Javier Romero - Mar 9, 2004 2:17 pm (#330 Total: 343)   
   
Libertadores Q&A part I

Libertadores Errata Questions Part I: 

Charts: (and applications per the rules) 

Q: Buildings: While not mentioned in the rules per se, looking at the
TEC and the CRT, I get the impression that it is frowned upon for units
to use buildings for defensive purposes. Am I correct in this
assumption? 

A: The defender has a positive modifier. Units have a slight advantage
if defending in buildings, but only a die roll modifier. These are huts
built with clay and straw, not La Haye Sante in Waterloo. 

Q: Defender in building: Roll 1d6, results: 1,2,3 = +1 4,5,6 = +2 Are
these positive (+) modifiers to the Attacker or the Defender? (This same
question applies to the Woods modifiers). 

A: The modifier is positive for the Defender. Same for woods.

Artillery Fire Modifiers: 

The CRT reads: + 2 Objective situated between 2 and 4 range hexes. 

- 2 Objective situated between 4 ( 8 ) and 10 range hexes 

The Spanish chart reads 8, the English 4. 

Going by the Spanish chart, it seems to me that what you’re basically 
trying to say is: 

Close Range = 2 to 4 hexes away (+2 Positive modifier) 
Extreme Range = 8 to 10 hexes away (-2 Negative modifier) 

A: The Spanish Chart is the correct one.

Q: 1) Again, am I correct in this assumption? 2) If so, is there a
Positive modifier for being one hex (adjacent) to an enemy formation
(i.e., grapeshot)? 

A: No, there isn't any modifier for firing against adjacent enemy units
because the grapeshot fans out when fired, so the cannon shooting
grapeshot against a linear formation will hit more enemy soldiers at
middle range than at pointblank range. 

Rules: 5.0 (second paragraph reads). 

Q: Shock combat is resolved individually, unit against unit. Although
multiple units enter the ZoC of the same enemy unit, the shock combats
are solved separately, the results being added at the end of all
combats. In other words, three Friendly battalions adjacent to one enemy
unit cannot attack as a group, they each assault individually and then
the results are applied at the end. Correct? 

A: Yes, correct. 

5.0 (third paragraph reads) Any one unit can receive a disorganized (DS)
or decimated (DZ) result only once per turn. If it receives additional
DS or DZ results, nothing happens. While this rule reads clear enough,
it leaves open the question: Can a unit that is DS receive a DZ during
the same game turn? 

A: Yes. During a given turn any unit can receive several "Retreat"
results, one DS result and one DZ result. Obviously, if the unit
receives a second DZ during that same turn it is eliminated. 

7.0 Leaders 

Q: Leaders can attack: 

1) Other units (why would they do this, i.e., what is the reasoning
behind this rule)? 

A: Leader counters include not only the leader plus staff but a small
cavalry/infantry escort. In Napoleonic warfare the commanders stayed
most of the time in the rearguard directing (or trying to direct) the
battle. But in the wars of South American independence the combat units
usually were on their own once engaged in battle, there weren't reserves
with which to "feed" the battle. Also, the Spanish commanders (and the
Patriot leaders, that were educated in the "Spanish" school of tactics)
during the XIX century used to led "up front". There are many examples
of this: for instance, at La Puerta (1818) the Spanish commanders didn't
hesitate to lead a battle-winning charge with his escort and a artillery
battalion (without guns but with horses) that despite of being gunners
fought like veteran cuirassiers. There are other examples of this in
another Spanish wars of the XIX century: beginning with Gen. Prim
leading the assault of the Moroccan encampment at Tetuán (1860), not to
mention Espartero, Zumalacárregui or Cabrera in the Carlist War of
1833-40. 

2) Other leaders? 

A: Again, this is not Napoleonic warfare. There is famous anecdote
during the final French dêbacle at Waterloo, when a gunner told
Wellington that "he had Napoleon in his sights". Wellington's answer was
something like that commanders had better things to do in a battlefield
than firing each other: It's sure that somebody with latin blood would
have reacted very differently. And historically that's what they did.
See the anecdote of La Puerta, above. 

B ) If a leader enters the ZoC of a friendly disorganized unit, the DS
marker is removed automatically without waiting for the Mutual End of
Phase of the turn. This function can’t be used if during the same
movement the officer has entered an enemy ZoC. How then do I rally a DZ
unit? (Or DZ units don’t get rallied)? 

DZ units don't get rallied. A DZ ("Decimated") result means losses
(deserters, wounded, killed) of 30 to 40% of the unit. A second DZ
result would render the unit ineffective. 

A "DS" markers represent a state of Disorganization, Demoralization and
disruption of a unit. Therefore, only with its officers and troops away
from the line of fire they can rally. Officers rally its units only when
away of the enemy. It would be a nonsense to suppose that an officer
that is fighting for his life would have time to rally his troops in the
middle of a battle