Question: House Rules for Scouting

[Captain Al]

Greetings,

Are there agreed upon rules about how far cavalry squadrons and leaders can be from their parent HQ?   Seems unrealistic to have single units roaming the battlefield as observation posts with the ability to immediately report sightings.

Thanks in advance.

[2-81 Armor]

Greetings,

Are there agreed upon rules about how far cavalry squadrons and leaders can be from their parent HQ?   Seems unrealistic to have single units roaming the battlefield as observation posts with the ability to immediately report sightings.

Thanks in advance.

I've never heard of any myself, either with the Napoleonic Series or the ACW Series, and I agree there is a need for them between opponents when doing a PBEM.

Right now (and I'm guilty of this too, but have stopped doing it) we can send cavalry all over the map, picking off supplies and seizing objectives even for a short while with no consequence, to say nothing of the roving OP (like they have radios) problem you mention.

It's all quite legal by the rules, but strikes me as sort of gamey. Maybe in the future some sort of restriction can be programed into both series.

[Xerxes77]

An interesting question. On the VP side, one option would be introducing objective types that require a minimum force size or a minimum amount of turns to be considered occupied & captured.

The issue with instant scouting is probably more complicated, as it's derived from the same model that allows for direct control of each unit... right now I can't think of any comparable hex-based game that handles it differently.

[Captain Al]

Guys, 

Thanks for the replies. 

I was thinking for cavalry that all units need to be within the command radius of their Brigadier.   That way it limits scouting to brigade strength.   Not that many brigades and not worth losing a whole brigade raiding for VPs.   But still allows for necessary scouting on a large map.
 
As far as leaders (and their field radios), something similar that leaders have to stay within a certain range of one of their units.   I thought there was a rule about how far skirmishers could go from their parent unit?

[TheGrayMouser]

Guys, 

Thanks for the replies. 

I was thinking for cavalry that all units need to be within the command radius of their Brigadier.   That way it limits scouting to brigade strength.   Not that many brigades and not worth losing a whole brigade raiding for VPs.   But still allows for necessary scouting on a large map.
 
As far as leaders (and their field radios), something similar that leaders have to stay within a certain range of one of their units.   I thought there was a rule about how far skirmishers could go from their parent unit?

The rule your thinking of is about recovering from disorder for non light/ non guards skirmishers.


From a programming perspective, the only thing I can think of off the top of my head would be to restrict immediate spotting from the players perspective, to leaders only.   Units spotting on there own would would have what they "see" be delayed until you hit "next turn"  ( perhaps units spotting on own would be able to see a "?" when something is within 2-4 hexes immediately.)

This would, perhaps, simulate the delay in the local leader on the scene from receiving reports from excited scouts and digesting the info and then issuing commands.   So you could still send out long range vedettes or a screen sans leader, but there would just be a delay seeing what "they" see.

[BigDuke66]

Well usually leaders should not he used for scouting, at least if they are alone. In some games higher leaders have escorts and if they stray of from the battlefield with their escort I would say that is perfectly fine, but others should stay with the army.

As for light cavalry, scouting was their main job so having squadrons/regiments control positions far from the main battlefield is also just fine from a historical perspective.

Skirmishers are something different, they were neither used like commando units operation being enemy lines nor did they move further away from parents units, that would both be totally ahistorical.

[TheGrayMouser]

Well usually leaders should not he used for scouting, at least if they are alone. In some games higher leaders have escorts and if they stray of from the battlefield with their escort I would say that is perfectly fine, but others should stay with the army.

As for light cavalry, scouting was their main job so having squadrons/regiments control positions far from the main battlefield is also just fine from a historical perspective.

Skirmishers are something different, they were neither used like commando units operation being enemy lines nor did they move further away from parents units, that would both be totally ahistorical.

Im not sure if you were commenting on my post but for more clarity I would say I agree that leaders alone should not be used for scouting as a game convention, although they certainly could trot up on a hill and take a look around in real life.   So as an add on to my hypothetical engine change I would suggests leaders can only spot when if they start and and their turn in a non routed unit in their direct org. :)

[tobruck41]

It was the job of the light cavalry to both screen movements AND go far afield to scout. They have changed the rules now so at least routed units cannot 'see' enemy units and report back. And over the course of some time they could sent a messenger back.