Routing, not shown: AS/VII LG h
In Pursuit: AS/XV Ex RC (w/ 4 hits)
The voting:
Option | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Cassius uses a Line Command to advance the rear cohort line | 4 | |
| Cassius orders nearby units to flank attack the advanced HI | 2 | |
| Cassius heads to the Roman right flank to rally units | 1 | |
| Magnus uses a Line Command on the velite line behind him to flank the advanced HI | 2 | |
| Magnus recovers nearby units, then shock attacks the HI with cohorts already in ZOC | 1 |
This turn is a bit of a hash because of an error on my part. Namely, I should have had the stacked cohorts execute Manipular Line Extension when the Epirote HI got close. I just plain forgot, until I had already posted the move and a few votes had already arrived. I did not want to further delay the game by reworking the move (and hence invalidating existing votes), so we're going ahead with the error.
The reason why it's a mistake to not do MLE is that enemy ZOCs block lines [4.24]. So if Cassius were to issue a Line Command, the largest number of units that he could get moving is two, namely the two stacked cohorts directly south of him.
As a result, I'm discounting the votes nominating Cassius for a LC. Of the remaining votes, which are about evenly distributed, the votes for Magnus best support the thwarted majority will. If Magnus can clear away the HI (or even occupy those ZOC hexes) then Cassius can issue a sensible LC. This was, of course, the reasoning behind those votes for Magnus in the first place.
The LG are attack superior to the HI, but with a TQ of 7 the HI are unlikely to break in a single shock attack. So if Magnus is to accomplish his task, he has to plug the holes in the line. It's not as easy as a it looks, because the cohort on nearest the center of the map can't form a part of a velite line. So Magnus moves like this:
Routing, not shown: AS/VII LG h
In Pursuit: AS/XV Ex RC (w/ 4 hits)
The velites have enough movement to plug the holes, but not enough to face the HI as they do so. But that's okay, as their goal to to set up Cassius for a Line Command; their presence is the important thing.
There are no missile fire casualties, but the Pre-Shock checks are brutal, inflict two hits on the hitherto untouched HI (dieroll '9') and routing the attacking velite.
Shock combat fails to rout either HI, although both are definitely hurting.
Magnus forgoes Momentum. The normal activation sequence will activate either Socrates or Philocles next, neither of whom can do much about the situation in the center. Cassius can then follow up with his Line Command. Were Magnus to try for Momentum, the Epirotes could trump (with, say, Leonatus) and have a chance to make more trouble in the center.
Now the Epirotes go. Who should activate: Socrates or Philocles? Or should they try a Active Player Trump with Leonatus? What should that leader do? Should he try for Momentum?
Activated so far:
| Epirote: | Pyrrhus (EIO), Milon | |
| Roman: | Plautius, Rebilus, Magnus |