Oportunity Charges and Maximum move distance.

[Darogalla]

Greetings. According to the rules, a unit has a maximum move distance per CP spent (i.e 10 UD for cavalry in column + an extra 2UD in case of charge). When making a move beyond this max distance, you can't charge nor fire and you also get an action marker after finishing said extra move. (Pg. 35 Movement Distance; pg 38 Multiple Movements): "No unit or group making more than one move can shoot or charge.".

Now I present to you a situation that has happenned often in my game club.

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A cavalry charge (A1-4) is called against an infantry unit (B1) in line, which is supported by another unit in column (B2). The movement to get in contact is almost at the limit of UD's a unit can make in a single move. So, when combat happens, the cavalry units have traversed a distance right at the maximum move distance

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. Let's say A1 loses the combat but the supporting units stay in place to

After the Attack Orders have been completed, a division with engage order is brought to bring support. Unit B3 is set next to B2, but falls within the reaction distance of A2 (which lays at 11 out of 12 UD from maximum movement, and has already finished it's move). Is the opportunity charge considered as free extra distance? it is beyond that maximum movement and therefore against the multiple movements rule, which states that the unit may not fire nor charge (?). Moreover, lets say that A2 wins the combat and pursues additional UD's. Counting up to (12 UD 1st move + 4UD reaction + 6UD pursuit) 22 UD without an action marker. That in our case, provokes en-masse cavalry charges to go down the line and cross the table from side to side and finishing the game right when it begins.

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Something feels odd about this situation and there may be rules we are not taking into account. Can anybody help us with this?

[RogerGreenwood]

The opportunity charge happens in the opposing commands phase. It is not counted as part of that unit's movement in its own activation.
Remember that a game turn is about an hour of real time. A unit without an action marker may have moved, but is still ready for combat.

[Darogalla]

The opportunity charge happens in the opposing commands phase. It is not counted as part of that unit's movement in its own activation.
Remember that a game turn is about an hour of real time. A unit without an action marker may have moved, but is still ready for combat.

That's true, RogerGreenwood, there's no rule that bans a unit in support further making an opportunity charge. I checked many topics in the forum and apparently this was already discussed since there were cases in which a player would make a unit traverse the whole field without the other being capable of reacting, therefore causing distress. But since a game turn is one hour, I don't find it logic that the player that is being charged can't properly react and adapt in the same time. Also, the supporting unit would have done multiple actions through a turn without an action marker.

[RogerGreenwood]

In your diagram, unit B3 has to move into opportunity charge range to be charged. In effect it is reacting to the cavalry. It is unusual in our games for infantry to invite cavalry charges in this way, except perhaps by unsupported light cavalry. It could simply form square and await the cavalry, or slowly advance in square.
Likewise, B2, if it does nothing will not be charged.

I would suggest that the art of the game is to foresee the situation developing and be ready. If the enemy is approaching with a strong body of cavalry, get into squares early with artillery support by them.