Early 30 Year Swedes...

[timmy1]

As I obviously had the commanded shot interaction wrong, I reran the numbers for Breitenfeld 1631.

Early 30YW German Catholic,

Kuerassiere BG of 4 Horse, Heavily Armoured, Superior, Impact Pistol, Melee Pistol
Reiter BG of 4 Horse, Unarmoured, Average, Carbine, Melee Pistol

100 points.

Early 30YW Swedish,
laetta ryttare BG of 4 Determined Horse, Armoured, Average, Impact Pistol, Melee Pistol
Commanded Shot BG of 2 Medium Foot, Unarmoured, Average, Salvo, Salvo
Troop Commander

111 points.

All battle groups are Core Troops, even if there are different options available.

If I remember rightly this must be close to what I faced in 2 of my 3 games against Early 30YW German Catholic at Britcon 2010.

The troops are deployed with the laetta ryttare and Kuerassiere hard against the table edge, every BG in two ranks other than the laetta ryttare who are deployed 3 bases in the front rank and 1 in the second rank. As shown below, L is laetta ryttare, C is Commanded shot, T is Troop Commander, K is Kuerassiere, and R is Reiter. Germans facing down the page, Swedes facing up.

KKRR
KKRR

LLLC
L C
T

Germans advance to just outside Salvo range (>6 MU). Swedes advance to just within salvo range (6MU). The Swedes move the TC to the Commanded shot. If they fail a CT thay are in trouble.

Commanded Shot get one dice at 5 against the Reiter. 1 in 3 of a hit, 1 in 6 of a death roll (no CT is possible as can't do 1 per 3), so 1 in 18 of a base loss.

Germans advance to within 3MU.

Reiters: at the Commanded shot, 2 dice at 5s. 1 or more hits would cause a CT at evens. 2 hits (1 in 9) would require a death roll on a 1 (1 in 54 overall); at the laetta ryttare, 1 dice at 5s. Can't cause a CT but same 1 in 18 of causing a failed death roll as the other way.

Commanded Shot get one dice at 5 against the Reiter. 1 in 3 of a hit, 1 in 6 of a death roll (no CT is possible as can't do 1 per 3), so 1 in 18 of a base loss. Cumulative 1 in 324 chance of 2 base losses and autobreak for the Reiters, less than 1 in 9 of a single base loss.

Assuming no loss so far.

Swedes now have a choice. Stand and risk the Command Shot getting fragmented by shooting - or charge. As the Reiters don't have Impact Pistol, charge looks right.

Impact

laetta ryttare are 4 dice at 4s vs Kuerassiere who are 4 dice at 4s, re-rolling 1s.
laetta ryttare are 2 dice at 4s vs Reiters who are 2 dice at 5s
Commanded shot are 2 dice at 4s vs Reiters who are 2 dice at 4s.

That looks quite even though skewed distribution could put the laetta ryttare, or Commanded shot in trouble. If the Reiters lose they will get an added -1 on the CT for losing to the Salvo.

Assuming that everyone survives the Impact with no ill effects, the Melee looks like this.

laetta ryttare are 4 dice at 5s vs Kuerassiere who are 4 dice at 4s, re-rolling 1s.
laetta ryttare are 2 dice at 4s vs Reiters who are 2 dice at 4s
Commanded shot are 2 dice at 4s vs Reiters who are 2 dice at 5s.

If the Commanded shot are disrupted the last line becomes

Commanded shot are 2 dice at 4s vs Reiters who are 2 dice at 4s.

If the Commanded shot are fragmented the last line becomes

Commanded shot are 1 dice at 5s vs Reiters who are 2 dice at 4s.

This is why the Swedes have to charge in, I believe. Swedes are not 100% with Commanded Shot.

[rbodleyscott]

This is why the Swedes have to charge in, I believe. Swedes are not 100% with Commanded Shot.

Or, alternatively, it is why the Swedish commanded shot need Regimental Guns.

[timmy1]

Yep, adds 9 or 12 points per BG and it is all or nothing.

[nikgaukroger]

Tim, you appear to have the Reiter shooting wrong both in the number of dice and what they need to hit the shot.

[timmy1]

Nik

You are correct about the POA. Now I understand why Dave was less than impressed with these. Mia Culpa. I have changed the example.

However I am right about the dice. 1 per first rank and 1 per 2 second rank bases makes 3 dice. By my reading ot Target priority on P107 I can choose the 2 and 1 as I like.

[nikgaukroger]

Nope, you determine dice per target, so if a BG is split between 2 targets it can lose shooting dice.*

If I had a pound for everytime I'd had to explain this when umpiring FoG:AM I'd actually be able to pay Phil Powell's bar tab for a night out

*caveat - doing this from memory and assuming we didn't change it from FoG:AM ...

[timmy1]

Nik

I have right through shooting, combat mechanism and the glossary. Twice. I can't see it stated anywhere. I can see multiple BGs combining. The only POSSIBLE but not explicit part is P107 Target Priority. Relevant words are:

'A base eligible to shoot from another rank has target priority as if in the front rank.'

'* A targetable enemy base within short range and at least partly straight ahead... If both are at exactly the same distance, shoot at the one most directly to the front.'

If that is the rule what you state is the intent, I have been playing it wrong all along. Makes Carbine Reiters even more useless.

[rbodleyscott]

If that is the rule what you state is the intent, I have been playing it wrong all along.

Sad, but true. Although not explicitly stated, it is the (implicit) effect of the wording you quote.

It is intentional, because we believe that a single BG dividing its fire between two enemy BGs should be less effective.

However, note that this does not affect solid lines, even if they are offset, because you can combine the "half dice" from two BGs shooting at the same target.