Slitherine

I'm playing a multiplayer Open Battle game. Several turns in, three enemy units have appeared at the edge of the map with a notification that they've made an off-map flank march. There's a couple of mentions of the possibility of flank march in the manual, but I can't see a description of how it is done. What's all this about then?

"Send flank march" is an option for a custom battle, I'm not sure but I think it's something that can only be chosen by the person setting up the battle.

Open Battle mode can have flank march too. If the terrains is not good for the whole army to deploy initially, the remainder will come in subsequent turns. The choice of units and when they come is based on the routine and not user driven.

I set up the game and it's an Open Battle, not the Flank March scenario. Also, I had a look at the map again and there are no impediments to deployment.

There's this in the manual, which would suggest that it's a deliberate player-driven move:

manual wrote:If you plan a wide, on-map, outflanking move, this should be led by a commander. Or you might try an off-map flank march, as these can be very effective. The danger is that it may arrive too late or never at all.

Ah, yes: and this, in the manual:

the source of truth wrote: There is no scenario selection to make the enemy send a flank march, but
they may choose to do so in any of the other scenario types.

This is a feature that I really don't like for "Open Battles".

stockwellpete wrote:This is a feature that I really don't like for "Open Battles".

How does it even work?

stockwellpete wrote:This is a feature that I really don't like for "Open Battles".

I think it is a nice "curved ball" to get unexpectedly in the occasional battle - and if it is anything like P&S it is pretty occasional. Also they are often fairly weak (again using P&S as a comparison) and the edge of the world is usually quite a way off. Adds a bit of spice with being unexpected.

Can be a useful help for the AI as well - needs it sometimes.

Perhaps a bit of a different matter against a human in MP, however, I do recall the one time it happened to me in a MP game in P&S where the opponents FM arrived and ruined my right flank very quickly as we were fighting up against the edge of the world - turned a fairly routine (but fun) game into something special (I nearly fought my way back IIRC).

My opponent says he didn't order the flank march and doesn't know why the extra troops have appeared. So it appears to be a mystery, and one that may never be solved.

the_iron_duke wrote:My opponent says he didn't order the flank march and doesn't know why the extra troops have appeared. So it appears to be a mystery, and one that may never be solved.

Thats a very good question. Here is a my thought:

There is no option to have your opponent send a flank march because its supposed to be a surprise against you after all..

With that line of thinking, I wonder if in the MP lobby, if a challenge is set up as a flank march, does it display as such or does it just say open? After all, if it does, the element of surprise is lost.

Anyway, the manual is somewhat clear in the fact that if you chose any battle option other than send your OWN flank march, then the opposing side MIGHT send a flank march against you...but there is no ability to chose a flank march by your opponent, its just a small % chance it can happen.

To muddy the waters more you can chose side B instead of the default side A when setting up MP battles which could effect this too ( force your opponent to have a flank march maybe?) A lot of testing needed to see what actually happens!
Maybe RBS can just tell us!

It would be cool to have an intentional flank March options.
Like set a few tiles on the left or right of the map where the player can place units there during deployment phase.
This was done in the Takeda game.

My current theory is that there is another battle going on on the map next door and these troops have evaded onto my map, to escape pursuing enemy. Maybe they'll return to the other battlefield later.

jomni wrote:It would be cool to have an intentional flank March options.
Like set a few tiles on the left or right of the map where the player can place units there during deployment phase.
This was done in the Takeda game.

Id be just happy if the game told me what units "I" potentially sent off on a wild goose chase. It depressing when you get a flank march message and then two light horse show up! ( or in the case of one P&S game, one lone heavy artillery unit)

I think you will know when you actually deploy less units than you purchased but a clear indicator is definitely appreciated.

nikgaukroger wrote: Can be a useful help for the AI as well - needs it sometimes.

I was playing a game against the Greeks (can't remember as who) and they had a rather large contingent of cavalry and slingers appear as a flanking force. However, I was able to detach a couple of light horse and a foot archer to keep them from getting to me before decimating their hoplites, it was over before the flanking force arrived.

We will probably disable Side B flank marches for MP games. Particularly as we otherwise have no means of preventing them from occurring in tournament games.

How it is actually in points
is it like this:
side B units on the map + the reinforcements = side A units
or like this?
side B units on the map + the reinforcements > side A units

the_iron_duke wrote:My opponent says he didn't order the flank march and doesn't know why the extra troops have appeared. So it appears to be a mystery, and one that may never be solved.

You are notified about the flank march at the beginning of the battle if the computer decides that you will be making one. Your opponent must not have noticed as it is in the victory conditions screen, IIRC. The non-flank marching player is not given advance warning.

Strategiusz wrote:How it is actually in points
is it like this:
side B units on the map + the reinforcements = side A units
or like this?
side B units on the map + the reinforcements > side A units

The former, IIRC.

I was surprised by such a flank march today during the third tournament when heavy Sarmatian cavalry appeared on my left flank. This happened in turn 15 or 17 and had a tremendous influence on this battle.
I think at least a warning would be appropriate.