After some games I got a question or some reflexions about the supporting file not downgrading.
I can understand the idea, the why , how it works but to me there is a but .
A keil is immune to flank chanrges ( more oir less ) and to the not downgrading the supporting file facing pikes as it's flanks are more or less secure,
Hence it seems illogical that protecting a flank in a similar way you cancel a flank charge does not also cover that flank against the supporting files and so a well protected flank should avoid the fact bthat a supporting file does not downgrade the colour.
It seems to me vey logicval and in the same line as the keil immunity .
It forces a player co cover the flanks of the phalanx
So I am curious of reading wjat you think of it without rejecting it out of hand
The keil comparison is not really valid. The keil immunity to flank charges is inherent in the formation and so the flanks do not need protecting unlike other formations.
Comparison to the mechanism for preventing a charge on a flank counting as a flank charge is more valid. However, as I don't think that mechanism is the best, something of a fudge IMO, I'd not want to see it applied to the supporting file mechanism relating to Spear, LSp and Pk. I basically think that to prevent things like flank charges and the new supporting file effect that you should physically have bases there (although with a bit of a tweak to what defines a flank charge as well).
Strange I replied some days ago but it seems the pixies have stolen my answer
So we know that following antique sources, hoplites vs hoplites, phalanxes vs phalanxes usually the guy who had the widest line would win because he would be able to outflank the phalanxes and create havoc . So protecting the flanks was of importance .
There we agree
I took the "protected flank" mechanism because it exists, is well known so is not "new" and "complex". Perhaps not perfect but it might do the job and no rules are perfect . It solves a problem ( what I see as a problem ) without modifying to much the rules. Just an adaptation of a known rule .