Rob Markham - 01:53pm Dec 16, 1998 PST (#358 of 361) 

JR,

Here are the answers to these questions. - We assumed order of setup is
given by the order of sides listed in the battle special rules. Is this
correct? Yes

- Are initial orders assigned in secret and revealed simultaneously, or must
one side set his orders and then the other? We assumed the latter. Nope,
they are done in secret.

- When setting up "within two hexes" of a leader, must an entire double unit
be within two or can just one of the occupied hexes be within range? One of
the occupied hexes.

- The defensive +1 modifier for "Stand" and the offensive +1 modifier for
"Attack" are not listed on the chart, but we find a +2 for "Defend" and a +2
for "Charge" instead. The errata notes the Charge rules will come later, but
what's the scoop on "Defend" versus "Stand"? The +2 for Defend should be +1.
Attack should be +1.

- We were a little foggy on the Fire capabilities of units under an Attack
order; we decided a unit with an Attack order may fire in its own Offensive
Fire segment when it is activated, but may not fire on the enemy's active
units in a Defensive Fire segment of the Attack Action Phase. However, these
units *may* fire during the Defensive Fire segment of the Regular Action
Phase. Is this correct? Yes

- Stacking allows two units to stack together - we gathered this means a
Longbow may stack with a double unit in either of the double unit's hexes,
but we cannot put a Longbow in *each* hex. Is this correct, or is the
stacking limit per hex? Yes it is correct. it is not per hex.

- Longbow units seem to be nice little "hamburger helpers" for the double
units - they contribute their high morale and a strength point to the combat
value. It seems odd the bowmen in the rear could have such a fortifying
effect on their lumbering comrades, but the rules seem clear on this point.
Longbow units may add their morale but must take the first step losses.
Players may withhold the use of longbow morale, allowing them to not suffer
the first hits. - As a corollary to the above, should a double unit Disrupt
and retreat, and is stacked with a Longbow at time of Disruption, does the
Longbow stay in the hex or may it retreat with the double unit? It may
retreat or stay, player's option. - May a leader retreat with a Disrupted
unit? Yes - We assumed a Disrupted unit 'runs' twice in the turn it suffers
Disruption - once after the combat itself and again during the Disrupted
Movement phase. Is this correct? Yes It almost certainly puts the unit
beyond the commmand range of its Battle leader. Makes sense, but we want to
make sure we are playing this correctly.

- The Melee interaction of two double units can create an unusual situation:
when one double unit attacks another from the defender's (say) right-front
and right-flank hexes, the attacker will enjoy a +2 modifier for a flank
attack, but the defender will enjoy a +2 modifier for being a double unit
with only one hex under attack. It seems odd this does not yield a net
benefit to the attacker for a flank attack. Ignore the +2 modifier for the
defender. - A unit must stop upon entering an enemy ZOC. If a double unit
moves such that its own rightmost hex enters the right-front hex of an enemy
unit, must it then stop or may it 'wheel' its left half up into the
right-flank hex of the enemy? We're not sure if the wheeling is considered a
facing change and is thus legitimate. It must stop. They weren't doing much
wheeling back then, - When only one hex of a double unit is attacked while a
Leader is stacked in the other hex, does the Leader contribute his combat
modifier to the action? Yes - In addition to the counter stuff mentioned in
the errata, it appears Edward's Men-at-Arms 'a' unit should be 'b' on the
loss chart, and the 'b' unit 'c'. Yes - I got a kick out of "This Emerald
Isle" at the top of the combat charts - does this mean we can look forward
to some games on the battles of Brian Boru? No, I put that in to see if
anyone would notice my "joke". You win. I do that with most my games and few
find them. This kind of stuff comes after you have worked with a game a tad
too long. I hope this helps.
-------------------------
Rob Markham - 01:56pm Dec 16, 1998 PST (#359 of 361) [ Mark ]

Noel,

Longbow units are in one hex or the other. Leaders too.

Rob