In ESR Series 3 we’ve heavily leveraged Conversions to make control of Formations both more flexible and more restrictive pending the circumstances of the battlefield.
Objective Conversions
Formations must now Convert to Defend [D] if they end their movement within a given distance of their Force’s Objective, thus reducing ambiguity over when a Formation has reached its Force’s Objective.
Cavalry Conversions
Cavalry may still Convert to Attack [A] if they have a target of opportunity, and to Defend if not Threatened. However, now in ESR Series 3 Cavalry Threatened while in contact with the enemy must Convert to Withdraw [W] to break-off.
Attack [A] and Defend [D] Conversions
Formations on either an Attack [A] or Defend [D] Directive may now Convert to Withdraw [W] if Threatened, allowing players to break-off assaults in-progress or more easily conduct rearguard actions than in ESR Second Edition.
Move [M] Conversions
In ESR Second Edition, the Move [M] Directive could voluntarily halt anywhere inside Artillery range and was required to halt at skirmishing range. With ESR Series 3 we’ve revised this to make it more consistent with other mechanics, the Move [M] Directive may Convert to Defend [D] if it Threatens an enemy, but must Convert to Defend [D] if Threatened.
Withdraw [W] Conversions
ESR Series 3 introduces the new Withdraw [W] Directive, which must Convert to Defend [D] when not Threatened.
Converting Statuses
The Retreat [RT] and Break [BK] Statuses will still Convert to better conditions as their Fatigue-to-Cohesion Ratios have improved, similar to in ESR Second Edition, but aided by faster Fatigue Recovery.