Hello Ivan,
Have had this conversation a few times already, now I am not saying that I am right but,
[it] Hi William
I'm uncertain about this too and, like you, have been reduced to interpolating the meaning from (i) similar or related passages in the rules and (ii) my understanding of English as she is spoke
. I suspect we've reached, some time since, an impasse in respect of standardising the application of EMTLU. FWIW my current application of the rule on-table is that EMTLU *may* be used at any time at the *instant* it contacts, is contacted or is TZed. Salient questions from me are:
1. Is EMTLU complusory? (insofar as the passage says "moves", not "may move");
2. Are the conditions under which EMTLU is performed instantaneous or continuous? (ie must the player using EMTLU make a decision to line up at that point in time or revisit that decision at a later time if the condition still exists - ie still in contact or in an enemy TZ).
Kudos for laying out the rationale under which you surmise EMTLU occurs in the movement phase. I think the operant word that supports your view is "extra" as in "expends no extra PIPs" and you infer that PIPs must be spent to use EMTLU (... not trying to put words in your mouth
honest!). However that sentence begins "This can be in either side's bound" and one doesn't spend PIPs in the opponent's bound.
Cheers,
Ivan.
[/quote]
Hello again Ivan,
First your points,
1. Is lining up compulsory, I have come to the belief that unless contact is involved lining up is not compulsory because of figure 9c on page 54, Blade Y although TZed has the chose to remain stationary ( TBF not all diagrams in the rules are considered correct ). An element can only contact in certian ways ( Lining up ) so I do feel if a move is into contact for it not to be rescinded there must be an EMTLU where necessary, even this though has issues with combat outcomes has been posted recently.
2. Is a bit more problematic, if lining up is not compulsory then when does a player make his choice, as you have already said this can happen in either bound. I have had a few long discussions about this ( I hope mostly on the YAHOO group so as not to bore people here
). If an element has a choice to line up at any stage this could result in some players selecting to EMTLU in the middle of an opponents move, this may impact movement restictions on the bounding players move. Very cheesy. That is why I take your point it might be better to happen instantaneously when elements are ' contacting, contacted or TZed ',
but the problem is the choice to line up and being able to do this at any time is where the real cheese could come in.
I came up with (but only as a guide line to myself) the following
Movement sub bound,
1.Any enemy units that are TZed or contacted ( except for elements that will turn to face ) may do so now.
2.The bounding player makes his/her moves and any resulting EMTLU's form each move as they happen, any enemy elements wishing to EMTLU as a result of any moves by the bounding player will complete them at the end of each move.
3.Repeat step 2 for any compulsory moves, ( have never figured out whether spontaneous or flee moves happen first
).
End of movement sub phase,
It does not fully work but is an idea and someone could make it work as a playing convention and would allow EMTLUs to happen in either bound.
Still I think the whole area might get clarified soon
I think the game is much better when one plays with the same interpretations, the thing is with a script like DBMM that might as easy as it sounds.
William
PS English is supposed to be my first language and I have found DBMM difficult to grasp, for those who play through a second language deserve a lot of admiration and respect.
