I'm going to give the Battle of Linz-Urfahr a crack tomorrow.
I will be using 15mm figs, based on 2.5cm squares (Cav on 40x30mm).
How many battalions should you be able to fit in a small built up area? I know with a variable ground scale this can be difficult, but what would be reasonable? I have 3" squares as a template for a small village, so was thinking of allowing 2 units of 2 waves to claim the village benefit (total of 4 units).
Hi Fred,
It is admittedly something we chose not to address in ESR Second Edition and left up to players. With that said, four battalions require a fair amount of space – assume that could easily be upwards of 3,000 men. So if we're talking a "small" village, I'd say 1-2 battalions.
When you say the "village benefit" – are you referring to the combat resolution modifier for Lights [L] and Irregulars [I] in dense terrain?
-David
Thanks David, I was just trying to work out if my built up areas are too big, which sounds like mine are. I could physically fit 9 units in my BUA (3x3), which would look ridiculous.
About terrain benefits, I was going to post a separate question about that, so I may as well ask it here. The battle of Linz-Urfahr has a lot of minor streams running across it. I was wondering if there is any combat benefit to being deployed behind of one of these streams in combat? I suppose they wouldn't assist too much with skirmishing, but you could assume that cavalry charges would be disrupted heavily.
The combat chart doesn't appear to give bonuses for this type of linear obstacle. Does terrain mostly impact movement?
I suppose they wouldn't assist too much with skirmishing, but you could assume that cavalry charges would be disrupted heavily.
We strongly encourage using the option rule for cavalry where the cavalry take fatigue automatically when passing through bad terrain as it does impact cavalry tactics significantly and influences the use of terrain.
The combat chart doesn't appear to give bonuses for this type of linear obstacle. Does terrain mostly impact movement?
There is a benefit for Units with the Lights [L] or Irregulars [I] characteristic fighting in dense terrain. Because Combat Resolution is an opposed die roll, providing a benefit to some Units is very similar to providing a detriment to others. Due to the scope of game play, a lot of tactical elements – nearly all? – that might be modifiers in may systems for different minor terrain elements are simply considered too be "in the dice". The player does not know and is not able to control whether a battalion is utilizing a low stone wall along a road or what-have-you. And due to the ground scale, most minor terrain elements – including stream banks, etc… – are not modeled. The Tactical Rating of the Formation Command provides a benefit that is largely meant to symbolize how well he coordinates his Units to take advantage of such minor and often not represented factors.
-David
