Spontaneous Movement Options

[LawrenceG]

If you have a column of warband and the front one is in combat, then the next two are in the TZ of the enemy element.

Now, the moves allowed in a TZ include (bullet 3) "line up in close combat with an enemy front edge its front edge has contacted, or as an overlap". From the wording alone, it looks as though you can move into overlap in any circumstances, but comments made by Phil on the yahoo group imply that it can only move into overlap on an enemy front edge its front edge has contacted. This means that the 2nd and 3rd rank can't move in any of the directions allowed for spontaneously moving elements (because of TZ constraints), so they don't move.

As elements 1-3 in the column are not moving, a 4th rank element is permitted to move into overlap.

This conclusion is also stated in the DBMM Commentary document.

[william]

Let's take the original scenario but remove Wb1-4; we now have Wb5 in frontal combat with E3, Wb6-8 behind Wb5.  Wb5 drew in combat in the opponents previous bound and have remained in front edge contact/combat.  I must now consider my options for moving Wb6-8 spontaneously.  Can any of Wb6, 7 or 8 spontaneously move into the overlap position?

Andrew

  Wb6 can with the other two moving in column behind it ( where the column kinks can be a problem unless 7 and 8 also conform at the same time )

Unless of course Wb6 does not move as it provides rear support ( but can not find this at present ) then Wb7 can move to overlap position with Wb8 behind it in column.


William

[william]

This conclusion is also stated in the DBMM Commentary document.

You are quite right Lawrence, that is what is said in the commentary but not (implied or not) what it say's in the rules.

  Then again they do conflict in a couple of areas.

William

[andrew]

Agreed on all counts - but again this is something I also see being played incorrectly (myself included) - it is easy to forget about the elements that are behind an element that hasn't moved, but it is something to watch out for......

A