I posted similar on the TFL forum 5 days ago and still waiting on a response so thought I'd try my luck here instead.
Just starting out with the rules. Have played one game of General d'Armee so I know the mechanics are similar but still to digest the GdA rules properly and preparing myself for a game of Picket's Charge. I have a number of questions revolving around charges. It would be great if I could get some clarification on these even if someone can only answer one or two. Sorry this is a long post. Any assistance appreciated.
1. On p38, Conducting the Charge part 7. "If the chargers can reach the 5cm [3"] point, complete the charge, but all units will be unformed."
Does "complete the charge" mean that you go through the whole phase of fire and charge combat and associated results regardless of the fact you couldn't reach the enemy units? Ie is the mechanic there to say the charge will be completed at a stretch, hence why the unit goes automatically into unformed? ( An unformed outcome may have been a result of the defending fire anyway but even if it isn't, you get an unformed status on any ET and also a -2 modifier in the charge combat regardless )
2. On p38, Conducting the Charge part 8. "If the chargers are unable to reach the 5cm [3"] point, all units halt at the end of the charge move unformed. No charge combat takes place."
a ) By all units does this mean all declared support units also move to unformed even though no charge takes place?
b ) The example of p43[C], last sentence makes no mention of the units becoming unformed. Is the example incorrect, as it misleads the reader to think the charge is just cancelled with no consequence? If the example is correct, when does and doesn't an unformed status apply?
c ) If the charge is cancelled, can the unit and supports move in the movement phase? I'm thinking no but want to be sure.
d ) If units are moved to unformed, and the units don't move in the movement phase, regardless of whether they can or can't, will this non movement remove the unformed from the unit for the next turn?
3. When is a flank charge applied?
P39, 9c. "Charged in Flank or Rear. If a unit is charged in the flank or rear, it must first take a See the Elephant test. Pass = May only wheel in order ( or about face ) to oppose the enemy. Fail = immediately apply the result. All supports act the same as the lead unit."
However the example B on page 43 makes no mention of having to do any test to move and only applies a -2 modifier to the fire for moving.
a ) Is the example incorrect? If not, when is the test required?
b ) If the unit is able to move or about face is the unit still classed as being charged in flank/rear for modifiers to resolve the charge combat? I assume yes but its not clear.
4. When does p39 part d. come into effect?
"Casualties. All casualties caused are spread out as evenly as possible amongst all attacking units, with any odd or left over casualties always reverting to the lead charge unit."
I read in a previous post ( toofatlardies.co.uk/forum/viewt … =39&t=4584 ) that if a unit is charging in line with two other units in rear support as per the photo on page 36 that because the support units are in the rear, that the lead unit will take all casualties and also any See Elephant Test. This would mean all defending units are firing upon the lead unit and I'm ok with that, given the formation. The supports are just then providing support rerolls.
In this same post, the poster discusses flank supports and what happens with the firing result. In this case the support units are described as being directly opposing each other with lead attacker and defender in the middle.
A B C
X Y Z
In this case, the answer given in the post is that each unit fires against the unit directly opposite and the casualties and ET are applied as such. In the example given, unit A got 1 casualty from X, B got 1 from Y and C got 2 + ET from Z. This seems to contradict the rule on p39. I would have thought the result stated above ( and in the post ) would apply if these were all independent charges but not if a single supported charge. Ie if the fire from Z resulting in 2/ET was against independent charges then the 2 +ET would apply to C, and C only, but if a single supported charge should the P39 rule apply that 4 total casualties therefore A and C get 1 and B gets 2 casualties? Would the fact that an ET result was obtained mean this is tested against unit B? or should it still only apply to unit C. If the results are to apply to the unit directly opposite as the previous post suggests, I'm confused as to when p39 part d applies as part of the firing stage of the charge. Maybe someone could explain out the entire scenario to make it clear.
5. If the result of charge combat is to take the ground, I assume the defending unit and its supports move back and all the charging units and supports move forward to take the ground. The rule says on take the ground, the unit gets to recover a casualty. Does only the lead unit recover a casualty or does each support unit also recover a casualty? and would any other things like this apply to each unit equally to the lead and supports?
6. If the support units were not in line with the front of the lead unit, does it matter if the support units wouldn't have had enough move distance to make the enemy units in the charge? Ie the lead unit can make the enemy but the supports were a couple cm off. If it does matter, what would be the consequences of this with both fire and charge results? Would the supports use the same charge rules in that if they can't make the 5cm mark they can't support, or if they can they automatically move to unformed? or doesn't it matter as they are classed as supports to the lead?
Thanks
Daniel
