"Dealing with ancients skirmishers in Clash of Empires" Topic

Situation:
Opposing skirmish units are engaged in hand to hand combat.
Phalanx moves forward.
Do your rules have the fighting skirmishers disperse or does the phalanx halt till fight finishes?
We've had this come up a few times in Clash of Empires, could not fine a specific rule addressing the issue.
We're considering removing all engaged skirmishers contacted by phalanx in it's advance.

I don't know the answer, but interestingly this was a major sticking point in DBA/M for years that the DBA 3.0 rules seem to finally solve.

What did DBA3 end up doing?

Skirmishers fighting blocking charges by formed units:

We play COE with a "modified" rule similar to the case with Impetuous/Reckless troops and their friendly skirmishers blocking charge movement (pg. 33, top paragraphs).

If enemy formed unit is within charge range (and charge corridor) of your phalanx at start of charge declaration phase (behind both skirmisher formations to front, then the phalanx can charge forward towards the enemy skirmishers, just like an Impetuous/Reckless unit charge would. Enemy skirmishers perform the normal flee. fire and flee, evade, or evade and fire routine, as they are the target for phalanx charge at first, then placed behind their friendly formed unit support to rear, which is now the redirected charge (in charge corridor etc) target of the phalanx. As for the friendly skirmishers, the fun "stick chuck and dagger brawl" is over and they filter behind the charging phalanx formation, typically filling the space just vacant by the charging phalanx unit.

If no enemy formed unit within charge range and in the charge corridor too… the phalanx formation halts till the skirmisher brawl is over, with one side or the other fleeing.

Seems to work out in most COE cases we have come across.

Michael aka Wargamerabbit (blog)

Thanks Wargamerabbit,
I think that will do the trick!

Additional thoughts D6,

In general, the enemy skirmishers cannot choose to the fire and flee or fire and evade options, because they must clear their own supportive rear formed unit's position with their basic movement (If I remember the interpenetration rules on pg19). Depends on the actual situation, angle and unit position of course. Skirmishing cavalry generally has no problems. But having a 5" basic skirmisher foot movement…. the skirmishers may not clear the formed troops hence are stopped before entering (in front of) their friendly formed unit to pass thru. A quick meat sandwich before the phalanx chases the remnants into the original charge target "formed unit".

So… we tend to like the Interpenetration rules first bullet point… Skirmishing infantry (not cavalry) may pass through any troops…period, regardless of movement distance if performing flee or evade movement. Any retiring firing then apply the "bottom corner on page 19" rule clause… "If the moving unit has insufficient MR to perform the move, it is halted in contact with the models it first contacts…"

Also, the "retiring" firepower is reduced since most likely under half charge distance too and reduced for charging enemy.

M

Many Thanks,
very practical!