Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

[Mark Stone]

This is another Cold Wars question that came up; Frank, correct me if I have anything wrong here.

On Bound N a body of close order foot charge an enemy body and rout it. According to 11.222, it would seem they are not required to pursue the routers.

On Bound N+1, having not pursued on the previous bound and thus not having ceased pursuit, it would appear that under 5.41 said close order foot have no requirement to rally, and can thus make normal approach moves.

In other words: close order foot can charge something, rout it, opt not to pursue it, and then continue with normal approaches next bound without rallying. Yes?


-Mark Stone

[Frank Gilson]

I was going to post this!

But yes, I've done this a total of two times in the last few years.

Carefully reading the rules, and consulting with Scott, regular close order foot seem to be able to charge, rout their target, not pursue, and do not have any need to rally (meet none of the must rally requirements), and so can approach move.

Weird...and perhaps unintended...but we'll let Jon answer.

Frank

[Frank Gilson]

To clarify...the key is that the regular close order foot don't have a mandatory rally:
Mandatory Rally (5.41) -
a body must have destroyed all hth opponents, or made an evade or recall move, or break-off break be broken-through, or be replaced in hth, or recoil without follow up, or return to the table within one bound of leaving it...or

...and I leave this for last consideration...
"charge without contact or cease pursuit except by converting it into a charge"

The regular close order foot unit did NOT charge without contact, they made contact and routed their opponent(s).

So the key is whether they ceased pursuit.

11.222 Who May (or Must) Pursue
states that Regular close formation foot are not required to pursue

then it states that Pursuit ceases if the pursuing body is outdistanced, all pursuit targets are destroyed, the pursuit is converted to a charge, or the pursuing body makes a charge response.

The regular close order foot are never pursuers, and meet none of the "Pursuit ceases" requirements.

Thus it would seem they can approach after charging into and routing their opponents.

Frank

[joncleaves]

You guys have it right.