Charging with skirmishers

[richafricanus]

A unit of light cavalry skirmishers charge another unit of LC skirmishers who evade through, and so uncover a unit of heavy cavalry. What are the chargers options? Are they compelled to complete their full charge into the heavies? Can they stop short (A/M FOG I know...)?

Cheers
Richard

[terrys]

A unit of light cavalry skirmishers charge another unit of LC skirmishers who evade through, and so uncover a unit of heavy cavalry. What are the chargers options? Are they compelled to complete their full charge into the heavies? Can they stop short (A/M FOG I know...)?

LC in single rank are not really skirmishers as such - although they gain some of the the advantages (and disadvantages) of skirmishers.
What will happen in the above situation is:
1) The evading cavalry pass through the Heavy Cavalry who must take a CT to not drop a cohesion level.
2) If the charging light cavalry would contact the heavy cavalry with their normal move distance in the direction charged, the heavy cavalry will counter-charge.
3) The charging light cavalry contact the heavy cavalry. (and probably lose).

[panda2]

Terry,

would the answer be the same if the unit revealed was one that the assaulting unit could not normally assault (i.e. infantry assaulting cavalry, cavalry assaulting infantry in buildings, infantry skirmishers assaulting the front of non-skirmishers), rather than a unit that normally only required a CMT to declare an assault?

Andy D

[terrys]

would the answer be the same if the unit revealed was one that the assaulting unit could not normally assault (i.e. infantry assaulting cavalry, cavalry assaulting infantry in buildings, infantry skirmishers assaulting the front of non-skirmishers), rather than a unit that normally only required a CMT to declare an assault?

Yes - in general.
Infantry assaulting cavalry:- If you consider that assaulting infantry can be intercepted by cavalry - there is no reason why they should not also run into cavalry who they didn't expect to encounter. Although given that you (as a player) can see the enemy cavalry and know whether or not you'd contact them, you be foolish (in most cases) to make the charge.
Cavalry assaulting infantry in Buildings:- You're not allowed to enter the buildings therefore would have to stop short of contact. Your normal move would end at that point.
Infantry skirmishers assaulting the front of non-skirmishers:- Is part of the original scenario. Again - You know how far you will move, and can see the enemy behind, therefore you can make your decision base on that.

In most cases, not being able to assault a particular enemy is usually because it puts you at a disadvantage, therefore you should do something other than assault in that situation.

[richafricanus]

Terry, 2 queries
1. Why aren't the light cav skirmishers? Page 107 says LC in single rank are skirmishers?
2. Why must the heavies take a CT when evaded through? It's not an outcome move but a charge response?

Cheers
Richard

[terrys]

1. Why aren't the light cav skirmishers? Page 107 says LC in single rank are skirmishers?

What I mean is that they are not skirmishers in the normal sense. They must sill maintain their formation - which is why we don't allow them the sideways movement that we allow other (real) skirmishers. They are really line of battle troops who are operating with reduced depth that allows them to turn and retire more quickly (and evade). As I said they are not 'really' skirmishers, they just have some (or most) of the capabilities of skirmishers, including losing a POA in combat. We classify them as skirmishers as a reminder to players that they are subject to some additional rules and restrictions.

2. Why must the heavies take a CT when evaded through? It's not an outcome move but a charge response?

An evade move is an outcome move as well as a charge response:
Page 31: Evade Moves: "An evade move is treated the same as any other retire move, the rules for which are described in Outcome Moves/Retiring units"
Page 64: Retiring Units: "It the path of a retiring unit is obstructed by freinds that cannot be avoided, by sliding sideways and/or pivoting, it will attempt to burst through them.
Page 64: Bursting Through Friends: "A friendly unit passed though by a Broken or retiring unit must take a cohesion test."

[deadtorius]

Been there had that bursting through thing happen before thats why spacing with your rear troops is so important.