Heraclea Interactive Replay

Turn 4: Laevinus's Activation

The voting:

	Option	Votes
	Knock off the southernmost PH	5
	Rout the easternmost PH	2
	Attack (target unspecified)	1

I'm waving my hands over the details of some of the votes in favor of concentrating on the major issue -- attack or rally?

It seems that we're all agreed that taking out those 28-RP phalanxes is the best use of Laevinus's orders. The problem is that you've got to actually eliminate the unit; routing isn't enough. Plus you can't rely on the unit routing offmap at the end of the turn to get your points, as Pyrrhus will (probably) have two activations in which to rally the unit before the turn ends.

That means that you've got to somehow surround the target PH.

The eastern PH is theoretically easier, as several hexes are already occupied. But Laevinus has no way of blocking its southeast retreat rout, hence any attacks on this unit will net no RPs on this activation.

The southern PH will take four attackers to completely surround it, but Laevinus has just enough initiative to get himself in range and order four attacker to hit it. Unfortunately the Romans are beat up badly enough that PreShock TQ Checks might rout an attacker and leave an escape rout, but at least it will still force Pyrrhus to move out of position to rectify the situation. So let's try it:

Routing, not shown: AS/VII LG: c,h. AS/XIV RC: a
In Pursuit: AS/XV Ex RC (w/ 4 hits)

Unfortunately, one of the attacking cohorts -- with a 7 TQ! -- fails his PreShock Check and routs. Subsequent shock routs the PH handily, but it escapes through the now-open rout path.

Laevinus rolls for Momentum and succeeds with a '5'. Pyrrhus attempts the trump and fails, with a '9'. Uh-oh....

Current Rout Point totals:

	Side	Current	Limit	Pct	Excess
	Romans	226	185	122%	41
	Epirotes	143	120	119%	23

When evaluating the current situation, remember that some on-map routed units will make it off-map this turn, namely 15 RPs of Romans and 26 RPs of Epirotes (including the routed PH). That makes a 7 RP difference that Laevinus must overcome to win.

On to his Momentum.