This also came up in my last game , I had some cavalry threatening my opponents squares.
His squares could do nothing , he asked me "why can't the squares shoot to harass the cavalry and make them charge or pull back etc"
Shouldn't each face of a square get one dice , so a unit of cav between two squares might take a DISR ?
Squares can't shoot ?
(6 posts) (6 voices)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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I was just reading an account by Parquin of the battle of Wagram where the 7th Chasseurs were so shot up by squares that they were forced to retire.
(However, it may be that this particular example was more akin to close combat rather than shooting, as the Chasseurs were trying to close with the square when they were shot to pieces.) (Also possible that the Austrians were in "mass formation" and not "true" squares.)
It's interesting to note the contrasting treatment of infantry deployed in a town, which gets to shoot in any one direction with 1/2 of its bases.
I can think of a number of examples where infantry in squares held their fire against enemy cavalry, waiting for the cavalry to try to close rather than trying to shoot the cavalry at a distance. Perhaps this tendancy, along with the relatively innefective nature of infantry firing from square are the reasons Mr. Mustafa decided to work it like he did.
(I'm sure he will chime in with the real reason.)
Even if the rules were changed to allow one die per square, I'd raise the to-hit from 4 to 5 (or even 6.) That would allow the square to shoot, and feel better about at least being able to discharge their weapons at their tormentors, while ensuring that very little if any damage is done to the cavalry. (Which I think would be a result in keeping with historical outcomes.)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Posted 2 years ago #
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Need 2 Hits to get a DISR, not much point in 1 Dice... and how often does Cav run between 2 unit's in Square?
Posted 2 years ago # -
The purpose of the square was to shoot at cav at very close range...say 30m. This is reflected in the bonus that inf in square get against cav. (Cav half dice) Against inf not so good, against art - deadly for the square.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Cavalry against Squares, you can do no better than to look at Waterloo.
On the scale of this game shooting from a square is not sufficient significant.
You could equally argue that Cavalry should be able to shoot at squares, that gets mentioned. More an issue for a skirmish game.
Posted 2 years ago #
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