"Over the Hills - column vs. line?" Topic
7 Posts
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vtsaogames | 18 Mar 2017 8:25 p.m. PST |
I've been reading a lot about these rules. They sound good. One question: how do the rules handle more than one column attacking a line? I'm talking about the Napoleonic "phalanx" that some rules permit. Does OTH handle this or will I need to house rule it? Because when two or more battalion columns join p, they become a massed formation, a different creature altogether. And it should not be the pile-driver that many rules allow. |
seldonH | 18 Mar 2017 8:56 p.m. PST |
A column that fails to break an enemy on the first round of combat has to deploy into line. If it fails to deploy into line , for example if the another column is too close, it suffers a fatigue point ( the rules version of lack of coherence/ casualties). So attacking in column should only work vs a weak enemy unless you have room to correctly deploy into line. ps. I also don't like phalanx napoleonics :) cheers Francisco |
steamingdave47 | 19 Mar 2017 4:45 a.m. PST |
Only played a couple of games, but we did get column v line. We had 4 columns attacking lines. One column was made of low quality infantry, FS5 to start, they had been shot up on the way in and defensive fire saw them weakened further and then fall back as a result of close combat. Two French guard columns that attacked Russian lines supported by 12 pdrs- they each suffered three hits from defensive fire from a single unit on the way in and that was enough to make them recoil. One column did smash through a line, the defensive fire was weak, the line was unsupported. (unfortunately for this column, Russian reserve infantry and cavalry were ready to attack them the next move). As for two columns against one, the combat mechanism gives the attacker the option of choosing his best FS dice throw, so not a massive advantage. French columns get a plus 2 on their FS ( others only 1). When two units attack one, the defensive fire effect is split between them BUT if three FS hits scored by a single defender's fire BOTH attacking units have to fall back. As I say, only two games under our belts so far ( another one lined up for this afternoon), but I think the column v line thing seems to work well. As a lot of our games will be set in the Peninsula, it is important for us to get that particular aspect of the rules right and these rules look as if they do that. They also encourage the use of " combined arms " tactics better than other Napoleonic sets I have played- using cavalry threat to force infantry into square, bring up the horse artillery to weaken them and then hit the square with your own infantry- works a treat! If you try to do it the Ney way, the cavalry get severely bounced by squares. There is a Facebook group for Over The Hills rules; Adrian and Quinton (authors) check in regularly and answer any queries pretty quickly. |
vtsaogames | 19 Mar 2017 8:40 a.m. PST |
Thank you gents, good news about the column mechanics. I don't do Facebook. |
1968billsfan | 19 Mar 2017 2:22 p.m. PST |
Hmmmm…. which is better for attack? A column or a line. I have to look up to see if there are any prior queries on this….. |
steamingdave47 | 19 Mar 2017 2:34 p.m. PST |
@1968billsfan- judging by our game this afternoon, lines attacking lines have a very hard job. The defensive fire of a line, especially if it's large good quality unit, like the Nassauers our French faced, can weaken the attackers,so they have much less chance of success.You really need some cavalry support to force infantry into square and good artillery support at short range. A line shooting another line is not subject to the short range defensive fire. |
adymac2650 | 21 Mar 2017 8:50 a.m. PST |
How you finding the rules gents |
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