Hi Wilton. Q 1 - I would say yes, if that's what you want to do. Disciplined, well lead cavalry would not throw everything into the initial charge, but where possible would keep at least one squadron in reserve, and preferably more. At the scale of our rules a whole regiment goes in at once but this is supposed to represent a series of attacks and parries, as the troops and squadrons support and/or cover each other. Therefore - you have managed to break an infantry formation, the officers of the following squadrons decide whether or not it would be most advantageous to ride them down or not, depending on the situation. If they see a battery nearby, or enemy cavalry wheeling into position to charge, or perhaps another infantry unit at some kind of disadvantage, they may consider attacking them to be the most favourable option. Ideally cavalry are there to exploit. Whenever they are used as a battering ram though it may be glorious and stand out in the history books, it is more often than not disastrous for them.
Hi again Wilton. Q 2 - I really don't like the idea of numerous units all deciding to focus their fire on the one unit using their amazing powers of telepathy - it is very, very gamey. I prefer the "greatest threat" idea myself, which may not necessarily be the closest target available. Having said that - if there was only one target available then why wouldn't everybody shoot at it, regardless of what regiment/brigade/division/corps they belong to? Their are some good ideas in "black powder", in the clear/unclear target section of the rules you may want to look to regarding target priority. The emphasis should be on priority. At close range, in the smoke, noise and confusion, you'd be shooting at those posing the greatest threat to your own safety, would you not? You probably wouldn't be overly aware of what was going on more than say, 100 or 200 yards away. Plenty of eye witness accounts verify this. So at close ranges at least it should probably come down to who is in front of you shooting at you or attempting to close with you. At longer ranges in the case of artillery I would lean towards some kind of restriction to prevent every cannon within coo-ee hammering away at some hapless battalion merely because everybody knows they have a morale grade of grenadier. Limiting batteries to the 'ol "nearest eligible target" is perhaps a little on the harsh side but I feel you do need to come up with something to avoid the afore-mentioned situation.
Question 1 - can cavalry break through and smash the infantry they have just broken if there are no other valid targets?
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2 What should you be able to combine in a shot? Guns from more that one Division, units?
ReplyDeleteHi Wilton.
ReplyDeleteQ 1 - I would say yes, if that's what you want to do. Disciplined, well lead cavalry would not throw everything into the initial charge, but where possible would keep at least one squadron in reserve, and preferably more. At the scale of our rules a whole regiment goes in at once but this is supposed to represent a series of attacks and parries, as the troops and squadrons support and/or cover each other. Therefore - you have managed to break an infantry formation, the officers of the following squadrons decide whether or not it would be most advantageous to ride them down or not, depending on the situation. If they see a battery nearby, or enemy cavalry wheeling into position to charge, or perhaps another infantry unit at some kind of disadvantage, they may consider attacking them to be the most favourable option. Ideally cavalry are there to exploit. Whenever they are used as a battering ram though it may be glorious and stand out in the history books, it is more often than not disastrous for them.
Hi again Wilton.
ReplyDeleteQ 2 - I really don't like the idea of numerous units all deciding to focus their fire on the one unit using their amazing powers of telepathy - it is very, very gamey. I prefer the "greatest threat" idea myself, which may not necessarily be the closest target available.
Having said that - if there was only one target available then why wouldn't everybody shoot at it, regardless of what regiment/brigade/division/corps they belong to?
Their are some good ideas in "black powder", in the clear/unclear target section of the rules you may want to look to regarding target priority.
The emphasis should be on priority. At close range, in the smoke, noise and confusion, you'd be shooting at those posing the greatest threat to your own safety, would you not? You probably wouldn't be overly aware of what was going on more than say, 100 or 200 yards away. Plenty of eye witness accounts verify this. So at close ranges at least it should probably come down to who is in front of you shooting at you or attempting to close with you.
At longer ranges in the case of artillery I would lean towards some kind of restriction to prevent every cannon within coo-ee hammering away at some hapless battalion merely because everybody knows they have a morale grade of grenadier. Limiting batteries to the 'ol "nearest eligible target" is perhaps a little on the harsh side but I feel you do need to come up with something to avoid the afore-mentioned situation.
I hope you were taking photos of the game and if so I do look forward to seeing a few on the blog soon!
ReplyDeleteCheers fellas!