Pursuit rationale

[Vespasian28]

Just played my third game and an interesting situation arose.

A pike block routed a unit of hoplites in the enemy melee phase and pursued, then pursued again in the JAP at which point the hoplites disintegrated.
It was now the pike players turn and the pikes moved yet again, turning 90 degrees onto the now exposed flank of a very surprised reserve unit of hoplites that had been about 7" behind the battle line.

Just seemed a trifle speedy for HF and to arrive at the position they did in perfectly good order despite such a fast and vigorous pursuit. Seems a definite advantage to pursue in your opponents turn, rather than your own, to reduce their chances of reacting.

Or have I missed something?

[babyshark]

You played it correctly.

Pursuing a routing enemy BG can be a great way to shuttle yourself into the enemy's rear. As for being in good order, your pikes are drilled after all. Undrilled BGs are more likely to keep pursuing past where you want them to go (assuming that the routing BG takes longer to disintegrate) and to be clumsier getting themselves pointed in the right direction once they do stop pursuing. You are paying extra points per base for that ability.

Marc