Hey all,
A few things happened in this one scenario which was great learning. But wanted to run through it to make sure we did all the pieces right and check if an opportunity I missed was actually an opportunity.
So context before the pictures - my opponent is the active player (red) and the previous turn he had double moved his cataphracts (cata), so both should be at 4BW exactly.
Order of events.
Cata declares charge on lancers
Lancers (green) charge HA (bright red) - horse archers elect to skirmish and are cantabrian, rolling a 6, downgraded to 5 nets them a 4BW skirmish move.
2nd Cata declares charge on Cata (black)
Cata (black) declares countercharge/intercept - moving straight up to 3BW no closer than 1BW away from 2nd cata.
Edit: image links aren't playing nice. See Option 1 image attachment.
What actually happened;
Edit: See actual picture attachment.
In bloodrush I went straight with the lancers and I think I accidentally moved them 5BW, rather than the 4BW and change to catch the rear of the skirmishers. The cataphracts then wheeled and charged into the flank which predictably went poorly.
What I hope I could do:
Edit: see Option 2 attachment.
Given the horse archers skirmished - could I wheel towards the cataphracts and then could they 'press forward 1BW' to make contact, even though the skirmishes disappear after being caught?
Either way same outcome, as the cataphracts would then charge into a frontal combat. Much better than the flank that did occur.
[attachment deleted by admin]
Assumptions:
1) The horse archers are skirmishers and not a flexible TuG.
2) I've understood the diagram correctly!
3) The lancers are loose order cavalry (and not ArmHrs) - so move 5 BW.
4) The lancers aren't within a base of breaking.
If the lancers catch the skirmishers then the skirmishers are dispersed and the lancers complete their charge distance. (Page 70 PDF Edition 5.N:4.1). Because the skirmishers are dispersed you cannot press forward.
You can only change the charge direction of the lancers if the horse archers moved (which they did) and only if you need to change the direction to catch them (Page 70 PDF Edition 5.N:3.1). In this case, you must charge in the direction you declared.
Richard
Assumptions look correct.
Right so we did play it right and I had chosen the direction of charge planning to catch the skirmishers but not realizing the cataphracts could change their direction to catch me in the flank.
Thank you for the comprehensive answer with page references too