Cavalry charge and Intercept etc

[hazelbark]

So had an interesting situation

_A1A2


___F1
_FC

A1 and A2 are Austrian cavalry about to charge. They want to charge FC and French cavalry unit. F1 is a French infantry unit.

A1 charges FC and FC must countercharge.

At the time of the charge declaration, the maximum wheel by A2 would not let it contact FC without first contacting F1.
Question: I believe A2 could not declare a charge on FC, even though FC will counter charge the charge must be eligible where FC starts, right?

Then we noticed since the bases were not lined up and F1 is angled toward the top right of the screen. That A2 could declare a charge on F1. F1 reacts etc. But the charge of A1 on FC will bring FC straight out. Now A2 moving straight will also contact FC along with A1. Is there anything wrong with how we played that?

The funny part is of course A2 came withing 2 MU of F1 and F1 shattered A2 with fire dropping it to wavering and driving it back. FC then blitzed A1 in melee broke it, killed its brigadier, A2 saw this and broke.

Q Are we right about the must be able to contact where FC starts not where it counter charges too?
Q Did we play it right the A2 now having the counter-charger in its way strikes it and not its initial target?

[BrettPT]

Nice questions!

My view:

A2 could not charge FC. It cannot contact it.
2nd bullet point on page 28 - assaulting units must be able to make contact. This must mean contact with the initial position of the target, otherwise LC would be able to charge 14MU against other cavalry (their 10MU, plus the 4MU the opponents would countercharge).

So assuming A2 declared its charge on FI instead:

FC will be countercharging A1. FC cannot wheel past the centre point of A1, so it would go countercharge straight towards A1.

If FC, after countercharging, completely blocked the passage of A2 to F1, then I would treat FC as an intercept of A2 - as well as a countercharge of A1 - net result is a combat between A1 and A2 on one side, and FC on the other,
However, if A2 could wheel and still contact FI without crashing into FC, them I would make A2 do this, and complete its declared charge against FI.

But a tricky situation!

[terrys]

Brett is correct.

FC can only counter-charge A1 - any wheel being towards the centre of A1.
A2 charges F2 as normal.
If the counter-charge move by FC places it in a position where it blocks A2's route to F1 then A2 would stop at contact with FC, and both A1 & A2 would fight FC.
However - F1 would still have to test as if being charged, since the charge of A2 is stopped by a counter-charge, not an intercept move.

[hazelbark]

Brett is correct.

FC can only counter-charge A1 - any wheel being towards the centre of A1.
A2 charges F2 as normal.
If the counter-charge move by FC places it in a position where it blocks A2's route to F1 then A2 would stop at contact with FC, and both A1 & A2 would fight FC.
However - F1 would still have to test as if being charged, since the charge of A2 is stopped by a counter-charge, not an intercept move.

F1 tested, etc.

But do you agree with Brett that A2 if it could wheel to avoid FC's countercharge to A1 it MUST?

[terrys]

But do you agree with Brett that A2 if it could wheel to avoid FC's countercharge to A1 it MUST?

The path of the charge is determined before the counter-charge is made. Therefore I don't see how or why it would avoid the counter-charge of FC, since the move to contact is made after all interceptions and counter-charges have been completed.
In general, this situation would be to the disadvantage of the French, but by wheeling directly towards A1 (as allowed), FC could probably avoid contacting A2, so that A2 would continue on towards the infantry.

[hazelbark]

thanks