ADLG: Complex Movement Options

Way back in the days of Art de la Guerre (ADLG) V3 I tried tabulating the various processes involved like movement, shooting, melee etc.  I found the exercise useful but the tables were somewhat cumbersome in use.  Nonetheless the exercise always helped my understanding the rules.

With ADLG I have found understanding is not the same as learning.  So, when V4 arrived I decided to use a different approach and play with just the play sheet if at all possible.  So far I am doing better during games but afterwards I still can't resist digging into the workings of ADLG.

I find this post game, reverse engineering helps my understanding as it often exposes the complex variations and plain old quirks of the rules; something I've enjoyed doing since I played DBMM.  My reworking of the ADLG mega table is the most recent example of this.

One question that has cropped up regularly during my recent games is when can players wheel, slide or turn during movement.  It's occurred so often that I have re-worked the table I prepared for V3.  I find it useful because it's a visual representation of rules spread across five sections and that aren't on the play sheet.  You can download it from the ADLG V4 resources page.

Getting tactical?
So far I have used a lot of cavalry armies under ADLG V4.  As my playing style develops I've found it useful to know how to exit a Zone of Control (ZoC) and disengage from combat.  These, plus evading, should be part of every cavalry commander's tactical toolkit.

These are amongst the more complex movement options so I thought I'd do a bit of digging in the rule book and see if I could come up with another aide-mémoire or table.

My well established view of ADLG is that its a series of simple rule mechanisms combined with a set of case by case exceptions.  It lacks consistency at times.  It acquires complexity by the combination of subdividing the simple mechanisms and the overlay of the many exceptions.  This makes it difficult to remember everything; for me at least.

The triumvirate of evading, exiting a ZoC and disengaging neatly illustrates this view:

• Disengaging is perhaps the simplest of the three.  If allowed to, the unit, or group of units, moves directly back still facing the original enemy.  The distance and cost in control points (CPs) varies by unit type and whether it is unmaneuverable or not.
• Contrast this with evading which, when allowed, involves turning (sometimes) a group or unit, an option to realign after any turn (at the player's discretion), a variable move distance with wheeling and or sliding to avoid any obstacles.
• Exiting a ZoC is by far the most complex with two discrete sub-divisions and a special case.  The special case involves mounted with a slower unit's ZoC to their rear: they can ride away.  Units that can evade make a variable evade move turning as necessary.  Units that cannot evade may have to pivot in place (note: not turn), suffer a disorder penalty (sometimes); all this unless they are faster mounted and are a special case.  I nearly forgot: the special case and evading units can do so in groups whereas the others must move as individual units.  The cost of the moves varies from 0-2 CPs and this can be per group or per unit.

As I expected, in isolation each rule is both sensible and logical but taken together there's an awful lot going on.  The three moves may or may not involve a turn or a pivot.  The distance may be variable, full, restricted or fixed depending on circumstances. The move may involve slides and wheels, be directly forward or straight back.  Sometimes units can move in groups; sometimes as individual units. CP costs vary widely.

Now nothing in the individual rules strikes me as unreasonable or unplayable.  They do strike me as complex and a touch inconsistent.  There's a lot to remember and, more importantly, to apply correctly.  Imagine trying to explain these rules to a new player.

Once I'd been through the rules I did manage to create a table highlighting the differences.  I do not consider it a suitable playing aid.  I will carry it with me but mainly to jog my (incomplete) memory and for the page references it contains.

Download the table.

Let me know if you spot any errors or ommissions.