Hello folks.
I am asking to make sure I understand the concept of destroyed elements on pg 40. Please correct me if I am wrong.
When psiloi are destroyed nothing is removed from base contact behind it.
Warbands can wipe out any rear supporting foot unit. I call it "The crazed Wisconsinites are goin' to Dairy Queen".
When a flanked unit is destroyed any rear support unit is also destroyed.
Re psiloi, correct.
Re warband, they wipe out any foot within the zone of death, regardless of whether they were giving rear support or not. This could be more than one element if the destroyed element has a deep base.
Re flanked units in the zone of death, they are only destroyed if the whole of their flank edge is in contact with the enemy front edge. Again, it makes no difference if they were giving rear support or not.
If a big line of spears are fighting a pike block. Any element that is destroyed is removed and a gap is left where the unit was.
This leads me to my next question. In the above example a unit of Irr Sp (O) just destroyed a element of Pikes.
The melee looks like this: SSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSS
XXXX XXXX
XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX
The victorious element has to advance into the gap.
SSSS SSSS
SSSSSSSSS
XXXXSXXXX
XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX
How does this affect the spear unit that has both flanks touching the sides of the pike units? This is all moot if the spears kill all the ranks of Pikes. I base it on my interpretation of the rules.
Side edge to side edge contact generates overlaps, see p 35.
As a little switch-a-roo let's say the spears pushed the pikes back and did not destroy them. Does the entire line of pikes move back one base depth? Do they stay where they are because they cannot interpenetrate each other?
See p 40 "recoiling elements" and p41 "pushed back elements". Pike can't interpenetrate pike, so they push all the other ranks back.
Are Psiloi only of use in rough terrain? It seems like if they roll less than enemy foot but more than half they recoil if in good going. They are wiped out with the same result if facing mounted units.
What are Psiloi good for?
They are not always destroyed by mounted, especially in their own bound. Read the combat results more carefully.
They can move through difficult going in any formation (everything else has to be in a column, subject to exceptions) p29.
They can deploy in the flank sector 400p-800p from the table edge p22.
They don't kill stuff behind them when they die.
They are only 0.5 ME when they die.
They usually don't die when doubled by heavy foot, they are only "spent". See combat results and p40.
Cancel rear support for enemy pikes and spears, p36.
They kill elephants and War Wagons(X) on a higher score, p38.
If irregular, they are not clumsy in rough and good going, and usually not impetuous.
THey "repulse" from heavy foot (not recoil) if beaten but not doubled in good going and can "repulse" from anything on a tied score. Repulse can get you out of trouble and can't be pursued, which can be useful.
They can kill enemy psiloi (most foot can't).
Psiloi (O) can kill light horse in frontal combat (most foot can't).
In some armies, psiloi can give rear support (+1 combat factor) to specified other types of element in an enemy bound.
They can interpenetrate everything, and can recoil or repulse through friends at any angle, p32.
I think this stuff would make sense if I had someone to play with. Everyone in my area plays Hail Caesar. I am not criticizing it... but I believe DbMM is a much more robust game.
How do TFs affect the enemy's movement and combat. A better question is what purpose do they serve? I cannot find anything on page 11 saying what TFs do.
+3 in combat for defenders (p37).
Modify combat results (p38, top of "less than opponent, but more than half" section)
Neutralize enemy threat zone (p32, bottom)
Cancel effect of enemy beyond your fortifications on your ability to march move (p28)
You must be in column to cross TF from the inside (p29)
Mounted cannot cross from inside TF, except by a gate. (p11)
Even if undefended, cannot be crossed from the outside except by fighting the undefended TF (p42)
Are destroyed and replaced by difficult going if the enemy cross them (p11).
Yes, it helps a lot to play with someone who already knows how to play. Where are you?
