Hello Gents.
New and nice ARABY question that did not happen to me so far but when thinking about Araby tactics and possibilities this scenario came into my mind.
As per definition we have to take into account following:
MIRAGE:
The sorcerer creates the illusion of a huge host of fearsome
warriors, bearing down inexorably upon his startled foes.
To use this spell the player will need an additional unit chosen
from the Araby list - this can be infantry, cavalry or monsters it
does not matter which. This unit becomes the 'illusion' and is
immediately placed within 60cm of the sorcerer and more than
20cm from any enemy units. The illusionary unit cannot move or
fight - for it isn't really there! However, the illusionary unit is
treated as if it were real by the enemy up until such time as an
enemy unit charges into contact with it, touches it as an
incidental contact during combat, advances upon it, or brings it
into combat in any other fashion. This means, for example,
Command penalties are suffered for proximity, and enemy
shooters are obliged to target the illusion if it is the closest target
- it cannot be harmed of course! The illusionary unit is also
dispelled immediately if the Araby player moves any of his units
or characters through it.
STAMPEDE:
1. Stampeding Elephants cannot be given orders or use
initiative. Instead roll a dice at the start of the Command phase
before moving anything else on initiative, and move the unit as
follows...
Reactions....described below with my questions !!
...'enemies' for the duration of the combat and therefore
continue to cause 'terror' in opponents regardless of which
side they are on. The Elephants count as charging in the first
round. If the Elephants win a combat round then they must
pursue if possible and will continue to do so each round.
Should their opponents be destroyed they will not advance but
will halt without reforming.
3. Stampeding Elephants might conceivably move into a unit,
therefore initiating combat, but are unable to form a battle-line
because they have insufficient movement distance. In the case
of stampeding elephants, the combat is still fought, and the
elephants still count as charging. It is up to the player whether
he moves the elephants the extra distance required to make a
battle-line or simply fights with the elephants in an irregular
formation.
Arab Elephant unit stampedes (due to shooting, magic...whatever)
The question arises on following Stamped actions:
1-2. Move towards the nearest enemy unit as far as
possible – if the stampeding elephants contact the
enemy they automatically count as charging even if they
couldn't see at the start of the move. If the elephant
contacts a friendly unit it counts as moving into friends
(see below).
Situation:
Elephants could reach enemy unit that is within movement distance but before they would also walk into/through a "MIRAGE" unit that were casted by a wizzard.
Question:
Do they charge the MIRAGE unit and stop there as the unit disappears ?
Do they know it´s only a MIRAGE unit or let´s say do they simply walk through it (as it disappears) and charge the enemy unit ?
(I would favour 2nd scenario as "Stampede" is no coordinate move ...it´s a reaction ...but who knows)
3-4. Move directly away from the nearest enemy unit as
far as possible – work out the stampede direction in the
same way as you would for an evade move. If the
elephant contacts another enemy unit it counts as
charging (see above). If the elephant contacts a friendly
unit it counts as moving into friends (see below).
Situation:
A MIRAGE unit is in the way.
Question:
Do the Elephants charge it and stop there ?
Do they walk through it till they reached their maxium movement distance allowing them to charge into another unit (friend or foe) ?
5. Move towards the nearest friendly unit as far as
possible – if the stampeding elephants contact the
friendly unit they automatically count as charging even
if they couldn't see at the start of the move.
Situation:
Nearest friendly unit is a MIRAGE unit.
Question:
Do the MIRAGE unit count in this situation as being the one nearest to be charged ?
6. Move directly away from the nearest friendly unit as
far as possible - work out the stampede direction in the
same way as you would for an evade move. If the
elephant contacts an enemy or friendly unit it counts as
charging (see above).
Situation:
Nearest friendly unit is a MIRAGE unit.
Question:
Do the Elephants move away from the MIRAGE unit ?
My interpretation is the following one.
Interpretation A:
Stampede is a reaction of the elephants due to another event. It´s no coordinated move or command. Thus given the riders don´t have control about the elephants.
Given this I would treat MIRAGE unit as a standard unit on the battlefield in terms of Stampeding elephants meaning that Elephants walk into them coutn as charging ... unit disappears....Elephants halt there.
Interpretation B:
Another alternative treatement could be that in term of direction determination for "nearest unit" the MIRAGE unit can be taken but also that stampeding Elephants would simply walk through them as the MIRAGE unit disappears when being touched by friend or foe and stampeding elephant unit will only halt till it has reached maximum movement or another "not" disappearing unit that they have to fight.
(Actually I favour this one as it makes most sense and in my opinion it would also be the most logical one)
O.K.
Now it´s your turn
What´s your opinion interpretation on this topic ?
Cheers and "Happpy New Year" (in case you read this tomorrow)
Claus
