"Pig Wars Morale Question - Yes... even pigs have morale" Topic

In Pig Wars once a unit has lost morale and attmepts to rally you draw a card. Based on the suit you either rally or continue to rout away.

club – elites rally
spade – elites and veterans rally
diamond – elites, veterans and average rally
heart – all troops types rally

So… Unless an elite unit is shifted down a level (eg they can not see their standard) they will always rally the turn after a rout. Is this how everyone else plays this? I guess this is why the housekarls make their stand.

What are your thoughts?

Yes. This is how we play it; however, with everthing else running away, the elites are on borrowed time. Often, a player will keep moving everyone back as long as one or more parts continue to rout in order to maintain some sort of practical cohesion and give the routing figs a leader and standard with which to assist in rallying. Depending on the unit's make-up and the game's scenario, the elites can be either a few figs or the whole unit. If you are defending a key bridge or ramparts or such, letting the rabble route and continuing to hold with the elites makes some sense….

I have had my elites left surrounded and in deep trouble more than once when the rest of their group bolted. Rather a sinking feeling.