Slitherine

In a game last weekend we an 8 base BG in orb taking 2 hits from shooting. We couldn't find anything in the rules that exempted orbs from counting just 3 ranks for number of bases to determine 'hits per base'. So the BG had to take a test. But there was a view that it didn't feel right.

Is there an exemption for orb?

half the bases are counted as front rank, half as second rank. It says so in the rules about orb.

I don't think it says that. If fights in any direction with one quarter of its bases, rounded up. Half of these, rounded up, count as front rank bases.

Can anyone confirm Phils answer? I can't find anything to back it, but could be me being blind.

Page 130 - "Fights in any direction with one quarter of its bases, rounded up. Half of these, rounded up, count as front rank bases."

My interpretation of that statement is that an 8 base BG fights 2 bases in each direction, with 1 base in the front rank. So that gives 4 front rank bases and 4 2nd rank bases.

For hits per base you count all bases in the front 3 ranks. It seems to me that an orb has all of its bases in 2 ranks - so I would therefore count all 8 bases for any test.

What part of the rules leads you to think that an orb has more than 3 ranks?

Thanks Pete. It wasn't that I had a view either way. Just thought it very unclear. Happy to accept and play your reasoning (and Phils now I have the background).

But an example of how there can be confusion: if a quarter of bases fight in each direction there would be, notionally, two ranks facing forward and two backward for a total of four ranks.

AlanCutner wrote:Thanks Pete. It wasn't that I had a view either way. Just thought it very unclear. Happy to accept and play your reasoning (and Phils now I have the background).

But an example of how there can be confusion: if a quarter of bases fight in each direction there would be, notionally, two ranks facing forward and two backward for a total of four ranks.

By that logic there would be 8 ranks since there are 2 ranks eligible to fight in each of 4 directions. The problem is that 'front rank' (and even rank) aren't defined in the rules which makes this situation ambiguous. (There is a definition of file in the appendix but not for rank!) I think this is an area where an author clarification and FAQ update is required.

Chris

Front rank bases are those bases whose front edge is exposed. This applies even to BGs fighting in two directions. Orb is an all around defensive formation.

gozerius wrote:Front rank bases are those bases whose front edge is exposed. This applies even to BGs fighting in two directions. Orb is an all around defensive formation.

By this definition then an orb would count all its bases for hits per base as long as it isn't more than 6 ranks deep, 3 facing forward and 3 facing backward. So even a 12 stand BG in order in two files would count all 12 bases.

Chris

I think there's a danger of over-complicating this. The rules tend to mean what they say.

So even a 12 stand BG in order in two files would count all 12 bases.

Yes, I believe so, a 12 base BG in orb would count 3 bases as fighting in each direction.

Fights in any direction with one quarter of its bases, rounded up. Half of these, rounded up, count as front rank bases

So 2 bases would count as front rank and 1 base would count as back rank in each direction. So that's 8 front rank bases and 4 second rank bases. Yes, that's very effective vs shooting in terms of HpB but that formation is in serious trouble if it's charged.