Slitherine

The present JAP wording has the effect of destroying scythed chariots if they pursue into fresh enemy, which we think is a bit harsh.

The following wording change is intended to prevent this - but can anyone spot any other problems it might cause?

Scythed chariots that remain in front edge contact with unbroken enemy they fought this turn are removed from the table at the start of the joint action phase. This does not cause any cohesion tests.

The "front edge" bit is to stop them being destroyed by side edge to side edge contact.

Good change !!

Good change to deal with the problem of contacting fresh ennemy during a pursuit phase...

After some tests, I also find it hard for SCh to break an ennemy unit in one turn.
With catastrophic test, I managed to break 2 units in one turn last friday, but my opponent was really unlucky !
Otherwise, putting a unit down to fragmented is already a good result...

Is fragmented, not a result already difficult enough for the ennemy to cope with, in order to allow the Sch to survive the JAP ?

Jerome

Pikeaddict wrote:Good change to deal with the problem of contacting fresh ennemy during a pursuit phase...

After some tests, I also find it hard for SCh to break an ennemy unit in one turn.
With catastrophic test, I managed to break 2 units in one turn last friday, but my opponent was really unlucky !
Otherwise, putting a unit down to fragmented is already a good result...

Is fragmented, not a result already difficult enough for the enemy to cope with, in order to allow the Sch to survive the JAP ?

No, they are destroyed unless they actually rout the enemy.

This is intentional. From our analysis of historical battles the success rate of scythed chariots was between 1 in 5 and 1 in 10.

I liked Tim's last Britcon battle where a BG of spears was fragmented by scythed chariots then trampled by elephants. Now those spears were definitely having a bad day.

Probably FRG as a result is good enough anyway for the point invested. 2 Schythed chariots are 30 pts. A typical BG about double that if get them into the right target so not a bad exchange if they have a 20% chance of FRG and 30% of DISR and otherwise gone with a small chaance only fo an immediate break. They do also cause a bit of panic and idstraction in the enemy army. They have the -1 on CTs in both rounds so have a chance of forcing double dropson a natural 3 or 4 quite often.

If you follow them up they can be devastating. For a dramatic interpretation of this try Gareth Evans vs Tim Porter in Tim's website. 4 Schythed chariots went in and were duly followed up by an Elephant charge - it was worth pulling up a chair to watch that one!! Very ugly.

Si

No problem with the possible results and the tactic consisting in following the Sch with other troops to exploit the gain obtained by the Sch.
I was just underlining the fact that whatever the result, the Sch are a one shot weapon with almost no chance to be used a second time in the battle.
I was just expecting as a player to be able to use it a second time if the result was good but I concede to historians the fact that it certainly nerver happened

Jerome

Having faced a few in testing the experience of facing them once is enough thanks!!

Si

rbodleyscott wrote: I liked Tim's last Britcon battle where a BG of spears was fragmented by scythed chariots then trampled by elephants. Now those spears were definitely having a bad day.

Bet you wouldn't have liked it as much if you'd been sat where I was.....

madaxeman wrote:

rbodleyscott wrote: I liked Tim's last Britcon battle where a BG of spears was fragmented by scythed chariots then trampled by elephants. Now those spears were definitely having a bad day.

Bet you wouldn't have liked it as much if you'd been sat where I was.....

Probably not.

actually, that reeminds me of something else.

Why do generals give CMT bonuses to scythed chariots and elephants? A +2 for a general present makes they pretty maneuverable...?

madaxeman wrote:actually, that reeminds me of something else.

Why do generals give CMT bonuses to scythed chariots and elephants?

Because we have made a design decision to keep the rules as simple as possible, and exceptions to rules add to their complexity.

Also, why shouldn't generals affect CMTs for scythed chariots? Scythed chariots are not some sort of psychopathic mal-programmed androids, high on hallucinogenic axle grease, they are just chariots crewed by normal (if brave) men.

Hmm, Warhammer 40K anyone?