Quote Originally Posted by Axalon View Post
Gil....

The problem here is not your reasoning or your conclusions but your applied perspective. Because of that, your conclusions – while true in a limited sense – still fails to properly reflect the realities of even raw MTW. Essentially, they are true for the things they address - not for the reality they are intended to reflect…

As we discuss the validity of tactics somehow - including this one - we can not limit ourselves to intact formations and static enemies (however likely) at given terrains because that does not match the circumstances found in MTW – any version. Battles and the circumstances found there are ever changing. The given terrain for battles changes, the type of enemy found in that terrain changes, and the formation-strength of that enemy changes – all the time. Once the battle is on, the only fixed constants we have are those of the field being limited, the numbers of enemies are limited (somehow), and that formations-sizes are limited (somehow). This goes for the “friendlys” as well. The rest are essentially variables and circumstances.

In most battles troops will take casualties somehow. At some point we will not have the luxury to call upon another fresh full-strength formation to do the job – we must then rely on and make do with either damaged or understrength-formations. As your perspective fails to recognize and consider that aspect - and this on all sides (enemies and friendly’s alike) - it is thus flawed.

Once such aspects are recognized and considered - the valid circumstances and possible targets for this manoeuvre drastically increases. As long as we still have a unit with enough men to successfully execute this manoeuvre (I guess that is dictated by the target) – the effect will be the same, just on a smaller scale. Obviously, these realities are valid for raw MTW as well. Now, the available “attractive” targets for this tactic still strike me as limited for raw MTW but it clearly does not confine itself to just AUM’s, that much is obvious. Furthermore, we do not need to be on any steppe or desert in order to execute this manoeuvre either, it can be done anywhere with enough open flat space for it (this in relation to the number men in the unit intended to execute it). That is also obvious. Fighting in an open desert or steppe however usually does provide more favourable circumstances for it (as you already outlined) - but it is still not a necessity for it, neither are intact formations…

Right?

- A
I admit that I forgot the undermanned units... Well, it's been too long since I played the game so that I lost track of what may be happening on the battlefield. Thanks for the reminder, Ax. Maybe I will even try the tactics you seconded.