The 'Sharp Practice' Forum ~ View topic

this came up in our large game over the weekend

if a group contacts only one group that is part of a formation, is the ensuing fisticuffs only 1 group on 1 group- or do the uncontacted groups of the formation participate in FC and consequently share in the distribution of casualties?

thanks

lamont

Sergeant Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 51

Hi Lamont,

I would handle as the whole formation is involved in the fight...massing all dice for the formation vs. the single group...casualities would be spread across the whole formation as evenly as possible with the extras going against the contacted group first....

Yesterday, I would have agreed with Basilhare. Today, I'm not so sure.

The rules state: "All Fisticuffs is calculated by breaking the combat down into Groups fighting, not the Formation as a whole. All the men in a *Group* will join the fight, even if they are not in immediate contact. Where fights are uneven [e.g. Group vs. Formation???] the player with numerical advantage should decide the best way to break the fight up into Groups."

So maybe the first round is Group vs. Group, but then the other Groups in the Formation will join in?

Or...the attacking single Group must break itself up in order to engage each of the Formation's Groups?

This is a question for the TFL group.

I have played the first round is group vs group contacted within the formation. The second round any group in the formation that is directly adjoining the group fighting can join in and on the third round the next layer a adjoining groups.

Admittedly this is a house rule/modification but it played itself well when we tried it on the table.

I agree though that the question is probably best asked on the TFL yahoo group.

It is group vs. group but column still has an effect, where casualties go to the rear of the column.

This is one of the ways that a single group of skrmishers can charge a formed line of 10 groups and win, easily making certain that none of their unformed figs touch any groups that they don't wish to touch.

Sergeant Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 51

It is not often that there are multiple rounds of combat.

What about a simple +2 dice for each other group in your formation that is not in melee contact?

Sergeant Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 51

Re: Fisticuffs & Formations

Richards response off of the TFL Group:

Hi Faron

Sorry, I didn't see that. The answer is that all of the formation takes part
and that losses/shock are spread through the formation.

Rich

--- In Toofatlardies@yahoogroups.com, "Basilhare" <faronbell@...> wrote:
>
> Richard - could you give clarification on this....thanks!
>
> --- In Toofatlardies@yahoogroups.com, "Basilhare" <faronbell@> wrote:
> >
> > Richard,
> >
> > This was discussed on the "Sharp Camp Forum"...how would you handle a single
group comming into contact with a formation?
> >
> >
> > Original Posters Question:
> >
> > "this came up in our large game over the weekend...
> >
> > if a group contacts only one group that is part of a formation, is the
ensuing fisticuffs only 1 group on 1 group- or do the uncontacted groups of the
formation participate in FC and consequently share in the distribution of
casualties?"
> >
> > Thanks...faron...
> >
>

A little more backgound: The unit in question had suffered significant casualties and were guarding the flag. They were about to be assaulted by a fresh skirmish unit. It made sense to join nearby units to 'rally round the flag'. If the attacker even if outnumbered by multiple units, concentrates on a group it negates the point of forming a unit. As a formed column or line the unit becomes an easier target. The player was willing to sacrifice infantry to deny the opposition the trophy.

"Soldiers are made on purpose to be killed." (Napoleon I - Letter to General Gaspar Gourgand 1818)