I was asked about possible movement
options to result in a combat, which I found quite difficult to explain. So I thought it might make for an interesting
blog post.
Campaign movement for infantry and
artillery on roads is three squares per day.
Off road is two squares per day.
Off road on difficult terrain (mountains or woods) is one square per
day.
Movement must be north, south, east
or west.
A corps can only move into a square
adjacent to the enemy to fight a combat.
The above map shows the movement
options open to 2nd Austrian corps.
If they enter square 20 they must fight 9th Bavarian corps,
unless the Bavarians retreat to avoid combat.
You will see from the arrows that 2nd
Austrian corps cannot move into squares 15, 10, 14 or 13.
In this map 2nd Austrian
corps has been ordered to advance and engage any enemy they encounter. They can only “see” an enemy up to two
squares away, in this case square 20. 9th
Bavarian corps is too far away to “see”.
2nd corps are allowed to
move a maximum of three squares on a road.
So they could move squares 07-20-06.
However they can only enter 06 to fight with the enemy.
A corps can move a maximum of 12
hours each day, and it takes four hours to move through one square. So they would arrive at the junction of
squares 06-07 at the end of the 12 hour day.
They would not have time to engage in combat. Consequently they would have to halt in square 20.
The next day they could attack
Holzkirchen, providing 9th Bavarian corps did not retreat. If they enemy did retreat they could occupy
Holzkirchen. If the enemy halted in
square 04 they would still have four hours to attack them.
The concept is easier to operate
than to explain, but I hope I have made it a little clearer how moving to
contact works with our campaign rules?
