"Open versus closed order?" Topic

So in my excitement to run an old-school D&D campaign, I dusted off my old books and modules, including a copy of the Battlesystem (1e).

While re-reading it for the first time in ages, I find myself asking the same question I did 25 years ago: why would I ever willingly deploy or adopt open rather than closed order?

The one possible benefit is a slight bonus if attacking with missiles, but this seems more than offset by negative morale and melee modifiers, as well as increased vulnerability to routing (as only units in open, skirmish, or mob order can be routed).

So am I missing something?

Theoretically, you should be able to move more quickly.

Also, if attacked with missiles, the defense should be better, if not using shields for protection, since there is some open ground between the troops.

Movement through some types of terrain should require open order.

Go back and check carefully: closed order troops should be susceptible to routing -- if not, they would be invincible! I've only played 2nd Ed. BattleSystem, and all troops, regardless of formation, are susceptible to routing, except for Heroes, and Undead (they have no morale, being mindless). Cheers!

There's a small (+1) penalty for shooting missiles at units in open order, but it doesn't seem like it off-sets the melee/morale disadvantages of open order.

Closed order units don't rout if they fail a morale check, they adopt open order. So they start to lose cohesion, *then* can break. That's another big motivation to stay in closed order.

I'll recheck the movement/terrain rules to see if there's something I'm missing there.

Movement through some types of terrain should require open order.

You're correct: moving through woods, etc, compels the unit to switch to open order. That makes sense.

I never understood how it was decided close order improved the moral of all troops in all cultures. I would argue many armies that used open order strategies fared just fine. I would also argue fantasy is fantasy – imposing such notions across the board is somewhat xenophobic. My Orc friend just the other day remarked that Orcs fight better in Open order. According to him Closed order gives him the heebeejeebees….what ever those are.

Well, I wouldn't want to argue with a primary source like your friend…especially since he might eat me.

Then again, is it that certain races/whatever fight "better" in open order, or merely prefer (or are compelled by heebeejeebees or fear of cooties) to do so and are thus at a disadvantage compared to troops schooled in close order drill?

Oh. Is that the Precipice of Pointless Gamer Musing that yawns before me?

Me thinks so…..

Unless required by terrain, I always used open order for missle troops who normally would not see melee attacks and would generally be fired upon by counter missle fire.

There is also a command role required (or something like that) in order to move into closed formation so often times orcs and other chaotic low intelligent troops may not be able to close ranks, hence a penalty when attacking. Penalyt for both low intelligence as well as alignment.

Duane