Battlewagons finalised - feel free to use but explain in full to any opponents

[Simon Meg-Meister]

B: BATTLEWAGONS
1.   Battlewagon TuGs can be made up of 2 to 4 bases and are exception to legal formations.
2.   Battlewagon TuGs can be in one of two formations:
   a) a 1BW wide column representing the wagons nose-to-tail in a defensive formation, or
   b) a 2BW deep line (1 model) with 1BW gap between each of the wagon elements filled with infantry bases (these bases never fight and are spacers), representing the wagons advancing in line-abreast prior to turning to for a column.
3. They can switch from one to the other using an M9 turn 90° action, representing them forming or breaking from column.

Screenshot 2020-01-15 at 11.32.43 by Simon Hall, on Flickr

4.   A column cannot be kinked. It can wheel but in doing so, no model corner may exceed maximum move distance, thereby limiting the amount it can wheel in practice..  A line wheels as normal.
5.   They may shoot only when in column and only from a long edge. They shoot at full effect one rank deep. A battlewagon may shoot from any two of its four BW on its long edges.  A player will most often shoot twice from one edge but may choose to shoot once from each side.
6.   In combat, each BW of battlewagon frontage counts as one file. If attacked while in line, they do not count the barricades characteristic and each battlewagon can be potentially overlapped on either side.  If attacked while in column, they count the barricades characteristic (so no supporting files will be possible by the enemy).
7.   Enemy cannot claim combat advantages for flank or rear against battlewagons whether in column or line.
8.   They may not charge, intercept, countercharge, pursue, ambush, skirmish, run away or flank march, or make MF1 or MF2 prompted actions.
9.   KaB tests against battlewagons start on a WHITE dice independent of their quality.
10.   EDITED TO All friendly UGs may pass through a battlewagon TuG in line, due to the gaps between them, but only foot SuGs may pass through a battlewagon TuG in column.

[AntiokosIII]

This is a big improvement to the rules, IMHO. I may try WW out this weekend.

[RobAustin]

Can foot SuG pass through them in column? I would think yes, but the final rule makes it unclear, as it refers to "All friendly UGs...".

[Simon Meg-Meister]

This is a big improvement to the rules, IMHO. I may try WW out this weekend.

Yes it is. 
Have to admit they were a bit underthought in vs1.
Big help from players using them.

S

[Simon Meg-Meister]

Can foot SuG pass through them in column? I would think yes, but the final rule makes it unclear, as it refers to "All friendly UGs...".

Thanks I will check with RJC and kill the ambiguity.

Si

[lionheartrjc]

Can foot SuG pass through them in column? I would think yes, but the final rule makes it unclear, as it refers to "All friendly UGs...".

I would suggest revising point 10 to say "All friendly UGs may pass through a battlewagon TuG in line, due to the gaps between them, but only foot SuGs may pass through a battlewagon TuG in column."

Richard

[Simon Meg-Meister]

Done and now in compendium draft.

S

[martymagnificent]

Having now tried them (in ReG, but the rules are largely the same)...

I have my doubts that you will ever see the line formation. It seems kind of suicidal. may BwG's would be a 4 base unit of shooters, spread across a very wide front that can't shoot at chargers and have no protection from combat at all. Any opponent who had a unit within striking distance would simply sweep them away with ease (in the case of mounted you wouldn't be able to safely finish within 15mu if they hadn't moved yet!).

Might need a rethink (perhaps let them keep barricade factors in line, but not shoot)

Martin

[Simon Meg-Meister]

For sure more safely in column. Niche area for sure.

S

[martymagnificent]

Niche indeed I've been playing ancients/ren for a long time and this is the first time I've used BwG's (Ive used similar stuff with Boers in colonial era).

As it is though I think you would only see line against a remarkably passive/stationary opponent. Seems a little odd it is quite that vulnerable as they aren't moving any quicker than the column and the wagons are still there.

Martin

[Simon Meg-Meister]

It's how they moved to approach a position before deploying.
For sure vulnerable but will be useful in some situations.
Especially if invading.

S

[vortigernrex]

Was wondering how to duplicate tactics in a Hussite army, and these clarifications work nicely. Switching to line to allow troops behind the wagons to charge out in pursuit of battered enemy works nicely. The only thing I would say, to allow for some historical cases, is to allow mounted and foot to move through wagons in line formation - the Hussites usually opened their wagon formations to allow cavalry to charge out and pursue  battered enemies.

[mad lemmey]

Hello and welcome 

[steads]

The only thing I would say, to allow for some historical cases, is to allow mounted and foot to move through wagons in line formation - the Hussites usually opened their wagon formations to allow cavalry to charge out and pursue battered enemies.

They can according to the edited point 10

[vortigernrex]

They can according to the edited point 10

Ah - missed that detail. Awesome thanks. A few other Hussite army points but will post it in the army list section. Really like these changes.