Sponno priority confirmation

[landmeister]

In my last game my one of my sponno Kn could contact an enemy straight ahead, but then it ended closer to my rear battlefield edge. My opponent said that ending closer to my rear has preference. I disagree, but the curent wording is obscure to me  .

According to page 30. A spontaneous advance's direction is straight ahead, except that if that move (a) would neither contact ... or (b) would go closer to its side's rear battlefield edge it MUST either:...

Apparently, both options are equivalent, so that if any of them is accomplished any of the bullets should be then chosen (there's a must at the end). Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[LawrenceG]

In my last game my one of my sponno Kn could contact an enemy straight ahead, but then it ended closer to my rear battlefield edge. My opponent said that ending closer to my rear has preference. I disagree, but the curent wording is obscure to me  .

According to page 30. A spontaneous advance's direction is straight ahead, except that if that move (a) would neither contact ... or (b) would go closer to its side's rear battlefield edge it MUST either:...

Apparently, both options are equivalent, so that if any of them is accomplished any of the bullets should be then chosen (there's a must at the end). Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

It's

(a) would neither contact ... it MAY , or (b)would go closer to its side's rear battlefield edge it MUST

If (a) applies you may use the bullets, but are not disallowed from going straight ahead.
If (b) then you must use a bullet, you cannot go straight ahead.

Note that the first bullet allows you to contact enemy (including by a straight ahead move), as long as it is not on a flank edge.

So in your case, you could still have contacted the enemy straight ahead (as long as it was not on a flank edge).

The current wording is obscure to many people. This was obvious from discussion during play testing, but not fixed.

[landmeister]

I see.  So would this paraphrasing correct?

The only compulsory way not to move straight ahead is if the element/column:

1. Would end closer to its battefield edge AND...
2. Would NOT contact ant enemy in front NOR end closer to the previously closer enemy.

Woud it be correct?

[LawrenceG]

I see.  So would this paraphrasing correct?

The only compulsory way not to move straight ahead is if the element/column:

1. Would end closer to its battefield edge AND...
2. Would NOT contact ant enemy in front NOR end closer to the previously closer enemy.

Woud it be correct?

That looks correct

If straight ahead:

would contact enemy in front or    end closer to closest enemy	would go closer to      own table edge	straight ahead is
yes	yes	permitted only if contacting enemy front or rear or in overlap, otherwise forbidden
yes	no	compusory
no	yes	forbidden
no	no	permitted

[landmeister]

Impresive!  This is just what I was looking for. 

Thank you very much.

[landmeister]

Following my last thread dedicated to sponno directions, I've created a graph including all possible options. I'm not a programmer, so please don't be too harsh with it  .

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4MPL75SU

All opinions are welcome.

Thank you in advance