Aesthetic use of 'off' rear ranks

[DaiSho]

Hi All,

From time to time I use an 8 base BG with a frontage of 3, which means you have 2 ranks of 3 bases and one rank (the rear rank) of 2 bases.

I've been placing the rear rank in the centre of the rear rank of the BG so that it looks something like this.
Spear Spear Spear
Spear Spear Spear
>> SpearSpear <<

To me, it looks a lot more aesthetically pleasing than having them:
Spear Spear Spear
Spear Spear Spear
Spear Spear

Maybe it's just me. I dunno.

Anyway - someone said to me the other day 'that's not a legal formation as they must be in corner to corner contact'. Whilst he is right, and I accept that, I also said "well, I'm just doing it for aesthetic reasons".

My question is, does it make any difference? Is there going to be any situation where it alters outcomes? Casualties always effectively come from the rear rank (as the casualty comes from the front rank but must have troops from rear ranks moved in place if they are available, so will effectively come from the rear rank) so I don't see a real issue here.

Just wondering what thougths are?

Ian

[SirGarnet]

Unfortunately, as examples:

It can make a difference for charges contacting the flank or rear and which base turn to face and fight.
It can make a difference to any movement or formation changes by friendly or enemy BGs near the rear of the formation.
It can make a difference to commander positioning.
It can make a difference to line of sight, and ranging for shooting at the flank/rear, commander range, and test range for loss of a commander or routers.
It can make a difference when positioned in or near terrain.

I suppose you could agree that the rear ranks would be treated whenever it mattered as being in whichever position the opponent prefers, but it's still a bother to keep track.

Mike

[DaiSho]

Unfortunately, as examples:

It can make a difference for charges contacting the flank or rear and which base turn to face and fight.
It can make a difference to any movement or formation changes by friendly or enemy BGs near the rear of the formation.
It can make a difference to commander positioning.
It can make a difference to line of sight, and ranging for shooting at the flank/rear, commander range, and test range for loss of a commander or routers.
It can make a difference when positioned in or near terrain.

I suppose you could agree that the rear ranks would be treated whenever it mattered as being in whichever position the opponent prefers, but it's still a bother to keep track.

Mike

They are good points Mike, so I'm wondering whether you can leave them 'aesthetically pleasing' until such time as it matters, then move them into a position when it does matter. I'm anal about symetrical things. You should have seen my dungeons when I played D&D... they were always mirror images of each other.

There's got to be a psychological issue here.

Ian-0-naI

[babyshark]

They are good points Mike, so I'm wondering whether you can leave them 'aesthetically pleasing' until such time as it matters, then move them into a position when it does matter. I'm anal about symetrical things. You should have seen my dungeons when I played D&D... they were always mirror images of each other.

There's got to be a psychological issue here.

Ian-0-naI

The issue with moving the bases into position when it matters is that you might be tempted to move them into the more advantageous of the possible positions. For instance, putting the bases behind the center and right front rank bases when an enemy BG is setting up a flank charge from the left. Or, worse still, be thought to have done it for that reason. Better, even if less aesthetically pleasing to you, to have the bases in the proper positions from the start.

Marc

[hazelbark]

I think if you were in a friendly it would be fine. In a tournament you would have to have a hard rule like the opponent always gets to pick where they are if in doubt or they are always on the right side.

[Sadista]

Save all discussion and buy them in 6's?

[richnz]

You could just say "in all cases my bases are lined up to my right hand side" or similar.

That keeps everything transparent while allowing your aesthetic basing.

[DaiSho]

Save all discussion and buy them in 6's?

Well, there are tactical reasons why you want them in 8's AND having a frontage of 3!

Ian

[DaiSho]

You could just say "in all cases my bases are lined up to my right hand side" or similar.

That keeps everything transparent while allowing your aesthetic basing.

Yes, I like this. That is similar to what I do with one of my Ally generals. He is in a Chariot, who's model can't fit on a 40x40 base, so I have him on a 40x60 base and announce at the start of the game "This is a 40x60mm base, but I will measure as if it's 40 from the front if it comes down to it". It never has, but it makes people more at ease if they realise that you're not trying to cheat.

I additionally would do this with 40x20mm Heavy foot when I'm using Medium foot bases in place.

Ian

[expendablecinc]

Hi All,

From time to time I use an 8 base BG with a frontage of 3, which means you have 2 ranks of 3 bases and one rank (the rear rank) of 2 bases.

I've been placing the rear rank in the centre of the rear rank of the BG so that it looks something like this.
Spear Spear Spear
Spear Spear Spear
>> SpearSpear <<

To me, it looks a lot more aesthetically pleasing than having them:
Spear Spear Spear
Spear Spear Spear
Spear Spear

Maybe it's just me. I dunno.

Anyway - someone said to me the other day 'that's not a legal formation as they must be in corner to corner contact'. Whilst he is right, and I accept that, I also said "well, I'm just doing it for aesthetic reasons".

My question is, does it make any difference? Is there going to be any situation where it alters outcomes? Casualties always effectively come from the rear rank (as the casualty comes from the front rank but must have troops from rear ranks moved in place if they are available, so will effectively come from the rear rank) so I don't see a real issue here.

Just wondering what thougths are?

Ian

I dont think you shoudl do it but even so I thin that putting the two extras and the end of th eleft and right files looks better anyway (and is legal). leave the spare in the centre rank. Your penchant for symetry will be satisfied (until you lose a base).