Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

[RaphaelC]

Hello All,

An 8 element unit (4 elements wide by 2 deep) of Irregular LMI (A) has recoiled, and been followed up by its opponent. Another friendly 4 element wide unit of Irregular LMI (B), has blocked its recoil, so that they are now perfectly aligned front (B) to rear (A).

In the following turn unit A routs and turns 180 degrees so that it is now aligned front to front with unit B. There is a gap more than 2 elements wide to the right flank of unit B that is within 240 paces of unit A.

Can unit A follow this path, even though it involves an initial 90 degree left turn into a 1 element deep column to enable it to move along unit B's front before all its elements will even reach the gap, or does it consider the rout path blocked because of its starting position and so burst through unit B, breaking it in the process?

I hope that's clear!

Many Thanks,

Raphael

[Ed Kollmer]

Again!
I am no authority. Someone who knows must reply.
However, in my lack of knowledge and having dealt
with MANY routes (of my own units). I think "A" will
have to route THROUGH "B".
Ed the Ignorant

[RaphaelC]

Thanks Ed,

That is how we played it, but I just wanted to be sure I wasn't denying my opponent a legal escape route.

The initial situation was even more complex because due to a deployment that was somewhat unusual, and constrained by both terrain and initial orders the centre ended up with a unit of LI recalled to the front of a unit of LMI and unable to recall further as there was another unit of LI, also backed by a unit of LMI behind them!

The Roman Auxillia charged and broke the LI, inflicting 14 FP's. Their rout would take them through both the LMI directly behind them and the LI, and into the final LMI. As the LI did begin interpenetrating the LMI, and were now exhausted I just removed them.

With me so far?

This now left a LMI/LI/LMI sandwich into which the Roman Auxilia pursued. The lead LMI recoiled and forced the LI back through the LMI behind them with a subsequent recall getting them clear.

Then there were two.

The lead LMI were now also charged by a unit of Roman cavalry, wavered, then broke in H-t-H. Bursting through the LMI behind them triggered a wave of 5 failed waver tests which demoralized the command.

A case of not retiring your skirmishers in time and getting your supports too close to the front line I believe.

Meanwhile, on the other flank, three units of Ancient British LC were vainly trying to evict a single LI unit from a marsh. But that's another story.

Regards,

Raphael

[Mark Stone]

The routed unit must attempt to burst through the unit directly behind it. While there may have been an adjacent 2 element gap, in order to reach that gap they would first have to pass through the gap whose shoulders are as follows:
* the friendly unit directly behind them and in contact with them
* the enemy unit directly in front of them and in contact with them
That gap, as you have described it, is only 60p, which is less than 2 elements.

[Historian]

I am with Mark on this. The first gap is the shoulders of the friendly unit and the enemy unit, and is too small for the routers. A burst through is imminent.

[RaphaelC]

Thank You All,

As I said in my reply to Ed, that is how we in fact played it, but it is good to know the reason why we actually got something right!

I suppose the rout may also be invalid because the 90 degree initial turn causes a change of formation which is not allowed by a unit in H-t-H?

Best Regards,

Raphael

P.S. I did repeatedly warn of imminent disaster, much like the shipping forecast, but my suggestion of "perhaps you might want to counter or retire the rear LMI unit" went unheeded. Still, lesson learned I think.

[Mark Stone]

I don't think the 90 degree turn is an issue. Routers are essentially formless, and thus don't follow the neat formation change confines of other troops. The real issue is the lack of a passable gap.

[Todd Kaeser]

When Irregular foot (not LI) is burst through by routers they are carried away in rout as well. Any adjacent units (within 120 p) tests for seeing both routs as well.

[Ed Kollmer]

I have learned that the hard way.
The Toddmeister taught me that do
not stack my Irreg units.


Ed the Ignorant

[Ed Kollmer]

I have learned that the hard way.
The Toddmeister taught me that do
not stack my Irreg units.


Ed the Ignorant

[RaphaelC]

Hello Todd,

That is exactly what happened, with the string of failed waver tests demoralizing the command.

Ironically, if I understand Mark's reply correctly, and the LMI had used the Barbarian Infantry Rules to deploy 4 elements deep, as you suggest in your reply to my AAR, then the original gap would have been two elements wide, and they could have used it.

Regards,

Raphael

P.S. Ed, I am glad my friend is not alone!

[Ed Kollmer]

Your friend is definitely not alone, with me around.


EK

[RaphaelC]

[Ed Kollmer]

Or source of fear
Ed the Comforter