How do Light Foot attack and defend when they are fatigued?

[harlandski]

I've recently purchased the pdf edition of Chainmail, and a friend of mine and I want to play a game soon.

One rule which I'd like some clarification on is about how these fatigued rules apply to Light Foot:

A. They attack at the next lower value (heavy foot = light foot)
B. They defend at the next lower value

I'm thinking that either

i. Nothing happens - there is no category lower than Light Foot, so we stop there
ii. They have to spend a turn not moving to lose their fatigued status.

Though I'm confused about how they are supposed to defend at the next lower value in any case.

[derv]

Basically, lose a turn. You are now of the quality of a fatigued peasant. You will suffer casualties without being able to return any. If you take any casualties at this point, you will have to consider morale for them as peasants, which is to say piss poor. If they are already peasants, subtract one from their value for post melee morale.

I really don't use the fatigue rules when I play. I've found them fiddly to track and that they slow the game down to my dissatisfaction. YMMV.

[harlandski]

Thank you for your really quick reply! I hadn't considered peasants as the next step down from Light Foot, but it makes sense. I suppose in terms of combat tables they are still Light Foot though, if only for purposes of being killed? I agree the fatigue rules seem fiddly, but we're probably going to give them a go for our first game.

I think you've answered another question I had, which was about the rule of not moving to recover from fatigue including not being able to melee. Would make sense as meleeing is a factor in getting fatigued in three of the four cases given.

[derv]

I was specifically answering your question in regard to a melee that had already been initiated. They will defend as light foot. But, a rout will be inevitable. If both sides are light foot and fatigued, move both back one move, good order. If neither is attacked before resting, they can decide if they want to rejoin melee.

Outside of combat, your men will continue to be treated as light foot, but suffer movement and morale penalties. I would treat them as peasants to see if they will follow orders, if they are forced into melee at any point before they can rest.

I'll add that some may find it more satisfying to bump the light foots opponent up a grade instead. This allows the light foot opportunity to still attack while fatigued. Whatever you and the other players agree upon.

[Deleted]

Or since the tables are stepwise, you could add another step. Similar vs similar - light foot vs light foot, etc - is always '1 die per man, six kills'. So if light foot are fatigued, just RAISE the enemy one step, so light foot attacking fatigued light foot would be treated as heavy foot attacking light foot.

Easy peasy.

[harlandski]

Thank you derv and gronanofsimmerya for your responses - it's really great to get the advice of experienced players like you. The idea of making the opponents fight as heavy foot instead is a great solution, which you both suggested. Your answers also help me to understand other aspects of the game which I've been wondering about, and how to play this era of games generally (work out a solution which makes sense to you and the other players).

[derv]

If you are just playing a game for fun, do what's expedient. If you are trying to reenact something historical, ask yourself what would make the best historical sense.

Hope you'll come back and share with us how your game goes.

[harlandski]

I suppose we want to have fun, but part of that fun is getting it as historically right as possible. To keep things simple, and to fit with some of our historical interests, we are both going to field armies made up of Greek peltasts (Light Foot, shield and Javelins 6"), hoplites (elite heavy foot) and hippeis (medium horse). I know it's not medieval, but the rules seem to fit pretty well. I'm keen to do a medieval battle next, with more troop types including archers and heavy horse. When you say about sharing the game, should I just start a new thread somewhere? Thanks again for the encouragement!

[Stormcrow]

An example:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qtfwfh0ds4&t=20s

[derv]

Feb 13, 2017 3:36:49 GMT -6 harlandski said:

When you say about sharing the game, should I just start a new thread somewhere? Thanks again for the encouragement!

Yeah man. Start a new thread and tell us how the game went. You can do this by giving us a few spotlights or you can recap the game turn by turn. It's up to you. If you can, take pics and post them along with it using Photobucket or some such and the "insert image" button above. Include anything that you think is worth sharing- for example, where you got hung up on how to use a rule, or where the combat results did not pan out as you expected, and your general impressions of how the game played.