Spontaneous Movement
Using impetuous troops effectively in DBM requires skill, practice and good timing. Coordination and planning are critical and most experienced players will simplify strategies to compensate for lack of control. It's for this very reason that impetuous troops provide one of the more interesting "fun" factors in DBM.
The rules for Spontaneous Advance (page 21) are undoubtedly the most complex for any players to grasp. They have been extensively overhauled since the original v1.0 was released. This page will attempt to illustrated the core aspects of using spontaneous movement.
Diagrams drawn to 15mm scale, all dimensions in "mm" unless otherwise specified.
SPONTANEOUS ADVANCE (page 21, para 3):
A spontaneous advance must be towards the nearest enemy baggage element if this is visible and there are no known enemy elements within 200p either side of the impetuous element's direct route to it, otherwise .....................
| The first priority for impetuous troops is the enemy baggage camp/s. This is determine by measuring a line from the centre of the impetuous element to the centre of any enemy baggage elements. If there are no enemy element 200p either side of this line, then the element makes a spontaneous advance on that baggage element/s. |
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Two impetuous elements (Green A,B) must make a spontaneous advance. The direct route between them and the nearest enemy baggage element is drawn. For element A (fig I), an enemy element sits within 200p of its route to the baggage, while element B (fig II) has none and is clear. Both make their spontaneous advances (fig III), B heads towards the baggage, A moves towards the enemy element. |
So, assuming your impetuous element is not charging off after enemy baggage (as per above), then the next step is to determine what other enemy elements are eligible targets for any spontaneous advance!
............. otherwise towards the centre of the closest enemy element, measuring between furthest apart front corners, ignoring enemy skirmishers unless they are directly to the impetuous element's front or within a base width of the impetuous element's flank or rear.
(note: the 3 bullet points following this paragraph cover exceptions to spontaneous advances, relating to terrain, fortifications, ignoring psiloi...etc.)
Impetuous elements will usually have more than one enemy element in their local vicinity, and determining which of these are targeted is done by measuring the "furthest apart front corners" between the impetuous element and all these eligible enemy elements.
Also see "Changing Targets" under Clarifications section.
The Wb(F) has two enemy Bd(O) within charge range. Despite Y being physically closer, X has the shortest distant (81mm) between their "furthest apart front corners." Hence, the Wb(F) will make its spontaneous advance directly at element X.
The Wb(F) is confronted with a variety of enemy elements. Elements B is ignored completely (skirmisher not directly ahead of the Wb(F).) The "furthest apart front corners" are measured for A & C. The Wb(F) will pivot and advance on element C (85mm).
A spontaneously advancing element must move its full tactical distance directly towards its target, making any necessary changes of direction by wheels and/or 180 deg turns, except that:
- [1st bullet] It can make any shifts, inclines or pivots necessary to contact its target this bound if it cannot do so by wheeling.
| Both Kn(F) elements (A+B) are impetuous and will make spontaneous advances towards the enemy Bd(I). | |
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- [2nd bullet] It must reduce its move by 10p if needed to avoid ending in front corner to front corner contact with friends unless its front edge contacts enemy, or it can give rear or overlap support to friends in contact with enemy.
| When a group of impetuous elements makes a spontaneous advance, the owning playing gets to choose the order in which elements are moved. They will typically break up into a bunch of individual elements (the rules are designed that way.) |
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| Above is an illustrated example of a group of Wb(F) making an impetuous move towards Bd(O). Since the Wb(F) group starts at an angle to the Bd(O), each element will end its finish in a staggered formation. Even the second rank of Wb(F) will not end in corner to corner contact with the front elements (fig III). |
| On the rare occasion that an impetuous group of elements finds themselves perfectly aligned opposite an enemy, and this group must make a spontaneous advance, then the 2nd bullet (4th para) kicks in to prevent these elements finishing as a group (corner to corner.) |
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| Element A make its spontaneous advance straight forward, full move (fig.I). Element B can do the same but this will bring it into front edge & corner-to-corner alignment with element A, so must subtract 10p from its move. Elements C & D make similiar spontaneous advances, C moves full distance but D must subtract 10p to prevent forming a group (as per element B). Second rank elements are not affected, they can form up behind as a group as shown. |
- [3rd bullet] It can pivot backwards by the minimum necessary to align the direction it ends facing with that of a friendly element within an element base width which is already in edge or corner contact with enemy or which has already made a spontaneous advance this bound.
| This 3rd bullet is very critical for impetuous troops when engaging in combat. By aligning themselves with other elements, they allow themselves to recoil back onto one another. Had they been allowed to charge in and remain at odd angles, then losses would be considrably higher. The following illustration depicts an impetuous Kn(F) group making a spontaneous advance towards a pair of Sp(O). The owning player selects which element is moved in what order. They all initially advance towards the enemy Sp(O), deviating around freinds by the shortest path that will eventually get them into contact. |
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| Fig I, element A moves into direct contact (& combat) with the enemy. Fig II, element B heads directly for the enemy, stops when contacting A, pivots back to the right and moves down the right side of A. Fig III, C moves toward the enemy also, contacting element A in the rear and makes a minor pivot to align itself. Fig IV, element D moves towards the enemy, stops when contacting C, pivots into alignment, then slides to the right behind B. |
- Still under construction! -
Kn"A" lacks the movement
to get into contact (& combat) with the enemy group and therefore may only change direction by wheeling first, then moving its full distance.