Support Shooting & knightly lance

[StuUK]

Hi all, just a few queries regarding specifics I am curious about / reasons for the way things are in FOG.
The comments probably read a bit brash but rather than go over and re-write them please take them in the spirit they are intended.

Support Shooting
Why foot only?
There are plenty of mounted bow, but they don't get any benefit from the bow when charged.
Of course, they can break off vs foot but it seems strange that they don't get to use the bow.

Knightly Lance
Well it's not very good really. Only a single +POA.
Impact foot in particular when charged by knight are even in impact - this just doesn't feel right.
Maybe the title should read 'impact foot seem too good' rather than knightly Lance
I know the knights would likely butcher them in melee but from my reading the knightly charge was the big stick.

Light Spear
0 points.. but a POA in many cases.
Seems rather good for free.

I should probably say that I'm mostly using FOG for fantasy with my own rules blend, and we use the following from FOG-R:
Firearms get the +2 death roll lethality from FOG-R and have a range of 3"
All shooting takes place with the # dice from FOG-R (We found shooting in general to not stop the enemy. With the extra dice it's now more likely to)

[grahambriggs]

Off the cuff guesses to intention

Support shooting. I think this is simply to make the interactions in the rules work. Foot archers tend to be weak in melee (they are often fighting at a disadvantage). Mounted archers on the other hand are often armoured swordsmen and superior, so they fight fine. Hence if you allowed them support shooting they'd be too strong against cavalry lancers.

Knightly lance. Well, they didn't fight much impact foot. The medieval impact foot is all Medium foot so the knights are on a + at impact and melee. They are on a + against foot Men at arms, who normally only have Heavy weapon. Plus they get a ++ against lonbow MF, unless there are stakes around.They're actually fine against heavy foot impact foot as well. Equal at impact yes, but often rerolling more dice and like you say up in melee. Losing an impact aainst knights can really spoil your day.

Light spear is good value for free (for foot, 1 point for mounted) but troops with it are hampered in the army list. The only other weapons you tend to see with it are sword or missile weapons. That's deliberate, to avoid super troops. So while it's very handy to have for MF archers with a lot of troops light spear is just moving them from 'weak' to medicre.

If you'e adapting FOGR, don't forget there is no support shooting in that rule set: mechanics again - it would make shooters too good.

[paullongmore]

I can see what you mean about the knights vs impact foot interaction in the impact phase but overall a Kn vs impact foot combat is really bad for the impact foot.

Firstly in terms of grading there is a bias in favour of mounted with the default grade for combat mounted being superior whereas for infantry its average. (I know the Nobles tend to be mounted but when modelling the interaction of foot vs mounted it needs to be born in mind).
Secondly Kn are likely to be up a POA for armour in melee.
Finally if it goes wrong for the foot and they disorder the combat continues to the normally rapid destruction of the foot. If it goes wrong for the mounted they break off. Generally getting a chance to rally.
The only upside for the foot is if some units break off you might get overlaps. Unfortunately even if double overlaps let you beat the mounted the disrupted foot unit they are against will probably also lose and break before those overlaps do you any good.

Also as the mounted kn are faster than the impact foot and the impact foot lose their POA if they charge shock mounted the kn army player will control the game.

I hope this sets your mind at ease about the Kn/ impact foot interaction being to much in favour of the impact foot.

[paullongmore]

sorry that last post went against the wrong subject

[paullongmore]

forget last comment it was against Knightly lance

[paullongmore]

So how many comments does it take to stop being a pillbox. i seem to be stuck on 62

[philqw78]

So how many comments does it take to stop being a pillbox. i seem to be stuck on 62

Stag on Corporal

[Robert241167]

Pillbox?

The first time I read it I read pillock and it sounded okay.

Rob