Some Newbie Questions

[Deleted]

Hello,

I'm new to Chainmail and wargaming in general and am trying to figure out some basic things.

What happens if a unit of mine moves more than half of its normal movement rate and ends up less than 3" from an enemy unit.

         

So for example, the enemy Saxon Housecarl unit (right) isn't moving. I decide not to charge with my Norman Heavy Foot unit (left) but move 9" towards the enemy unit. If I understand the following quote correctly, my Norman Heavy Foot unit isn't able to melee. (Or does this quote refer to an existing melee? So A approaching a melee between B and C?)

Units within 3" of a melee may be drawn into it if the player to whom they belong so desires. However, the unit that joins a mele cannot have been moved over one-half of its normal movement during that turn. The unit joining the melee may move up to 6" into battle. (p.9)

Is the enemy Housecarl unit able to 'attack' my Heavy Foot unit the same turn? And in that case, would only the Saxon player roll during the melee resolution? Or would the two units only be able to melee the next turn?

[waysoftheearth]

Hi @nik and welcome to the boards. Great graphics and nice first post

Depending on how much reading you can stand, you might find some insight in either of these two semi-recent, semi-related topics:
odd74.proboards.com/thread/11655/question-melee-distance
or
odd74.proboards.com/thread/13897/countingwizard-od-book-method


For a no-frills, quick response off the top of my head:

No. The red unit cannot be drawn into a melee in the blue player's turn, because there is no melee to be drawn into.

But suppose the blue player had a second unit directly above (on the graphic) and forming a line with the shown blue unit. Suppose the red player then attacked the shown blue unit in his turn, taking care to engage only one of the two enemy. The second blue unit could then be drawn into that melee if it had not made more than half a move in its turn.

There may be a couple of other uses, but that might be the main one. Good luck

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2021 5:23:20 GMT -6 waysoftheearth said:

No. The red unit cannot be drawn into a melee in the blue player's turn, because there is no melee to be drawn into.

But suppose the blue player had a second unit directly above (on the graphic) and forming a line with the shown blue unit. Suppose the red player then attacked the shown blue unit in his turn, taking care to engage only one of the two enemy. The second blue unit could then be drawn into that melee if it had not made more than half a move in its turn.

There may be a couple of other uses, but that might be the main one. Good luck

Thanks for the clarification and the links. So the quote is about joining an existing melee and not about initiating one.

Is charging the only way to initiate melee?

[derv]

Technically any time figures come within 1" of one another. Certainly when contact is made during a move, charge or not.

If a unit charges into melee it receives a move bonus. Should it cause the defending unit to retreat prior to melee (cavalry or pike charge) or after one round of melee it can complete the remainder of it's charge move. If this brings them back into contact the defender must quickly rally or suffer an attack without being able to counter. They will then continue to retreat, rout, or surrender.

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2021 19:20:18 GMT -6 derv said:

Technically any time figures come within 1" of one another. Certainly when contact is made during a move, charge or not.

That's a good rule of thumb. Thanks.

[Deleted]

Question about 4. of 'Miscellaneous Melee Information' (p.16). If we are using the 1:20 rules, and there are two larger units, how is overlapping ruled, if both players elect to overlap? Does it happen simultaneously?

[derv]

Overlapping occurs during the melee phase of the turn so I would say yes simultaneously.

If both opposing units are of the same relative size they will basically be extending their front rank. No flanking will occur if both attempt to overlap.

[Deleted]

Mar 24, 2021 5:56:34 GMT -6 derv said:

Overlapping occurs during the melee phase of the turn so I would say yes simultaneously.

If both opposing units are of the same relative size they will basically be extending their front rank. No flanking will occur if both attempt to overlap.

Thanks!

[Deleted]

Some more question:

- In response to a cavalry charge, a unit is routed, and then they spend the next turn rallying. When rallied, are they still facing in the direction they were moving in when routed? Or can they be assumed to have rallied so that they are facing the enemy unit again?

- If we follow the one-melee-round-per-turn interpretation, is there a post melee morale check if there were no casualties in a melee?

- If a unit needs to "back 2 move, good order" as a result of the post morale check, does that happen immediately and still in the same turn or during the movement phase of the next turn?

[derv]

Mar 26, 2021 9:00:42 GMT -6 @nik said:

Some more question:

- In response to a cavalry charge, a unit is routed, and then they spend the next turn rallying. When rallied, are they still facing in the direction they were moving in when routed? Or can they be assumed to have rallied so that they are facing the enemy unit again?

If a unit has remained stationary for one turn while they rally I allow them to turn without a facing penalty. Your call really.

- If we follow the one-melee-round-per-turn interpretation, is there a post melee morale check if there were no casualties in a melee?

No, it would make no sense. Casualties have to occur to work out the calculation.

- If a unit needs to "back 2 move, good order" as a result of the post morale check, does that happen immediately and still in the same turn or during the movement phase of the next turn?

It should say, "back 1/2 move, good order". It's a typo.

They are in good order, so they are still facing the enemy.

I perform the results of morale immediately.

Consequently, if the result was 100+ they can continue their charge potentially bringing them in contact with another unit. If not, charges are followed with a normal moves on the next turn.