"Nightfall" Topic

I've just finished Day One of our annual mega-game at the local Train & Hobby Show.

It's an ECW game of about 1500 points a side (FoG;R) and is going well. Back tomorrow for the conclusion to the battle.

However, a new idea occurred to us: to stage a break-off as "night falls".

Admittedly there weren't a lot of 2 day battles in the ECW but our idea was to move all units back two movement units towards their baselines.

There was some common sense about this with units in strong points able to opt to stand & to not move any unit into debilitating terrain. It did involve breaking units in melee apart & giving up some admirable ground (eg the high ground).

I think it a good idea as we have the time (6 hours to finish tomorrow) and it will give both sides an opportunity to re-group, change plans etc.

Withdrawing in an orderly fashion is either impossible or clumsy in most rule sets from Ancient to H&M so this is a departure.

Your feelings?

I think its an over generalization, falling back in DBM would be simple and effective, you may likely withdraw to a more coherent line which as you had been hard set both sides would be disorganization so the enemy would be hard pressed to exploit the advantage. Reserve units on the flanks would b a threat to over zealous pursuit.

We tried this once during a large Napoleonic game; when playing time ran out, all melees were resolved and units automatically withdrew outside of musket range. Overly adventurous light cavalry without infantry supports were moved to the nearest infantry formation. A very limited amount of nighttime movement was allowed. The procedure worked quite well, avoiding the necessity of ending the game without a clear resolution.

DBA isn't a game I'm interested in. Falling back/retreating is impossible/ difficult in every game of Ancients and HandM I've ever played. So one example to the contrary is hardly a "generalisation".

@khanscom. I like your idea of some night action.