Contacting and TZs

[Barritus]

An unusual situation cropped up in our game tonight. We came up with a mutually agreeable solution, but I don't think either of us was sure we had it right.

I was fielding Alexandrian Macedonians versus Lawrence's Arabo-Aramaeans.

Lawrence had a group of Bw (O) in two ranks, and I charged two adjacent columns of Pk into the Bw, with a Kn on one side and an open flank on the other. The Pk column on the open flank drew their combat with the Bw facing them.

In Lawrence's bound he swung a Bw element from the open flank onto the flank of my Pk column. My Pk then won the combat, killing the Bw in front and recoiling the Bw element to the side. The Pk pursued to maintain contact with the rear rank Bw element.

In my next bound, I moved a Cv available in reserve to attack the Bw which had recoiled off the flank of the Pk column, and this is where problems arose.

To make a legal contact with the flank of the Bw element, the Cv element had to align its front corner with the front corner of the Bw element. But in doing so it had to move 40 paces into the TZ of the next Bw element along the line, which appears not to be legal.

The alternative, of aligning the Cv element's other front corner with the rear corner of the Bw element, didn't appear to be available as that option only appears to be activated if the path is blocked by an enemy element, not the enemy element's TZ as was the case here.

Likewise, moving the offending blocking enemy element out of the way seemed not be available either as again this applies only to elements getting in the way, not TZs.

Lawrence suggested an alternative approach path involving a hook-shaped approach path which ended up in frontal contact with the Bw element, but this would have involved entering the TZ of the Bw element originally behind the element which had turned to flank, having not moved straight ahead.

The rules clearly state that geometric ploys can't be allowed to stop elements making contact. But in this seemingly simple situation we couldn't work out what to do.

Any suggestions?

Cheers

Peter

[sumerandakkad]

Looking at the situation the rules on page 32 state 'Any move (or extra movement to lineup) that will enter, or starts in, an enemy TZ must be completed once started'.
Moving into close combat (page 33)
'It is an absolute reqirement that troops that would move into close combat in real life must do so in the game'

Sounds like you did the right thing.

[Tim Child]

In my next bound, I moved a Cv available in reserve to attack the Bw which had recoiled off the flank of the Pk column, and this is where problems arose.

To make a legal contact with the flank of the Bw element, the Cv element had to align its front corner with the front corner of the Bw element. But in doing so it had to move 40 paces into the TZ of the next Bw element along the line, which appears not to be legal.

The alternative, of aligning the Cv element's other front corner with the rear corner of the Bw element, didn't appear to be available as that option only appears to be activated if the path is blocked by an enemy element, not the enemy element's TZ as was the case here.

I think that the TZ of the next Bw element along the line was protecting the flank of the target Bw, in just the same way (but from a different angle) as it would have been if it had been aligned with the target Bw but set 80p back. In either case you are not allowed to hit the flank because when you conform you have to enter the TZ of the protecting element.  However, because it's not the normal flank-covering position it is something that I have puzzled over (and mis-ruled on) in the past.

Likewise, moving the offending blocking enemy element out of the way seemed not be available either as again this applies only to elements getting in the way, not TZs.

Lawrence suggested an alternative approach path involving a hook-shaped approach path which ended up in frontal contact with the Bw element, but this would have involved entering the TZ of the Bw element originally behind the element which had turned to flank, having not moved straight ahead.

The rules clearly state that geometric ploys can't be allowed to stop elements making contact. But in this seemingly simple situation we couldn't work out what to do.

Any suggestions?

Cheers

Peter

There is not normally a problem with moving into frontal combat in a TZ.  Once you enter the TZ you can "Line up as soon as possible opposite the TZ-ing element most directly in front", which if you have manoeuvred to attacking the front edge will probably be the front of the target element.

Cheers,

Tim Child

[andrew]

I too think this area is a little messy - I had a similar situation last night that prevented an opponent from hitting the flank of one of my elements.  I think this is an unintended consequence of the TZ being extended to include the space a micron beyond 80 paces (i.e. when you "reach" the TZ despite an element occupying the full 80 pace space), such that at 80 paces from the element exerting the TZ you cannot make contact with the flank of the turned element.  In short I disagree with the wording of the rules and I think you should be able to contact a turned element in this situation - but the rules as they currently stand don't support making the flank contact so that is how it is played.

I don't think the moving player can claim a "geometric ploy" is preventing combat given the turned element made a legal move out of a contiguous line to get into flank contact, and was then recoiled into his current position.  So no elements were moved purposely to create a geometric situation to prevent or avoid combat.

Lastly, as Tim stated the TZ of the element behind the Bow that turned to flank can be ignored given you ended in frontal combat with the turned element, but I'm guessing it wouldn't be a desirable position for many elements given you probably cannot recoil (-1) and have now exposed your own flank to the other Bow element (assuming you both live or tie).