"When are various types of morale tested in Sword and Flame? " Topic

My reading of the rules suggests that major army morale is tested after close comabat s over – during the morale phase. p51 and 52
And shaken units test on the rally table during the movement phase as they draw cards p 51 and 52
And pinned units also test on the rally table during the movement phase as they draw cards p 51 and 52

and critical morale , page 51, says critical morale is tested at the start of the turn.. presumably before movement phase.

Is this a fair reading of the rules ?

Hi David, here's my take on the Morale Phase:

All morale rolls are taken in the Morale Phase which is at the end of the turn.

Correct on Major Morale, test taken in the Morale Phase if the overall force leader is killed / wounded. We've also used this for the tribe Emir or Chief leader for a tribe.

Correct, shaken units test to rally when their card is pulled for movement.

Critical Morale: As per pg 51: I believe this is a misprint as shaken units cannot take hits in the movement phase.
See of 30: The Morale Phase. We test the Critical Morale in the Morale phase when any of these conditions are met by fire combat or melee combat results. We also use the Critcal Morale test for formations who want to evade a charge, change formation, or undertake a sketchy action.

That's just how we've been playing it David, but do as you wish as it is your game and your group. As long as all the players know the deal before the game starts it's all kosher. I think that splitting variuos Morale tests during various times of the game confuses things and opens the door for missing Morale tests that should be done.

Cheers,
JB

what about the pinned units???. Page 51 says: "Check morale next movement phase on ·a move card."
And as you note shaken untts test when card is drawn.
I certainly would love to check all morale at one time but i am trying to harmonize the rules with the quick reference charts.

David, I totally understand, all rules can be interpreted at the readers whim.

On retrospect we do roll Morale in 2 separate phases.

We roll Morale at the end of the turn for all the previously stated items and occasionally In the movement phase if a unit who wants to move that is still in a distressed state. So I guess I misspoke myself. My apologies.

If a unit is pinned, shaken, or routing, and wants to try move they must rally. This rally is done in the movement phase upon a card for their side being pulled in order to move. We allow units to also try to Rally in the Morale phase to regain composure prior to the next turns movement. They roll in their current state using the appropriate mods. If they fail they must try to rally again in their movement phase as states. All other Morale is done in the Morale phase.

It might be that we've played so much that the situations come easy and we just roll without overthinking it. Maybe it's just the house mods or local way of doing things.

I hope I helped and not made things more confusing.

What if a unit charges and doesnt reach it's target? Does it become pinned?

MiniPigs, NO. If a unit charges and doesn't roll enough movement to reach its target it is just hung out to dry, so to speak. It ends its movement turn where they are at and can't fire in the fire phase. They can however defend themselves in close combat if they themselves end up being charged. Of course that is if the charger rolls to close and the defender rolls to stand.

A foot unit that fails to pass a roll to close in the close combat / melee phase will however move back 6" and become pinned.

But this means that any native player who wants to move 4 dice rather than 3 dice can keep trying to charge enemy units?

Don't forget stragglers from charging.

MiniPigs, that is correct. However each time a foot / infantry unit charges they roll for stragglers. On a 5 or on a D6 there are none. Otherwise you have as many stragglers as you roll. These travelers are cumulative if you keep charging without reaching your destination. Once you engage in melee your stragglers will rejoin you either in victory at the melee location or in defeat as you flee the melee and route.

Cavalry only rolls for stragglers when they charge a location rather than a unit.