Rules Question Thread

[Big Al]

I don’t have Clash of Eagles, but my comments are based on what the author has said and confirmed on both the old forum and the current Facebook group.
Still, as the rules state, agree on what you feel is right with your opponents.

[York]

+1 hand to hand means one additional hand to hand attack.

[Stephen Thompson]

A question arose in our game yesterday. In the command phase you announce a charge does the target then announce and execute the charge response before moving on to the next unit or does the charge response occur in the hand to hand phase?

[Big Al]

In the command phase, as you have said, the order to charge is given. The command dice are rolled and dependent on the number of “moves” achieved by the roll (equal to or 1 less than the commander’s Command Rating is one move, 2 less is two moves and 3 or more less is three moves) the ordered unit moves toward the target unit. At the start of the final “move” into contact (that could be as little as one inch or a full move distance – 12 inches for infantry or 18 inches for cavalry) the countercharge begins. That is the rule as written. Some players, including the author, play it that the counter charge happens at the start of the charge, but that is different to what is written in the book.
If the charging unit is going to fall short of contact (not enough moves or too far away) there is no charge and the target does not have to react. However, if it is able to make contact then measure from the start of the final move into contact and move the chargers half way, then move the target to meet them. The target can decide whether to Countercharge or not when he knows that the charge will make contact or not. He can declare that he will Countercharge, but is not obliged to do so. In other words, if the player declares the Countercharge but then realises that the charge cannot reach the target, he does not have to Countercharge, despite having declared it.

It all happens in the Command Phase, which includes the movement phase.

Hope that helps!

[Graestoke]

Hello,

If cavalry charge into the flank or rear of an infantry battalion then they cannot form square. Is this correct?

If it is correct and say they charge tge flank of a battalion in attack column, how many dice do the infantry get in hamd to hand (also is it different if in line and if in rear etc)? Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Graestoke

[Igor]

Infantry that was charged info flank o rear by cavalry cannot for a square.

As I understand the rules, battalion that got charged minto flank or rear in attack column uses HtH dice as it`s base characteristic, but suffer -1 to hit

[Big Al]

That is correct. An infantry unit with the “Must form square” rule can only form square as a Charge reaction when charged to its front.

Any unit that is charged in its rear or flank must place half of its total number of attacks to its front, regardless of whether it has an enemy to its front. This number is rounded up. The remaining number of attacks can be placed against the enemy at the flank or rear.

So, an infantry unit in Attack Column May roll a total of three attacks against the enemy that has contacted the flank and suffers a -1 to hit because it is fighting to its flank or rear, meaning that it hits on 5+.

[Big Al]

Igor, Page 63 of the main rulebook, last paragraph tells you exactly how many attacks and where you can place them.
It is almost word for word what I typed out in my last post.

[Graestoke]

Thanks!

[Igor]

I`ve foun it
But It`s page 65

[Big Al]

Ah, I should have said that I got the page reference from the pdf version.

[JM]

Hello, quick question here. Can a unit interpenetrate an other unit (that is not engaged) in order to charge the enemy ?

[Big Al]

Yes it can. The rule is that the unit musttotally clear the one that is being moved through. This means that there must be room for the entire unit to fit into beyond the one that has been interpenetrated.
It also means that you require to roll low enough for at least two moves on the command dice because a second move (or third) is required to make the charge. Your unit must have line of sight to the target at the beginning of the actual charge move.

[JM]

Hello again ,Thanks for the answer above.
But here are some more questions I’m Afraid
1. Can a general move after he just failes for orders ?
2. I’m not shure if , foot artillery is allowed to move 12” or 6” ? (6 seems to me very short )
3. Can a unit form square (with the special must form square) when charge from rear or on the flank?
4. Is an infantry unit allowed to move at 6” of an enemy in order to fire at point blank during the firing phase ?
Thanks

[Big Al]

1) Commanders move at the end of their command phase or when they have finished or failed their orders. They may always move unless they issued a Follow Me Order, in which case they move with the unit they issued the order to and stay with it until their following command phase. It is the same if they issued a Rally order. They join the unit that they are rallying and they stay with that unit until their following command phase.

2) Foot artillery can only move 6 inches per turn. I mean turn and not move. It doesn’t matter if you roll double 1for a Command roll, the unit may only move 6 inches. This is because the guns are heavy and are being manhandled.
If you have limber and team models, then you can limber up and move much further. But you can’t limber up, move and then unlimbers in the same turn. Only horse artillery can do that. Some folk don’t think horse artillery should be able to do that, but I think that they forget the trade off, Which is the low stamina level of horse artillery.

3) No. The rules specifically state that it can only form square when charged to the front. Read the rule and you’ll see the answer.

4) As per the rulebook, no they can’t. Your infantry stands still during the enemy command phase except for certain charge reactions – forming square when charged by cavalry and skirmishers evading line infantry.
Infantry may fire Closing Fire at an enemy that charges it. The unit stands and shoots as the chargers come in and it as classed as close range fire. There is a +1 to hit modifier for this.

Having said that, there is an optional rule in one of the Albion Triumphant supplements that suggests that British infantry can Countercharge. But that is a suggested option and not in the main rules.

Read through the various sections and you’ll find the answers. The PDF version is best for this, as you can use the “Find” facility. It is better to know where these things are in the book in case an opponent argues with you.

[Author]

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