leaders assisting recovery and related unit activations

[t1M0t8yk]

I think I was getting something incorrect.  I'd like confirmation my interpretation is accurate now.

  I had been thinking disrupted leaders could assist recovery because they can at least activate units in their own hex.  6.52 and 14.4 imply though that only undisrupted leaders may assist a recovery.  It is legit though if the leader recovers first in the same activation.  Demoralized leaders may never assist recovery, even if they bump up to disrupted status first.

  On a related matter, when a leader is used for recovery assistance, is it really true that the leader can't do *anything* else?  That's what it says in 14.4, but that contradicts 3.13.  I thought the normal chain of activations can occur.  The leader can't assist any fire, but he could activate for fire, and activate others to move without using it for recovery rolls.  If I'm mistaken, can the leader activate adjacent units for recovery as well, even though he can't assist them?

[plloyd1010]

I had been thinking disrupted leaders could assist recovery because they can at least activate units in their own hex.  6.52 and 14.4 imply though that only undisrupted leaders may assist a recovery.  It is legit though if the leader recovers first in the same activation.  Demoralized leaders may never assist recovery, even if they bump up to disrupted status first.

I've played as though disrupted leaders function as good order leaders, but only in their own hex. This means that they may assist in recovery and enhance a unit's firepower, in said leader's hex.
 

On a related matter, when a leader is used for recovery assistance, is it really true that the leader can't do *anything* else?  That's what it says in 14.4, but that contradicts 3.13.  I thought the normal chain of activations can occur.  The leader can't assist any fire, but he could activate for fire, and activate others to move without using it for recovery rolls.  If I'm mistaken, can the leader activate adjacent units for recovery as well, even though he can't assist them?

Yes, thus a leader assisting in recovery may not attempt to recover themselves. (I have a house rule they may move, but only into the hex of the unit they are assisting.) I don't think the rule prevents them from activating other units to fire, but the leader would not be able to provide firepower enhancement or form a fire team.

[joe_oppenheimer]

Not sure how you interpret that to say a leader assisting in recovery may not attempt to recover themselves.

14.4 states:

It is generally best to attempt recovery for disrupted leaders first, and then units, because a leader that recovers may then assist unit recovery in the same activation. Demoralized leaders do not have this option and use their whole activation to attempt to recover themselves.

The restriction that a leader can't do anything else means that if they aid in recovery they can't move, add their firepower modifier, or enter an assault. It doesn't prevent them from activating units.

Units attempting recovery and leaders assisting them must be activated and may conduct no other action that turn.

[plloyd1010]

It is generally best to attempt recovery for disrupted leaders first, and then units, because a leader that recovers may then assist unit recovery in the same activation.

I stand, or sit at the moment, corrected.

P.S.: At this point (July 19th 2025), I refer you to this post.

[geofgibson]

I think I was getting something incorrect.  I'd like confirmation my interpretation is accurate now.

  I had been thinking disrupted leaders could assist recovery because they can at least activate units in their own hex.  6.52 and 14.4 imply though that only undisrupted leaders may assist a recovery.  It is legit though if the leader recovers first in the same activation.  Demoralized leaders may never assist recovery, even if they bump up to disrupted status first.

  On a related matter, when a leader is used for recovery assistance, is it really true that the leader can't do *anything* else?  That's what it says in 14.4, but that contradicts 3.13.  I thought the normal chain of activations can occur.  The leader can't assist any fire, but he could activate for fire, and activate others to move without using it for recovery rolls.  If I'm mistaken, can the leader activate adjacent units for recovery as well, even though he can't assist them?

I thought I’d post this as I just had this question and found some clarity going through the rules. While it seems there may be a contradiction regarding disrupted leaders assisting recovery, I think 6.54 clarifies it. Disrupted leaders can always assist recovery in their own hex, but only good order leaders can assist adjacent hexes. Therefore, what 14.4 is saying is that you want the leader to attempt recovery from disruption first so they can assist recovery in the adjacent hex. Otherwise they would only be able to assist their own hex if still disrupted.

[plloyd1010]

I thought I’d post this as I just had this question and found some clarity going through the rules. While it seems there may be a contradiction regarding disrupted leaders assisting recovery, I think 6.54 clarifies it. Disrupted leaders can always assist recovery in their own hex, but only good order leaders can assist adjacent hexes. Therefore, what 14.4 is saying is that you want the leader to attempt recovery from disruption first so they can assist recovery in the adjacent hex. Otherwise they would only be able to assist their own hex if still disrupted.

That is not going to work, here is why. Rule 6.52 says, " An activated leader may help the units he activates to recover from disruption or demoralization." Rule 3.13 says. "...  all actions must be designated before the first is performed."

So when actions are declared, before recovery rolls, the disrupted leader is unable to activate the adjacent units/leaders. Once the disruped leader rolls for recovery successfully), or anything else happens, the leader will not be activating anyone else (adjacent or otherwise). The "best practice" note at the end of rule 14.4 is superfluous and apparently is causing confusion.

[cjsiam]

"Superfluous" meaning that the fact a disrupted leader can impact ONLY his own hex, regardless
of the fact he may rally successfully....regardless, he does not get to assist in rallying adjacent hexes...

[plloyd1010]

"Superfluous" meaning that the fact a disrupted leader can impact ONLY his own hex, regardless
of the fact he may rally successfully....regardless, he does not get to assist in rallying adjacent hexes...

Correct. A disrupted leader can only activate the units and subordinates in his own hex when he activates, thus may not have activated units or subordinates in adjacent hexes to rally, thus may not apply his modifier to their rally attempts. Similar to a demoralized leader may not activate anyone, including units and subordinates in his hex, thus since he did not activate them, his morale modifier may not be applied to them. That last part is indirectly specified in the rules.