Wheel Charge and Countercharge

[Hayung_is]

Hey all,

Had an interesting one last night which I think we resolved in accordance with the rules but felt a bit off.

Enemy cavalry had defeated their opponent and pursued (dev chargers so could not hold), ending up to the side of and past the front edge of my cavalry. Something like this (x my cav, o enemy cav);
       ^
      xx
      xx    oo
             oo
             v

Next turn it was my move first and I declared a charge with a 90deg wheel. My opponent wanted to countercharge to deny a flank charge, but on doing a 90deg wheel would result in no contact as he would rotate out of my path of charge. We ruled the countercharge wasn't possible as the rules disallows you from moving out of the path of charge, so they just had to sit there and take a flank charge which seemed a bit odd.
We figured you'd be in this situation just about anytime your front edge was a 1/2BW or more beyond the chargers front edge.

Keen to get thoughts if we played this right or missed something perhaps?

[lionheartrjc]

First thing I would ask would be were the two UGs in edge-to-edge contact?  If so, then no charge would be possible.  Instead you can initiate a melee combat by turning a base (see page 53 4.J in the PDF edition).

Second thing, I may have misinterpreted your diagram, but I cannot see how a 90 degree wheel (as opposed to a 90 degree turn) would enable you to charge the enemy cavalry.  Even if your front edge is 1mm beyond the rear edge of your opponent's cavalry then you would not be able to charge.  Are you confusing turning with wheeling?

Sometimes whether you are able to charge your opponent in the flank or if they can charge you in the flank will be determined by who has the deck.

Remember a countercharge is only possible if you are more than 1BW from the enemy and the countercharge is in or will enter the charge path of the chargers.

Richard

[Hayung_is]

Yes apologies, limitations of trying to draw it with keyboard letters. Hopefully the attachment works!

My front edge was behind their back edge so a wheel would make contact. Also not side to side contact, ~1.25-1.5 BW apart.

Sounds like we played it right, can be a rough way to punish lancers etc. Although the risk you could get flanked if initiative falls the wrong way.

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[lionheartrjc]

Yes it looks as if you played it correctly to me.

One of those situations where it depends upon who has the deck.

Richard