Charge confusion

[deadtorius]

In our last game we had an odd situation occur. A unit of cav charged my horse artillery. An infantry unit that was mostly behind the cav wanted to charge the neighboring square. I made the required tests and passed them the infantry dropping out of square to meet the infantry charge. The cav started at about 4.5 MU out so was shot at by the guns and was halted at the start of their charge move. The cav can't move and the infantry can't assault through them.

We decided in this case the infantry was blocked and therefore no charge could have been made so my infantry went back into square and the infantry charge was cancelled.

We couldn't find any detailed sequence as to what happens when, so did we play it right or in a case like this would the blocking troops be assumed to have moved out of the way before being stopped by enemy fire?

[KendallB]

Wouldn't the cavalry had been shot at when it got to 2MU rather than the 4.5MU start?

Don't have the rules with me be doesn't the sequence go: active player declare all charges; any wavering units perform CTs; inactive player declares charge reactions; active player then moves chargers to 2MU; inactive player performs charge reactions; assaulting units see if they can press home.

Guessing what would have happened was that you declare the charges, opponent declares reactions (arty shoots, inf changes formation), you move to 2MU with both cav vs guns and infantry vs infantry (assuming you could still reach them), opponent shoots guns at cav which are hit (and they retire to 3MU) and forms into tactical with the infantry, your infantry goes in.

[Blathergut]

The arty fired at the horse at medium range before retiring...in this case, 4.whatever MU away, before the horse actually had a chance to move. p32 first parag. of Defensive Fire

It was a bit weird, but perhaps the infantry in behind could not have legally declared a charge since, as things started, it couldn't move through friends of another division? Can a charge be declared with the understanding the unit in front will also charge and move out of the way?

[hazelbark]

I made the required tests and passed them the infantry dropping out of square to meet the infantry charge. ?

I must have overlooked this. Infantry in square can take a text to exit square in an enemy assault phase??????

[hazelbark]

Can a charge be declared with the understanding the unit in front will also charge and move out of the way?

I believe you can declare an assualt, assuming the unit in front moves. If it results in being cancelled so be it. You do need to go through the sequence carefullly as being discussed here.

There are two arguments for not being allowed this:
1) visibility, but I have looked and units don't block this.
2) A stricter interpretation of the move to contact requirement.

[deadtorius]

Perhaps a more detailed sequence would help, the ones in the rule book are rather vague.
You are correct that further looking into move into contact and expanding definition of a canceled charge might be needed. A charging unit stopped out at med range should count as canceled charge, thus negating the reaction move. At close range you still get close enough even if stopped to have forced the reaction.

The problem arises with when defensive fire occurs in regard to how far out you started, and then you are moved backwards if enough hits occur, then next phase you can try to CMT yourself out of it.

[deadtorius]

I must have overlooked this. Infantry in square can take a text to exit square in an enemy assault phase??????

Page 30 right column second bullet, "infantry units in square assaulted by enemy infantry only. (there is the catch) They may stay in square or change to Tactical formation. The unit ends in its chosen formation even if the test is failed"

For some reason this one is easily overlooked, I have had several squares charged by infantry before I noticed this one day while going through the rule book, made a point of not forgetting it though Lets face it, you don't really want to stand in square and get assaulted by enemy infantry now do you?

[BrettPT]

Actually, whether to stay in square or not can be a tricky decision.

If you choose to switch to tactical, you don't get defensive fire. I would often prefer to take my chances that by staying in square and shooting I will stop the charge - especially if I have a large unit and/or artillery attachment.

For me, much depends on whether I think I will pass the CT for being charged by infantry while in square. If I am confident I will pass this roll, I may flick to tactical (especially if I have flank/rear support and the opponent doesn't). The problem being that if the CT is failed, the unit will no doubt be wavered or routed in combat....

Cheers
Brett

[hazelbark]

Learned something new. Of course I was usually the assaulter. (yes Walt I mean you!).