The tactics of the period

[goat major]

The Gateway cavalry have been doing feigned retreats for 11 years now

[World2dave]

Yes, they were actually uncontrolled routs, but everyone was fooled.

[Paul]

I like Paul's idea. A "special rule" may do the trick? Have the player announce he's doing a feigned retreat, which forces the opponent to do a specific reaction test for that particular situation. If the enemy fail then they fall for it and chase. If they pass then they have a nice big gap in your line presented to them- as happened historically.

That's maybe a specific scenario-only special rule. I'll put it to my pals.

donald

I'd keep it simple:
Any units that are allowed to feign retreat can do so in stead of a normal "activation", so instead of moving shooting etc...
It can be tried if any enemy unit is within the feigners charge range.
Any enemy units within that range have to take a control test or similar. (Could be as simple as 2D6 trying to beat a target number depending on how well commanded they are, or adapt your morale test?)
If they fail they charge forward, lose any formation bonuses for shieldwall etc... and may or may not contact the feigners.
If they do the feigners may either choose to fight or take a half move away.
If the feigners are caught after taking a half move, because they tried their trick too close to the enemy, then they are hit in the back.

Adding troop specific rules like this give rules period flavour and stop them just being an exercise in rolling dice.

[Paul]

Yes, they were actually uncontrolled routs, but everyone was fooled.

At least twice they have been so effective at fooling the enemy that their cavalry actually overtook the Gateway cavalry.

[goat major]

Having given it more thought its probably feigned advances that are more in the Gateway book of tactics

[FreddBloggs]

Advancing to the rear?

[Paul]

Yes, they were actually uncontrolled routs, but everyone was fooled.

At least twice Gateway have been so effective at fooling the enemy that they were actually overtaken by the enemy cavalry.

[valleyboy]

The Gateway cavalry have been doing feigned retreats for 11 years now

GIT

[valleyboy]

Yes, they were actually uncontrolled routs, but everyone was fooled.

And you.....
Git

[grizzlymc]

I think that one reason military chaps win wargames is that, irrespective of period or rules, there are certain sound principles like concentration, keeping reserves, exposing enemy flanks and rear. Many wargamers pay them scant attention. Whilst I read a lot about period specific tactics, I think one definition of good rules is that they contain the mechanisms which drive people to historical tactics. So, at sharpe practice level, I would want to see period specific relationships between fire and shock, bonuses for narrow frontages, limits and powers of cavalry. At the army level, I would want to see emphasis on the use of roads to march divided and fight united. Whatever the perio0d0 or 000scale, warfare0 i0s0 about disrupti0o0n 00and soften0i0n0g by 00000fire, followed by s0hock and pursuit. Yhis is because people are brave until they get frightened, then they become frightened.