Richard Simon - 08:24pm May 23, 1999 PST (#593 of 600) If Your Nose Runs and Your Feet Smell....................You're Built Upside Down! Great minds think alike. I asked these same questions and got the following: Are the waterways on the map rivers or streams? I assumed streams, but found it hard to distinguish the shades of blue between the map and the TEC. The are rivers and hence impassable except at the bridges. This is important! Do the building hexes have any effect on movement or combat? No If a combat unit enters a hex containing an enemy leader, is the leader captured, killed, or displaced? Displaced. So I just brought the French on at B and C for a more-or-less frontal assault on Vimeiro Hill. The French have pushed the Brits back off the hill now, but are not likely to go much farther, with the British reserves marching up to form a strong new line. Some of this is discussed above. You have to play around a bit with the French to find the proper way to attack the isolated British left wing. Frontal assaults are not the way. One try is to push past the hill direct at Vimiero while sending the cavalry over to block the other bridge. (This assumes that the French do have the first move) If the French can grab two consecutive moves (a real cat-and-mouse play because the French don't want to burn their 8 or 9 card quite yet), they can make things uncomfortable for the British, especially if they can grab both bridges (or at leasat the one furthest west) It's not sure-fire but it will make the British player sweat. Steve Carey - 08:46pm May 23, 1999 PST (#594 of 600) Glad to be here... RIVERS! Yipes...time to start over. I can get used to buildings having no effect. Displaced leaders make sense. But how about rolling 2d6 (for a 2 or a 12) if they're caught alone to see if they get captured/replaced? Steve M., I believe that the French off-map boxes are adjacent to each other right down the line. So, unless I'm mistaken (I don't have the game in front of me) active troops in B can march to A (maybe there was an off-map road there that allowed greater travel?), then activate again and come into play on Turn Two...should stretch the British a bit. For the record, I did the French frontal assault routine, too (curious what a blunt attack would do, plus less bother with the off-map movements while going solo). And those are my thoughts exactly on why VIMEIRO appeals to me. My days of playing La Bataille are loooong gone (time, space, no opponents, etc.). I really feel that, despite the few glitches, I truly have a handle on this game. The fact that it's a very interesting situation doesn't hurt, either. Steve Mitchell - 09:45pm May 23, 1999 PST (#595 of 600) Richard-- Thanks for the clarification on the rivers. The proper use of the activation cards is a real challenge in this system, but adds a great deal of fun to the situation. Steve-- Yeah, now we both have to start over. My Brits and French were walking on water. . . . charles vasey - 11:38pm May 23, 1999 PST (#596 of 600) This Space For Rent Don't forget to apply Margaron at any gaps in the the British line, those big cavalry units can cause mayhem. Rob Markham - 07:38am May 24, 1999 PST (#597 of 600) Are the waterways on the map rivers or streams? I assumed streams, but found it hard to distinguish the shades of blue between the map and the TEC. Rivers Do the building hexes have any effect on movement or combat? No If a combat unit enters a hex containing an enemy leader, is the leader captured, killed, or displaced? Displaced Hope that helps. BTW my email is unclogged. Oh, Steve, I'll mail you the chart asap. Rob Steve Mitchell - 05:17pm May 24, 1999 PST (#598 of 600) Rob-- Thanks. One more question, based on what Richard Simon wrote above--he said rivers were only passable at bridges, but the TEC says they can be crossed at +3 by both infantry and cavalry. I assume the TEC is correct, but if Richard has special knowledge here, please tell me. A "cross at bridges only" effect is going to have major consequences on both sides' battle plans. You've probably mentioned this already, but which of the Peninsular battles on your list is next up for production? Jonathan Gingerich - 05:56pm May 26, 1999 PST (#608 of 615) Vimeiro questions: I read the Q&A on Grognards and do not understand the column bonus rule. What, precisely, is meant by "prorated"? (I would suggest as an alternative to "starts in column and is prorated" to "gains 1MP for every 2 MP expended in column movement".) 7.5 and 9.3 both cover retreat with slightly different rules. Does a unit which cannot retreat at all take one or two cohesion hits? Does a unit which can retreat one hex but cannot retreat two hexes, retreat one hex or not retreat at all? May a unit end its retreat in an enemy ZOC? A unit may end its retreat stacked with a unit it started stacked with, correct? A unit must extend its retreat beyond two hexes to avoid stacking with a unit it did not start stacked with, correct? May a player choose to retreat though friendly units (causing a morale check) if an alternative exists? May a cavalry unit retreat through an infantry unit (and vice-versa)? May an infantry unit in line retreat through an infantry unit in column (and vice-versa)? A voluntary retreat from an enemy ZOC is conducted entirely as normal movement and has not of the limitations (or benefits - free facing changes) associate with combat results retreat, correct? What precisely is meant by cavalry charges being "straight ahead" in their last two hexes? (I might suggest that they cannot change facing in the last two (or three) hexes) Oh dear, the reason there is no "leader displacement" rule is because there is no prohibition on moving right through the flanks of an enemy unit. I won't ask, but will point out the rules is missing!-) Jon. Rob Markham - 04:47am May 27, 1999 PST (#610 of 615) Does a unit which cannot retreat at all take one or two cohesion hits? One Does a unit which can retreat one hex but cannot retreat two hexes, retreat one hex or not retreat at all? Not at all. May a unit end its retreat in an enemy ZOC? No, unless it couldn't retreat in which it would be in an enemy ZOC. A unit may end its retreat stacked with a unit it started stacked with, correct? Yes A unit must extend its retreat beyond two hexes to avoid stacking with a unit it did not start stacked with, correct? Yes May a player choose to retreat though friendly units (causing a morale check) if an alternative exists? No May a cavalry unit retreat through an infantry unit (and vice-versa)? No May an infantry unit in line retreat through an infantry unit in column (and vice-versa)? No A voluntary retreat from an enemy ZOC is conducted entirely as normal movement and has not of the limitations (or benefits - free facing changes) associate with combat results retreat, correct? Yes What precisely is meant by cavalry charges being "straight ahead" in their last two hexes? (I might suggest that they cannot change facing in the last two (or three) hexes) Your suggestion is correct. I'll check on 7.5 and 9.3 when I get home. I don't think there is a rule missing on displacement (I don't understand your reason being the flank rules). More later. Rob Jonathan Gingerich - 03:04pm May 27, 1999 PST (#611 of 615) Steve, Rob, Yeah, I do have a critical eye - I hope it doesn't come across as a criticizing eye. I am a rules kind o' guy and I probably have a harder time than most filling in the blanks. I would have guessed most of Rob's answers, except for the retreat throughs. Then again, I would have guessed the towns' effects were overlooked¦ The differences between 7.5 and 9.3 are covered by the answers to the questions. It looks like 7.5 was supposed to have been struck. I'm afraid I was a bit cryptic about the leader displacement stuff. I am used to seeing leader displacement explained next to the rule that says you may not move through or onto an enemy combat unit. I noticed this rule is missing. Two more questions: Does 9.1 1. imply all attacks must be predesignated? Can a defending stack be attacked more than once during the same Shock Combat step? Thanks, Jon. - yeah Steve, we should try for a game Steve Carey - 03:35pm May 27, 1999 PST (#612 of 615) Presidential election soon...who will be the next Grand Nagus? Jonathan, I play that if a leader ends up in an enemy ZOC by himself, I make a casualty roll (2 or 12) to see if he gets 'captured' and replaced; o/w, I displace him to the nearest friendly unit. That extra roll isn't in the rules, but it adds a little more flavor for me that way. Also agree with you on 7.5/9.3, especially in the light of recent clarifications. I do not pre-designate all attacks, though there are few enough units in the game, I suppose it can be done without becoming bewildering if Rob says so. Remember that to participate in the same Shock attack, units must be from the same command (9.0). Good question on multiple Shock attacks against the same defender (Fire combat allows this).