General de Brigade

[Chris Stringer]

While giving the rules a playtest recently the following situation occurred:

A French cavalry brigade had "hold " orders. I had assigned their brigade area as 12 inches from the centre of the cross roads on which they were standing. They were actually the reserve for the French attacking eastwards against a British bridgehead.
They were then surprised by a large British force attacking from their rear. Neither the Cin C not the Brigadier were able to successfully change the order ( to "run away" or " move"!) and they were now faced with veteran British infantry advancing to shoot them to pieces....they can't charge..can only manouver in the brigade area..so what can they do other than stand there? I decided to send the CiC over and take command of the Brigade but as I read the rules he can't do this unless the brigadier is dead ( so the CiC shot him!). I would appreciate any comments or help on this. regards Chris

[Greystreak]

Chris, two easy 'remedies':

1) The French horsemen may spend a 1/2 turn's movement to turn the cavalry 180* (About Face) to face the infantry. (This 'Unforms' them, and they will need to spend the next turn 'Reforming' to good order.) There is nothing in a 'Hold' Order that says you can't change facing--quite the contrary--it is your 'duty' to defend that patch of ground ('brigade area') from threats from all directions!
2) For Changes of Orders, move the C-in-C figure into base-to-base contact with the cavalry's Brigadier figure; this gets you a +2 modifier to any Change Orders die roll (e.g., to 'Engage' so you can initiate a Charge).
3) Next time, start the Change of Orders process (and About Face) before the enemy get into small arms range--plan ahead.

In the situation you've described, once you are 'facing' the enemy infantry, at worst you make take fire casualties from your front for a turn or two until your orders are changed--such is the 'friction' of war. Needless to say, the British infantry cannot 'charge' your cavalry, so it's just a matter of time before you inflict your revenge.
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Bryce Allen

[Chris Stringer]

Thanks Bryce, that confirms my understanding...regards Chris