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Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules
A Four Horsemen Enterprises Rules Set
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MilesGregarius
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Joined: 05 May 2006
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 Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:16 am Post subject: 6E vs 4E foot |
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| I've seen it remarked here a few times that 6E units of foot (Reg only?) have more maneuver options than 4E units of same. Could someone enlightent a rank novice like myself what those expanded options are? Thanks. |
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Mark Stone
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Joined: 12 Apr 2006
Posts: 2102
Location: Buckley, WA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: 6E vs 4E foot |
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| MilesGregarius wrote: |
| I've seen it remarked here a few times that 6E units of foot (Reg only?) have more maneuver options than 4E units of same. Could someone enlightent a rank novice like myself what those expanded options are? Thanks. |
It depends on the role you want these foot to play. 4E foot units can be very handy as a reserve or counter-attacking force, as they fit into small gaps better and thus can do a better job of hitting overlapping enemy elements or exposed enemy flanks.
For troops on the line, however, 6E offers several advantages. Note that line troops could either be a skirmisher line or a main battle line. We'll look at these separately.
Often a skirmisher line is intended to play only a pinning or delaying role. In this case 2E or 4E units can often work better. For example, 3 4E units of LI will fill more space than 2 6E units of LI since they can spread out further. Sometimes, however, you are actively trying to win the skirmisher engagement, and deploy skirmishers aggressively to defeat enemy light troops and then potentially engage in some meaningful shooting exchange with the enemy. In this case 6E is better than 4E.
There's the obvious advantage that bigger units both put out more damage and absorb damage better. The less obvious advantage is that you get a maneuverability advantage in 6E. You can start your lights in a 1 wide, 6 deep formation, and have options that a 1 x 4 formation lacks. Assuming you are regulars, you can move forward full and expand up to 2E to either side, converting to a 3 wide, 2 deep formation. It's worth pushing figures around on the table to see how powerful this is. Look at the range covered by:
* moving up full and expanding 2E to the right;
* moving up full and expanding 2E to the left;
* moving up full and expanding 1E to either side.
You really get a wide range of coverage out of the possibilities, and your opponent's foot has to plan for the full range on any bound in which he approaches first.
Further, from a 1x6 column you can face 90 degrees and be in either a 2 or 3 wide formation since you start more than 4E deep. A 1x4 column inconveniently ends up still in a 1x4 column having faced 90 degrees. To get a sense of the options this gives you, look at wheeling your 1x6 column 45 degrees, moving your remaining full distance, then facing 90 degrees and deploying in a 3 wide, 2 deep formation. This can be a powerful shift out on the wings of your army.
OK, enought about skirmishers. Now consider main battle line units. Obviously a 1x6 formation has all the same maneuver advantages for main battle line units it has for skirmish line units. In addition, there are some specific protections you get from being a 24 man unit as opposed to 16 man:
* Cavalry can't possibly rout you. The most 5 figures can do is 60, which is only 2 CPF, not the needed 3. And generally, lots of shock units can get to 48 casualties (potentially routing a 16 man unit) more easily than they can get to 72.
* If you are armed with LTS, lancers are unlikely to do a CPF with a single unit. L vs. MI is 4 +1 (charging) +2 (impetuous) -2 (facing LTS) is 5. 5@5=20. The LTS guys do LTS vs. SHK is 2 (taking the worst case here) +1 (facing impetuous mounted charge) = 3. 6@3 = 15. So if you are a 16 man unit you lose and recoil disordered. If you are a 24 man unit you don't take a CPF and so you're fine.
Pike units are more of a problem, since they really want to be in units of either 4E or 8E. Your line pike should be 8E, starting out in a 2x4 column; yes, you lose some maneuverability advantage compared to a 1x6 unit. Your reserve pike want to be in 4E units.
The 6E dictum applies to light cavalry as well. For example, if I have 8E of regular LC, I'd much rather take them in a 6E and 2E unit than in 2 4E units.
Hope that answers your question.
-Mark Stone |
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MilesGregarius
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Joined: 05 May 2006
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 5:11 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks, that clarified a lot, particularly the facing from 90 degrees when in a 1x4 column versus a 1x6. |
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OGS-Vintage
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Joined: 03 Oct 2008
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Cavalry could rout you on second bound if they doe more (and 1 cpf is a recoil ) then get mounted vs disordered foot - goodbye infantry (depending on how many 2 or 3 element units you havein reserve to rescure the situation. |
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