BLACKPOWDER V2 TIPS FOR PLAYERS No 2: OPTIONS FOR VICTORIOUS UNITS

Introduction

For my second set of tips I decided to deal with the options for Victorious Units. This section of the V2 rules has significant changes from V1.  A Victorious Unit is one which has been in Hand to Hand combat, and all of whose opponent enemy units either Retire or Break.  It can do the following actions see Pg 72.

ADVANCE UPON THE RETIRING ENEMY

SWEEPING ADVANCE

SWEEPING ADVANCE AND CHARGE

DO NOTHING

CHANGE FORMATION

FALL BACK

OCCUPY BUILDINGS

The first 3 three options are new or amended compared with version 1 of the rules. See Pg 73.

ADVANCE UPON THE RETIRING ENEMY

The unit moves back into contact with the retiring enemy unit.  It must have a normal move that allows it to do so.  So, infantry cannot Advance Upon Retiring enemy cavalry.  A Victorious Unit can do this even if Shaken or Disordered.  The engagement continues in the following turn with the advancing unit counting as having won the previous round.  If there is not enough space to move or the Retiring unit has retired through Friends, then the ‘Advance Upon’ cannot occur.

SWEEPING ADVANCE

This is only an option following the first round of a combat where the unit charges or counter-charges and the enemy either Retire or Break.  The unit can make a move to its own front up to its usual move distance without contacting the enemy.  Disordered units cannot make a Sweeping Advance.

SWEEPING ADVANCE AND CHARGE

This is only an option following the first round of a combat where a cavalry unit   charges or counter-charges and the enemy Break.  The unit can make a Sweeping Advance to its own front and charge an enemy unit.  This creates a new combat engagement which is worked out immediately.

Units which are Disordered or Shaken cannot make a Sweeping Advance and Charge.  Cavalry units can only make a Sweeping Advance and Charge once during a turn.  However they can make a Sweeping Advance and Charge followed by a Sweeping Advance.

The enemy being charged by the Sweeping Advance can only respond by Holding their Ground or Turning to Face if cavalry.   So there can be no response of closing fire, counter-charging, evading or forming square.  This makes Sweeping Advance and Charge very dangerous.

Note that British Heavy cavalry with the Gallop useful rule, if able to do so, must always make an Advance Upon the Retiring Enemy, a Sweeping Advance or a Sweeping Advance and Charge move, even if this takes them off the table.