Great Battles of History: Alexander

The following is a collection of questions asked on Consimworld’s Great

Battles of History (GMT) forum. All answers are answered by the GBOH
series developer. All answers are indented in bold text. Some Q+A’s are
double-listed for convenience.

In modules without a Macedonian side, in regards to leader activation:

In case of ties, roll a die; high roll goes first, with players then
alternating among the remaining, similarly-rated leaders. If two
leaders on the same side have the same Initiative Rating the
owning player decides which one goes first.

4.23
Rule 4.23. says they [leaders] do not have to "stay" with the unit. What does this mean?

The Leader stacked with the combat can be dropped of

4.34
The first part of 4.34 (1) says that it only applies to infantry and elephants. Does this mean
that only the second line of 4.34 is used with calvalry?

No, it refers to the command range limitation for cavalry units

which takes precedence over the two hex ranges listed in 4.34

Would the following be appropiate for a calvalry/chariot version of 4.34 (1)?

He starts his Orders Phase within Command Range(half rounded up) of all of the units in
that “line” with NO intervening combat units. He must have a clear LOS (8.14, and
interpreted liberally in the case of disagreements) to all of those units.

No. The leader needs a clear LOS to only one unit in the line per
4.34 #1

5.2
And can it shock more than once in a turn under different leaders?

Potentially, if the command rules allow.

Under the same leader via leader's momentum roll?

Yes.

If it does so, does it suffer an automatic cohesion hit (for activating a "Moved" unit?).

No, hits apply to units that move. Nothing to do with Shock

5.25
This is really several questions linked to a common game situation: A unit is already in
eZOC, and within range of a leader at the start of that leader's activation. It is eligible to
shock ("May Shock / No TQ Check"). If it does shock (but doesn't move) does this count as
a individual action for the leader?

The range at that start of the activation phase is not relavant.

The range is checked at the start of the Shock Phase (Shock
Determination Segment) after all leaders/units have moved. No
orders are involved.

Can leaders who enter an EZOC during their phase, but after shock, are free of EZOC, (they
rout enemy unit) , try for Momentum?

Yes

5.4
5.44 implies only leaders trying for Momentum are finished. Are leaders who trump a
friendly leader finished, if they are then trumped by a enemy leader? 5.15 seems to say
this.

Yes, per 5.15.

5.6
MCCs can use their range to intiate shock for non-moving units and only units which they
are over, only if they themselves have been activated?

Only if they are specifically activated.

Do units that have been routed or eliminated count toward the number of units in the MCC’s
control? Thus affecting the number of Individual orders needed to activate that MCC.

Routed yes, eliminated no.

6.77
Cavalry Line Withdrawal. Under certain circumstances an entire "Line" of cavalry (as defined
by 4.33) may have all its units withdraw at the same time. How should "Line" of cavalry be
interpreted ?

It meets the criteria of 4.33 -- Same Type/Class as listed in The

Line Eligibility Chart and within half the command range of
leader that could command the cavalry.

How should "capable of leading those troops" be interpreted ? Does the commander need to
have Line command capability ?

No
And why is there a reference to a two hexes distance instead of "within half command
range" which is applicable to cavalry lines according to 4.33, or "within its command range"
which is applicable to contingents according to 5.65 ?

Two hex distance applies only to Elephant/Infantry Lines per 4.34

PLAY AND DESIGN NOTE: This is not a Line Command rule; it is a rule that allows mass
withdrawal of cavalry, something which often happened. However, we define its allowability
through the definitions for cavalry "lines". Units incapable of receiving line commands may
still use this. These two last sentences are a bit too obscure for me.
What does exactly mean a cavalry "line" ? and what is a unit incapable of receiving line
commands ?

Macedonian Leaders usually do not have Line Command

capability. They can be used to enable a Cavalry Line Withdrawal.
4.33 is used simply to determine which cavalry would be eligible
to withdraw together. No other Line Command rules apply.

6.81
In addition, those units must either have an OC to issue the PW, or a leader capable of
infantry Line Commands or a Macedonian Contingent Commander. Line Command Capable
leader or MCC is clear, but reference to OC is not clear to me.

How an OC who has no Line Command Capability does issue the PW order ? Does it have to
behave as if he was a valid Line command capable leader, i.e. being within two hexes of one
of the infantry units forming a line, or does it have to be within its command range of all the
infantry units?

An OC can issue PW whether he has Line Command ability or not.

4.33 is used to determine the units that can withdraw. There is
no requirement that a leader be anywhere near the PW line.

As rule 6.84 does exclusively speaks of lines, I suppose that the OC having not any Line
Command Capability should be played as if having Line Command Capability in the sole
context of rule 6.8.

The three eligible leaders are: the OC, a Leader eligible to give a
Line Command to infantry, or a MCC. There is no requirement
that the first and third have Line Command ability, nor does PW
have anything to with Line Commands. 4.33 and 6.81 are used to
determine the eligible units.

7.24
Rule 7.24 allows those units with "close volley missle capability" to change facing when in
an enemy ZOC, and then links to 9.32. Is this any unit with missle fire ability, or just SK/LI?

It applies to the unit types listed in 9.32

8.3
Breakthrough/Push of Shields
Do the ‘accumulated hits from that combat’ include Pre-shock TQ check hits? Since that is
also part of the same combat resolution procedure?

Yes

Also, is a unit that only changes facing considered "moved" for purposes of the size ratio
difference rule and/or determining whether it TQ CHECKS?

No and no if you mean the pre-Shock TQ Check

Also, if it shocks is it flipped to it's "moved" side?

No

And can it shock more than once in a turn under different leaders?

Potentially, if the command rules allow.

Under the same leader via leader's momentum roll?

Yes.

If it does so, does it suffer an automatic cohesion hit (for activating a "Moved" unit?).

No, hits apply to units that move. Nothing to do with Shock

Except for the Charge segment, Do units rout move two hexes only during the Collapse
segment?

Correct

8.5
When does Advance after Combat happen? after the Collapse phase, or during Collapse, but
after the enemy unit routs, but before units that are within one cohesion of routing check
their TQ?

When the defending hex is vacated.

9.1
Can LC use Harassment and Dispersal tactics against an enemy elephant unit through its
front ZOC hexes?

No, and the Cohesion penalties for movement into a Flank/Rear

hex apply to H&D fire through those hexsides as well.
9.3

Do SK units attacking chariots and routed units attack like regular units? Do they ignore
the special rules for SK*?

No

The halving of hits inflicted by SK* units is applied when they are both attacking and
defending? 9.31 2. first bullet says defending units.

Yes, both attacking and defending.

9.32
When using Harrassment and Dispersal tactics does the unit get "flipped" as having moved
and does the +1 mod (no 4) for moving apply?

Yes and yes

9.5
Oxybeles may fire at moving enemy units. Can they fire twice in the same hex at a moving
unit?

"Any Time" means anytime.

9.64
Can the double sized units be in Square formation and “In Column” at the same time?

No

Does it cost any movement points to go from Square formation to normal?

All its movement.

9.65
When a Double sized unit and a enemy unit both rout from combat, do you forgo the
"Phanlanx rout" rule 9.65, and immediately use rule 10.26?

Resolve 10.26 first, then if the Double Size unit would Rout, apply
9.65

10.14
The rules state one of the actions a leader can do is remove two cohesion hits to a unit in
range. It is not very clear if in the same activation the leader can perform this action with
the same unit, but I think it is not possible.

Not in the same Orders Phase

10.2
If the only place a Routed unit can go is in an eZOC, is it eliminated?
 If not occupied by a friendly unit, yes.

Are any leaders stacked with it also eliminated?

Yes, but there is no requirement that the leader must move with the
Routed unit.

If a leader is stacked with a routing unit and is shocked does it share the fate of the unit if it
is eliminated, as it can not withdraw?

No

Is a unit (that routs)that is attacked by an enemy unit that is, and/or its ZOC, positioned
directly between the routed unit and its retreat edge, allowed to rout move around or side
step(say one or two hexes) the enemy unit/zoc?

Direct path means just that. However, there is always a choice of

two hexes, so the path of least resistance given in 10.21 applies
when making that choice.

If there was enemy unit 10 hexes distant in between the unit and its retreat edge, could the
unit always choose the left most hex to help it avoid the enemy unit?

Your choice as long as the hexes have the same priority.

Except for the Charge segment, Do units rout move two hexes only during the Collapse
segment?

Correct

10.26
When a Double sized unit and a enemy unit both rout from combat, do you forgo the
"Phanlanx rout" rule 9.65, and immediately use rule 10.26?

Resolve 10.26 first, then if the Double Size unit would Rout, apply
9.65

10.27
Can leaders attempt to rally any unit on the map regardless of command range?

No, see 4.21. Rally is an Individual Order

10.4
Are only the phalanxes worth double RP or is it any double sized unit?

All double sized units

Samarkrand Scenario

When Pharnacas is “removed from play” is the TQ Check for all units a “Pre shock TQ check”
or another kind of TQ check?

Pre-Shock

If Pharnacas is killed through combat do all units make the nervous breakdown TQ check?

No

If Pharnacas is “removed from play” by having a nervous breakdown, does he count against
the Army Withdrawal Level?

You bet.

The rules for crossing the river in Samakrand, as per the Jaxcartes rules, State that only
Phalanxes are required to be In column to cross the river. Does this apply to the HI/HO
Double sized units in Samakrand?

Yes

Pelium Scenario

For Phalanxes crossing the river, I assume for the second movement as with the
first, it takes all of the movement points for the back end of the unit to cross the
river. This leaves the unit with the front half of it off the map. Do you consider it to
off the map and out of the game?

No

Or does it take another phase to move the back end of the unit off the map?

Yes

Can Clitus give orders to units not originally part of the Pelium garrison?

Yes

For units whose “retreat edge” is the town of Pelium, if they rout move back into the town,
are they eliminated?

No
For routed units whose retreat edge is Pelium, if the nearest gate is blocked by
enemy/enemy ZOC, should the unit be allowed to rout move toward the “back” gate?

Yes