That is exactly the effect I am envisioning
gregorius.
You know, the more I think about it, the more I am beginning to warm to the idea…and thank you
strelnikov for bringing this subject up. I’d like to take this opportunity to codify some of the terminology so that we are all clear on what we are talking about:-
Zero Range Weapons: swords, spears, pikes, halbards, lances, javelins, darts, and throwing axes. These are all close combat only, but troops armed
solely with these weapons can ‘lunge’ at an enemy shooting at them, to drive them away.
Short Ranged Weapons: slings and archers (‘archers’ are any mounted shooting arrows, and also Ps with bows).
These have a range of 1 BW, use their normal combat factors but without any ‘quick-kill’ effects, and do not make ‘lunging’ attacks.
Combat is treated the same as if in close combat, so their targets still use their close combat factors, and side and rear support still applies, both to shooters and their targets.
As they shoot individually, and not in massed vollys, they can make a full move and still shoot.
(Note that mounted -2 in bad going, so don’t expect their short ranged shooting to be much good in harsh terrain!)Long Ranged Weapons: artillery, war-wagons, and 3/4 Bows (that shoot in ‘volleys’ instead of individually).
These have ranges of 3 to 5 BW, use their combat factors and effects as per the current rules, and also do not make ‘lunging’ attacks.
Lunging: this is a short forward charge used by troops armed
solely with zero range weapons to drive off shooters.
Foot (other than ‘static’ Art, WWg, CP, CWg, Lit, and troops in a city, fort or camp) ‘lunge’
in any going ½ BW straight forward, while
all mounted (even 4Kn ‘cataphracts’) ‘lunge’
in any going 1 BW.
(This is like pursuit…the short charge is what causes the shooters to recoil/flee/rout if they lose the combat roll)LH Rear Support: as short ranged shooting is treated the same as close combat, the front rank LH element can still claim rear support, even if technically the rear rank is more than 1 BW from the target.
(Consider this as representing the LH column is fighting in a ‘Cantabrian Circle’, all firing as they gallop passed the target, or as a Renaissance type ‘caracole’ formation)Support Shooting: only shooters who do not have an enemy within their Threat Zone can support shoot.
This still applies even if their target has recoiled…no support shooting if an enemy is still currently within their Threat Zone.
(If their target has recoiled out of their Threat Zone, then they still can’t support shoot, as they have already fired this bound)When written out like this it all looks a bit complicated I know. But really all we are doing is pretending that our bases are much deeper than they actually are, so that we get the same effects as if in close combat when our figures are 1 BW from the enemy, that’s all.
Some Practical Examples Of All The Above in Actual Use, When 1 BW Or Less From The Enemy:-Javelin or spear armed mounted vs. other javelin or spear armed mounted: no combat (zero range weapons).
Javelin/spear mounted vs. short ranged opponents: the mounted troops recoil/flee/rout if they score less because of the shooting, and the shooters also recoil/flee/rout if they score less (because of their opponents with zero ranged weapons ‘lunging’ at them).
Horse Archers vs. 3Kn with bows and lance: both shoot, but 3Kn have a combat factor of 4 when facing mounted (better armour…think of Rhoxolani Sarmatians.
Perhaps have LH flee if they are doubled by any shooting other than by Art?)
2 ranks of pike vs. any shooting troops: bows at long range have a combat factor of 2 against the pikes factor of 3 (no rear support), but at short range the pikes are in charging distance, and are more of a threat, so they count their rear support as their ‘lunge’ is more effective and more likely to recoil/flee/rout the shooters (but, as in close combat, no rear support against Ps).
English 4Lb vs. French 4Bd at Agincourt: at long range the 4Lb have a combat factor of 2 against the 4Bd factor of 4, but at short range, which uses the close combat factors, the 4Lb shoot at 3 (+1 for side support) against the 4Bd factor of 5 (Bd in close combat). Again, the Bd recoil/flee/rout due to the shooting, while the Lb recoil/flee/rout due to the Bd’s ‘lunging’ at them.
But There Is One Big Question:-I’m trying to keep the effects of shooting at short range the same as if in close combat…but there is a difference.
Foot do not pursue mounted and psiloi in close combat.
Now it’s going to look odd if zero range foot ‘lunge’ ½ BW to chase off enemy bows, but just stand there when their Ps archers, slingers, and bow armed mounted opponents suddenly recoil/flee/rout.
It would look better and make more sense if ‘lunging’ troops actually surged forwards to cause this recoil/flee/rout.
But this surging forwards would be another way of braking-up a battleline, making Ps and LH a bit more effective.
Would this cause any problems?
Personally, I don’t believe so. I’m thinking of that classic engagement between Crassus’ legionaries and the Parthian horse archers at the Battle of Carrahae in 53 BC. Having the Roman 4Bd surging forwards as they try to come to grips with the elusive horse archers by lunging at them seems entirely plausible and realistic…and could even be used in other battles to simulate ‘feigned flight’, drawing the enemy out of position.
But it is a different outcome from what the rules say they would do in close combat.
So what do other players think?
Some potentially useful player aids can be found here, such as the “Quick Reference Sheets” from the Society of Ancients,
and the new “Army List Corrections” file: fanaticus-dba.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Reference_sheets_and_epitomes
And this is the latest January 2018 FAQ: fanaticus-dba.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ_2018
