Multiple Cavalry Melees - some observations

[Eckerslyke]

It was thoughts, trying to understand the mechanics for myself as much as anything.

I did not mean the original defenders would become attackers. I meant that as the attackers passed through the defenders or the other way round because surely even if it was last minute the defenders would not be stationary ? So as individuals on both sides found that there were no enemy "immediately" to their front they would turn back into the fray and continue to fight. This would take up the whole 10 minutes. However, if the defenders decided (no order needed because it would be a reaction to the melee result) that they wanted to be elsewhere then the attackers would not just halt and wave them goodbye ?

However. If there were two lines of cavalry (moving forward or charging) 100 yds apart then as the first line went through the second would hit those left. But this cannot be simulated in game play because the losers of the first melee would retreat so it is dealt with by allowing a second melee.

My head hurts :-)

Ah! so do not need multiple melee when attacking skirmishers or weak infantry units that can be over run?

I would argue that Cav v Skirmishers should be treated differently to Cav v Formed infantry in that against skirmishers it would not need to be a formally announced "charge". Based on the fact that Cav have to be turned into the right direction in the turn prior to a formally announced "charge".

Again - My head hurts :-)

I am still learning so excuse my ignorance in parts.

Thanks very much for your input - sorry about your head!

Good point about a pre-planned 'double-whammy'. One cavalry unit knocks them over, the other cavalry unit tramples them. Not possible unless multiple melee against the same unit (regardless of type) is set ON.

But to have one unit (the recipient of the attack) being required to withstand two successive attacks in the same phase? I still don't think that's realistic, and there is nothing to prevent the double-whammy being administered across two turns, though I grant you that there is a chance of recovery or escape by the target in that situation.

Could you suggest a practicable house rule which might make a double-whammy possible, without compromising realism?

As for the Cav v Skrs, there is already provision for overruns which do not count as melees, and those don't reduce the number of real melees a cavalry unit can mount.