Hi Sam, in the reaction phase can an infantry unit fall back when hit by 2 enemy infantry units....do they test once or twice, can they do it every reaction phase?
I have just tried a demo with 2 french columns attacking a Austrian line and the line just keeps passing its discipline test +3 and retreats 1BW or 2BW then fires at the columns in their reaction phase.....can I only combat them if they do not pass the discipline test or pin them with cavalry ......cheers Paul
I don't think you can fall back AND fire ?
While we wait for Sam let me try how I read it.
The fall back is on the reaction phase, not in the opponent's activity phase. So the two columns would contact the unit, and then in the following reaction phase the Austrian line has to choose one ( and only one reaction ) so if it falls back it is only one test they need to do but they cannot fire. To fire they would have to choose to fire as the reaction. So in that case if they go back then the next turn the columns can charge again and keep pushing them away.
That is my understanding.
Francisco
Cheers Keith....I did not spot that you could only do one reaction ...when you are hit by 2 units is it still one test though to fall back ..........thanks Paul
No worries
I'm working an an expanded turn sequence for myself to learn the rules.
This will be the 5th set of Napoleonic rules I've played this year and my brain is overflowing.
"This will be the 5th set of Napoleonic rules I've played this year and my brain is overflowing"
What other systems have you tried recently ? Just out of curiosity .
General de Brigade
LFS II
FOGN (play testing)
Napoleon
and now Lasalle...
so, back to the question. If you are the defender, and are attacked: You lose the fight but only inconclusively then and you happen to fall back 1 BW. The attacker advances 2 BW. When I read the rules and note all the examples given, the attacker then contacts the defender again. Does this count as another charge or do you not make contact and just stop short of the defender? Part of the rule states that advancing you cannot contact another enemy unit.
As firing is a reaction a unit can fire or fall back.
You stop short when the fall back is from combat - I think there is an example in the rules, as far as I know the exception is the cavalry 'continuation' when units fall back as a reaction (could be wrong though).
Rich J
@DoomOnYou:
Now you are considering what happens if falling back is a result of combat-which is different from what the OP was asking. In your example, the defending unit took the charge, lost inconclusivly, and fell back as a result of combat. The attacking unit follows up up to 2 BW without contacting. But in the attacker's next activity phase, (next turn) he could charge again. Before that combat is resolved, the defender could fire (no test) OR fall back (with a discipline test) in his next reaction phase.
Hope this helps!
We had this problem in our first game as well, but it seems to me that eventually the line will fail its 3+ test ot just run out of table space and have to stand and fight.
I assume that you always roll odd/evens for 1 or 2 BW when falling back, even if voluntary during movement before contact?
@ The Reaction Fallback: Francisco is correct.
@ DoomOnYou: "When I read the rules and note all the examples given, the attacker then contacts the defender again"
No, as per p.60, last sentence of the first para under "Advancing" : "...without contacting any enemy units." You don't advance to contact again, after a combat resolution.
@ RichJones: "I know the exception is the cavalry 'continuation' when units fall back as a reaction"
Correct, although that's a different phase. You're speaking of the "Momentum Move" (p.40), in which a CAV unit charges an enemy Cav or Artillery which escapes, and the charging CAV may then follow-up 2BW. All of that happens before any combat.
You must log in to post.