"Faster than a bataillon en ligne? " Topic

Dear distinguish colleagues of the forum,

I have noticed that in Empire, that the game design permits a grand body of troops, when formed with the flanking colonnes en colonne serree, and center bataillon(s) en ligne, to move slightly faster than a bataillon en ligne…

I wonder if in fact this formation might manoeuvre slower, or at the same rate as a bataillon en ligne, when confronted with embarrassing terrain, because the grand body of troops are still acting like a ligne of multiple bataillons, and would have to have any section in the bataillon en ligne, fall back when faced by an obstacle.

This formation was not meant for advancing faster than a ligne, but as a counter measure against cavalry.

Best Regards
Art

This is order mixed? I don't see why it would move any faster than a unit in line.

I can accept that a formation like that would move faster. A line alone might lack the confidence provided by the columns, so move more hesitantly since they were more vulnerable to cavalry. Good point about terrain, but unless the terrain was significant to slow the columns, then the formation's pace could still be faster. This is conjecture and YMMV, and seems plausible, but who knows what Bowden was thinking. The rules do require reduced movement in many types of terrain.

Mixed order in Empire moves at line rate. IIRC (I'm 250 miles from my rules) it speficically states that you move by the rate of slowest formation in the "grand body" or I'm assuming you refer to the Maneuver Element. So if you have squares in the rear of the ME, you move at their movement rate regardless of any terrain modifiers that might apply.

Good to hear from you Art. You've been absent for some time.

Dear Michael,

Thank you for your response; for when I was broached with this question, the person must have misunderstood the rules in the game design. It makes its easier not to have to explain why a grand body of troops, when formed with the flanking colonnes in colonne serree, and center bataillon(s) in ligne, would not march faster than a battalion deployed.

-getting lazy ;-)

As for my silence…I have been away…getting what sort of looks like a "farmers tan"… :-)

Very Respectfully
Art

Well, be safe my friend.