RogerGreenwood a écrit : ↑dim. 12 janv. 2020 15:26
Page 42 fifth bullet.
Unfortunately this doesn't solve the problem. Unless lined up directly opposite the target, it may be impossible to charge a one base wide unit without first hitting something on its flank. Even then a wider unit will contact others.
One suspects that, to correctly obey the rules, some smart lateral movement in the preceding turn may be required.
So ... to recap from the initial example (just to make sure I have got this correct), an infantry unit in line charges a group comprising an infantry unit in line next to an artillery battery next to an infantry unit in column, and the three opposing units are all in side contact and lined up with each other with their front edges in an unbroken line of base-to-base contact? (That's how I interpreted the depiction at the outset of this thread.)
If we start by saying that the charging unit declared its charge against the guns, then it would have had to wheel to align the centre of its front edge with that of the guns then move straight ahead and thus contacting the enemy infantry unit in line. And, bearing in mind that also on page 42 is the section titled "one unit against one unit" that gives us a steer as to the rule author's intentions about combat initiation. Therefore, my understanding is that the charge won't have be able to do so as a legal charge because (fifth bullet, page 42) says that if an obstable or another unit is in the way then the charge isn't possible and any wheel by the charging unit will hit the enemy infantry unit in line. That bullet point goes on to say that the player can select another target if one is available; and which is avialble in this instance in the form of the enemy infantry unit in line.
Given the depiction, there are only two ways (by my reckoning) that the charge could take place against the guns:
1. the charging unit was in column (that way it can wheel to line up its centre against the guns)
2. the charging unit was in line in front of the guns so that when charging its centre lined up directly with the centre of the guns
Setting aside any discussion about the ground occupied by the "real word" unit equivalents for a moment (becasue that is altogether another discussion), then it seems to me that the rules are giving a very good outcome in this particular instance. After all, in the "real world", would a unit be able to target a battery of guns deployed in between two other infantry units in this fashion, especially when approaching across the front of one of the flanking infantry units?
In essence, the depiction shows a four-base unit trying to squeeze into a two-base gap and ignore the larger unit in front of it.
As a slightly more extreme illustration of this point, if the guns were set back ever so slightly from the front edge, then they couldn't possibly be a target of a charge given the need for a minimum 3-base gap (also page 42).
If, on the other hand entirely, if the charging unit had declared its charge against the enemy infantry unit in line, then that is the combat that will be carried out (and not against the guns at all).
It seems to me that the "one unit against one unit" overview was an attempt to avoid the sort of situation through clarifying what the rules' intention was, namely that a charging unit targets a single target unit and then conducts its charge accordingly (ie by wheeling to align, etc).
Hopefully that helps ? Sorry for the earlier brevity, but a mobile phone aint the best for typing out longer answers
! ANd additional apologies for this over-long answer too !
