Slitherine

A column of 6 LF Archers marches up to 2 MU away from enemy 8 HF Spear in line 4 wide. HF Spear test not to charge and fail test. Archers evade straight back, moving past 6 friendly Heavy CV Lancers 3 wide, who are facing the enemy HF. The lancers are 4.5 MU from enemy HF, having moved up previous turn. HF rolls 6, so must move 5 MU, which takes them into enemy CV. LF roll 3, so evade past CV. Under declaration of charges, page 56, it states "Any enemy BG in the path of a charge counts as being charged if it can be 'legally' contacted, even if it was not one of the originally declared targets of the charge." In this case the enemy CV was too far away initially to be charged. My opponent, an experienced player, suggested that the HF must continue its charge into the CV. However, under "Troops who may charge without orders" on page 63, it states as an exception to the requirement to charge "If they are foot whose move could end in contact or be intercepted by mounted."

In this case, it was not known that the foot could contact the mounted until after the charge was declared and the VMD dice roll taken. Do the HF charge or is the charge cancelled after the VMD die roll? Do they charge, but stop short of the CV? If the CV had been less than 4 MU away, they could intercept. In this case, does the HF lose the POA for 2 ranks of spear due to being in a charge while being intercepted?

The answer is on pages 62 & 63.

The additional VMD distance is not taken into account when deciding if a charge without orders will occur. So in this example your opponent was correct. The HF charge contacts the cavalry.

If the CV had been less than 4 MU away, they could intercept. In this case, does the HF lose the POA for 2 ranks of spear due to being in a charge while being intercepted?

Yes - page 68. But of course the HF would not be required to test not to charge and choosing to declare a charge in these circumstances may be unwise.

Thanks for reply.

I would think that the HF have to test not to charge the LF Archers regardless as they were only 2 MU away from HF and the HF were more than their normal move of 3 MU from the enemy CV. If the enemy CV were 4 MU from the HF, then I think the CV could intercept if the HF failed test not to charge LF and declared such charge. Assuming this is correct, then the HF would lose POA against CV. Correct?

Never mind; does not have to charge LF due to CV being able to intercept. CV, on the other hand, would have to test next turn not to charge HF, even though it is not in their best interest!

Correct.

Just to get this clear:

Shock foot have to test not to charge if they could contact enemy mounted only by a positive VMD. (This is a change from V1 IIRC.)

Shock foot don't have to test not to charge if they could be intercepted by enemy mounted.

Spearmen that charge or intercept shock mounted don't get their + POA.

Is that all correct?

Is that all correct?

That is certainly my understanding Lawrence.

Regarding the Cav option to Intercept, don't forget that Intercepts happen first - before evades. So, depending on where the LF were in regards to position of the Cav and the HF, they may be in the way of a potential intercept. If so, then there is no Intercept option.