Plashing?

[Aetius]

Just a brief question (or 2 - well 4 actually) about the use of Plashing in an Irish army (or any
other army that might be allowed Plashing for that matter).

1). I fully understand that Plashing can only be deployed within Woods, but my
question is, as well as this, is the deployment of Plashing restricted to the
normal Field Fortifications deployment restrictions - especially with regards to
the 15" in maximum & the 12" flank zones? The logical answer from my POV would
seem to be 'Yes' with regards to the 15" rule (although not necessarily so for
the 12" flank zone?) but that does mean that if all selected Woods end up
outside your 15" deployment area you cannot place the Plashing at all.

So an Irish army buying Plashing in effect stands the chance of loosing the
Plashing completely, or is potentially restricted to the amount of any Wood that
might end up in the 15" deployment area. Yet plashing costs the same points as
all other FF & must only be deployed in the Woods* ... which seems slighty
unfair?

2). I also assume that Plashing acts the same as all other FF with regards to
defensive effects?

3). It's unclear from the Rules book whether the Plashing must be deployed along
the edge of the Wood(s)?
My take on this from the Rules is that it can be deployed within the depth of
the Wood &/or along it's various edges (either of which is generally acceptable
based on historical sources).

4). So, if it can be deployed within the depth of the Wood, is it also subject
to any hidden deployment/ambush rules, in the same way that certain troop types
are in specific terrain? This would seem logical as historical records indicate
that often English troops stumbled upon Plashing in their pursuit of evading
Irish kerns in woods. This is all probably a bit too complex to replicate witin
the rules, but I just throw it out as an interesting idea.

*NB: there are records of hedges being subject to 'Plashing' and causing the
English huge problems, I'm not sure about Plantations, but just restricting it
to Woods may be a little unfair also.

Many thanks
Mark

[rbodleyscott]

Just a brief question (or 2 - well 4 actually) about the use of Plashing in an Irish army (or any
other army that might be allowed Plashing for that matter).

1). I fully understand that Plashing can only be deployed within Woods, but my
question is, as well as this, is the deployment of Plashing restricted to the
normal Field Fortifications deployment restrictions - especially with regards to
the 15" in maximum & the 12" flank zones? The logical answer from my POV would
seem to be 'Yes' with regards to the 15" rule (although not necessarily so for
the 12" flank zone?) but that does mean that if all selected Woods end up
outside your 15" deployment area you cannot place the Plashing at all.

So an Irish army buying Plashing in effect stands the chance of loosing the
Plashing completely, or is potentially restricted to the amount of any Wood that
might end up in the 15" deployment area. Yet plashing costs the same points as
all other FF & must only be deployed in the Woods* ... which seems slighty
unfair?

The normal FF deployment rules apply, with the additional restriction re woods. Yes it is unfair, but it is against policy to have any special list-based rule to compensate.

2). I also assume that Plashing acts the same as all other FF with regards to
defensive effects?

Yes

3). It's unclear from the Rules book whether the Plashing must be deployed along
the edge of the Wood(s)?
My take on this from the Rules is that it can be deployed within the depth of
the Wood &/or along it's various edges (either of which is generally acceptable
based on historical sources).

Your interptretation is correct.

4). So, if it can be deployed within the depth of the Wood, is it also subject
to any hidden deployment/ambush rules, in the same way that certain troop types
are in specific terrain?

Sadly not, because that would be a list-based special rule.

All the above notwithstanding, there is nothing to stop you adding the suggested exceptions as special scenario rules if you are playing a historical refight.

[Aetius]

Thank Richard
I'd hoped that as the restriction to Woods was a list based 'special' rule, that other compensatory aspect might be applied on a list based basis,

But the special scenario rule idea sounds a good compromise - I was also thinking about some sort of 'Ford Ambush' rule as well, as this seems to be such a feature of the Anglo-Irish Elizabethan conflict.

Sadly, I doubt I'll get my Irish painted up in time for Usk too many Bonnaghts & Gallowglass still left to paint, but I'll keep at it. My reserve army (already painted) is of a similar ilk, it's a grand idea restricting to pre-musket.

Cheers
Mark