When Ellies have to Recoil...

I do not have my book with me so I'm ad-libbing from an older source.


"A recoiling element that meets impassable terrain, friends it cannot pass through or push back, or any BUA or camp ends its move there. An element that cannot start its recoil because already in contact with any of these is destroyed."

Only the Elephant dies because it is already in contact with the friendly element, which it cannot penetrate or push back.
The way we remember this is that the Elephant doesn't kill the friendly element behind them because they did not have a "running start".

Note that if there was even a smidge of a space between the elephant and the friendly element behind, the friendly element would be destroyed.

Here are the Elephant Recoil answers from the FAQ...

Elephant Recoil:

Q: Does an elephant that is contacted both to the front and also to the flank or rear by enemy front edges (“flanked” or “reared”), recoil and destroy the elements behind it?

A: No. Elephants that receive a recoil result with enemy in front edge contact to both their front and to their flank or rear are destroyed instead of recoiling. This is the same as all other elements.



Q: If my Elephants receive a recoil result and aren’t “flanked” or “reared” do they meet and destroy all elements in their recoil path?

A: In most cases, yes. Elements in BUA and Camps are exceptions to this. Elements in these terrain features usually aren’t destroyed unless they are other Elephants.



Q: Are Elephants that meet Elephants during a recoil move in all cases destroyed?

A: Yes. They do not finish their recoil. They also destroy the Elephants met.



Q: If my Elephants start their recoil with their rear in contact with a City, Fort, or camp are they destroyed?

A: Yes.



Q: If my Elephants contact a City, Fort, or camp during a recoil move (the elephant has space to start the recoil), what happens?

A: They end their movement.



Q: What happens if my recoiling Elephants contact elements in a Hamlet or Edifice?

A: Elephants that recoil into Elephants in a Hamlet or Edifice destroy them (and are destroyed) as outlined above. Other elements are usually not destroyed. They are pushed back or block recoil per standard recoil rules.



Q: The rules say that Elephants destroy elements “met”. Does this mean elements they just touch?

A: No. The Elephant has to actually enter the area occupied by another to destroy it. Touching doesn’t count as “meeting” in this case.


Joe Collins

At the end of the game my enraged Ps were going for Guard Chasseur status as they were trying (before time ran out) to dispatch a second of Paul's Jumbos.  I would have had to paint up some sort of Elephant trophy for them had they been successful.