Slitherine

The rules state on pg 67 evading/fleeing BGs _CAN_ shift or Contract to get past troops, etc. (paraphrasing here for space sake, I dont think I've omitting anything important)

Must they?

Also on page 67 it states "If the above (shifting/contracting) wouuld not allow all front rank bases to complete their evade move the battle group:"

Does this mean that the BG _HAS_ to do the above if possible?

or could the evading/fleeing BG choose to do neither and instead do the two "*" items dependent on which comes into play....

Heres the game situation.

A fleeing LH BG _could_ contract to a single column avoiding an enemy BG but this would cause its flee path to take it towards friendlies with obvious dire consequences in latter JAPs. One player wanted to use the second * and stop 1 MU away from the enemy BG without contracting or shifting. This would then take the possiblility of it bursting thru friends away at the risk of being slaughtered.

Thoughts?

Madcam

Madcam:

The way I read p67 the shift/drop back language is mandatory. This is true even though the use of the word "can" might seem to imply discretion on the part of the evader to choose whether or not to use the shift/drop back bases mechanisms. Instead, that discretionary language is creating a choice of which of the two evade mechanisms to employ, rather than whether to employ them at all.

In particular, the evading BG cannot rely on the second asterisk to halt 1MU from enemy because that asterisk applies only "if the above would not allow front rank bases to complete their evade move . . . ."

Marc

Does this mean that the BG _HAS_ to do the above if possible?

I believe so - yes.

Someone else trying to bend the rules out of shape or a genuine misunderstanding?

Pete

He tried to curl himself up like a pretzel...... but i wouldn't allow him

The word Can being the issues...

In pursuits, a charging BG Can wheel to chase down evaders/flee-ers, but doesn't have to....

Just trying to tie up any loose ends before the IWF and summer tournament season.

madcam

page 67 again second column near the top of page, if the above move would not allow all front rank bases to complete their evade move the battle group.....

Basically I think it says you have to evade away, if you can't make the full evade move for some reason then you either burst through friends or take the stay back 1 MU if started 1 MU from enenmy and get slaughtered( I added the last part)....

Guess it depends on how the enemy BG is situated to the LH line of evasion. If you can't evade you can choose whichever evil you want, bursting through friends or standing and getting slaughtered. got a feeling these options would not come up that often since skirmishers usually have penty of run away room in my experience.

madcam2us wrote:
Just trying to tie up any loose ends before the IWF and summer tournament season.

You are the loose end!

madcam2us wrote:The word Can being the issues...

In this situation "can" means will if possible not "may at owners discretion"

The authors clearly have adopted the view of the personss fleeing to get the heck out, not play fiddle around.