Rulebook & Manual

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{{ :3224f89b9124c8cd6f6cab2f551d6718.jpg?400|}}====== 3. ARMY ORGANISATION ======

===== COMMAND CONTROL =====

Command Control plays a very important part in
every game of FANTASY WARLORD in fact it can win or
lose battles. Therefore it is important you
understand how it works, even before you place any
troops on the table.

Every character has a Morale Factor, which
represents his ability to inspire the troops under his
command and defines how capable he is at quelling
unrest in the ranks. From now on a character's
Morale Factor will be referred to as his MF.

All characters also have a Command Factor, which
represents their personal powers of leadership. The
higher a character's Command Factor, the more
units will follow his orders in battle. From now on we
will refer to a character's Command Factor as his CF.
The size of the MF and CF vary according to the
individual's character type. For instance, Warrior
Heroes can have larger CFs and MFs than Magic-
users. The means by which a character's CF and MF
are worked out, are explained in Chapter 2: Creating
an Army.

===== THE FUNCTION OF THE MORALE FACTOR =====

A character's MF acts as a modifier to the morale of
any unit he is in direct control of, whenever it takes a
Morale Test. Thus a character's MF will tend to make
a unit act more bravely and turn it into a more
effective and reliable unit on the battlefield. A unit
has to test its morale whenever something
unpleasant has happened to it or sometimes even to a
friendly unit nearby.

Each unit's basic morale factor and modifiers
appear on side two of their Profile Sheet. How
morale works and when it is tested is explained in
[[morale|Chapter 10: Morale]].

===== THE FUNCTION OF THE COMMAND FACTOR =====

A character's CF defines the maximum number of
units he can effectively command at any one time.
 
Thus, Ranlag the Black who has a CF of three, can
command up to three units at anyone time. While
Drinian Cutsteel, who has a CF of two, can only
command two units. A character may never
command more units but may command fewer
units.

Normally the general or commander of an army is
the character who possesses the highest CF and all
other characters on his side are subordinate to him.
However, in some scenarios this will not always be
the case. Why? Because the named general may have
the hereditary right to command or because he has
been appointed through political influence.

===== BATTLEFIELD CONTROL =====

Effective battlefield control is the key to winning a
battle, because the more units you can control the
more effective your army will be in combat. In
FANTASY WARLORD there are two types of battlefield
control brigade control and direct control.

===== THE BRIGADE =====

A brigade is any group of two or more units
with the same battlefield commander. If a character
is in control of more than one unit he is deemed to be
in command of a brigade. The brigade formation
is the only way characters can command more than
one unit in a battle. Before each game starts, as many
units as possible should be allocated to brigades.
Characters can command any number of units
up to but not exceeding their CF.

In some cases there will be more units in an army
than there are available CFs to lead them. Units
which are not part of a brigade or under direct
control, are more difficult to command in battle.
They cannot be relied on to obey orders and may
start to make automatic moves which foul up your
overall plans. Such a situation may seem strange,
but it occured a lot in historical battles and is part of
what is termed "the fog of war".

===== THE ADVANTAGE OF BRIGADE CONTROL =====

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, ([[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: 'Character within...' and 'Each unengaged friendly/elven/dwarf unit within etc.

===== BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR BRIGADE CONTROL =====

A character can never assume brigade control over
more units than his CF allows for.
Infantry units may only be brigaded with other
infantry units. Mounted units may only be brigaded
with other mounted units. Artillery units such as
bolt throwers, catapults and siege engines along
with their crews, may only be brigaded with infantry
units. (These weapons will be described in the
FANTASY WARLORD supplement Besieged).
Monsters may only be brigaded with other
monsters of the same type. If there is only one
monster in an army, it must remain unbrigaded,
though it may still be 'led' by a character using Direct
Control.

Swarms and packs of animals, may not be brigaded
(unless the magical artifact Flute of Animal control
is used) and are always deployed as single units. They
can be placed under the Direct Control of a character
but only if that character possesses the relevant skill
of Animal Control (See Direct Control below and
[[creating-an-army|Chapter 2: Creating an Army]]). This reflects the feral
instinct of animals and their inability to
comprehend complex orders.

===== BATTLEFIELD REQUIREMENTS FOR BRIGADE CONTROL =====

Brigaded units must be placed on the wargames
table in such a way that each unit is within 5 cm of at
least one of the other units in the brigade. In
addition, at least one of the units must also be within
5 cms of the character in command of the brigade.

For a unit to remain in brigade control it must
always be within 5 cm of at least one other unit in
the brigade and the character in command, must
also maintain this distance from at least one of the
units.

If the character moves over 5 cm from the nearest
unit in his brigade, the brigade structure immediately breaks and all the units in that brigade
start to function independently for the rest of the
battle. If a unit moves more than 5 cm away from its
nearest neighbour in the brigade, it is deemed to
have left the brigade and may not rejoin for the rest of
the battle, even if it manages to return to the original
required distance of 5 cm. Units may become
separated from their brigade as a result of combat,
difficult terrain, orders or a Morale Test.

This is exactly what happened in real battles before
the advent of radio communications. Once two
armies became locked together, a general would
gradually lose control of more and more of his forces,
until only those units under his direct control could
be trusted to obey their orders.

===== DIRECT CONTROL =====

A character achieves Direct Control over a friendly
unit whenever he moves into base-to-base contact
with it. A unit under the Direct Control of a character
enjoys the following benefits:

  - 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's MF becomes a modifier for the unit's morale - improving its chances of passing Morale Tests and consequently increasing its combat effectiveness.
  - 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.

A character can assume Direct Control of a
friendly unit at any time, either at the start of or
during the course of a battle. He does this by simply
moving into base-to-base contact with the unit. A
character can be in Direct Control of one unit and
have other nearby units under his Brigade Control 
(subject always to the limitation of the character's
CF and the distance requirements between brigaded
units). A character can never be in Direct Control of
more than one unit, regardless of his CF.

Direct Control allows characters to move to
important parts of the battlefield, assume command
of a key unit and then lead it to victory. It also allows
characters to rush to the rescue of routing units. As
Brigade Control breaks down, Direct Control is the
only way you can ensure units will act precisely
according to their orders

===== RACIAL RESTRICTIONS ON LEADERSHIP =====

Many races suffer from prejudices that mean they
can only be commanded by characters who belong to
certain races. These restrictions are listed below
(Y= Yes N=No):

^ RACE          ^ Human ^ Elf ^ Dwarf ^ Ore ^ Goblin ^ Troll ^ Ogre ^ Giant ^ Saurian ^ Hob-goblin ^
| Human         | Y     | Y   | Y     | N   | N      | N     | N    | N     | N       | N          |
| High Elf      | N     | Y   | N     | N   | N      | N     | N    | N     | N       | N          |
| Wood Elf      | Y     | Y   | N     | N   | N      | N     | N    | N     | N       | N          |
| Dwarf         | Y     | N   | Y     | N   | N      | N     | N    | N     | N       | N          |
| W Orc         | Y     | N   | N     | Y   | N      | Y     | Y    | N     | N       | Y          |
| E Orc         | Y     | N   | N     | Y   | N      | N     | Y    | N     | N       | Y          |
| W Goblin      | Y     | N   | N     | Y   | Y      | Y     | Y    | N     | N       | Y          |
| E Goblin      | Y     | N   | N     | Y   | Y      | N     | Y    | N     | N       | Y          |
| Troll         | Y     | N   | N     | Y   | Y      | Y     | Y    | Y     | N       | Y          |
| Ogre          | N     | N   | N     | Y   | N      | N     | Y    | N     | N       | Y          |
| Giant         | Y     | Y   | N     | N   | N      | Y     | Y    | Y     | N       | Y          |
| Saurian       | N     | N   | N     | N   | N      | N     | N    | N     | Y       | N          |
| Hob Goblin    | N     | N   | N     | Y   | Y      | N     | Y    | N     | N       | Y          |

===== UNIT INTEGRITY =====

Once a unit has been defined it cannot be
amalgamated with any other unit during the course
of a game.

===== FORMATIONS =====

Contrary to the impression other fantasy combat
systems give, soldiers do not wander aimlessly
around in a mob looking for something to attack. For
a start, they are organised into units. These units are
then organised into lines, columns and other
formations to ease movement across the battlefield
and to ensure the troops fight as effectively as
possible.

Some races are better at organising units than
others. These differences are reflected in the varying
factors and limitations that appear on each race's
Profile Sheet. For instance, dwarfs can Change
Formation faster than goblins.

Units may change formation any number of times
during the course of a battle. How they change
formation is detailed in [[movement|Chapter 6: Movement]]. The
different formations soldiers can adopt and the
advantages and disadvantages of each one are
detailed below.

==== RANKS AND FILES ====

Before you read the descriptions of the different
formations it is important that you understand what
a rank is and what a file is. A rank is any line of figures
that runs from one side of a formation to the other. A
file is any line of figures that runs from the front of a
unit to the back.

==== CLOSE AND OPEN ORDER TROOPS ====

Most regiments in **FANTASY WARLORD** fight in close
order. Close order is when the troops in a unit are
standing almost shoulder to shoulder. Open order is
when the members of a unit are standing about six
feet apart. All races have close order base sizes listed
on their Profile Sheets. A few races, such as elves,
humans, goblins and saurians also have an open
order base size listed. Only the races with open order
base sizes are able to use this type of formation.

Dwarfs do not have an open order base size,
because when operating above ground they suffer
from agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) and feel more
comfortable in tightly knit units of their own kind.
Ores can only operate in close order because they
need the comfort of large numbers to generate the
blood lust, which is such an important part of their
culture. Goblins do have an open order base size,
because such formations allow them to move faster
and evade the enemy.

For the purposes of firing and movement,
characters are always deemed to be in open order.

Close order units are more effective in combat
than open order units because they can concentrate
more soldiers against the foe, but they move more
slowly, are more susceptible to missile fire and are
unable to evade the enemy.

Units formed up in open order can move 25% (1/4)
faster than the normal movement allowances. This
means a regiment of wood elf archers can move 30
cm when moving at normal speed instead of the
usual 24 cm. The second advantage is that open
order troops can attempt to Evade enemy charges 
(see page 74). The third advantage is that open order
regiments cover a wider frontage per figure than
close order units, and the fourth advantage is that
open order units suffer fewer casualties from missile
fire.

If you have an army containing troops that can
operate in close or open order, you can either mount
some on open order bases or mount them all on close
order bases and when you want them to operate in
open order, merely leave gaps in the regiment's
formation to allow for the larger space such a unit
takes up. These spaces should be the width of half a
close order base.

{{ :close-order.jpg?400 |}}

Commanders should note that for a unit to move
from open to close order or vice-versa it must first
receive an order to Break Formation. This consumes
one move and allows the unit to form up in any
formation in either close or open order.

==== COLUMN ====

This is the formation used by troops to move onto
battlefields, follow roads and move through safe
areas. The column is not recommended as a fighting
formation, because it presents too narrow a frontage
and has exposed flanks.

A column is formed when the front rank of a unit
contains half or fewer, the number of figures that
appear in each file. For example, a unit of twenty
soldiers arranged in ranks of three would be in
column as there would be six or seven figures per
file. The picture below shows twenty crossbowmen
formed in a column. The column is arranged in six
ranks of three figures with the odd two figures
bringing up the rear.

{{ :column.jpg?400 |}}

The advantages of the column:
  -  Only units in this formation can use double movement, as long as they start their move at least 50 cms from the nearest visible enemy unit.
  -  A unit in column, marching along a road or track, does not have to take an Order Test in phase two of the game turn. This is true even if the unit is not part of a brigade or under the direct control of a character. However a unit that is not part of a brigade or under the direct control of a character will have to take an Order Test as soon as it wants to move off the road.
  -  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 ===

Columns are ineffective fighting formations. A column's small frontage means that in combat a unit will only have a few of its troops in contact with the enemy in the first round of combat. The unit will also have long flanks, that may be exposed to attack. A unit attacked in the flank not only suffers heavy
casualties, but must also take an immediate Morale
Test at a serious disadvantage. (See the Moral
Modifiers on the Profile Sheets).

Units in column are also more vulnerable to
missile fire, if fired on by enemy troops ahead of
them. This is because most races, when they fire,
receive a+1 modifier for each rank of the target.

==== LINE ====

The line is the standard fighting formation for
most armies. A line is any formation which does not
fit the definition of a column and in which all the
troops are facing in the same direction. In the
pictures below you can see three types of line.
 
{{ :line.jpg?400 |}}

The orcs are standing in a single rank. This
formation allows the maximum number of orcs to
get into contact with the enemy. It also allows them
to cover the largest possible frontage. It is a valuable
formation to use if you wish to shield other units
from enemy missile fire or block off a mountain pass
or cavern entrance, or temporarily plug a large hole
in your front line. Another benefit of this formation
is that because it has only small flanks spaced widely
apart, it is difficult for an enemy to outflank it. The
single rank line also minimises casualties caused by
missile fire (see the Missile Fire Modifiers on the
Profile Sheets), as the enemy receives only the
minimum bonus per rank of the target.

However, such a formation has disadvantages. The
first is that it is unable to follow the course of a road
or pass through narrow openings, such as the
entrance to a bridge. To do this the orcs will have to
Change Formation into a unit with a smaller
frontage and such a manoeuvre wastes time.
The second disadvantage is that most races receive
a bonus in combat for the depth of their formation.
Orcs, for instance, receive a +1 modifier up to a
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.

{{ :line-2.jpg?400 |}}

The Caryllian soldiers are formed into a line with
five figures per rank and two per file. This unit does
not cover as wide a frontage as the orc's unit, but in
an attack, the Caryllian unit would gain a +2 combat
modifier, because it has two ranks. In addition, to
this modifier, as the unit is armed with spears, which
have a longer reach than most hand weapons, the
soldiers will also be able to count all the figures in the
first two ranks of the unit in combat. Thus, if they
attack an enemy, even though only five of the figures
might be in actual base-to-base contact, they will be
able to count all ten soldiers in the combat. The draw
back to the caryllian's formation is that it is more
vulnerable to missile fire than the orc's line, because
the firer's chance of inflicting casualties increases
for each rank the target possesses.

{{ :line-3.jpg?400 |}}

The dwarfs are formed in three ranks of five
pikemen. In this formation they receive a +3 combat
modifier for the number of ranks the unit possesses,
and because they are armed with pikes, they can
count all the figures in the first three ranks of the
unit when they are in combat. The draw backs to the
dwarf's formation is its vulnerability to missile fire
and its exposed flanks, which are vulnerable to
enemy attack.

As you can see each variation on the line formation
has advantages and disadvantages. It is up to the
individual commander to decide which type of line
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's narrow frontages in
combat.

The reason for this formation's name becomes
clear when you view the illustration below. In this
picture the troops are arranged in a block so their
spears (the hedgehog's prickles) all point outwards,
covering every direction.

{{ :hedgehog.jpg?400 |}}

==== CIRCLE ====

The circle or 'Cantabrian Circle' as it was known in
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.

{{ :circle.jpg?400 |}}

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's disadvantage is that cavalry must be
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 'Attacking a
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 'Attacking a disordered
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]]