First move uses 0 PIP's?

Thank you. That is how we played it. Otherwise re-arranging recoils and the like would be much less of a problem.

And it has a ',' where an 'and' would be better.

I must confess I initially assumed a) to be the correct interpretation until I posted on this forum too check the point. Certainly the English as written would allow this.
Obviously it would fundamentally change the game, but it would appear to be justifiable on historical accuracy grounds (Horns blare, "go for it boys, all of you, now").
Just curious, has anybody inadvertently played it this way? What sort of game resulted? A quick one, I would guess!
Scott

No.  The column makes one move for zero PIPs.  It can then make another move, for which it pays a PIP, but it doesn't have to move its full distance.  It can't make a third move.  (What part of the rules made you think it could?)

Edit:  Mea culpa.  It can make a third move - or even a fourth if the player has enough PIPs.

For what it’s worth, here is what “Second And Subsequent Tactical Moves”, page 9 paragraph 3, says:-
"Some elements or groups that have already moved this bound can make a second or subsequent
tactical move if there are enough PIPs and only if this does not start or go within 1 BW of enemy
(unless while moving along a road) and is entirely by:- (see also figure 5)
　　(c) Troops moving along a road if making a second or subsequent move."

And “Player Initiative Points”, page 8 paragraph 6, says:-
“In each bound, the first move of each single element or column uses 0 PIPs if it is entirely by road,
moves until it contacts enemy or friends or moves its full tactical move distance, and doesn’t reverse direction.
Each other tactical move uses 1 PIP.”

However, a single element or group must be ‘on’ the road to be able to use it, and the FAQ says:-
“Roads: The center of the moving element's front must stay roughly in the center of the road
and its sides roughly parallel astride the road.”

...so I’m not sure that having a column at an angle to the direction of the road counts as being ‘on’ it.
(The sides of the element at the head of the column would not be “roughly parallel to the sides of the road”,
or, if the column was part way through wheeling, then it would not be moving entirely by road, as the elements
to its rear would be moving partly across country and not entirely 'on' the road)
                                                      


Some Helpful Downloads can be found here: fanaticus-dba.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Reference_sheets_and_epitomes
And here is the latest Jan 2019 FAQ: fanaticus-dba.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ_2019_1st_Quarter

Yep, all correct.

(And I missed the bit where you originally said that all 4 Spears were already on the road...
...so I assume you mean that head of the column is merely following the curve of the path)