Slitherine

We have been playing a few games of FOG over Christmas and really getting into it. I like the way the game mechanism models Napoleonic warfare. However, there's a couple of situations which seem weird to me and I was hoping someone might explain the rationale behind the rules here.

When a unit seek to cross a linear obstacle or enter a building, a CMT test is required (an of course the spending of a command point). We have had a situation where a unit failed to pass the test to cross a wall three turns in a row, resulting in a brigade struggling (for an hour in game terms) to cross the wall. That seems a bit weird. I would expect the brigade to be slowed and perhaps lose a bit of cohesion, but being delayed for so long seems a bit much. Indeed, the unit could be trapped for even more turns if you were very unlucky.

Also, the same is true for entering buildings.

I can imagine a local commander being uncertain as to whether or not he should occupy the town/building, or advance across an obstacle without orders from above and that possibly causing some delay, but not the massive delays we have seen in our game (twice now).

Have I misinterpreted a rule here?

Cheers

Hi

No you have the rules correct - you are just very unlucky with your CMTs!
Attaching a Commander can help if the CMT is important - you will then pass on a 4+ instead of a 5+.

If I had to invent a justification for the repeated failed attempts to cross the wall/enter the buildings, I would say that the courier could not find the relevant Colonel in command of the unit to give him the order, or perhaps the Courier has got lost or injured.

Or maybe the order was delivered but has been misinterpreted or ignored by the receiving Colonel, whose attention may be elsewhere, or he may simply prefer to have his troops remain safe out of harms way for just a little longer while he seeks 'clarification'!

It's a feature of the rules IMO that not every move you want to make will happen.

Cheers
Brett

Cheers for that.

I can go with that i think. There are plenty enough records of units and formations (or at least the commanding officers of those units) pig-headedly ignoring orders, misinterpreting orders or simply failing to receive them causing awful snarl ups in the progress of a battle.

If you really need to get your brigade over that wall, send veterans or stick a commander with them - or perhaps both.

If you really need to get your brigade over that wall, send veterans or stick a commander with them - or perhaps both.

or use light infantry in skirmish formation and reform into tactical after crossing.