">" bits are the original questions and the rest are my attempts to answer.
> Is ther any restriction on deploying stakes in rough
> or difficult terrain?
>
Not that I am aware of. Can't think why you'd want to do it though as the troops you'd want to use stakes against are affected by this terrain and longbowmen aren't.
> Can a unit already in Melee deploy stakes (I assume
> not)? What about those files of a BG that are not
> fighting in contact or an overlap?
>
I think not in both cases - although I can't offhand see anything specific about it. BGs cannot be moved in the Manoeuvre phase (when stakes are placed) and placing stakes counts as a full (complex) move so I think it at least implies that you cannot - and it is also common sense.
> Can a BG fighting strictly as an overlap place stakes?
>
As they can make a move in the manoeuvre phase they could place stakes.
> If a unit that has already deployed stakes expands, do
> the new columns count as having stakes (i.e. 6 stand
> Long Bow unit 2 wide expands out to 3 wide), or does
> the unit have to make another CMT, or is it allowed at
> all?
>
Interesting. BGs carry enough stakes to cover their frontage when 2 deep, however, when placed page 121 states they are placed in front of the BG and so if you are 2 bases wide I think you only place 2. If you then expand I would also say that you could make another CMT to place the remaining stakes.
> If a BG contracts (say from 3 wide to 2), does it lose
> the stakes from the contracted file? What about if it
> feeds a file from one side of the BG to the other to
> expand into a melee?
Page 121 says that you lose stakes when the BG moves away from them without picking them up first. So until the BG moves away, as opposed to individual files, I think they remain in place.
>
> All in all had a great battle. Longbowmen with stakes
> are a realy fun troop type, but are gawd awful
> expensive!
>
21 points per file, IIRC, isn't that expensive - compare to knights, pikes, cavalry and many others
)
