How can combat occur on a road?

Hi All

Perhaps I am reading the rule wrong. But it looks like an element can not end a move in combat while on a road. Is my interpretation correct?

If so, say your opponent has an Artillery piece is on the Road. You have a Bd element advancing on the same road. The Bd takes advantage of the road subsequent movement allowance and advances to within striking distance of the Art (without making contact).

In the next bound, the Bd element is facing the Art element. On the initial move the Bd element makes contact with the Art element. Is that a legal move?

If not, how can the Bd element make contact with the Art element without leaving the road?


Semper Fi
Ralph

You can move to contact with enemy using the road movement rate as long as you do it with one and only one pip that bound. You just can't make multiple moves using the road and make contact.

Don't have my rules with me at work today so I don't remember offhand if Warband and Scythed Chariots can use their normal move rate on their 2nd pip and make contact after a first pip road move?

The other exception might be a Psiloi in the first bound?

I haven't seen it happen in a game in quite a while so DK or Bob will have to give you the final answer on those.

Originally Posted by Ralph (4)

Hi All

In the next bound, the Bd element is facing the Art element. On the initial move the Bd element makes contact with the Art element. Is that a legal move?

It is legal.

Why would anyone think an element cannot take a single move on a road and not end in close combat. Please quote the rule that leads to this conclusion.

As Marty states nicely, the only time a road move cannot end in combat is if it used as second or subsequent move by ANY troop type. Thus Wb, etc cannot use a road move for the second or subsequent move. Wb, SCh, Ps can make a normal move on a road but not a road move distance to enter combat.

Originally Posted by Bob. (and his dog)

As Marty states nicely, the only time a road move cannot end in combat is if it used as second or subsequent move by ANY troop type. Thus Wb, etc cannot use a road move for the second or subsequent move. Wb, SCh, Ps can make a normal move on a road but not a road move distance to enter combat.

Not quite, Bob. Warband may make a second/subsequent as long as they end in close combat. There is no rule saying that warband making a second/subsequent move cannot use road movement rate. So a Warband on a road 8" from enemy may move 4" twice and end in close combat. And a Psiloi on a road on the first turn may move 4" many times (paying pips each time) and end in close combat with enemy.

Each section in the Sec/Subs movement is independent from the others. So a LH might move 10" using two pips to get on a road, then zoom on a road past an enemy (even if within an element base width of it), so long as that third pip did not bring it into contact with the enemy.

I only know what the rule says:
"Elements that have already moved this bound, either as part of a group or alone, can make a 2nd or subsequent move, either as part of a group or alone, but only if they did not dismount and are ... Troops whose leading or only element is in column moving along a road and will not contact enemy."

I do assume that "moving along a road" means using the road movement distance, not just normal move while on a road.

Warbad, SCh and Ps are not exempted that I can see. If they take a second move, at the road distance, then they are "Troops whose leading or only element is in column moving along a road." So cannot make contact.

If the Wb, SCh or Ps were to be excluded, then there would need to be some such indication in the rules. Perhaps, "Troops, other than noted above, whose leading or only element is in column moving along a road " Or the rules for Ps, SCh and Wb would include "even if second move is along a road."

The last extra move is fully inclusive and must stand independent of the rules above it.

The wording in the rules (p. 9) says "Scythed Chariots or Warband, if their 2nd move will end in close combat ..."

It must be their second move, not a subsequent move beyond the second.

Originally Posted by Bob. (and his dog)

Warbad, SCh and Ps are not exempted that I can see. If they take a second move, at the road distance, then they are "Troops whose leading or only element is in column moving along a road." So cannot make contact.

I hesitate to prolong this, but what the heck.

The key is that the four clauses aren't prohibitions on movement, they're conditions that must be met for second and subsequent movement. And if any one condition is met, then the move is allowed. So a warband making a second move may end in close combat with an enemy element, even if it is making a road move, because it satisfies condition (c). The fact that it doesn't satisfy condition (d) is irrelevant, just as it doesn't need to satisfy conditions (a) or (b).

- Jack

I completely agree with DK, JM, and El Jocko on this one. It is very clear that movement distance on a road and road subsequent movement are two independent things.

It happens so rarely that it's not worth devoting time to it, but if I were umpiring an event, I would rule that a warband, SCh. Ps is a troop as used below.

"Elements that have already moved this bound, either as part of a group or alone, can make a 2nd or subsequent move, either as part of a group or alone, but only if they did not dismount and are ... Troops whose leading or only element is in column moving along a road and will not contact enemy.

Any troops who meet the condition of making a second or subsequent move on a road (using a road move) can make that move only if they will not contact enemy. There are no exceptions. This applies to "ANY TROOPS."

Warband and SCh can make a second move, not on a road, only if they end in contact or rear support. Wb can, by the way, make road moves and end in support. Ps can make as many moves as PIPs allow in the first bound and end in contact, but not if taking road distance move.

All of these types can make the first move with a road distance move, just not the second.

Others can make other interpretations as they see fit.