Gentlemanly Orders

[Aman]

What difference, if any, is there between the following two spoken orders, or is one illegal according to the rules:

1) I want to change formation from column into line and advance against the enemy as far as possible.

2) I want to advance in column against the enemy as far as possible and then change formation into line.

Thanks in advance. New to the system, so still working out the basics of "gentlemanly" orders.

[Alan Charlesworth]

Well as far as I can see both are 'legal'. When you give an order you have to try to fulfill it as far as possible.

So using the phrase as far as possible means just that. As you cannot contact an enemy unit unless you declared a Charge, if you use the phrase "advance as far as possible" you will get to within a fraction of a millimetre from the enemy and then for order 1 stop and for order 2 stop and change into line. How far the order succeeds depends on how far apart you start the turn and how many Moves your Command Roll produces.

[Big Al]

Both orders are legal. I think that order 2) could and should be made clearer, by pointing out a spot on the table where the formation change will take place. This can be done because you can pre-measure everything, so you can point out that a unit will move to a certain position and then change formation.
Because it takes one move to change formation, the order requires a minimum of two moves and on three moves, the unit can only move forward up to 24 inches (2 moves) and then change formation. I suspect that such an order would be issued by someone who did not fully realise this and thought that changing formation would be automatic.

[ady2650]

both are legal , I would also point to where I want the unit to end up so that my enemy understands exactly where I mean, I think thats the key for me, making sure the player sat opposite you understands exactly what you want to do. Which is hard for me as the people who I game with are goobers

[Ken Portner]

I don't think the order "move as far as you can toward the enemy and then change formation into line" is in the letter or spirit of the rules.

Think about it in real terms. Does it make sense to order a unit to "move as far as you can within 20 minute's time (or whatever a turn represents) and then change into line formation"? That's what the "move as far as you can and then change formation order" says in essence.

With a movement order you have to say where the unit is to move. Saying "move as far as you can and then change formation" doesn't satisfy the "where" part of the order requirement.

By contrast, an order to "move to the hill and change formation into line once you get there" is fine.

[Alan Charlesworth]

I don't think the order "move as far as you can toward the enemy and then change formation into line" is in the letter or spirit of the rules.

Think about it in real terms. Does it make sense to order a unit to "move as far as you can within 20 minute's time (or whatever a turn represents) and then change into line formation"? That's what the "move as far as you can and then change formation order" says in essence.

With a movement order you have to say where the unit is to move. Saying "move as far as you can and then change formation" doesn't satisfy the "where" part of the order requirement.

By contrast, an order to "move to the hill and change formation into line once you get there" is fine.

Well "move to within 1" of the enemy and form into line" is not much of a real word order either. If there is no convenient terrain feature to mention verbally, you are either going to have to mention a game world measurement distance or point and touch the position that you want to move to. None of which may be realistic but the intent is clear to the other player.

[Big Al]

You could always use the analogy of 1 inch equals 1 foot and because you can premeasure everything, you can measure the distance up to an inch away from the enemy, let's say that it is 22 inches. You could then give the order as "2nd Battallion, 24th Foot advance for 22 feet and form line". That would be a better way of saying it, whether you use feet or yards is up to you.

[Alan Charlesworth]

Yep. And you could get dressed up in a period uniform and give your orders in the correct language:

"заранее на холм"

[Eumerin]

Think about it in real terms. Does it make sense to order a unit to "move as far as you can within 20 minute's time (or whatever a turn represents) and then change into line formation"? That's what the "move as far as you can and then change formation order" says in essence.

I don't have an issue with it. The order essentially comes across as, "Advance until you can see the whites of their eyes, and then change formation."

[grant]

Yep. And you could get dressed up in a period uniform and give your orders in the correct language:

"заранее на холм"

That's the best way of course.