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RE: Cavalry Charge bonus...
Cavalry, men on horses....they're complicated....
They can operate as the old "dragoons"---running out to locations and setting up a small defensive force---BUT...
If you stay on your horses, you're at a +1 column shift to taking fire...so you really can't "dismount"....
If you could---that might be worth it...as it is, with reduced firepower generally---and increased vulnerability...not so much
Can't set up a defense line with them against any DF or BF...sitting on horses crushes you...you're a target...
You can Assault with them...and you can Charge---and the +1 with ANY Charging cavalry reflects the Shock/fear of 1000lbs of
fast moving horseflesh, with a Sabre...it focuses the attention, I would guess....So providing that benefit to any Assault on the turn
which involves a Charging Cavalry is in spirit of the rules, is supported by the mechanic, and reflects impact of the Cavalry charge...
Charging into Terrain which is closed/reduces foot movement rates should NOT provide that benefit (though you can cover the
two hexes to get INTO the Assault, just don't get a Charge bonus...)....I think ANY Terrain that impacts Infantry Foot Movement
should negate ability to get a charge bonus...As well as any with significant Cover....
Personally---I don't think Light woods/Orchards would negate charging---where Woods/Jungle/Town would do so.
Also, I think Units that are Dug-In should be subject to Charge +1---Entrenchments no, different animal...Dug in you're in the
open, you get first fire, but the Horses are amounst you--unlike Entrenchments---horses don't operate well in Trenches...me thinks.
Don't get Charge bonus:
1) Town Hexes, (obstructions)
2) Woods, Hvy Woods, Jungle (obstructions/mvmt)
3) Entrenchments, Anti-Tank Ditches (obstructions)
4) Barbed Wire, (mvmt)
5) Wadi & Gully, (should you be able to attack ALONG the Wadi/Gully (me thinks) but not INTO or OUT OF??) (mvmt)
6) Swamps (mvmt)
7) Across a Minor River---if the enemy is on the opposite shore....on the same side--it's not across.... (mvmt)
8) Sandy Beaches?? is there a mvmt penalty? if not---I'm not sure this belongs in this category...
9) Sand Dunes --- Horses No(mvmt)---CAMELS should get it...it's what they do....
Do get Charge bonus:
1) Open Terrain,
2) Orchard, Light Woods -- Horses can move through at speed
3) Dug In -- you get first fire, but the Horses are able to get at you...(they have pistols if you lay down...)
4) up/down a hill
So in future versions....this is in keeping with the mechanic, and it allows the Cavalry to have a role it
played--but with restrictions that are also consistent.
And objections (other then it's not 4th Ed RAW...)??
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