General de Brigade

[mike28]

Not sure what happened but I thought I had already posted a message. So apologies if you have seen this before. We have just started playing there are your guns and we are impressed. There are some issues though. First there do seem to be some editorial msitakes. We cannot follow the firing example. Is there a bonus for first time firing? Also do you combine artillery fire (ie different batt's) if engaging the same target. If this is correct then can you do the same for infantry. We ask this as there was some concern over an apparent lack of casualties.

A fall back or retreat result in melee is taken immeadiately or do you await the compulsary moves phase next turn. Finally on subject of morale. When recovering, if succesful, are you returned to normal status or do you go to the next morale state up?

These are small details and readers must believe we have had some very memorable games already.

Mike

[matratmatt]

I have read the examples on Pages 54/55.

In the first example a +1 (first time firing) is mentioned in the example and not the rules.
In the second example the Regt has moved but does not receive the -1 (fired last turn) mentioned in the rules.

So, I would go with the -1 modifier, as I dont think both should apply, and the -1 means you dont have to scribble over the playsheet!

Matt

[cuirassier]

Dear Mike

Thanks for your posting and questions. I am thrilled that you and your friends are enjoying the new ruleset - more players should mean more companies producing figures for 19th century European warfare.

On your questions:

1. FIRING

There is NOT a bonus for first time firing. The table of modifiers on page 53 is correct; the example 7 on page 54 is wrong. I included a bonus in an early draft but subsequently decided to remove it, in consultation with DB, for the reason that any advantages are offset by disadvantages.

2. COMBINED FIRING - ARTILLERY

Yes you can combine artillery fire from more than one battery. See the final note Eg under the Artillery firing: casualties table at the top of page 57.

3. COMBINED FIRING - INFANTRY (AND CAVALRY)

There is no similar rule for infantry BUT a 'unit' can be a company, a battalion, a regiment up to brigade level. So provided troops belong to the same 'unit', and conform to the rules and firing restrictions set out on pages 52/3, then you can 'combine' fire. The justification for this is that the troops are all under a single chain of command so it is feasible that a round of co-ordinated fire could be ordered.

4. MELEE RESULT

NB: The rules do not allow for 'fallback'.

The unit you describe must do both moves! Page 64 states that 'all losing units that are
- pushed back
- routing
-retreating
IMMEDIATELY MOVE BACK D6".
As well, in the compulsory move phase (page 43), a routing or retreating unit must also make a full retreat or rout move (see unit movement table on page 44).

5. MORALE

If a routing or retreating unit passes a morale test to rally then it halts UNFORMED, and can reform in the next movement phase (See bottom of page 68). There is no difference in the outcome. A unit that is routing does cause other consequences though (for instance, a -2 modifier for the morale test, and causing friendly units within 12" to test for morale).

Kind regards

Yours etc etc

Dennis Williams
_________________
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