army-organisation
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army-organisation [2025/09/18 21:39] – [DISADVANTAGES OF THE COLUMN] fantasyadmin | army-organisation [2025/09/24 18:00] (current) – [3. ARMY ORGANISATION] fantasyadmin | ||
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- | ====== 3. ARMY ORGANISATION ====== | + | {{ : |
===== COMMAND CONTROL ===== | ===== COMMAND CONTROL ===== | ||
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appear on side two of their Profile Sheet. How | appear on side two of their Profile Sheet. How | ||
morale works and when it is tested is explained in | morale works and when it is tested is explained in | ||
- | Chapter 10: Morale. | + | [[morale|Chapter 10: Morale]]. |
===== THE FUNCTION OF THE COMMAND FACTOR ===== | ===== THE FUNCTION OF THE COMMAND FACTOR ===== | ||
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Units in a brigade enjoy the following advantages: | Units in a brigade enjoy the following advantages: | ||
- | - They do not need to take an order test and will obey every order they are given, (see Chapter 5: Orders) | + | - They do not need to take an order test and will obey every order they are given, ([[orders|see Chapter 5: Orders]]) |
- The tight formation requirements of the brigade structure help to improve the morale status of the units involved. See the morale modifiers: ' | - The tight formation requirements of the brigade structure help to improve the morale status of the units involved. See the morale modifiers: ' | ||
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but only if that character possesses the relevant skill | but only if that character possesses the relevant skill | ||
of Animal Control (See Direct Control below and | of Animal Control (See Direct Control below and | ||
- | Chapter 2: Creating an Army). This reflects the feral | + | [[creating-an-army|Chapter 2: Creating an Army]]). This reflects the feral |
instinct of animals and their inability to | instinct of animals and their inability to | ||
comprehend complex orders. | comprehend complex orders. | ||
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enjoys the following benefits: | enjoys the following benefits: | ||
- | - It does not need to take an order test and will obey every order it is given. (See Chapter 5: Orders Tests) | + | - It does not need to take an order test and will obey every order it is given. ([[orders|See Chapter 5: Orders Tests]]) |
- The character' | - The character' | ||
- This is the only way animal units can be led on the battlefield and even then the character leading them must have the relevant skill of Animal Control. | - This is the only way animal units can be led on the battlefield and even then the character leading them must have the relevant skill of Animal Control. | ||
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according to their orders | according to their orders | ||
- | RACIAL RESTRICTIONS ON LEADERSHIP | + | ===== RACIAL RESTRICTIONS ON LEADERSHIP |
Many races suffer from prejudices that mean they | Many races suffer from prejudices that mean they | ||
can only be commanded by characters who belong to | can only be commanded by characters who belong to | ||
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Units may change formation any number of times | Units may change formation any number of times | ||
during the course of a battle. How they change | during the course of a battle. How they change | ||
- | formation is detailed in Chapter 6: Movement. The | + | formation is detailed in [[movement|Chapter 6: Movement]]. The |
different formations soldiers can adopt and the | different formations soldiers can adopt and the | ||
advantages and disadvantages of each one are | advantages and disadvantages of each one are | ||
detailed below. | detailed below. | ||
- | ===== RANKS AND FILES ===== | + | ==== RANKS AND FILES ==== |
Before you read the descriptions of the different | Before you read the descriptions of the different | ||
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unit to the back. | unit to the back. | ||
- | ===== CLOSE AND OPEN ORDER TROOPS | + | ==== CLOSE AND OPEN ORDER TROOPS ==== |
Most regiments in **FANTASY WARLORD** fight in close | Most regiments in **FANTASY WARLORD** fight in close | ||
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takes up. These spaces should be the width of half a | takes up. These spaces should be the width of half a | ||
close order base. | close order base. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
Commanders should note that for a unit to move | Commanders should note that for a unit to move | ||
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formation in either close or open order. | formation in either close or open order. | ||
- | ===== COLUMN | + | ==== COLUMN ==== |
This is the formation used by troops to move onto | This is the formation used by troops to move onto | ||
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ranks of three figures with the odd two figures | ranks of three figures with the odd two figures | ||
bringing up the rear. | bringing up the rear. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
The advantages of the column: | The advantages of the column: | ||
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- If properly organised, a unit in column can pass through most gates, gaps in walls, hedges or fences, or cross a narrow bridge without having to Change Formation. | - If properly organised, a unit in column can pass through most gates, gaps in walls, hedges or fences, or cross a narrow bridge without having to Change Formation. | ||
- | ===== DISADVANTAGES OF THE COLUMN | + | === DISADVANTAGES OF THE COLUMN === |
Columns are ineffective fighting formations. A column' | Columns are ineffective fighting formations. A column' | ||
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receive a+1 modifier for each rank of the target. | receive a+1 modifier for each rank of the target. | ||
- | ===== LINE ===== | + | ==== LINE ==== |
The line is the standard fighting formation for | The line is the standard fighting formation for | ||
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pictures below you can see three types of line. | pictures below you can see three types of line. | ||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
The orcs are standing in a single rank. This | The orcs are standing in a single rank. This | ||
formation allows the maximum number of orcs to | formation allows the maximum number of orcs to | ||
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maximum of five for each rank in their unit. This modifier reflects the added impetus a deep | maximum of five for each rank in their unit. This modifier reflects the added impetus a deep | ||
formation possesses when it crashes into an enemy. | formation possesses when it crashes into an enemy. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
The Caryllian soldiers are formed into a line with | The Caryllian soldiers are formed into a line with | ||
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the firer' | the firer' | ||
for each rank the target possesses. | for each rank the target possesses. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
The dwarfs are formed in three ranks of five | The dwarfs are formed in three ranks of five | ||
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individual commander to decide which type of line | individual commander to decide which type of line | ||
formation will best suit his troops and battle plan. | formation will best suit his troops and battle plan. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== HEDGEHOG ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Infantry units can form a formation known as the | ||
+ | hedgehog. The hedgehog is a useful formation to | ||
+ | adopt if you are uncertain from which direction your | ||
+ | unit will be attacked, if your unit is cut off behind | ||
+ | enemy lines, or if enemy cavalry are charging or | ||
+ | threatening to charge. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The advantage of the Hedgehog, is that it has no | ||
+ | flanks and no rear for the enemy to attack. Its | ||
+ | disadvantage is that when a unit is in a hedgehog, it | ||
+ | cannot be moved until it has changed formation to | ||
+ | either Line or Column. As it is stationary, it is also a | ||
+ | prime target for enemy missile fire. (See the Missile | ||
+ | Fire Modifiers on the Profile Sheet). | ||
+ | |||
+ | The best troops to employ this formation are those | ||
+ | armed with polearms, spears or pikes. This is | ||
+ | because their special rank bonuses help to | ||
+ | compensate the Hedgehog' | ||
+ | combat. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The reason for this formation' | ||
+ | clear when you view the illustration below. In this | ||
+ | picture the troops are arranged in a block so their | ||
+ | spears (the hedgehog' | ||
+ | covering every direction. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== CIRCLE ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The circle or ' | ||
+ | the ancient world, is a formation employed solely by | ||
+ | mounted troops armed with missile weapons. The | ||
+ | formation adopted is a large ring, with all the figures | ||
+ | galloping in the same direction. As each figure | ||
+ | passes a given point it fires at the enemy and then | ||
+ | rides away. Of course, on the wargames table, none | ||
+ | of the figures actually move and the entire unit fires | ||
+ | in phase eight of the game turn. Against large units, | ||
+ | the cavalry form a circle in front of or to one side of | ||
+ | the target and fire outwards. Against small units, the | ||
+ | cavalry form a circle around the target and fire | ||
+ | inwards. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
+ | The advantages of the Circle are that as well as the | ||
+ | entire unit being able to fire, the regiment counts as | ||
+ | only one rank and a moving target, if the enemy | ||
+ | return fire. As a result, the effectiveness of the enemy | ||
+ | counter fire will be greatly reduced. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Circle' | ||
+ | ordered to Change Formation to form it and whilst | ||
+ | in this formation, they cannot move round the | ||
+ | battlefield. They must be ordered to Change | ||
+ | Formation again to break the circle, and this can be a | ||
+ | dangerous manoeuvre if the enemy is within charge | ||
+ | range. In addition if a circle is hit by a charging | ||
+ | enemy, on the first round of combat the troops in the | ||
+ | circle lose, they automatically rout. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A circle is usually formed on the battlefield by | ||
+ | using individual riders, but if you are unable to do | ||
+ | this because your figures are on multibases, just | ||
+ | leave a few gaps as per the example above. This allows | ||
+ | the unit to occupy the correct area for the number of | ||
+ | figures involved | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== CHARACTERS, STANDARD BEARERS AND MUSICIANS ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | If you are the proud owner of any standard bearers | ||
+ | you should know it is normal military practice to | ||
+ | place them at the head of columns and in the centre | ||
+ | of the front rank or at one end of line formations. For | ||
+ | the purposes of these rules standard bearers and | ||
+ | musicians are presumed to be armed with the same | ||
+ | weapons as the other figures in their unit. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When a character is leading a unit and has moved | ||
+ | into base-to-base contact with it, he or she must be | ||
+ | placed in the centre of the front rank. If this is | ||
+ | impossible, then the character should be placed at | ||
+ | either end of the front rank. To move the character to | ||
+ | one of these positions once he or she has reached the | ||
+ | unit costs none of his or her movement allowance. | ||
+ | Characters are of course armed with whatever their | ||
+ | figure has been equipped with and fight separately | ||
+ | from the unit. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== DISORDERED UNITS ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sometimes, during the course of a battle a unit may | ||
+ | become disordered. No units are ever disordered at | ||
+ | the start of a battle, unless a scenario actually states | ||
+ | they are. Disordered units retain their formation but | ||
+ | stop functioning at full efficiency. A unit (but never | ||
+ | characters) becomes disordered when any of the | ||
+ | following events occur: | ||
+ | * If it is charged and brought to combat while reforming, changing or breaking formation. | ||
+ | * If it is charged by a monster. | ||
+ | * If it conducts a pursuit, rout or evade move. | ||
+ | * If it charges, counter-charges or goes into Uncontrolled Advance and fails to contact the enemy on the same turn. | ||
+ | * If it is attacked in the flank or rear. | ||
+ | * If it is pushed back in combat but is unable to move the necessary pushback distance. | ||
+ | * If a unit charges, counter-charges or goes into Uncontrolled Advance through or into a ford. | ||
+ | * If a close order unit charges, counter-charges or goes into Uncontrolled Advance in a wood, jungle, fen or swamp. | ||
+ | * If an open order unit charges, counter charges or goes into Uncontrolled Advance in a jungle or swamp. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Disordered units must be marked with a | ||
+ | Disordered counter. Disordered units lose all rank | ||
+ | bonuses when firing or in combat and no longer | ||
+ | enjoy any benefits they may have had from the reach | ||
+ | of their weapons. However, they still suffer all | ||
+ | penalties for the number of ranks in their formation | ||
+ | when the enemy fires on them. Troops attacking a | ||
+ | disordered enemy unit gain the ' | ||
+ | disordered enemy' combat modifier. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Disordered units can receive orders and fire. | ||
+ | However because of the disadvantages listed above, | ||
+ | players are advised to reform disordered units as | ||
+ | soon as possible, otherwise they become prime | ||
+ | targets for the enemy and tend to sustain heavy | ||
+ | casualties in combat. | ||
+ | |||
+ | To reform a disordered unit players must give | ||
+ | them the order Reform, in phase three of any | ||
+ | subsequent game turn. The order Reform consumes | ||
+ | one entire movement turn. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== MONSTERS AND DISORDER ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Monsters can also become disordered and in this | ||
+ | case the disorder represents their fear and | ||
+ | confusion. Monsters become disordered under the | ||
+ | following circumstances: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * If they are charged by another monster. | ||
+ | * If they conduct a pursuit or rout move. | ||
+ | * If they are attacked in the rear. | ||
+ | * If they are pushed back in combat but are unable to move the necessary pushback distance. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Disordered monsters must be marked with a | ||
+ | Disordered counter. Enemy forces attacking a | ||
+ | disordered monster gain the ' | ||
+ | enemy' combat modifier. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Disordered monsters can receive orders and fire. | ||
+ | However, because of the disadvantage listed above, | ||
+ | players are advised to reform them as soon as | ||
+ | possible, otherwise they become prime target for the | ||
+ | enemy and suffer an increased chance of being | ||
+ | wounded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | To reform a disordered monster players must give | ||
+ | it the order Reform, in phase three of any subsequent | ||
+ | game turn. The order Reform consumes one entire | ||
+ | movement phase. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[into-battle|CHAPTER 4. INTO BATTLE]] |
army-organisation.1758224360.txt.gz · Last modified: 2025/09/18 21:39 by fantasyadmin