Subject: Enfilade Movement/Combat Rules

By Barry Kendall

Successful coordination of units across the battlefield was required in order to prevent units from becoming over-exposed and attacked on their flanks. Units simply did not run around "willy-nilly" all over the battlefield, disreguarding potential flank attacks as we all know. The current rules also allow a unit to break through an opponent's line or even move beyond that line without great worry or penalty. Units may also be able to turn 180 degrees if necessary to engage enemy units, again without penalty. Adding very simple "enfilade" rules addressed many of these issues.

Enfilade Movement Rule: A unit engaged in combat must continue facing the opponent until issued new orders. This is simply indicated by neatly standing the playing pieces side by side, always facing the direction of their attack. This is important because of the Enfilade Combat Rule below.

Example: A unit engages an opponent as normal, and eliminates that unit, winning one flag. The unit now must continue facing the same direction in which it had attacked the opponent, regardless of whether there are enemy units sitting on either flank. The unit does NOT get to turn it's facing in recognition of the new threatening unit at the end of the turn. It would only get to turn and face the new enemy unit whenever it is issued new orders.

Enfilade Combat Rule: Units attacking another unit from the side or back of the hex gain one additional combat dice. That simple.

This Movement/Combat rule greatly reduces running units out onto the field unsupported without risk or penalty. It also brings a little more care and planning into the game, and increases the usefulness of cards such as "Out of Supplies". The "Out of Supples" card has been successfully used on more than one occasion to help protect an exposed unit until support could arrive, or prevent an opponent's unit from successfully enfilading a unit.

Likewise, putting a unit several hexs in front of the main body has resulted in the loss of that unit and a quick lesson for "less seasoned" commanders.
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