does it mean that once a unit is disordered [pace disrupted], that when one of the enumerated situations does not exist, ie, all situations 'otherwise,' the unit will retire? If the reading above is correct, when does this movement occur in the turn sequence, and can a unit still move of its own volition? In essence, what does 'otherwise' mean? Thanks!

The Outcome Move table deals with how far you are forced to retire when you are running away (or, in some cases if you are destroyed instead of retiring).

A 'retire move' is not a voluntary move made in the movement phase, but is effectively a 'push back' or 'rout' move that takes place immediately, anytime you suffer a retire or break result from shooting/combat/failed Cohesion Test. An evade is also a retire move.

The table tells how far you move with such forced retirements.

The "If facing..." and "In contact..." situation lines on the table cover what happens in some close combat retirement situations. The "Otherwise" line gives you the retire move distance in any other circumstance (which could be a retirement from close combat, but would also include a retire move from other causes - shooting, evading, etc).

On page 35, it says that the active player may not move units that made an outcome move in the turn's assault and Firing phases. So if you evaded from a charge, or were driven back by shooting, you may not move during the movment phase that turn.

It is worth noting that if you retire equal or further than your normal move distance, you end up facing away from the enemy (page 63). You cannot turn around in the same turn's movement phase, as you cannot move.

However, (top of page 68) "A unit passing a recovery test may recover facing any direction". This means that a unit whose turn it is, that has retired, and is facing the rear, has a chance to turn around in the recovery phase - but only if they pass their CT to recover a cohesion level. If they fail, they stay with their rear to the enemy, whose turn it is next. If any enemy is within charge range of such a unit, it is in deep trouble.

One major disadvantage of unreformed troops (who only move 4MU in tactical) is that they end up with their rear facing the enemy much more often than reformed troops (whenever unreformed retire 4MU+ they face away. It is 6MU+ for reformed troops). Reformed infantry with their longer move are also more likely to be in charge reach of a retired opponent as well.

This is one aspect of the game that drives our club's two British players nuts! They pay for their infantry as reformed, but move as unreformed and so get 'butt smacked' (as we term it) like one of my Austrian regiments would. - Of course it tends to be more difficult to force an English unit to retire compared to an Austrian, plus the Brits are likely to pass their recovery test and turn around anyway. Doesn't stop the Brit players from winging though...

Anyway, rambled well off point on that post, sorry - did I answer your question somewhere in there?

Cheers
Brett

Thanks ... rambling answers from Brits always welcome. French, well.... Not so (channelling my inner Wellington). I take it then that the Outcome is only as an outcome arising from a 'bad' melee or fire outcome. That makes sense, but, wanted to be sure it ws not intended as a more global process. Thanks again!